Varisia

Only recently settled by colonists from the Chelaxian Empire, the wild frontier of Varisia is composed of rural communities, independent city-states, cyclopean ruins, and uncharted wilderness. Varisia has no central government. It is a collection of independent city-states that each holds sway over a small collection of towns and villages, while the wilds on the edges of their territory (including most of the area on top of the Storval Plateau) is claimed by the Shoanti tribes. Varisian politics is dominated by the competing aims of criminal Riddleport, ambitious @Magnimar, and traditionalist Korvosa. The neutral Kaer Maga is often discounted altogether, and its inhabitants prefer it that way.

Geography

Varisia is a vast frontier region in the northwest of Avistan. It stretches from the Steaming Sea in the west to the Mindspin Mountains in the east and from the Kodar Mountains to Conqueror's Bay in the south. The region possesses a variety of environments within its limits, from the swampy Mushfens of the south to the flame-scorched Cinderlands on the northern Storval Plateau.

Thassilonian ruins

Countless gigantic monuments and buildings left over from ancient Thassilon can be found across Varisia. They have survived for over ten millennia due to the skills of their stone giant crafters and the power infused in them by the runelords. The most well-known of these include the Cyphergate of Riddleport, the Irespan of @Magnimar, the Grand Mastaba of Korvosa, and the Lady's Light in the Mushfens.

Major caravan routes

Many of Varisia's roads have developed from ancient routes traveled by the region's Varisian wanderers. They crisscross the region and connect most of its major cities. The Varisians are nomadic travelers and Varisian caravans are a common sight on the Varisian routs.

History

Thassilonian Empire

Over 10,000 years ago, much of modern-day Varisia was ruled by the Thassilonian Empire and its Runelords, wizards of tremendous power. This nation built enormous stone monuments to its own vanity using giant slave labor. Already weakened by corruption and warfare, Thassilon crumbled during the destruction and chaos brought on by Earthfall.

Age of Darkness

With the runelords gone, the surviving people of Varisia were left to create their own destiny. The human populations broke into clans and eventually developed into the nomadic Shoanti and Varisian peoples (from whom the land takes its current name).

Chelish expansion

Thousands of years passed, and the land and peoples became more stable; the Shoanti battled giants and orcs, while native Varisians roamed across the region and spread out across Avistan. Varisia itself was largely ignored by the empires of the south because it was simply too far away. This came to an end during the period of rapid Chelish expansion, known as the Everwar. Southern exploration of the largely wilderness region began in 4405 AR, when Chelish colonists entered the land through Bloodsworn Vale. This sparked a war between the settlers and Shoanti that last nearly a century before the Shoanti were pushed back onto the Storval Plateau and other less desirable regions. With the native inhabitants removed from the most fertile land near the coast, Chelish colonists began to arrive in much greater numbers, under the pretense of bringing "civilization and culture" to Varisia. In time the great colony of Korvosa was established.

Death of Aroden

Another upheaval occurred upon the death of Aroden and the civil war which tore apart Cheliax for decades. After House Thrune took the throne, a large part of the population left Korvosa and founded Magnimar on the southwest corner of Varisia. These two city states have since been vying for resources, though their struggle is still limited to clashes of economy and monetary feuds, open warfare is always an option. Al this, while the Shoanti grow strong in the north, and ready for war that will bring them back what they had lost.

Inhabitants

Despite being a frontier, humans are still the majority population in Varisia, although significant pockets of other races exist here as well. The humans are primarily of Chelaxian, Shoanti, and Varisian stock, with a fair number of Taldans, Ulfen, and even Tien thrown into the mix as well.

Dwarves

Janderhoff (in the Mindspin Mountains) is not only the largest dwarven settlement in Varisia, but also where the majority of local stout folk live. There they mine and smelt the ores they dig out of the ground, but can also be found throughout Varisia as underground guides and mercenaries, merchants, and hunters. Dwarven ingenuity is well-known, and is evidenced by the exotic ore processing facility called the the Gas Forges, located in Riddleport.

Half-elves

The half-elves of Varisia face a lot of prejudices from both parental races, so they often prefer the harsh life in anarchic Riddleport or even a nomadic existence with the native Varisians or Shoanti to the life in the towns of southern Varisia. Life is especially depressive in Korvosa where they tend to be the most pitied offspring of lustful Mierani ambassador Perishial Kalissreavil and a lot of bored young noble women from the Korvosan upper class.

Halflings

Halflings are a quite adaptable lot and can be found in the big cities as well as under the nomadic Varisians. Good sailors, they often came with their Chelish masters to Korvosa and make the crew of nearly half the ships belonging to Korvosa's elite. They can also be seen in Magnimar as well as in Riddleport where they often follow more shadowy ways and find great opportunities in the city's underworld.

Half-orcs

Many Shoanti tribes live near the Hold of Belkzen with constant skirmishes between orcs and humans. Sometimes this leads to rapes which could eventually culminate with pregnancy. Few of these half-orc children survive into adulthood, and fewer decide to accept the difficult cohabitation with their human cousins in some of the Varisian cities.

Other races

Varisia is also known as a "wild frontier" region and has a number of non-human populations, among them are Bugbears, Tieflings, Fay creatures, Kobolds and Aasimars.

Goblins

The most common are the goblins, who dwell here in larger numbers than almost anywhere else in the Inner Sea region. Varisian goblins are known for their adaptability to survive in any area - from the sewers of cities to swamps, mountain caves and dark forests. Varisian goblins are a pesky menace that poses danger only when encountered in groups or when united under a charismatic leader.

Ogres

The ogres of Varisia are among the most notorious in all of the Inner Sea region. Their destructive tribes serve as a type of buffer between the civilized races of the lower plains and the giants of the Storval Plateau. As civilization slowly expands in Varisia, it is only a matter of time before ogres are pushed into open warfare, but for now they are happy arguing and fighting amongst each other.

Giants

The runelords of Thassilon exploited the expertise and power of giants in order to build their monuments and buildings. Thousands of years later, countless giant races still inhabit Varisia in great numbers, although most have retreated to the less-civilized regions atop the Storval Plateau.

Dragons

Although dragons have dwelt in Varisia since time immemorial, until recently they have had few clashes with the more civilized races. As the humanoid population centers grow and expand into the wilderness, so do the encounters with dragons.

Flora and fauna

Varisia is home to a wide variety of plant-life and creatures, given its extremes in environments and geography. Its lowland forests include large trees such as oaks, beeches, maples, or birches, while forests in higher colder environments also include pines, firs and spruces. Fire Pelt Cougars, wolves and bears tend to roam these forests, while herds of deer and aurochs roam the open hills and planes. Other wildlife of varisia are the cindersnake viper of the Cinderlands, the donkey rats of the coastal area, giant geckos in the dark forests and swamps, horned spirestalker lizards of the Storval Plateau, llamas and alpacas on the mountains, and the majestic storm rocs gliding over northern Varisia. Besides the common wildlife, the varisians are known for more legendary rare creatures such creatures as Black Magga, said to dwell in the waters of the Storval Deep north of the village of Turtleback Ferry, the seldom-seen Sandpoint Devil, and the mythical Oliphaunt of Jandelay.