The following are descriptions of different land masses everything from mountains, to swamps, to forests.
The Barren Plains – To the east of Volgne lay the Barren Plains. This area was once a fertile plain until the war of separation between Volgne and what is now Thesely.
It is the site of the wars final and greatest battle.
The Great Volgne general Thallis Mandrake favored of Ares led the kings army to meet the rebels in what was to be the deciding battle.
The Volgne army was 4000 strong and the rebels had 1/2 that number.
However, Thallis while loyal to the king was torn. His family was from the rebel provinces, and many relatives still lived there.
The night before the battle Thallis dismissed his 3 commanding officers and replaced them with 3 he believed incompetent to lead.
His hope was that this would lead to a stalemate in the coming battle.
However he had misjudged one of his new commanders who was more than competent. As it grew close to dusk on the 3rd day of the battle the Volgnean forces were closing in on victory.
Thallis summoned the young commander who had been doing so well to his command tent. While the officer was sitting Thallis cut his throat from behind, he then stabbed him self in the side and yelled for his guard.
He told them the story of an assassin hiding in his tent who had attacked the himself and the officer unaware.
As the hunt was on for this “assassin” Thallis called his two remaining officers in and ordered them to sound a retreat of all forces, which they did without hesitation.
Ares had been watching the battle from his training ground in the heavens and grew angry. Angry at the cowardice displayed, as well as the less than valiant effort being put forth by one of his chosen.
In a moment great anger Ares caused the ground to quake and open swallowing Thallis’s command post. He then sent a great fiery wind sweeping across the plains killing the members of both armies.
The once fertile plains became a barren rocky wasteland.
Now nothing will grow on the hard packed clay soil, and it is said at night eerie lights can be seen hovering in the distance and that the dead warriors from that great battle restlessly walk the plains.
Legends also say Thallis dwells beneath the earth, unable to die he sits with his two commanders for all eternity as punishment for his betrayal, and it is his anger that poisons the earth so nothing will grow.
Jutted Hills – These large hills in Volgne are close to the city of Farhome and are rich with ore. The hills were cleared of beasts long ago and are home to large mines.
Rumors persist of lost cities buried under the hills, and some of the dwarves who mine the hills have returned to Farhome after finding items that appear to be thousands of years old.
Rackleaf Forest – Located in Volgne this medium sized forest is prized for its native Rackleaf tree, a tree that grows extremely fast and provides a very strong wood.
It is also home to the silver beaver, whose pelts are also prized, which builds its dams along the small creeks running through the forest.
As of late a number of woodsmen and trappers have disappeared after entering the forest, and others having been telling stories of hearing ghastly moans echoing through the trees.
Bubbling Bog – Where the Heartwood meets the wetland this vast swamp sits as a reminder that not all of nature is kind. The swamp is rumored to be filled with all kinds of beasts great and small. It is known that certain humanoid tribes call the swamp home. The Elves of the heartwood have constant patrols to ensure that the creatures within the bog do not filter into their woodland home, and there are often skirmishes along the swamps border. Legend states that before the turning the bog was a large lake, and with the rending and shifting of the earth it became a wetland. As the heartwood expanded into the wetland and the humanoid races moved in, it became what it is today.
HeartWood– This ancient forest or towering pines, sturdy white oak, and beautiful maples is located south of Markainus and is the largest forest in the land. A number of rangers and druids live on the outskirts of the forest, and in its heart is the great elven city of Sulandria. The wood is filled with all manner of creature great and small. The elves have regular patrols to ensure the creatures inhabiting the Bubbling Bog on the eastern edge of the forest do not try to make there way in.
Finland Swamp – This small swamp land is located 4 days ride to the northeast of Oslodin across the River Fane. One of the small swamp/woodlands in Arisland there are several small villages within a weeks ride of the swamp. Before the area was settled and claimed by King Aristor the Finland swamp was home to two distinct goblin tribes. These two tribes would war back and forth with each other fighting for dominance. Every so often the tribes would cease their fighting and attack the human settlements in the area. Once King Aristor took over the land his army cleared the swamp of the humanoid tribes. No one has seen or heard from them in 10 years, however lately there have been rumors that something strange is happening in the swamp.
The Lonely Wood – This forest lies along the Travelers Way from Markainus to Starlorn. It is a small forest when compared to The Heartwood. The Traveler’s Way road runs through the forest itself, when first built guard stations were set up to protect the road, but after 18 years of heavy traffic most of the creatures that would threaten a caravan have either left or been dealt with.
There is a small village of elves who call the forest home, these elves tend to be more nature oriented than those within the large elven city in The Heartwood. They will sometimes venture to the small villages that have sprung up along the road, but for the most part keep to themselves.
On the eastern side of the Lonely Wood stands the Forgotten Hills, the two are within close proximity of each other and the Travelers Way road runs through both.
The Forgotten Hills – This series of rolling stony hill land lies east of the Lonely Wood. It is a sharp rugged terrain that is the home to many less desirable species. The Travelers Way runs along the northern end of the hills and is generally considered safe, although there is the occasional attack on caravans.
Lately attacks have been on the increase as a large clan of humanoids, mainly hobgoblins and orcs, have banded together. Some say there is a powerful evil cleric behind this.
Other rumors about these hills are
- There is a large series of underground caverns that go deep into the world.
- There are small bands of giants that live in the hills and sometimes harass near by villages and travelers.
- There are the ruins of a once great city buried somewhere in the hills after it was destroyed by an earthquake.
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