Althainon
1. Description
Althainon is a region located on the southern portion of Majik's
second largest continent Eldiron. Life in Althainon is dictated by the
extreme seasonal changes brought on by its vicinity to the volcanos of
Tragothar. In the summer and spring months (The Sedise season) it is a
lush green paradise with grassy plains flower covered hills and lush
forests. In the winter and fall (the Antrok season.) all vegetation
dies, or becomes dormant and the land turns into a desolate waste of ash
ruled by marauding orcs. Western Althainon borders the smoldering wastes
of Tragothar. To the north it borders Areon and the Lamarhen lakes.
Several islands in the lakes are considered part of Althainon. To the
west is the region of Nin'calaris. The south is bordered by the Sea of
flames. In the south of Althainon is forest land with a small group of
short mountains, the east is mostly ash year around. The central area
are plains rolling hills and a nicely sized river that dumps into the
azure lakes. Also in the central plain are the Floating Islands, 30 or
so large gravity defying land masses that levitate 200 meters from the
ground, circling the central plains region of Althainon in a clock like
yearly migration. In the north near the coast are forests and marsh
lowlands. The primary inhabitants of Althainon are the Althainion people
who toil in the plains during the pleasant Sedise season (spring and
summer) then flee east during the ash driven storms of Antrok (winter
and fall).
2. Climate
Althainon's climate is controlled by the volcanic activity of
Tragothar. Luckily for the inhabitants it is somewhat predictable (This
can be be done in two ways. Either the winds blow west taking the ash
away during the summer and spring or the eruptions of the volcanoes only
occur during certain months.). The cycle is as follows during Antrok
(Winter and Fall) the land is dead and the sky dark with ash from
Tragothar with rare cloud breaks. Surprisingly the temperature is
actually hotter during these months by about 5 degrees caused by the
hot, ash heavy, air coming from Tragothar. Drastic differences in
temperature between Tragothar and the Lamarhen lakes create massive
storms during these months. Tornados, torrential black rain and
hurricane strength winds are common.
Because of a shift in the winds that blow away the ash storms
the summer and spring months are mild and sunny. During these months the
average temperature stays at a pleasant 72 degrees Fahrenheit (yeah, i
know this needs to be converted to Celsius) and a cool sweet smelling
breeze comes from The Lamarhen lakes and blows west towards the
hellscape of Tragothar. These conditions are by no means completely
constant the lengths of the two seasons are variable some years the
black clouds come late or not at all and in still others the westerly
winds do not blow and take the black storms away keeping Althainon black
all year long. in approximately One in 6 seasons the climate seems to do
one of the above.
3. Flora
Athainon's plant life is constricted by a six month growth
period. What it lacks in time it makes up for in quantity. The soil of
Athainon is rich with volcanic ash and a high water table. Whole fruit
barring Pipple trees grow 4 meters tall in these short months. In fact
the local inhabitants have forged a agricultural wonder out of this
abundance. It is said that enough food is grown in Athainon to feed all
of Eldiron. Every year hundreds of ships sail down the Black Tear River
laden with pipple fruit vegetables and grain sailing to all the ports
connected to the Lamarhen lakes some even sail as far as the southern
shores of the continent Minartan. Caravans bring the sweet Pipple fruit
to the winter trade center at the western edge of the Desert of
Ghalimcar to trade with the Brahjians.
Generally during the Antrok (winter and fall) months almost all
plant life decays and dies. Trees making up the Forest of Abhorrence
shed there leaves and become dormant.
Pipples are a fruit similar to oranges and other citrus fruit
except they are red and oblong. Their peel is a little tougher as well.
The plant itself is a fast growing tree that gets about 4 meters tall
bears fruit then dies but its roots do survive and will grow again the
following year. The Althainion people have domesticated this plant and
cultivate orchards that grow and disappear each year.
4. Fauna
Generally speaking large animal life in Althainon is rare. There
is of course the normal array of bugs, snakes, small rodents, lizards
and birds, none being supernatural or exceptionally poisonous. Although
mosquitos and gnats can be annoying along the River of Black Tears and
in the northern lowlands by Adremas. In the Forest of Abhorrence Larger
animals do exist such as monkeys larger weasels and predatory birds like
owls and eagles, but during the ashen black season all these creatures
either hibernate or migrate (birds). The only creatures that wander the
wastes at this time are rats, lizards, cockroaches and orcs.
5. History
Althainon first became inhabited by humans some four hundred
years ago as groups of Areons slowly began to adapt to its lands. Before
that it was completely wild with no permanent settlement where only orcs
traveled through in their raids to Nin'calaris and Areon. It is unknown
as to who or what created the Floating Islands or Castle Theamar or even
if it was the same entity. Their origins lost in the sands of time.
6. Geography
6.1 River of Black Tears
Also called Harum's' Tears. Local folklore has it that when the
god Harum first saw Tragothar he stood on the plains of Althainon and
wept black tears of joy at the sight of it. Those tears became the
waters of the River of Black Tears. Whether this is true or not is
unknown. The river does run black however stained by the black ashen
soil that is deposited in huge amount from the volcanos of Tragothar.
The head waters actually begin at the small mountain range in the south
of Althainon and travel through the Forest of Abhorrence but mostly in
small streams or under ground. It does not become a full navigable river
until about the center of the Althainon plain. It moves in a generally
northern direction to the Lamarhen Lakes passing by the city of Sadok.
Fish and freshwater crustaceans do live in river dissipate the heavy
black ash sediment. Aquatic life is not abundant though and little
fishing is done along its banks. The Althainions leave that to fisherman
along the coast and concentrate on farming.
6.2 Forest of Abhorrence
So named because of a great battle that waged here over a
century ago. It was a year in which the black ash storms did not break
and the westerly winds did not blow. Orc attacks were heavy and the city
of Sadok had fallen. An army of Althainions and Nin'calaris converged
here and met the Orc hoards. The battle lasted for six full months and
casualties where very high on both sides but the Althainions gained
victory. After the orcs had been pushed back to Tragothar and the black
storms had recided The forest was renamed The Forest of Abhorrence to
signify the Althainions hatred of Orcs. The Forest itself is quite thick
and only penetrable within four kilometer of its edge. During the Antrok
season most of its plant life become dorment and loose their leaves.
Those that do not live along the coast of the Sea of Flames and are
sheltered by the mountains their from the black storms of Antrok. A few
Althainions live in the Forest mostly on the outer edges. They are
Woodsmen who prefere to live in isolation and genneraly shun
civilization. They do consider themselves Althainions though and share
their characturistics. A group of druids also live the forests they too
are Athainion and are very genorus with their healing magics which the
Althainions take full advantage of often travilling here to mend broken
bones cure illnesses and heal battle wounds inflicted by orc raids. The
druids live deeper into the forest then the woodsmen and are belived to
be based near the mountains. Their exact location is unknown but
individual druids or small travaling groups are easily found with the
help of a local woodsmen.
6.3 Floating Islands
If there is a set of world wonders on Eldiron these are high on
the list. Floating above the plains of Althainon are exactly 31 chunks
of rock that migrate along a precise counterclockwise elliptical path.
In early spring they reach castle Theamar and in early fall fly over the
city of Sadok. Most of the islands are small only a dozen meters across,
but four of them are exeptionaly large being between a hundred to five
hundred meters in diameter. They all float roughly 200 meters in the air
in a random formation covering roughly 10 square kilometers of air
space. They are solely possessed and inhabited by the Althainions who
use them for food storage to weather in during Antrok, to escape orc
raids and to retake Castle Theamar in the early spring when needed. The
four larger ones have citadels built atop of them giving protection for
archers, the smaller ones used as scouting positions to spot orc bands
off on the horizon. It is common knowledge among the Althainions to know
where each of 31 islands are at all times all being taught as children
with mathematical presition. Large stone slabs set by the Althainions
pock the plains marking the Islands path. Their migration used by the
people to set crop calendar. The origin of the islands is unknown.
Attempts have been made to change their path but all have failed often
in the destruction of the mucked island. Animal life in the forest is
abundent but consiting mostly of smaller animals. There are several
types of monkies a mutitude of birds and rodents, bugs, snakes and
lizards. Along the coast of the Sea of Flames sheltered by the mountains
there are some larger mamals. A few troops of apes, some forest deer and
large cats live here.
7. Cities/Landmarks
7.1. Adremas
Adremas is on the northern most border of Althainon. It is
located in the center of a marsh and most of the buildings are
constructed upon stilts. Because it is in a marsh many iron smiths
reside here collecting the ore deposits that accumulate in the lowlands.
They make weapons plows nails horse shoes axes etc. Many build up large
supplies of iron work during the winter to sell in Baor during Sedise
(Spring and Summer). The city also supports a small fishing community
and merchants come to buy agricultural goods produced in Althainon. Most
of the residance do not consider themselves Althainion though but are
Areons. It is mentioned here because about five hundred Althainions
spend Antrok (fall and Winter) here. The population is rughly two
thousand not including the seasonal Althainions.
7.2. Brearon
Brearon is also not an Althainion town but is property of
Nin'calaris. About three hundred Althainions winter here mostly in tent
towns across the river from Brearon. Also nearby a hundred Althainion
Woodsman hold permanent residence in the Abhorrence Forest and often
come here to trade goods. About seven hundred people live in Brearon not
including the Althainions.
7.3. Baor
Baor is not a permanent city it is a seasonal one. During the
Antrok season (winter and fall) it is completely abandoned. The
inhabitants either migrate north up the River of Black Tears to Sadok
and other small villages along the coasts of the Lamarhen lakes or seek
refuge, in The Floating Islands. During the Sedise season Baor becomes a
bustling trade center. Farmers from all around the Althainon plains
region come to sell their produce. Traders from Nin'calaris come to sell
farming goods and weapons. Smiths who weather in Adremas set up shop
here bringing iron goods and repair horse shoes, swords, and plows.
Woodsmen from the Forest of Abhorrence sell bows, fire wood, and other
crafts. Some even try their hand at farming. The city is in essence a
seasonal tent market. When the last leaves have begun to fall it is
empty of all human life. During the fall and winter months it is picked
through by Orcs who camp there and destroy any human remnants. The peak
population of Baor reaches about 10,000 humans during mid summer
although well over a third of which are not native Althainions, and
consist of traders merchants and suicidal adventurers traveling to their
graves in Tragothar.
7.4. Jarpin
The city of Jarpin is wedged between the Lamarhen Lakes coast
and just on the Althainion side of the Nin'calaris border. It sits upon
a high cliff that overlooks the lakes with the only small path for a
half a mile in each direction that leads down to the water. At the
waters level the city has built several docks for merchant and fishing
ships as well as a few tunnels into the cliff walls in which some people
live and do business. Although most residents here do not share the
Althainion migrant farmer, bow slinging, life style of their plains
brethren they consider themselves to be Althainions. This arises partly
because of the some two hundred farmers who spend Antrok here but mostly
from their shared hatred of orcs who have been know to siege Jarpin on
their winter raids. There live approximately 6000 humans here including
the 200 who spend Antrok here.
7.5. Sadok
Sadok is located at a bend along the River of Black Tears
roughly midway between Baor, where the river begins, and the Lamarhen
lakes where it ends. It is a well fortified city having two thick ten
meter tall walls encircling it and strong concrete towers that ring the
city about a kilometer out from it . The towers are used as outposts to
spot orc bands. If orcs are spotted large bonfires are lit atop the
towers to alarm the city. The area of the city is small for its
population. Private estates are none existent, housing consisting of
multilevel apartments with shops at street level. Building materials for
the dwellings consists of stone, concrete bricks and some wood but the
later is rarely used to protect against orc fire storm attacks. Every
year just before the beginning of Sedise a huge festival is held within
the city called Enantrokfest. The festival lasts for two days during
which all non-Althainions are closed from the city and a new mayor is
elected. All able bodied residents participate in the election by
gathering in the center of the city and stand next to the the candidate
they choose, a simple head count is conducted and whom ever has the most
supporters wins the mayor ship for a year. The population of Sadok
fluctuates through the year. During Antrok mostly only Anthainons reside
here keeping the population at roughly 7500. During Sedise it virtually
empties of Althainions dropping the population of Althainons to 2000 but
a large influx of traders merchants, and ship crews raises the
population to 5000. Althainion property is often rented out to the
visitors at this time. Outside the city about 3 kilometers to the west
Althainions have placed dozens of severed orc heads impailed open 4
meter tall poles as a warning to any orc bands who travel nearby.
7.6. Castle Theamar
"Abandon all hope ye who pass this point." Castle Theamar is
the last human settlement before entering Tragothar. When adventures go
to meet their doom in the western lands of Eldiron they will stop here
for provisions and information. It's construction is ancient and has
existed before any elf or dragon alive can remember. It is also
indestructible. It is said that the Gods themselves could not tear down
it's black smooth walls. This is however probably not true. They either
don't care or its existence purely amuses them. Though the gods have
never tried to harm the castle mortals have and none have ever left a
scratch. The structure itself is 100 meters tall and 18 meters wide at
its base. It is divided into eight 10 meter high tiers each one becomes
smaller as it gets higher. Each tier is self contained and defensible.
During the Antrok season (winter and fall) between 100 to 200
brave warriors (i.e. lunatics) stay in the castle and defend it against
orcs. Most years they survive the onslaught giving up maybe half of the
tiers and a quarter of the men before Sedise (spring and summer) and the
return of the Floating Islands at which point the orcs retreat from the
arrows that fall on them from above. This is not always the case though,
every ten years or so the orcs do take the castle but usually give it up
in the Sadise season.
Joshua Corning
Last modified: Fri Oct 15 04:14:10 PDT 1999
