Tirn Aill - The Other World
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Locale - Demon Whelp Caves
The caves are a natural formation from water dripping from the small mountainous area between the caves and the Tower of Four Winds. Deep below the caves lies a hideout built by the whelps under the dictatorship of Meezil. A castle built out of stones hewn from the caves themselves, this keep serves as the center of the very, very small kingdom. This keep is guarded by the strongest whelps, led by a legitimately demonic whelp guard captain.
Well beneath the entrance to the caves, there also lies a forelorn graveyard. Those buried here are a mystery, as is what befell them. Some have heard the sounds of damned souls rising up from the caves, distinct from the chatter of the demon whelps. The whelps seem not to mind, but generally steer clear of the area.
Locale - Scarborough Faire
The town of Scarborough now lies in ruins. The faire, set up along the southern edge of the smoldering remains of the town, holds most of the living refugees. While some decided to pull up their roots and move to more hospitable locations, others have remained. The faire is comprised mostly of large tents erected to house the citizens. Small amounts of commerce have emerged in Scarborough Faire. A single restaurant, a barber, a local magician, and a smith all operate from within their tent-homes.
The town of Scarborough, just North of the faire, is a burned out husk of its former self. The ruin occurred when a large group of manticores thought the town a perfect site for their new home. Now the streets and some of the larger buildings are filled with the flaming beasts preventing entry to any except the strongest and most flame-retardent adventurers.
Locale - Ferrain Forest
Ferrain is also home to other races. Trisfeln, city of Gnomes exists within the caves below Ferrain Mountain. The gnomes spend their time as many gnomes do, tinkering and digging. While not as industrious in excavation as the Dwarves, the Gnomes of Trisfeln have dug a complex tunnel network deep below the surface. The city is guarded by a combination of the strongest fighters the diminutive Gnomes can muster, mechanical combat automata, and summoned water elementals. The city is ruled by a patriarchal monarchy. Notably, the Gnomes posses one of only two working Airships in the land of Tirnaill (as well as plans, parts, and prototypes for many failures.) This airship is only used once a year for transporting the royal family to the local establishment, both to establish healthy trade and to satisfy the royal family's collective ego.
The peak of Ferrain mountain is a desolate place with little life save for some shrubs and stunted trees. The extremely rocky terrain is harsh and little soil exists for plants. It is said that the great Dragon Lord, Phirantes once inhabited the peak but has not been seen in many years.
Major Locale - Necropolis
The chief administrative duties of the dead Necropolis are performed by one...former man. Known only as the Archlich, undead slave to Karreln he neither speaks nor interacts on a physical level with any of the tens of thousand of undead minions in the city at any one time. He shambles around aimlessly wandering the city alone, undisturbed. Karreln itself (no one knows its gender in life) never leaves the mansion floating high above the city.
Most living people know that the man to talk to is Pelion if you want something done. This hell-blessed man performs the duties of minister of trade, commerce, and captain of the guard. Visits from foreign dignitaries is tended to by the...Archlich.
Foreign relations in Necropolis have been generally peaceful. Neither Karreln nor the undead inhabitants of the city are openly hostile using force only in defense. Human presence in the city is well tolerated and no undead on human violence has been reported save for some aggressive wights around the city borders.
Locale - Orc Camp
No one knows what is in the darkness of the cave. Some say their king lives in the depths for protection while others say a powerful ogre is housed as the orcs minion.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Common Races in Tirn Aill
Tirn Aill has many races that call its lands home, but some are much more common than others and tend to overshadow the less potent races. Some of the more common races that have been logged in Certhan's Library are; Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Kender (Halflings), Gnomes, Orcs, Telinarius (Ice Elves) and the massive Ogres.
Many other races exist in Tirn Aill, but are far less prevalent. Minotaur have been found in some major cities, but only a small handful at that. The Lizardman, a human sized lizard that stands upright with razor sharp talons and a tail, are found in the depths of some swamps or even a few cave networks scattered across the lands. Aroca are a rare race of bird people that make there homes in great forested regions. The Aroca have a sleek humanoid face, a wing-arm hybrid, and can be found with plumage ranging from a pristine snow white to a more mottled brown-black combination depending on where they live. Drakkar are a dragonborn race, but not many have seen the elusive race. Scholars say that the Drakkar could have been the first inhabitants of Tirn Aill back when Dragons ruled the realm, but no one really knows for sure.
Centaurs and Wemic (lion-human hybrids) have been seen far and few between in the great plains of Charmack. Trolls also make their homes along side the Lizardfolk in massive swamps, but most other races tend to disregard Trolls the most they can as Trolls tend to be quite hostile (and stinky!). Drow, Emengo (Dark Dwarves), Goblins, and the Molenese (Mole people) can be found deep in the darkest caverns. Yuan-Ti (people with the lower-half body of a snake with a snake head, and a humanoid body) are rare and sinister but can be found in a variety of places, such as the vast desert of Skyrao or in a few swamps. Nagas, the Yuan-Ti's sea fairing cousins, are found roaming some coastal regions of Tirn Aill or even swimming the high seas preying on merchant vessels and travelers.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Northern Continent of Sairen
On a smaller scale, just outside of Certhan to the northeast is Mt. Takarius which is home to the Telenarius, more commonly called Ice Elves. Zuthustra, a powerful mage, has a tower just to the southeast of Mt. Takarius nestled in a small mountain range. Far to the north of the mountian is the Valley of Daedra, a sun scorn harpy infested scar carved out by an ancient battle when Dragons were the only power on Tirnaill. Some even say an ancient blue dragon still resides within the caverns of Daedra.
There are other locations of interest on Sairen, some discovered while others lay dormant waiting to be found by worthy adventurers. Either way it be, adventure is to be had in any direction.