FALALA

The Provinces

Anygh:

The smallest province on Izarn and the most heavily populated to boot, containing roughly 600, 000 individuals in its small borders. Anygh consists mainly of one gigantic metropolis, which takes up some 65-70% of its surface area. The surrounding land consists mainly of thick bogs and marshes, rich in nutrients but poor for civilization, as well as long stretches of fertile plains in the south-eastern edge. The province is located in central-eastern Izarn, and has a fairly temperate climate. The southern parts tend to be dry for most of the year, while the north is moderate, edging toward hot, and receives most of the rainfall from the coast and the tropical forests of Balada.

One of Izarn’s largest and most notable ocean-fed rivers flows against the eastern-most border of Izarn, cutting it off from its neighbour Sultherem. This river feeds directly into the capital city, and supplies most of the fresh water and sewage. There are several smaller rivers that branch over and diverge throughout the plains and prairies, and are sucked up into the ever expanding swamps to the west.

Anygh is a highly multicultural nation. It is roughly 60% defore, 25% euclide, and 15% amuni. While their population isn’t enough to make a full percentage, Anygh also has the largest number of “permanent” resident murdon.

Balada:

Balada is one of the northern most provinces on Izarn, stretching several thousands of kilometres between the west and east coasts. Its borders are encrusted with densely packed trees and rich, green, foliage, dappled with the rushing sounds of giant waterfalls and the smaller rivers that flow to and from them. Balada is a tropical nation, consisting mainly of untouched rainforest that the peoples have learned to build with, rather than around. The trees here grow hundreds of feet high, with trunks thicker than a house. It is a beautiful province, filled with a multitude of plant and animal species. It contains a few rocky plateaus along its western edge, where the foliage thins out temporarily. These offer small retreats for travelers unused to the jungle.

Balada is warm and humid year round, and receives more rainfall than any other region. Unfortunately, the province is also prone to frequent storms and monsoons.

Balada is inhabited primarily by defore, with some smaller populations of amuni, as well as the very occasional defore-hybrid or euclides.

Eneis:

Located on the western-most edge of Izarn’s main continent, Eneis is a large desert nation. It is warm and dry, with large expanses of unoccupied desert that have trapped and killed many an inexperienced traveler. The coasts tend to be the safest regions to travel through, as the temperature tends to be milder, and larger amounts of plant and animal life can be found. Eneis is cut off from Balada by the Esceleos mountain chain, which has also created a rain shadow in the eastern edge of the continent – making this area, near the mountains, the hottest and driest in Eneis. Against the mountains are also the infamous shifting sand dunes, Agorcana.

Eneis contains a few large rivers that feed its cities and allow for agriculture and irrigation, which also create smaller patches of sparse jungle land. Near the center of the province is the large and prosperous Jaemicas Oasis, surrounded in turn by some jungle (not nearly as thick or notable as that of Balada), and fresh water that bubbles up from the ground through underwater springs.

Eneis is primarily inhabited by Amuni, but does tolerate the occasional defore. Euclide are absolutely forbidden from entering the nation, but Eneis is slightly more lenient than its eastern cousin Sultherem, in that euclide may not be killed on sight. They are tolerated to the extent that they may do their business (normally political or trade) and leave without much harm done to them.

Orhon:

Orhon is a small region, virtually unpopulated by any living thing. A few cacti and desert scrubs can be found littering the badlands, but very little stirs here. Orhon is a large expanse of dead, dry clay desert, broken up by deep canyons that seem to crack the world in two. From above, Orhon looks like the broken pieces of a clay pot, with only one small blue vein trickling through it still. It is a dead land. Hot and dry year round, where nothing can survive.

Orhon’s only population is located in a cavern system dug out from the deep canyons near the center of the province. This is Kerame, the hidden city. It is protected not only by this rugged terrain, but also powerful magic that shields it from the eyes of outsiders. Kerame is home to Izarn’s tiny population of amuni-euclides hybrids, and is considered their only true safe haven from the cruelty of the world. The city itself is fed with underground streams and the small populations of insects, fish, and succulent plants that can be found in the caverns, and outside in the bad lands.

Sultherem:

Sultherem is the eastern-most province of Izarn’s main continent, and is quite large to boot. It has a mild Mediterranean climate, being quite warm and humid through most of the year, with a very short “cool” period. Sultherem mainly consists of grassy plains with several moderately sized arboreal forests scattered throughout (mostly on the eastern edge). The province is criss-crossed with several large rivers and lakes, which turn this land into one of the most fertile of all Izarn.

Sultherem is strictly an ‘all amuni’ province. Euclide are killed on sight without repercussion from the law. Defore and defore-amuni hybrids populate the nation to minor percentages, but are never given full rights or positions of power.

Terra:

Terra is a large province located in southern-central Izarn, with a cool, but temperate, climate. Winters tend to be fairly extreme, with cool, mild summers. The province is quite dry, with occasional rainfall and moderate amounts of snow during the winter season. The province consists of several thick coniferous forests, with dry, sparse foliage. Dry prairies surround the woods, creating a large percentage of arable farm land. Terra has two main river systems that branch out from its south-western coast, cutting the province into three large sections and forming a formidable lake near the northernmost border.

Terra is occupied in equal parts by euclides and amuni. It is home to the original legacy creations brought from earth, and has thus been separated into two districts. The east is considered the property of the euclides, and the west belongs to the amuni. Most communications between the two districts are done so by neutral defore.

Turacha:

The southern-most province in Izarn, Turacha is known for its frigid climate and its snow covered, icy plains, thick with permafrost. The nation is continuously cold and dry year round, prone to massive snow storms and blizzards. Winds here are the worst in Izarn, and are said to be able to blow a man away with one powerful gust. The province itself is broken up by several meandering mountain chains, which are rich in mineral deposits and precious metals. Turacha also contains a few coniferous taigas to the north, where there is enough permeable soil to support large plant growth.

To the west are the infamous frost plains, an area devoid of all life, with permafrost so thick that it could support a massive city. Were there enough food and water to do so. The frost plains also contain a small area called the glass wood, which brings several tourists in the warmest seasons. The glass wood is a long dead forest, where the trees are nothing but bare branches coated in thick sheets of ice – making them appear as if made of glass.

Turacha is primarily a euclide inhabited nation. There is a fair population of defore here as well, but they are rarely given political positions.