Tansin Wilds
The Tansin Wilds are a vast and sprawling expanse of untamed wilderness that lies at the heart of the Tansin continent. Known for its dense jungle, diverse wildlife, and ancient mysteries, the Tansin Wilds are both a place of great beauty and profound danger.
Geography
The geography of the Tansin Wilds is diverse and complex, featuring a variety of landscapes that create a rich and dynamic environment. The jungle is composed of multiple layers, each with its own unique ecosystem. The emergent layer consists of the tallest trees rising above the canopy, reaching heights of over 200 feet. Below this is the dense canopy layer, forming a continuous roof of leaves and branches. The understory lies beneath, characterized by young trees, shrubs, and vines. Finally, the forest floor is a dark, humid environment teeming with decomposing plant material, fungi, and a variety of small creatures. The Tansin River, the longest river in the world, winds its way through the jungle, creating a complex network of waterways. Majestic waterfalls cascade from high cliffs, their roaring waters creating misty rainbows in the humid air. The southern reaches of the Tansin Wilds are marked by the rugged Ak'tuin's Back Mountains. These towering peaks and plateaus are often shrouded in mist and covered in dense vegetation, providing a stark contrast to the lower, flatter regions of the jungle. At the very heart of the jungle lies the Tansin Swamplands, a dense and dark swamp where small communities of swamp-dwelling hermits often reside. Giant snakes, gargantuan alligators, and enormous insects inhabit these lands. The swamps also sit at the heart of the Tansin River, and at the center of the swamplands rests The Necropolis, the capital of the Kingdom of Ban'zol. Few trade routes wind their way through the Tansin Wilds. The only routes safe enough for regular travel are the wide stone highways built by the ancient Ak'teshi Empire. These ancient roads are remarkably stable and durable, able to support the heaviest of dinosaur beasts of burden. The Ak'teshi highways are a testament to the engineering prowess of this long-gone civilization, providing safe passage through otherwise treacherous terrain. These routes are vital for trade and travel, connecting distant parts of the continent through the dense jungle.Wildlife
The Tansin Wilds are home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, ranging from the smallest insects to the largest dinosaurs. The jungle's inhabitants have adapted to the dense, competitive environment in a variety of fascinating ways. Gargantuan herds of sauropods roam the rolling hills, while raptors stalk the craggy bluffs. Pterosaurs soar above the canopy, and pairs of ravenous tyrannosauruses hunt under the light of the sun. The jungle is also home to a plethora of predators, including great hunting cats, cannibalistic monkey-kin, and prides of scale-maned reptilians. Swift-moving colonies of microraptors scurry through the underbrush, while packs of allosauruses hunt the game paths. Black-feathered carrion birds circle overhead, and the canopies are filled with the calls of exotic birds, their vibrant plumage adding splashes of color to the green expanse. The jungle teems with insect life, from fist-sized stinging insects that nest in hanging vines to buzzing swarms of enormous beetles and dragonflies. In the swamplands, the wildlife becomes even more formidable. Giant snakes slither through the murky waters, gargantuan alligators lurk beneath the surface, and enormous insects buzz and crawl through the dense undergrowth.Flora
The flora of the Tansin Wilds is equally diverse and often deadly, with many plants exhibiting unique and dangerous adaptations to survive in the competitive environment. Some plants have evolved to capture and digest animals. Grasping creeper vines ensnare the unwary, blood-hungry spore clouds drift through the undergrowth in the more dangerous areas of the jungle, and impaling spikethorns wait for unsuspecting prey. The tallest trees, known as skywoods, soar hundreds of feet into the air. Their massive trunks are often home to a variety of epiphytes and vines, creating entire ecosystems high above the ground. The forest floor is choked with dense undergrowth, including ferns, mosses, and low-lying shrubs. Visibility is limited, and movement is often slow and difficult when not traversing established trade-routes. The jungle is also home to numerous plants with medicinal properties. Healers and shamans seek out these rare specimens to create potent remedies and potions. In the swamplands, thick mats of floating plants cover the Water’s surface, while towering mangroves and cypress trees dominate the landscape.Natural Hazards
The Tansin Wilds are fraught with natural hazards that make travel difficult and dangerous. The ground in the denser, more untabled areas of the jungle is often unstable, with hidden pockets of quicksand and sinkholes waiting to trap the unwary. Many plants and animals are highly toxic. Brightly colored frogs, venomous snakes, and deadly spiders are just a few of the jungle's hazardous inhabitants. The jungle experiences heavy rainfall, especially during the rainy season. Sudden downpours can cause flash floods, particularly in the swamps, and the constant humidity creates a breeding ground for diseases. The dense vegetation makes navigation challenging. Thick vines, thorny bushes, and dense thickets can slow progress and obscure visibility. In the swamplands, hidden channels and deep, murky waters can quickly become deadly traps, while the dense vegetation and thick mats of floating plants make navigation nearly impossible without a guide.Locations
Scattered throughout the Tansin Wilds are shrines dedicated to Banzala, the ferryman of souls. These shrines serve as places of rest and safety for weary travelers and are also important spiritual sites. The shrines are circular in design, surrounded by standing stones intricately carved with symbols of life, death, and the transition between the two. These shrines are often protected by Soulbound Golems—magical constructs that house the spirits of deceased guardians. These golems, adorned with undying candles, marigold petals, and painted skulls, serve as eternal protectors of the shrine and its visitors. In some shrines, the spirits interact through skeletal remains, using the skulls bound to their altars to communicate with travelers, providing guidance and protection. The ruin of the Great Library of Ak'tesh, remnants of an ancient civilization's heart of lost knowledge, now sunken, overgrown and haunted by restless spirits within the Valley of Shadows, is rumored to contain powerful artifacts and lost knowledge. The Valley of Shadows is a treacherous, cursed valley where few dare to venture, inhabited by dark spirits and dangerous predators. Another notable location is the Tomb of the Deceiver, a cave that once served as the lair of a dangerous dragon many thousands of years ago. This site and the surrounding wildlife were turned to stone in a fit of rage by the living goddess Takanda. The petrified remains of the dragon and the wildlife stand as eternal sentinels, a chilling reminder of the goddess's wrath. While the Tansin Wilds are primarily known for their dense and dangerous jungle, there are various small villages scattered throughout the region. Most places of civilization, however, rest beneath the ground in large temple complexes, big enough to house an entire town's worth of population. These subterranean cities are marvels of ancient engineering, providing shelter and community spaces away from the perils of the jungle above. In the center of the Tansin Swamplands rests the Necropolis, a vast, ancient cemetery, is where the souls of the deceased are judged by Banzala. This site holds great reverence and is said to be the only place where The Other Side can be directly accessed by the living. The Necropolis, with its underground networks of tunnels, caverns, and mausoleums, functions as the capital's heart. At the city's deepest part lies the Throne of Banzala.
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
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