Geography
And I Would Walk 500 Miles
Thylea, also known as the Forgotten Land, is an ancient realm isolated from the rest of the multiverse by the vast Cerulean Gulf. This mystical domain has remained hidden from outside civilizations for millennia.
Thylea is located across a great expanse of ocean, far beyond the borders of the known world. It is a land of great beauty and ancient splendor, untouched and unspoiled by civilization since the dawn of time.
Thylea is sometimes called “the Lost Land.” It has a large central landmass which tapers into peninsulas surrounded by hundreds of islands. Beyond that, on all sides a clear expanse of ocean called the Forgotten Sea stretches for a thousand miles in every direction.
Sprawling ruins, glittering lagoons, and massive statues dot Thylea’s landscape. Great beasts wander her plains, and fey creatures haunt her woods. Centaur tribes war for control on the steppes, and reptilian savages battle across her islands. Although Thylea is a land with a long history, most of it has been lost.
At the heart of the archipelago the Mother Goddess, in the form of a colossal world-tree, watches over her creation. She is also called Thylea, and her true name is lost to time. Her children are Sydon and Lutheria, the Twin Titans, who dwell in the far reaches of the ocean. They are the masters of everything under the endless expanse of the sky.
Thylea
Thylea is located across a great expanse of ocean, far beyond the borders of the known world. It is a land of great beauty and ancient splendor, untouched and unspoiled by civilization since the dawn of time.
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Thylea is sometimes called “The Lost Land.” It has a large central landmass which tapers into peninsulas surrounded by hundreds of islands. Beyond that, on all sides a clear expanse of ocean called the Forgotten Sea stretches for a thousand miles in every direction.
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Sprawling ruins, glittering lagoons, and massive statues dot Thylea’s landscape. Great beasts wander her plains, and fey creatures haunt her woods. Centaur tribes war for control on the steppes, and reptilian savages battle across her islands. Although Thylea is a land with a long history, most of it has been lost.
At the heart of the archipelago the Mother Goddess, in the form of a colossal world-tree, watches over her creation. She is also called Thylea, and her true name is lost to time. Her children are Sydon and Lutheria, the Twin Titans, who dwell in the far reaches of the ocean. They are the masters of everything under the endless expanse of the sky.
The Aresian Peninsular
The eastern most portion of Thylea's main landmass. The Aresian Peninsular is home to the Kingdom of Aresia, rival to the city of Mytros and home to some of the most disciplined warriors in all of Thylea.
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The Kingdom of Aresia
The kingdom of Aresia has long been a rival to the kingdom of Mytros. The two cities have been engaged in dozens of wars over the last several hundred years, which are collectively known as the Aresian campaigns. The reasons for the fighting vary, but one thing is certain: warriors on both sides seek glory in battle.
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The warrior monks of the eastern shore are amongst the most feared fighters in all of Thylea. Their children begin training with spears from the day they take their first steps, and every adult is required to serve in the militia. Aresians spend their lives in pursuit of ‘degrees’ in schools of martial philosophy, which have been refined over many centuries of defending their borders.
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Aresian warriors cultivate an air of rugged austerity out of a sense of pride in their history, but it disguises long hours spent on beauty rituals, poetry readings, and decadent feasting. The most powerful families in Aresia are those which take the greatest pains to appear ascetic eating unspiced gruel and wearing little to nothing in public, while lavishing fine foods and luxurious garments on their servants in paradoxical and conspicuous displays of wealth. The highest caste warriors make a point of leading lifestyles that most closely resemble those of their hard-pressed ancestors.
The Cerulean Gulf
The Cerulean Gulf is the body of water that lies between The Mortal Kingdoms. It is home to countless small islands and although dangerous to traverse it is nowhere near as bad as Forgotten Sea.
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The Kingdom of Mytros
The city of Mytros was the first settlement founded by the Dragonlords. It was protected by the Goddess of Dawn and grew into a mighty kingdom after the end of the First War. It is the largest city in all of Thylea and the center of commerce, religion, and politics. The Great Games are held outside of the city once a year. The Temple of the Five stands at the center of the city, but in recent years the worship of Sydon has been growing in popularity. The Titan now has his own grand temple that stands across the street from the Temple of the Five.
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Mytros is ruled by the mighty King Acastus, the last true descendant of the Dragonlords. Acastus is revered across all of Thylea and he is the husband of Queen Vallus, the wisest of the Five Gods. Through some miraculous feat of magic, he has recently resurrected the race of dragons, which were thought to be extinct since the end of the First War. He now seeks to rebuild the ancient order of the Dragonlords and restore the city of Mytros to its former glory.
The Forgotten Sea
The Forgotten Sea is the endless expanse of ocean that stretches beyond the Cerulean Gulf. This is the indisputable domain of Sydon, the Lord of Storms. The sailors of The Kingdom of Mytros and The Kingdom of Aresia know better than to cross through the narrow straits of the Barrier Islands, because the Titan does not suffer trespassers to live. Death awaits any mortal who ventures into the territory of the ocean god.
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There are hundreds of islands in the Forgotten Sea.
The Great Steppes
Grassland stretches across the horizon as far as you can see. The sun shines down from a perfect, cloudless blue sky. A refreshing breeze blows across your skin and through the waves of green grass. The picturesque serenity of this vast, rolling landscape is at odds with the dangers that lurk in this untamed wilderness.
The lands north of The City of Estoria and across the Arkelon River are too dangerous for travel. Bands of Centaurs patrol the grasslands just a few miles away from Estoria. There have been sightings of Cyclops’ as well.
The Heartlands
The Heartlands, also known as the breadbasket of Thylea is inner part of the Thylean continent. It is here where most of the farming occurs in Thylea.
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The Kingdom Of Estoria
Estoria is an ancient stronghold that has resisted centuries of attacks by centaurs, cyclopes, manticores, and other dangers which thrive on the steppes beyond the Arkelon River. The king of Estoria is Pythor, the mightiest of the Five Gods. He rules from his palace at the highest vantage point in the city.
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From his throne, Pythor can survey the sprawling farmlands of his kingdom to the south and watch vigilantly for any new threats that might emerge from the north. Although the Estorians are considered provincials by the people of Mytros, everyone knows that the greatest warriors and adventurers of this age are forged in the service of the Lord of Battle.
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The Sour Vintage
The Sour Vintage is a traditional country inn located at a crossroads, about twenty miles east of The City of Estoria. The exterior is rustic wood painted black, and the sign hanging from the door depicts a woman carrying a basket full of grapes. Inside the tavern, a haze of pleasant tobacco smoke lingers in the air. You hear the clinking of mugs and the muttering of patrons, most of whom are farmers. It’s run by Aetala, a retired hunter.
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Temple Of The Oracle
A former temple dedicated to Sydon. This temple now serves his wayward daughter Versi, who uses it as her base of operations. Pilgrims from across Thylea travel to the temple to receive visions from Versi.
The Maelstrom
Adventurers who explore the oceans of their world to their farthest reaches will eventually discover the Maelstrom: a terrifying region of hurricanes, whirlpools, and jagged rocks. Drunken sailors often boast of death-defying encounters within the Maelstrom, but none who have sailed its waters have ever returned. Adventurers who brave the Maelstrom must spend days battling storms, skirting whirlpools, and navigating through treacherous shoals. The passage is so intense that the crew is likely to be rendered unconscious. Lucky adventurers will awaken in calmer waters, under a cloudless sky—a glittering green expanse known as the Forgotten Sea.
The Mithral Mountains
The snowcapped Mithral Mountains dominate the western horizon when seen from The Kingdom of Mytros. Travel through these mountains is considered dangerous.
The Oldwood
The Oldwood is an ancient forest that lies in the center of the Heartlands, surrounded on all sides by fields and farms. It is a forest consisting mostly of ancient oak and walnut trees. For the first century, the new settlers to Thylea cut down trees to build their farms, towns and cities. But they stopped when they reached the Oldwoods because fey creatures are known to haunt the forest. Some settlements ring the outer parts of the Oldwood such as Meos but no one enters deeper into Oldwoods except for The Druids of Oldwood.