fuck yeah cartography!

wrathofkyuss:

OKARTHEL

Great Cliffs:
The Great Cliffs loom over Okarthel, great slabs of rock that seem to touch the sky. despite their name, the Cliffs are really mountains. Dragons are said to roost here, and small colonies of Luca have been found on the high peaks. Beyond the cliffs like The Walks, a snow-covered land as dangerous as the beasts that call it home, from the small White Kobolds to the massive Rime Hounds.

Rime Walk:
Rime Walk is the most dangerous of the three Walks - Winter Wolves dwell here, hunting for prey over the windswept ice. Frost Giants are said to visit the Walk to try and capture Rime Hounds as mounts, and many a Frost Giant bears scars from their foolish attempts to train the wild beasts. There is rumoured to be a palace of ice in the middle of the vast Walk, where the Raven Queen sometimes comes to stay. No-one has ever gotten deep enough into the Walk to prove this and returned.

Civipmunsou Walk:
This narrow Walk slithers between the Colbalt Mountains and the two cities of Petisse and Sjnórveil, and the Iceforged Ruins rest on its borders. This walk is hardly travelled, despite being one of the faster routes from the cities to the mountain, due to the high population of Wendigo.

Kaldra Walk:
The most-used Walk, Kaldra Walk is a mineral-rich plain of soft snow and hardy winter plants. The Glacé people have mined and hunted here for many years, and networks of old mineshafts sprawl beneath the snow, carefully reinforced against the crushing weight of the winter snows, having never once collapsed.

Cobalt Mountains:
A pair of mountains that rise up in the centre of the Walks, the Cobalt Mountains are rich in ores and gemstones, making them popular for mining expeditions. However, there is a legendary beast said to dwell in the peaks - a huge Cobalt dragon - that keeps away all but the toughest miners seeking the mountain’s unfound treasures. Still others have come to slay the dragon for her horde, but all have been easily dispatched by the ancient wyrm.

Petisse:
A small village, Petisse is largely inhabited by White Kobolds, but White and Silver Dragonborn are not uncommon. The people here revere the Raven Queen, for death is easy up in the Walks, and one must not tread so loudly around her. Petisse is host to many very skilled armourcrafters of many kinds, from cloth to heavy plate, and many people will even brave the snow and ice to come and commission a piece of wondrous armour.
* Mad Wolf Inn - the Inn/Pub in the city. The Armourcraft guild gathers here every other night. Has special chilled rooms for and Glacé visitors
* Jagd Karin - The largest armour workshop, where many of the best crafters work and live. Also sells special robes that resist or hold in cold.

Sjnórveil:
 A fairly sizable town, especially for its location, Sjnórveil is actually quite loosely populated relative to its size. Most space is instead populated with impressive, automated structures, and massive workshops. An Artificer’s guild is located in the town’s centre - and fittingly, most of the population practice the profession. Some of the highest quality artifices and components originate here.
 Because of the unique physiology of the town’s primary inhabitants - the Glacé - however, much of the town may come across as uninhabitable to the average humanoid race. Other, very cold resistant races such as White-dragon descended Dragonborn and Kobold have been known to make their home here, however as most buildings are completely unheated - and in some cases colder than the exterior air - it can be a difficult place to work.
 The town boasts two inns - one built of typical Glacé specifications, and another constructed of imported materials allowing the interior to be heated to more manageable temperatures without buckling, cracking or outright destroying them. There is also a wing of the Artificer’s guild built similarly, connected through the inn, split from the primary guild building with an ‘airlock’ to regulate temperatures between them. The town also boasts a small airship port to facilitate travellers who may have difficulty traversing the harsh mountains.
* Ísinn Dansari - A Glacé pub known for their alchemically ultra-chilled drinks in all varieties of alcoholic strength.
* Loginn Ganga - The pub located within the inn of the same name, and the go-to spot for visitors of Sjnórveil. Similar ultra-chilled drinks are available here, however most require release forms due to possible side effects to warm-blooded physiology.
* Vélrænn Kónguló - The town’s premier artifice shop, this sprawling shopping centre is filled to the brim with clockwork doohickeys, steampunk doodads, and artifice whatchamacallits. Top of the line technological wonders are easily available here, so long as one can pay.
* Sjnórveil also boasts an expansive library, filled mostly with dry mechanical texts. If one wishes to know how something works, they can probably find out how, here.

Iceforged Ruins:
A long-abandoned stronghold, the Iceforged Ruins have since become a nest for monsters seeking shelter from roaring blizzards. The crumbling ruin also seems to be a magnet for rogue constructs, many having diappeared into its icy depths over the many long years it has been abandoned. Very few adventurers bother with it, due to the difficulty in finding the entrance under shifting snow, and the powerful monsters said to dwell there.

Darastrix:
A small city not far from the Great Cliffs, Darastrix is a city of crafters: fine weapons and beautiful armour can be bought here, provided one has the cash.
* The Joyous Serpent - the largest pub in Darastrix. Known for the fine Honey mead passed down through the owner’s family for generations.
* Jewelled Claw - the large magic arms shop. Specializes in weapons and armour crafted from dragon parts.
* The Wand and Amulet - A place where one can buy and sell magic symbols, spellbooks, and other holy and magical relics.
* Other places that can be found in Darastrix include a Rogue’s Guild, Temple of Moradin, Library, and a Dragon Hunter’s Guild.

Rhyaex:
A hunting city, Rhyaex is often visited by those wishing to compete in competitions and sport hunting. Some of the best hunters in Okarthel trained here, and most people who live here can wield bow and dagger. There is a large Rage Drake ranch out the outskirts of town, all carefully trained to serve as mounts and workbeasts, some of the most expensive mounts in Okarthel, due to the difficulty of training them.
* The Kind Fox Bar - A large pub. Men can be found drinking here often after particularily good hunt. Has some of the best food in Okarthel.
* Rhyaex is also home to a large meat trade, as well as a Hunter’s Guild and many bow ranges.

Ocuir:
A medium-sized town buried in the forest, Ocuir is home of many Shifters and Elves. It boasts an impressive defence system, protecting it from wild beasts. Two outposts of Ocuir are a day’s travel into the woods in two directions, serving as hunting bases and places for lost travellers to find refuge. Ocuir is home to many Drow refugees from the Triple Goddess War.
* The Silver Feather - A bar/inn/performance area all in one. Attracts Bards from all over.
* There is also an impressive hospital in Ocuir, where many of the healers from Vivex come.

Vivex:
The bustling capitol of Okarthel, Vivex is a massive walled city full of merchents, peddlers, and thieves, and is the birthplace of many poets, mages, architects, and other artists. A glistening marble tower rises from the centre of the shining city, serving as a temple to the Goddess Emiline, a clinic built into the bottom. Recently, many skilled Healers and Clerics have come from Vivex. A Griffin farm has been run outside the city for as long as anyone can remember.
* The Laughing Cat - The most famous bar in Vivex, its a massive place, with three towering stories, the top two of which are an Inn.  The bottom floor is busy nearly all year round, bursting with travellers and artists.
* The Ensorceled Staff - A massive marketplace that sells the most exotic of items.
* Vivex also plays host to a Temple of Erathis, Artisan’s Guild, Magic School, Bard’s Guild, Airship bay, Opera house, and many smaller temples to other gods.

Lilrix:
A good-sized city, Lilrix trains warriors. They are known for their Fighter’s Guild. Lilrix was used as a base for the forces of the Moon during the Triple Goddess War, and still houses many of the veterans of the devistating conflict.
* The Dirty Spoon - a bit small and shabby, but friendly bar. Serves excellent food and is known for their buffets.
* The Cat’s Tail - a large Inn. Rooms are cheap here.

Vaessi:
This distant city keeps to itself mostly, and the inhabitants are rumoured to specialize in the shadowy art of Necromancy. There has been no proof to this claim, however.

Xiiva:
A small fishing Village, Xiiva doesn’t have much to it beyond a large fish market. Holds annual festivals for fish, with much food, drink, and dance.

Darathram Tower:
This great silvery tower reaches high into the sky, and is a place where Paladins and Invokes, as well as other divine heroes, train. The tower is a temple to the Father and the Daughter, Bahamut and Emiline.

Arcaniss Ruins:
These magical ruins have been around for longer than Okarthel has been a country, and no-one knows fore sure where they came from. One legend says that the stone circle that is all that remains of whatever stood here was once a place where the Primordials channelled their power. A ruined temple behind the circle holds a path to the Underdark.