The Emberglade

[Bonito 2264]

The Emberglade

 

 

A region of sweltering heat and a vast presence of wildlife, the Emberglade is a reminder that nature is not something to be trifled with. Here lay the bones and fossils of creatures that once were, and hidden still, what survived in the dark.

 

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The Expanse

 

Towards the southeastern province sits a wide area of land that stretches before the eyes. The savannah: a vast grassy plain bathed in golden hues. The tall grasses sway and paint a landscape of green and yellow that extends across the terrain. They form a lush, undulating ecosystem that rolls and dips towards the horizon. Scattered across the savannah are groupings of trees, solitary or in small clusters. Their trunks and branches are adorned in thorns and foliage, providing sporadic patches of shade. These and the steep, stone hills break the monotony of the grassy expanse.

 

The savannah is home to what’s expected, with zebras and gazelles grazing the fields and elephants lumbering through the land. Ostriches, with their long necks and powerful legs, strut across the plains while predators blend into the surroundings. Lions may be spotted resting beneath the tree shade, and cheetahs slithering through the grass. Towards the north, near the hills, one can hear hyena calls bounce off stone. Here the expectations end. Among the native animals linger the remnants of a forgotten voyage: animals from the cold north to the sweeping jungles. Forever displaced, it is not uncommon to spot a Rimetroll wandering through a gathering of hippos or a rhinoceros trading blows with a minotaur.

 

Above, the sky stretches wide and blue, interrupted only by clouds drifting by. Seasons here do not occur as they typically do. There are no summers or winters, but instead wet and dry seasons. This is observed in the terrain. During the wet season, the grasses are lush and vibrant, reflecting a deep green color that blankets the land. In contrast, the dry season brings a transformation. The grass withers and goes golden, creating a stunning contrast against the clear blue sky.

 

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A Fragmented Kingdom

 

Many moons ago, a fleet of merchant vessels departed from Vectra on a journey to Aeldin. The Dragon’s Egg Alliance, a guild of merchants who specialize in exotic creatures, was transporting a wide variety of animals when they were caught in a hateful storm that swept them off course for seven days. They shipwrecked on Aevos, but the lucky ones were swallowed by the sea. It was here on the savannah that the surviving merchants and their wares landed; beasts of every size and shape, from the winged and scaled to the hairless and pale. 

 

It was decided by the merchants they would come back for their game after being rescued, but the ships never came. Before long, no amount of gold could save them from the hunger of their animals. The greedy men were made meals by the creatures they had stolen from their homes, but their mistake would not end with them. To this day, many of the same creatures and their cubs roam the land, disrupting the delicate ecosystem of the savannah. In the modern era, this place is recognized as a challenge for the seasoned hunter. It is common for poachers to wander weeks through the savannah, searching for rare hides and trophies. It is even said the dormant eggs and offspring of animals not seen for centuries hide here.

 

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Votar’s Prize

 

 

It is said among the diaspora of beasts that were let loose in the emberglade, one Scaleback Despot nearly threatened to wipe the entire ecosystem. Known as kings of the Vectran forests they originate from, this predatory Scaleback was larger than any elephant, and bore rows of great teeth that could tear into stone.These creatures stand on their two hind legs, and while their front arms are small, they make up for it with keen sense and lethal bite.

 

 It was on the shores of the Emberglade that Golag landed, an orc exile of clan Lur with a task bestowed unto him by a shaman priest of Votar, spirit of the hunt: slay the beast and be welcomed back home. It took less than a day for him to locate his foe. Unsurprising, for the Despot with its crimson skin resembled a moving, scaled tower more than it did the animals of the savannah. Golag prepared various traps and tools, but they would not be enough. Golag knew this. As did a lesser spirit of Votar, who had been observing the orc’s relentless dedication to his duty. One evening against the warmth of a bonfire, the lesser spirit answered Golag’s prayers with a blessed horn and a gift of endurance that would match his dedication to seeing this beast felled. What the orc gave in exchange, however, has been lost to time, leaving many to speculate.

 

On the first day, Golag laid only meager scratches on the beast, marks that it would forget after leaving the orc for dead. This only emboldened him. He recovered and licked his wounds and struck again and again. For weeks he would strike and the Scaleback would ravage him, only for Golag to mend his injuries and return. He did not tire. He could not. Golag could see that his attacks were starting to have an effect, he was wearing the Scaleback down little by little. The beast knew this too, a clever thing, and sought to put an end to this pest. During one last confrontation, Golag hunted relentlessly for three days, until at last the Scaleback staggered and collapsed from exhaustion and its injuries. Tragically for the orc, his own wounds were too great for the journey back.

 

On these foreign fields so far from home, Golag passed on under the moonlight. Yet his legend is carried on by shamans and hunters alike, tales of his struggle against an insurmountable obstacle inspiring many. It is believed that during full moons, one can still see Golag traversing the Emberglade in search of the mightiest beast to challenge.

 

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OOC Information

 

The Emberglade is an open region for players and ET to run DIY events without concern for regional beasts, as well as a potential place for forgotten and rare creatures to be reintroduced through events.