Post by Duma on May 27, 2017 4:32:49 GMT
Valentia, the United Kingdom
Also known as the “One Kingdom” even despite the presence of the much smaller kingdom of Sanctuary in the eastern desert. Valentia is a massive kingdom that nearly spans an entire continent. Though it was once heavily divided into two halves, Rigel the name of the northern half and Zofia the name of the southern half, since it was united by King Alm I it has stood as a powerful yet mostly peaceful realm for several centuries.
That said, political divides have begun to arise once more...though the focus here will be on the geography that makes up the northern and southern halves of Valentia.
Rigel Fiefdom
Peace in the North
Rigel stands north of the border, of the twin sluice gates and the ancient aqueducts that run beneath it. While standing as the northern half of Valentia Rigel itself is divided.
To the west the region is significantly more mountainous, and more heavily populated. A variety of villages along and at the base of the mountains. Larger towns can be found on the outskirts of the thick forests, consisting primarily of coniferous trees, that dot the landscape away from the mountains, and when one travels north of them they're met with great fields of snow...most of the year, anyway. The land is cold and the soil hard to till, as a result farming doesn't do as well in Rigel as it does in the south.
Despite this the people of the Rigel fiefdom thrive. Lumber is excellent, for Rigel's forests are massive and its trees hardy. Rigel's mountains are rich with stronger and rarer ores than the mountains in Zofia, and as such mining is a booming industry to the north, as well as smithing. The vast majority of the Valentian Army's weapons and armor are forged either in Rigel proper or with Rigelian metals. The water that runs from the mountain springs is fresh and crisp as well.
The east, however, is a bit different. The mountains do not stretch far to the east, and neither do the forests. Instead the east, particularly close to the border, consists of either plains or deep bogs. Swamps that release gasses the likes of which would kill most plant-life. Some trees and plants do thrive in such areas but nothing like the great forests to the west.
North of the swamps the area isn't nearly as cold as it tends to be to the west, but still cooler than the lands of the south. The coast is far easier to reach with less snow and forest to bar the way, and many ancient structures dot the land before the rocky north-eastern coast, the Archaneum being the most famous of these structures.
Zofia Fiefdom
Lovely South
The south has been described as a completely different world from the north, but that is a touch of an overexaggeration. Zofia still has some of Rigel's mountain range in it, and it does have its share of forests and woods but they aren't nearly as dense, and Zofian trees don't grow quite as tallsave the God's Tree. However Zofia has roving fields, ravines, flower beds, hills of green, and significantly better farmland than Rigel.
Given the warmer temperature Zofia is able to grow a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. Their forests are easier to navigate and hunting is seen as a significantly easier process than it is in the thick Rigelian forests. To the far south the seas bring forth a more favorable bounty, whereas the northern seas of Rigel do not offer the same onslaught of fish in return. Further still the Zofian fiefdom has access to better received ports, bringing more business from Archanea to the east than Rigel.
Of course, most of this applies solely to the far south and the western halves of Zofia. The north-eastern half of the fiefdom mostly consists of the border between the One Kingdom and Sanctuary, which lies deep within the eastern desert. Sanctuary and Valentia have had a healthy relationship for many a year, with Zofian crops and game being almost essential to the continued survival of Sanctuary's people.
Also known as the “One Kingdom” even despite the presence of the much smaller kingdom of Sanctuary in the eastern desert. Valentia is a massive kingdom that nearly spans an entire continent. Though it was once heavily divided into two halves, Rigel the name of the northern half and Zofia the name of the southern half, since it was united by King Alm I it has stood as a powerful yet mostly peaceful realm for several centuries.
That said, political divides have begun to arise once more...though the focus here will be on the geography that makes up the northern and southern halves of Valentia.
Rigel Fiefdom
Peace in the North
Rigel stands north of the border, of the twin sluice gates and the ancient aqueducts that run beneath it. While standing as the northern half of Valentia Rigel itself is divided.
To the west the region is significantly more mountainous, and more heavily populated. A variety of villages along and at the base of the mountains. Larger towns can be found on the outskirts of the thick forests, consisting primarily of coniferous trees, that dot the landscape away from the mountains, and when one travels north of them they're met with great fields of snow...most of the year, anyway. The land is cold and the soil hard to till, as a result farming doesn't do as well in Rigel as it does in the south.
Despite this the people of the Rigel fiefdom thrive. Lumber is excellent, for Rigel's forests are massive and its trees hardy. Rigel's mountains are rich with stronger and rarer ores than the mountains in Zofia, and as such mining is a booming industry to the north, as well as smithing. The vast majority of the Valentian Army's weapons and armor are forged either in Rigel proper or with Rigelian metals. The water that runs from the mountain springs is fresh and crisp as well.
The east, however, is a bit different. The mountains do not stretch far to the east, and neither do the forests. Instead the east, particularly close to the border, consists of either plains or deep bogs. Swamps that release gasses the likes of which would kill most plant-life. Some trees and plants do thrive in such areas but nothing like the great forests to the west.
North of the swamps the area isn't nearly as cold as it tends to be to the west, but still cooler than the lands of the south. The coast is far easier to reach with less snow and forest to bar the way, and many ancient structures dot the land before the rocky north-eastern coast, the Archaneum being the most famous of these structures.
Zofia Fiefdom
Lovely South
The south has been described as a completely different world from the north, but that is a touch of an overexaggeration. Zofia still has some of Rigel's mountain range in it, and it does have its share of forests and woods but they aren't nearly as dense, and Zofian trees don't grow quite as tall
Given the warmer temperature Zofia is able to grow a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. Their forests are easier to navigate and hunting is seen as a significantly easier process than it is in the thick Rigelian forests. To the far south the seas bring forth a more favorable bounty, whereas the northern seas of Rigel do not offer the same onslaught of fish in return. Further still the Zofian fiefdom has access to better received ports, bringing more business from Archanea to the east than Rigel.
Of course, most of this applies solely to the far south and the western halves of Zofia. The north-eastern half of the fiefdom mostly consists of the border between the One Kingdom and Sanctuary, which lies deep within the eastern desert. Sanctuary and Valentia have had a healthy relationship for many a year, with Zofian crops and game being almost essential to the continued survival of Sanctuary's people.
