Eltcarem

Eltcarem is a large continent on Yglis. It is south of the small continent Jolsunvas, west of the continent Berechan, and east of the continent Ithriquainir.

Geography

The continent of Eltcarem is divided into three main regions: the heavily wooded Ferothi in the west, the mountainous Ankezidar in the east, and the desert wastelands of the Zegroden in the south. The natural barriers between these provinces include the Elishar River between Ferothi and Ankezidar and the Lermu Mountains between Ankeshidar and Zegroden.

Ferothi features three prominent forests, one in the north, one in the east between the Elishar and Quivik Rivers, and one in the south. The Melthair Mountains and Lake Rumile are found near the northernmost forest, and the Kainir Mountains stand between the southern forest and the Quivik River. Rising above the Melthair Mountains is Mount Eslid, an active volcano that has erupted several times throughout history. In the north are the marshes of Ik-Batir, with the northmost point on the continent, called Giants’ Crossing. Just north of Giants’ Crossing is the smaller, frozen continent Jolsunvas. The region is inhabited mainly by wood elves, high elves, humans, half-elves and some hill dwarves, mountain dwarves, halflings, lizardfolk, and forest gnomes. The gnomes and wood elves live in the forests and, while they get along fairly well, they both tend to stay away from the other races. The wood elves are particularly protective of their homelands, and this has caused some to call the wild elves. The high elves are city dwellers, with many costal cities and a few cities further inland. The humans in this region have a few costal settlements and sometimes live among the high elves, and they have a number of towns and cities inland. Generally, the high elves live more to the south and humans live more to the north, though this is not true of all. Half-elves live among both elves and humans, and are descendants of both wood and high elves, though much more commonly high elves. The hill dwarves in this region live in the hills and plains between the Elishar and Quivik Rivers. The few mountain dwarf clans stick to the mountains in this region. Halflings live in the southwestern peninsula, along with some high elves and humans. Civilization is not known to extend into Ik-Batir, though a few small villages are found along the edge, and tribes of lizardmen have been spotted from time to time deeper in the swamp. The elves are not native to Eltcarem but have made a home here just the same.

The defining feature of the Ankezidar region is the Mædenjolt Mountains, crowned by the majestic Mount Braniv, the peak of which is higher than any other point on Eltcarem. There is a large forest in the northeast, and even further east is Lake Denlow. Just inland from the eastern coast is the Vessik River. Mountain dwarves, hill dwarves, rock gnomes, forest gnomes, humans, halflings, lizardmen, and dragonborn, and at one time giants and goliaths. The mountain dwarves occupy the large Mædenjolt range, with hill dwarves living in the foothills around this range. Rock gnomes live in and around the Mædenjolt and Lermu ranges and foothills around these mountains. Forest gnomes occupy the large forest in the northeast. The halflings live in the region east of the Vessik River with some humans. Humans live mainly in the open plains east, north, and south of the Mædenjolt Mountains, but a few have moved into the mountains to live side-by-side with the dwarves. The dragonborn live in small settlements along the eastern and northeastern coasts. Many giants and goliaths lived in this region until they were pushed out by the dwarves, at which point they moved north to the continent Jolsunvas. Just off the eastern coast are the Ezimbar Islands. These islands are largely uninhabited except for some small tribes of lizardmen.

The Zegroden province is mostly rugged wasteland and vast desert. To the north are the Dragonspine Mountains, and near the center is Lake Ilshib, with the Ilshib River flowing to the southwest. Most of the permanent settlements are established around Lake Ilshib and along the northern and western coasts, although a handful of villages can be found further inland. In the south is the Grodol Craa Desert. The northeast is mostly rugged hill country. The northern and northwestern coasts have some grasslands, but that does not extend far inland. The races of Zegroden are orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, thri-kreen, humans, half-orcs, and dragonborn. The orcs, goblins, and kobolds mostly live in the Lermu Mountains and the hills south of the mountains. There they set up camps and strongholds, but no cities. The hobgoblins live in the hills as well as the Grodol Craa, where they compete for resources with the thri-kreen who also live in the desert. Humans, being the most adaptable of the many races of Eltcarem, are spread throughout the region. Some tribal humans live in the hills, often waring with he orcs and goblins. Some nomadic humans traverse the Grodol Craa, often suffering raids from the hobgoblins and thri-kreen, but raiding them back just as often. Most of the humans living in Zegroden live in the grasslands along the northern and northwestern coasts and around Lake Ilshib were there is arable land. Here they have a few cities and towns. Half-orcs live mainly in the hills where human and orc lands come together, but some move to the cities along the coasts. Although the humans war frequently with the orcs and goblins, they are occasionally on friendly terms, and it not unheard of for individual orcs or goblins to live in human settlements and vice versa. Occasionally, bands of goblins or orcs will raid the southern parts of Ankezidar. The dragonborn live in settlements along the eastern and southeastern coasts.

Carving its way into the center of the continent is the Arjulean Sea. The large island in the middle of the Arjulean is Scaal Belas, with a few much smaller islands around it. The smaller islands, much like the Ezimbar Islands, are inhabited only by small tribes of lizardmen. Scaal Belas is a somewhat hilly island with Mount Elnom rising in the southeast. The island is home to Eltcarem’s only tortle population, along with some humans and lizardmen. The lizardmen and humans occupy the western portion of the island and often launch raids against each other for food, supplies, and land. The tortles tend to keep to themselves on the eastern portion of the island. The humans respect the tortles’ desire for privacy, but the lizardmen occasionally send raiding parties to attack them. Prowling the waters of the Arjulean Sea are the merciless sahuagin.

Southwest of Eltcarem are the Saltimal Isles. The Saltimal Isles are a mixture of ancient jungles and rocky, mountainous terrain. Ancient life has been preserved on these islands since the Mythic Age, with dinosaurs and other beasts thriving in the lush jungles and hills. Some small tribes of humans manage to survive on the Saltimal Isles despite the many threats.

Type

Continent