Veritas

Written by Aeterno

Geography

General Description

Veritas is the entire southern half of The Island of Tod and is covered in towering mountain peaks, deep hidden valleys, and a single widespread forest the stretches from coast to coast. There are five basic regions to Veritas, which all have their own purpose as well as culture and systems; Eastern Groves, Central Coppices, Southern Cliffs, Western Coasts, and Middle Ground.

The Eastern Groves

The Eastern Groves is the most diverse portion of Veritas; with a variety of tree species that reach their peak height and width in this area compared to anywhere else on the island. Because of this, most of the residents carve houses and a network of bridges through the trees, making a singular huge tree fort within it's dense foliage. Besides the wild trees and impressive lifestyle, another key factor in what makes the Groves famous to the outside world is otherwise normal fauna in outrageously rare conditions; an example of this would be the Tower Elks, which can grow to be several stories high in building terms, and host several smaller and unique species upon its antlers.

The Central Coppices

A coppice is an area in which trees or shrubs are regularly cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood/timber.

This area is separated into smaller portions to restrict how much get cuts down in a period of time, and to prevent deforestation of the area. The only residents who visit this area are sent from the other regions to fetch needed supplies, and those who mend the forest and make sure it's in healthy condition. The Coppices lay on relatively even ground when compared to the rest of the island, there are different levels in height for each coppice in order to better divide the areas to avoid confusion; and the tree height of course varies on how long it's been since the last rotation.

The Southern Cliffs

The southern cliffs are where mountains gradually turn to pure stone and suddenly fall off into the harsh southern sea. Because of this there are hardly any vegetation, save for a few shrubs and vines growing between cracks. Some of the more 'closed off' groups of people will build huts off the side of the cliffs, and will take advantage of the sea for sources of food and water. Many 'intuitive' people from all over the world will endure long periods of waiting time, much like in Eno, in order to visit these cliffs and witness the sunset and colorful skies.

The Western Coasts

The Western Coasts are spotted with fishing villages varying in size and popularity, this is because the mountains turn to rolling hills which drift to pebble beaches and grasslands. This is where the majority of the wood from the Coppices go to, for regular repairs to ships and houses, along with providing warmth and light to the residents and the Trail of Flames. The grasslands are home to various small animals, including miniature den dragons, which burrow into the ground and cover their homes with the surrounding grass.

Middle Ground

The southern half of Middle Ground is where the stairs leading to the Temple of Ruins can be found. Surrounding the general area are also a bunch of small farms, providing the food resources to the monastery in Middle Ground, as well as a job opportunity for the mentees within. The slick rocky sides are dangerous to climb when it rains so there are a series of interconnecting tunnels dug into the mountainsides that lead to the Temple as safety precautions as well as a way to get out should anything happen to the Temple.

Natural Resources

the Eastern Groves provide multitudes of unique and rare animal species, as well as uncommon wood types and plant sapplings
The Central Coppices give firewood and timber to the surrounding regions of Veritas and Middle Ground
The Southern Cliffs are an excellent resource for stones and minerals, as well as a relatively safe place to fish for small marine life
The Western Coasts provide bigger and more plentiful fish and marine life, as well as a great place to find caves full of metal deposits and ancient ruins
Finally, Middle Ground is known around the Island for mysterious animal sightings and vegetation that almost seem to move. Middle Ground is also known for it's hot springs and great soil for farming