Alhelia

"The cold birthplace of the Empire is both a home and fortress for its people. The Imperials are its absolute masters, with none others possessing the constitution to weather its dangers." - A Survey of the Empire

Geography

Alhelia is a cold and rocky continent with the majority of its water locked in ice and snow. This lessens in the inland Kurgara Steppes which lack almost any water at all and the Blackstone Coast closest to Etravaya, which is slightly more temperate.
The regions of Alhelia are dictated by its massive mountain ranges that cross the continent. These also separate the weather systems of the different regions, giving each a very particular look and feel, expanded upon further in the entry for each region.

Natural Resources

Alhelias natural resources come in the form of the high-quality stone and metals extracted from its depths. This includes the legendary metals used in Knight armaments such as Black Iron and White Steel. As well Alhelia is the primary source of raw magitek crystal for the whole of the Empire.

History

In legend, Alhelia was formed from pure water into stone and ice by the ancient Glaciens. It was principally inhabited by the Glaciens and their Illyan creations for some time until the Imperials arose from their tombs. From that point forward the continent would be forever changed. The receding of the Glaciens and the creation of Magitek began to affect the weather and landscape in significant ways. The Blinding Expanse was once a calm plain along which the primitive Imperials and Illyans strode in nomadic clans. Now with the concentration of Magitek in the cities, it is a land of eternal storms and raging lightning. In this way the history of Alhelia is the history of the Imperials themselves

Type

Continent