
The Geography Of Elhal
Elhal is made up of four kingdoms and the wasteland known as the Demon Lands. Each kingdom has its own unique geographical and cultural features which have an influence on those who were born and raised there. Below is a summary of each of the kingdoms and their major regions:
Vaasari
Known as the Glacier Lands, the majority of the population lives on the Great Northern Glacier, on the northern most boundary of the continent. Their cities are built on massive stilts along the fringe of the glacier. Their livelihood revolves around fishing and commerce. The southern portion of the kingdom is a tundra rimmed by a evergreen forest along Kotkala’s border.
Kotkala
A temperate region boasting the largest amount of fertile land in Elhal. If it can be grown or cultivated, it will be found in Kotkala. The people of Kotkala are adept in agriculture and forestry and are able to use the land to sustain themselves as well as provide much of the grain and wood used throughout Elhal.
- Western Forests – Dense forests made up of enormous pine trees housing vertical communities. These communities span many trees and are connected by high walkways providing the people protection from the various wild animals and occasional bandits that roam the forest floor. Those who live in the Western Forests are known for being master woodworkers and persuasive traders, getting the best market prices for their crafts.
- Eastern Plains– Vast plains of grain occupy the East. Among the fields of grain are a mix of farming towns and major cities. These cities once held libraries and universities which rivaled those what made up Aerlean, the Imperial Province. Eastern Kotkalans range from very simple folk to highly educated and cultured.
- Olmkala – The westernmost part of Kotkala has been lost to legend, when all travel into the Deep Forest was banned by the Empire generations ago. Olmkala was the original capital of ancient Kotkala, but was lost to the curse of a Necromancer.
Stammiglin
Known for its vast mountains and cold climate, Stammiglin is the most difficult kingdom through which to journey. This makes the people of Stammiglin more isolated than any of the other kingdoms, leading someone from Stammiglin to identify themselves by the city of their birth rather than by their kingdom. This isolation has also made ruling the mountainous kingdom difficult, resulting in a collection of city-states in a loose confederation.
- Mountains – Stammiglin’s vast mountains are rich in ores and precious stones. The mountains contain large cities built into their sides whose populace mine and trade the ore throughout the kingdom. These mountain cities are often ruled by family clans.
- Plains – At the eastern foothills of the great mountains are band of towns. These towns contain some of the best blacksmiths and jewelers in the kingdom. They trade with the mountain cities to obtain ore and supply them with finished goods.
Monatobe
An arid, hardpan region, laying in the shadow of the great mountains of Stammiglin. The bulk of the population resides on the southern coast, which is lined with coastal cities. The middle of the country is the cradle of the All Father religion.
- Coastal – The coastal cities contain both great shipyards and trading hubs. The population of these cities are worldly from their exposure to people from every kingdom. They are also strong fishermen with the best of the warm water fish coming into their harbors each day.
- Central – A vast temperate desert dotted with small villages and towns. There is a large population of nomads who roam the region living on the scant resources the land provides. Caravans cross these lands connecting the coastal regions to the plains of of both Stammiglin and Kotkala.
Demon Lands
Formerly known as Aerlean, and once the Imperial Province containing the throne of the Empire, these lands are now a twisted shell of their regal past. The presence and magic of the Demons have destroyed these lands. Today it is mostly a wasteland dotted with sinister flora and strange and corrupted fauna which prowl the wasteland.
- Humans – The towns and cities, which predate the fall of the empire, are now all walled for protection against the fierce creatures that dwell on and below the surface. Humans born in the Demon Lands are often physically twisted by the cursed land. In addition, the harsh living conditions have reduced man to his most base survival instincts. Barbarism is common, and the most desperate areas have been reduced to cannibalism.
- Demons – The Demon Lands are also home to the Demon King and his Demon Princes. Each Prince rules one of the major cities in the Lands from his large palace known in the demon tongue as Ensho. The Demon King rules the former capital of the Empire, now known as Ebon Spire, for the large tower from which the Demon King rules. In the Northern lands is the Demon Forge, an immense fortress, which houses the infernal machines which create the Demon Soldiers and their demonic weapons.