MIGMA, the northernmost, cold weather region of Lemurua. It stretches from the continent's northern edge south to Lake Serene.
The northern portion of Migma, especially in the west, is tundra. Taigas stretch out on either side of the mountain that splits the region, particularly to the east. The very southern band of the region is temperate forest.
Locations:
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Alisdre, the
Lexian capital in Lemuria. It is a Migman superpower, controlling a large portion of commercial trade in the western portion of the region. It is ruled by King Shurik II and Queen Natalya, his former Pale attendant. Though it employs an enormous workforce composed of Lexians, Noraageans, and even the occasional varul, its permanent population is almost entirely Lexian. It is a large city whose heart proudly showcases Lexian
architecture, especially the
palace. There is an unusually high rate of disappearance in and around Alisdre that cannot be explained by the harsh environment.
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The Brume, the great deciduous forest north of London and Ness, and south of the Wolf Woods, is named for the
thick fog that blankets the forest canopy. The fog occasionally
drifts down to the understory or forest floor, impeding sight and blocking out the sun's rays. The center of the Brume is ringed by a
deep swamp, home to crocodiles and darker horrors that seek to drown those who attempt to pass through, as well as an elven village that uses the hazardous terrain to protect itself from the Brume's vicious wildlife. The branches of the trees are wild, thick, and twisted enough that a skilled climber can traverse much of the Brume without touching the ground. Due to fae magic, time flows roughly ten times more slowly in the Brume: a full day inside is equal to two and a half hours outside. Travelers are advised to keep a watchful eye; nothing in the Brume is as it seems, and even a harmless flower could be a deadly killer.
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Caeldonum, a city of marble that sits atop the northernmost mountain on the Bladeback Ridge. The city is rich in divine magic that permeates the walls and floors of the city, granting it and its inhabitants protection from the bitter cold of far-north Migma. Magical wards prevent creatures from teleporting too and from the city, though extraplanar travel will still allow creatures to reach its borders. Caeldonum is populated primarily by the divum, but those who brave the cold climb to the mountain-top are welcomed into the city.
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The Cloak & Dagger Tavern, a seedy little bar in the heart of Sund used as a hub by many thugs, mercenaries, bounty hunters, and other ne'er-do-wells.
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Eski, a rural Noraagean town in eastern central Migma. It is one of the few Noraagean settlements in Lemuria with little to no Lexian influence due to its proximity to the Wolf Woods. Though the average Noraagean despises
varuls, those from Eski grudgingly tolerate them due to a need for trade routes near, through, and into the Wolf Woods.
- Frostbane, one of the twin northernmost outposts of the Draxons. It is said that only the best of the best soldiers come forth from Snowmourne and Frostbane. Frostbane specializes in engineers, weaponsmiths, and pyromancers.
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Glavnya, a cool, barren island off the coast of southwestern Migma. Its only settlement is the port town of Holm, but this may change one day. The goods being delivered to Holm as of late suggest the planned construction of a fortress or castle.
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Hemstod, the only standing town within the Wolf Woods. It is the heart of varul culture and policy in Lemuria. It is remodeled frequently due to the destructive fights that often result from this.
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Holm, a Lexian port town on the southern tip of Glavnya. It is used for storage and stockpiling. The materials to supply, repair, and even build large ships are kept there by the Lexian navy. One day, it may be the point from which all long-distance vessels set sail, their cargo delivered by short-distance, lower-manpower ships from the mainland. It also houses a bank to protect sizable portions of Alisdre's wealth and dry food supply should something disastrous happen to the Lexian capital city.
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Klif, a cliffside Noraagean-Lexian settlement on the western coast of Migma. Its economy is maintained by the harvest of the sea birds that nest below it. Eggs are collected and meat dried as long-lived foodstuffs. Feathers are gathered as a luxury export that can be used as pillow stuffing or to make expensive cloaks, coats, and hats. Though both sell well throughout Migma, it is not a wealthy town. This is due to being forced to used Alisdre as a middle man. It does not have the manpower or technology necessary to ship its goods, so they are delivered to Alisdre for broader dispersal.
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Maledict's Tower, a seemingly forlorn watchtower found at the edge of the island Boror. However, legends say that this watchtower once belonged to a fearsome necromancer determined to awaken a creature referred to as the Black God in ancient tomes.
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Ness, a Noraagean-Lexian fishing town. It was established with the intent to be a port, but the areas to both the north and south were too dangerous to sail, so it converted to focus on harvest rather than transport. The Lexian-controlled town farthest from Alsidre, it is somewhat autonomous.
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Neospiti, the Lemurian capital of Vournoros dwarves. Hugging a mountain, this
beautiful city begins in a valley and rises in layers to overlook the taigas beyond its walls. The snow of these boreal forests is kept at bay with he fire magic of the healing class. It has enormous courtyards for running military drills and housing refuges, indulging the Vournorians' talents in both warfare and medical care.
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New Yion, an island off the northeast coast. Its northern half is dominated by
cold mountains, the largest of which is the majestic Mt. Zhi, while its southern half is characterized by temperate hills and
misty mountains. It is the Lemurian home of the Yionese, a secretive group of humans from the far east of Arken. While they were already isolationists on their homeworld, on Mundus they have become recluses, with almost no contact with the mainland. New Yion has a population of over 580,000.
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Prarieinfach, a goblin town on the temperate plains between Sund and London. It is noteworthy for its unusually high density of hobgoblins, no doubt because of the similar density of amorous humans to both the east and west.
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Snowmourne, one of the twin northernmost outposts of the Draxons. It is said that only the best of the best soldiers come forth from Snowmourne and Frostbane. Snowmourne specializes in infantry and cavalry.
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Sund, a large settlement in south-central Migma. It began as a Noraagean town, but attracted people of all kinds due to its ideal location, protected in the north by a mountain and in the west and south by a river. It is also situated very close to Lake Severe. It is the largest and most hospitable of Migma's Noraagean-founded towns, particularly after a safe path was established between it and London. It has become something of a getaway, with artists who publicly create and sell landscape pieces and portraits, massage parlors, acupuncture houses, and brothels. Taverns and inns there are profitable.
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Vik, a Noraagean-Lexian port town in southeast Migma. Because Noraageans come from a flat world with no large oceans, they have no experience seafaring. Lexians have taken advantage of this and made themselves the only option to Noraageans that want to need access to the ocean. Vik is not as well off as it was in the days before airships made intracontinental travel easier, but it is still one of the largest contributors to Alisdre's wealth.
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The Wolf Woods, the home of most of Lemuria's varuls. It is distinct from the woodlands around it due to its pitch black pine trees. This variety of tree is apparently native to Noraage. It is among the largest continuous non-tropical forests in Lemuria, stretching so large it is splint between temperate forest and taiga. Besides varuls, it is refuge to many large-bodied, cold weather creatures such as
boreal bears and
tawny wolves. The latter sometimes live alongside varuls.
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Zanli Academy, a
palace-like structure in the heart of southern New Yion, protected on two sides by mountains and on one side by a lake. It was originally a place for young magicians to learn about their capabilities, and still is, with a student body of almost 20,000 and well over a thousand staff members, but it has also become a major seat of power in governing New Yion since the imperial family was left behind. No one person or group has power anymore. Decisions are now made by a diet of school officials, community leaders, and agricultural heads.