Map 37 - Losnivania

[Amonite]

Terrain notes:

The country is wetter and more humid in the south, while higher and more dry in the north. Temperatures range from warm to quite hot except at high elevations.


NE - Perhaps the greatest variance of terrain is in the NE of the country. The land next to the see is sandy with hardy shrubs, rising sharply to a plateau capped by a series of buttes. Copper is prevalent in this region. The southern portion of this that juts out as a peninsula into the sea is higher, craggy, and has a natural terrace type formation as it declines towards the sea, ending in some high cliffs. This is the primary territory of the Nivian goat. On the other side of the plateau region; inland NE; a flood plain is framed by the large NE river. A large mesa rises from the midst of this flood plain, and some mudflats can be found to the south of it. (Not wanting to waste a single natural resource, the Losnavinians use th emud for trade in clay and cosmetics)

E coast: For the most part, besides some low cliffs, the land descends to the sea. Navigation in these waters is far from simple do to high winds and rough currents. Merchant ships must follow carefully planned sea charts, which they guard jealously. The high winds form a somewhat natural barrier against invasion, but they also keep the land from becoming a complete desert.

SE: A rainforest region. There are no major cities in this area, but plenty of small settlements. There are also some medical research centers that comb the biota of the rainforest for new plants and insects to use in vaccine development or healing balms.

SW: The terrain rises sharply, the mountains forming a natural barrier with the country to the SW. Tea is grown in these slopes, the humidity lending the black tea a rich, almost green tea character much like a Darjeeling.

Middle Country: While home to its share of small forests, valleys, and western hills, the land is mostly a vast steppe. The largest cities are in this region along the rivers and ports, and there are countless settlements, ranches, and farms.


Island (Loas): The island is mostly a sandy desert, with some more tropical greenery on the east side. There are no typical cities, but the great Arcology of Souls is a densley populated, self-contained structure home to many mages, scientists, and questers. The 'Well of Souls' is at the base of the arcology.

The Whirlpool: To the NE of the Island of Loas is a permanent whirlpool. Legends surround it - it's the maw of the World Dragon; it's an eddy of the River of life which sucks souls into the well; it's the penalty for magic use; it's a portal to another world; etc. Locals call it "Corana" (Which means vexation, because it renders a vast chunk of ocean un-navigable and plays havoc with the wind).

[Amonite]

A bit about the Well of Souls:

Many countries claim to be home to the Legendary 'River of Life', and Losnivinia is no different in that regard. However, for the Losnivinians the emphasis is on -life-, not a physical river. Those living on the island of Loas claim that all life flows in an endless invisible 'river' about Guildword. Those who die return to the river, those to be born come from the river. The Well of Souls is said to catch the souls that burn brightest before they can return to the great River of Life.

While it is natural that the denizens of the Island charge a great deal of money for the souls of ancient warriors, poets, kings, etc - one cannot claim a soul for merely money. The denizens of the Arcology of Souls demand elaborate quests be fulfilled before a rare soul is handed over. [What people do with these souls, they don't really care. The soul will get back to the river eventually].

Magic-oriented children of Losnivinia are very fond of tricking visitors into buying 'crystilized souls', which are really just pieces of titanium ore or copper ore that have been placed in the vicinity of a spell and so now look 'rainbow-ish'].