The Thrice Named Land

In the north, technology thrives under the treetops of the Wooden Forest, the birthplace of the Popular Species. In the cities, the forest is stacked floor to canopy with wooden walls and buildings, hence its name. This bureaucratic society has always prospered off of the meaty (and quite delicious) domesticated ape dwelling on the forest floor. Value is measured by physical aptitude and productivity.   The West wedged between the Central Desert and its coastal waters, relies on trade with the Foreign Isles. Many exotic goods swap hands from the western traders to affluent northerners. The community does some fishing, but most food is imported. The people living in the South-East, also rely on the seaside trade for goods they are unable to produce themselves. Life without a family and a hefty bunch of friends, according to the traders, is simply not worth living.   The Izer Mountains in the South-East, used to be a region of creative herders moving around between cultural hubs. But change is coming with the discovery of Izer crystals. People travel ever higher to mine the powerful crystals. Feudal lords are sprouting wherever an Izer deposit gets discovered. The Izerlords grow more aggressive, while the remaining herders feel ever more nostalgic in their shrinking valleys.