The Exiled Lands

The Exiled Lands were not always the Exiled lands. A relative backwater compared to the affairs of the world, it was largely forgotten and was not actually assimilated into the Achaemenid Empire. Thinking it a barren, inhospitable badland, the Empire dumped its unwanted people there, not realizing it was already inhabited. It is a land of lost history and strange peoples.

History

Before the rise of the Zayif people, the mountains and the regions north west of it were known as Hrolgar's Holding. It was one of the few regions of Jhanin that were not conquered by the Kyn before the invasion. Though the Kyn empire of Rouran tried multiple times to take the mountains, they were ultimately unsuccessful. The heads of Hrolgar had no love for their southern brethren who had been conquered, and were content to hold their mountain homes, as well as the verdant lands to the north west. Even during the Invasion the Dwevan hid in their mountain homes and hoped to simply outlast the terror.
Though they remained largely untouched by the Invasion, Hrolgar's Holding faced other threats in the years following. On their western shores Humans fleeing the Shadowlord began arriving. These fertile, largely unguarded farm lands were ripe for the picking. The Dwevan attempted to push out the invaders, but the Humans retained access to their dark technology, and eventually the Dwevan were forced to let them keep part of their land. As the First Winter approached however, the Humans continued further in. Cut off from their own food supplies, and facing both Humans and the devastated remnants of Rouran from the south, Hrolgar's Holding fell.
Since then, the lands have largely been forgotten by the world at large. The Humans who settled there developed into the xenophobic, eccentric Zayif people who prospered and warred among themselves. Thus, it was not terribly surprising that the Achaemenid Empire began exiling its prisoners here, expecting them to die without any shred of civilization.

Geography

The Exiled Lands compose of much of northern Jhanin, primarily the areas West,North West, and North of an isolate ridge of the Kynpeaks. Though once fertile farmland, much of it has been reduced to wasteland. Still during the summer years lush jungles spring up along three great rivers: the Araatan, the Zovlonti, and the Brovaat.

• The Araatan River: The northern river is known for its fierce beasts. It is also known for its plentiful supplies of fish however, making it the hub of many successful exiles.
• The Zovlontoi River: The southern river is notorious in the Exiled Lands for being haunted. Stories from fishermen, explorers, bandits, and tradesmen alike support these legends with eerie tales of strange lights dancing upon the waters, blood-curdling cries from what could be lost souls, and mysterious sightings of shapes rippling in the lake’s dark waters.

During the Spring and Fall years these Jungles encompass expand to considerable albeit unreliable size as the main channels flood from the heavy rains. The land is dotted with Dwevan and Zayif ruins, with crumbling Almaz transmission towers sending rays of light across the sky.

Alternative Name(s)

Zayif, Hrolgar's Holding

Type

Plain

Location under

Jhanin

Owning Organization

Zayif Nation

Contested By

• Achaemenid Empire
• Kasuf Clan

Characters in Location

• Lefter Hoxha
• Malika Saryx
• Olegon Saryx
• The Exiled Shadowlord