The Golden Plain

I have heard about the Golden Plain many times during my travels across this continent. I never imagined that the homeland of the most belligerent society of the post collapse world would be so beautiful to behold. It almost pains me to remember what Helia once stood for.

— Phidi Strideheart, Traveler

Overview

The birthplace of the Kingdom of Helia was once a vast flat grassland broken up by many tributary rivers that formed in the aftermath of The Great Collapse. The Radiant City of Sol can be found along the banks of the plain's greatest water feature, the mighty Caeruleum River. Not that such a great city is easy to miss, the great city is the largest of its kind anywhere on the continent hosting the seat of government of the greatest political state seen since The Ancient Order.
While this geographical location is commonly referred to as a plain, it is also a water basin as evidenced by its many tributary rivers and streams all of which feed the Caeruleum River.

Effusis Water Basin

The soil of the Golden Plain is also known as the Effusis Water Basin, the annual flooding of which resulted in the plain having highly fertile soil every year. The Effusis is fed by mountain water from both the Silver Mountains to the west and the Valtava Mountains to the east. This water network effectively acts as a natural irrigation system allowing the plains to comfortably host a large variety of crops. Crops can include wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables, and even cotton. This wide variety of farm products acts as the foundation for the strong economy of the Kingdom of Helia. Concern has arisen among Helian farmers in recent years that the rapid growth of Sol due to recent conquests is beginning to strain the productive capacity of the plains.
Visually, the network of rivers gives the golden plains its unique appearance. Especially where wheat and grain are grown, whose golden fields in the harvest season are broken up by wandering paths of blue. The sight would not be unlike fixing a shattered golden plate with azure colored resin. Another visually fascinating feature of this plain lies closer to the city, the Pulchra Sunflower Garden. This garden had to be moved in its entirety twice as the city grew. However, the garden itself become more grand with each relocation.
Northward and beyond the fertile lands nearby the tributary water systems the plain is very much as one would expect, an expanse of grasses punctuated by small clusters of trees.

Why am I not surprised that I managed to time my visit during the rainy months? How fateful that the annual floods was the one detail I forgot when I planned this visit. No matter, I'm sure once I've tried my boots off I can explore Sol like I do any other place.

— Artur Neha, Traveler

Annual Flooding of the Plains

The Golden Plain often floods during the rainy months of late summer. The mostly flat geography (there are a few hills) allows water to flow everywhere when the rivers and streams overflow. When the water recedes, fresh soil is introduced to the plain. This fresh soil helps to fertilize the crops that have been planted earlier in the year and even accelerates their growth.
This seasonal flooding introduces two kinds of curiosities. The first curiosity is an increase in water based Magic Fields and even a Magic Storm or two. In particularly violent years, these awakened wild magic fragments can incur high costs to Helian farmers and the citizens of Sol. Sometimes a particularly strong magic storm changes the course of several tributary streams and rivers. The second curiosity is that the flooding sometimes reveals strange objects dating from the The Ancient Order. Helian authorities are quick to grab up these items. What Helian authorities do with these newly discovered artifacts after securing them is kept a secret from the general populace.

Ancillary Settlements of Sol

While the Kingdom's priority is in the continued growth and glorification of their radiant city, the plains are dotted with several encampments. These encampments are military in nature and are the sites where newly conscripted soldiers are trained in the art of war. Other encampments are largely staffed by civilians and are focused on maintaining the large crop fields surrounding Sol. They also act as way stations for goods coming in from other places on the continent. Additionally, these way stations also help in processing newly assimilated peoples from freshly conquered lands before they finish their journey to Sol.

Alternative Name(s)

Effusis Water Basin

Type

Plain

Location under

Continental Island of Lluvia

Included Locations

• Cliffview Castle

Owner/Ruler

King Vimak Helia III

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Helia

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Common Flora

• Sunflower
• Apple Trees (farmland)
• Various Grasses

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Common Fauna

• Wildebeest
• Cayote
• Prairie Dog
• Pronghorn
• Swift Fox

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Typical Magic Fields

• Aqua
• Aero
• Igni

Note(s) from the Archivists:

It seems insane that this one geographic area can sustain a city like Sol. - Archivist Edward
So it has thus far, but the continued rapid expansion of the city may be its downfall someday. - Archivist Savitri