Serpé
Serpé, the northernmost continent of Aland, has always been a harsh land to live in. Even before the war, the winters were cold enough to freeze the unprepared and its wildlife was deadly. For the Serpéan nations that called this continent home, there was a beauty in it that they loved and respected. Every Serpéan, from the highest noble to the lowest peasant was able to see past the dangers of their homeland to see its beauty and serenity. The night sky was always crystal clear, providing an unfiltered view of the stars and all that was contained within the heavens. During the summer, the snow would melt and reveal the lush green grass of its verdant fields and the towering pine trees of its forests.
It has been several thousand years since Serpé has looked anything like this, however. Not since the Great Serpéan War began. After over 2,000 years of constant warfare, Serpé has been transformed into a barren wasteland, a battlefield littered with bodies and cities in ruins. Where once large forests stretched across the land, now all that is left are charred remains and fortifications from which the factions continue their endless war.
The sky during the day, once clear, is now perpetually overcast and grey. The sun is rarely seen in this part of the world now. At night, the stars are barely visible, not that there is much time for star-gazing for the people of Serpé when they could catch a musket ball to the neck at any moment.
Geography
Today, the rolling hills and mountains can still be seen across Serpé. But where there was once lush grass and snow-capped peaks there is now just mounds of mud, blood and ash. The very tops of the mountains can no longer be seen above the grey, cloud-filled skies. The lakes and rivers, once fresh and teeming with life, are now murky and unsafe to drink without being filtered. There is no sign of the natural beauty that this continent once held as the factions of Serpé have devastated it in their quest to control it.
Fauna & Flora
While most plants and wildlife have long since died out, there still remain a few weeds and scavengers that were able to weather the almost apocalyptic climate. Plants the likes of the Black Root or Blood Hops can be found across Serpé, utilised by the soldiers and the Gebrochen in their rations. They spread aggressively and will actively kill any other plant that locals might attempt to introduce into the ecosystem.
Amongst the wildlife of the continent, dangerous creatures have evolved and adapted to their wasteland home. Creatures such as the Battlefield Beetle and the Grimmig. The beetle, an insect that has grown to the size of a medium-sized dog, is an omnivore that is never far from active warzones. The Grimmig is a large bird with ebony feathers and amber eyes. It features in many of the Serpéan's horror stories as it has been known to pick off soldiers one at a time and carry them to their nests.
Natural Resources
While wood is in short supply, the forests having been chopped down or destroyed long ago, forcing the factions to import more from Bastique, Serpé is known for its plentiful mines. Due to their ever-growing need to access more resources as fast as possible, great mines and quarries are present in the territory of every faction.
From these mines, along with ores such as iron and copper, Serpé has access to an abundant source of sulphur, saltpetre and coal, from which the Serpéans create the gunpowder for their weapons. Gunpowder is one of their most highly protected resources and is what ultimately brings merchants from Bastique coming back in their attempts to use it to make their fortune.
History
Much of the history of the continent that predates The Great Serpéan War has been lost and forgotten. All that is left to its people is the war itself. From famous First Generals that led their faction from one victory to the next, to infamous dissidents that worked against the factions. Notable battles that swayed the war effort in one direction or the other are recorded by each faction. But for every decisive loss or victory, for every distinguished leader responsible for a defining moment for their faction that is recorded in history, there are a thousand more that are not.
Tourism
No one visits Serpé from outside unless they want something. Merchants from Bastique may travel all the way to the wartorn continent, but they are only there to trade with the local factions and once that business is done they leave as soon as they are able. This is not just because of the war or the inhospitable nature of the land, but also the distrust and aggression the Serpéans feel towards foreigners.
While they might not be welcome, each faction views the foreign merchants as a necessary evil. As such, the merchants have been provided with a small embassy, little more than a poorly built shack, where they can stay and conduct their business. Despite the difficulties faced by any Bastique merchant who wishes to trade with the Serpéans, they still insist on making the trip due to the wealth that they can attain in doing so.
Alternative Name(s)
The Deadlands, Purgatory, The Land of War and Hate
Type
Continent
Related Ethnicities
Inhabiting Species
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