Aurea
Aurea is one of two continents on Cilvarth, west of the Middle Mountains that divides the single landmass. This region is known for its arid environments; the Silver Desert is the most famous place on Cilvarth with outsiders.
Geography, Location & Climate
Aurea is the westernmost continent. With nearly a billion people, it accounts for 35% of the planet's population. The hot Silver Desert to the south and arid flatlands to the north make up the majority of the continent's biomes.
The Kimon Forest makes up a third of the mainland in the northeastern region. The forest is dry and susceptible to wildfires year round. Wildfire Season is in the first few months of the year, annually clearing out a million square kilometres of forest for it to regrow in later months.
The most famous region of Cilvarth is the Silver Desert. Named after the streaks and patches of chrome silver sand flowing throughout the desert, it is home to some of the largest cities, including Aricos, the second most populous settlement.
The Silver Desert is filled with thousands of years of illustrious mythology. Wondrous ancient buildings fill the lands, laced with traps to keep out amateur explorers and looters.
A large forested region in the north of Aurea, the Whispering Woods is an expansive forest plagued with magical winds. A perpetual cold breeze flows through the forest, causing people to experience visual and auditory hallucinations.
Reports of eyes following people, stalking shadows, and voices calling out are all common. Those that wander into the forest are quickly driven out, and those that get lost in its tangled roots are never to be seen again.
History
Aurea once stood as its own island continent, before colliding with the Jisefea Plate seventeen million years ago, forming the Middle Mountains.
Conurbations
In some areas of Aurea, particulary in the north, groups of towns operate under the same government system. This is rare on Cilvarth, most preferring complete independence. These conurbations claim it is more effective to have several towns operate under the same government.After originating in Jisefea, cilvarthians crossed the Middle Mountains around fifteen thousand years ago, finding themselves in northern Aurea. Those that made it to Aurea quickly established colonies and flourished over the next thousand years.
The Eochian Empire dominated the Silver Desert and neighbouring areas. The powerful emperors commanded a magical army, guarding precious temples containing weapons of mass destruction that may or may not still be buried underneath the scattered ruins.
The fall of the Eochian Empire led most settlements to declare full independence from one another. Now, almost all towns and cities operate independently from one another, government and legal systems all unique. A handful of conurbations exist, few and far between.
Ecology
Aurea has rich and diverse ecosystems thanks to its unique set of biomes. The Whispering Woods and the Silver Desert in particular are renowned for their ecosystems, found nowhere else on the planet.
The Whispering Woods is known for its inanimals. While it is difficult to study these creatures as cilvarthians cannot enter the forest without putting themselves in serious and immediate danger, many have attempted, some recording a number of intriguing species.
One such species is the sorrowing sprite, a humanoid embodiment of sadness. They cry golden tears to attract their prey - weary travellers.
Outside of the Whispering Woods life is much more tame. Large roaming herbivores wander the arid grasslands, lumbering giants roaming the Silver Desert. Lake Kettle, the largest lake on Cilvarth, is not only an oasis for the desert's inhabitants, but for passing comet eels. These massive fish swim through space, resting on planets and moons every night.
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