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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5323304" data-attributes="member: 92511">Geography & political regions IIThe United Island Kingdoms of Tanku:The remnants of the once great Empire of Tanku is nothing more than a collection of islands off Orea's southeast mainland. It is essentially a fusion of African and Polynesian cultures turned into a maritime power. They are renowned across Orea as great captains and mariners. Their quiet contemplative nature and often stoic demeanor have led to the folklore that the Tankuans or "Islanders" (as they are sometimes collectively called) can commune with the surf and wind on which they spend much time.The practice of arcane magic is forbidden, on pain of death, in the Islands. Tankuans who venture beyond the coastal ports of the Orean mainland will be very wary, if not outright fearful of mages. The depth of their superstition (i.e. "sorcery is EEEEEVILLLL") is such that most (respectable) Tanku ships will not, under any circumstances, do business or take cargo or passengers to the wizard lands of R'Hath.Ruled by the chief-king from the largest island of Tanku, itself, the other major islands (each with their own Chief ) that comprise the "United Island Kingdoms" are Ulba, Dalram and Omduppo with countless smaller isles among/between them allied to one of the larger islands. The people of the islands range from bronzed/caramel skin to the Tanku proper who are gleaming black. Their hair is generally tightly curled and ranges from black through all shades of brown, often with sun-streaked golden highlights. Eye color is black or brown with rare occasions of grey. Some tribes have been known to sport straight (though still black) hair a particular tribe, the Dalrami, have been known to have bright emerald green eyes.The Principalities of R'Hath:R'Hath exists on a large penninsula in the northeast of the Orean continent, secluded from the rest of the realms, by land, behind the Zarcha Mountains. R'Hath is broken into 4 major principalities: Serion, Krallia, Zarcha each ruled by a "magelord" or "primagus" and the principality of Nator ruled by the Archmagus Imperius, Emperor of R'Hath (and supposedly the most powerful magic-user on the planet). Within each of these realms are multiple smaller territories each with its own "mage-prince" forever vying to increase their power and gain favor with their magelord.The population centers include: the tiered fortified port-city of Ablidon (where most trade and goods come in and leave R'Hath), the academy city of Flin where magical research and knowledge, including a massive library, is furthered by magic-practitioners and sages from across Orea, the tower-city of Sorcerel, Invono another port in the north on the Emerald Sea, and the Archmagus' palace-city of New Enchans.Politically, I tend to think of this as a feudal Japan kind of set up. But the people are not asian in appearance, being an amalgamation of all other Orean peoples due to the formation of R'Hath as a refuge for magic-users during the dark years following the Godswar known as the Lost Ages which included a period called the Mage Wars. So a R'Hathi human can look like just about anything in the realm of human possibility...except asian since there is no asian-appearing human race on Orea (anymore <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />.Non-humans are fairly prevalent in the "Wizard Lands" particularly those who use magic, so elves and gnomes mostly with some zepharim. There is also a druid-hold in R'Hath called Moonglade, straddling the principalities of Krallia and Zarcha. This forest is definitely the most highly magical, both in location and denizens, of the Ancient Order's forests. Gorunduu:The plains and tundra extending to farthest northern reaches of the realms of Orea, terminating at the Worldcrest mountains, is known by the indigenous peoples and learned of Orea as Gorunduu. This is the traditional home of the barbarian clans of Orea, the Gorunduun. There are 7 clans each with a totem animal, special clan weapon and somewhat individualized cultures. Culturally, definitely going for a tribal Norse/Beowulf kind of feel feel with some American (North and Central) Indian undertones.The Gorunduun as a whole have no permanent population centers though the trade-city of Steppe sits along the eastern edge of the plains on the Emerald sea, though the magic-shy barbarians dare not cross the sea to the mage lands of R'Hath. The people that live there permanently, however, are not strictly Gorunduun but may be a mix thereof. The Gorunduun clans are hunters, trackers and particularly fierce warriors.The Gorunduun are generally larger than other mainland humans, broadly muscled and powerfully strong (male and female) with an iron will than is rarely overcome. Standing at 6 foot+ tall (rarely less), the Gorunduun are generally light haired and eyed. Blond/blue is the most common combo. Though dark blonds, light to medium browns and darker eyes are also possible).While there are rumors of a race of "ice dwarves" in the Worldcrest mountains and legends of "snow elves" hidden among the sparce forests, the Gorunduu is essentially a human and wild realm with heavy doses of giants and goblinoids in various areas.</blockquote>

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