Sygyt

The river Sygyt is a grand river flowing through the kingdom of Gorlovoye. Its main source starts off at the mountains just north of Fort McBlutered, running south through the Gorlovoyan Wastelands, where several smaller rivers converges with the mighty Sygyt. It further travels through the capital of Abelein, where the flow continues through Lake Abel, then by the crossroad city of Triffeld, before finally flowing into the ocean by Port Abellan.

Connecting the biggest inland cities of Gorlovoye to the largest port, and connecting the Reaver forts in the north to the sea, the river Sygyt is sometimes called the "Aorta of Gorlovoye," signifying its indispensability for the country.

The word "Sygyt" can be translated as "whistle," and comes from the long-dead dialect of Gorlov, which dissipated some 4000 years ago in favor of Gardian. It is speculated that the name of the river comes from the high-pitched, howling sound it makes when it rushes through the valleys between the mountains separating the wastelands from the southern part of Gorlovoye.

Aorta of Gorlovoye

Running almost the entire length of Gorlovoye, the twists, turns, shifting currents, and overall variations in landscape would make the river inhospitable to ship traffic, had it not been for the Streamer.

by Tagla92

Streamers are mighty beasts native to the river Sygyt, and with their extreme strength and ability to withstand any current, they are able to pull most types of ships up-river. This enables all major settlements of the country to engage in trade between each other and with the rest of the world.

Changes in width makes it difficult or impossible for some ships to pass one another on the river. If a large cargo ship bound for the wastelands enters the river's mouth in the south while a passenger sailing ship leaves Triffeld to head for the open seas, the two ships would without a doubt collide and get stuck somewhere along the farmlands in-between. This problem has led to the development of the world's most sophisticated communications system, made in partnership with the Gardian Academy of Magicka, Enchantments, and Rituals (aka GAMER). Pouring an awfully large amount of evocation magic into ilmenite boulders led to the invention of Nexus stones, which are huge, stationary Sending stones capable of connecting an infinite number of times to any other Nexus stone made from the same boulder. With this invention shared by every settlement along the Sygyt, long-range communication is a non-problem, and the logistics of river transport is running as smooth as smooth can be.

As agreed upon between the countries Ortal and Gardelinden, Gorlovoye is allowed to exist as a treaty state with its sole foundation being that the Reavers will hold back the goblin hordes of the wastelands. As such, the two states make good use of the river to supply the reavers. Wares commonly being pulled up-river are cannons and blackpowder from Ortal, and food and the odd magical or alchemical item from Gardelinden.

Dangers of River Sygyt

Greencloaks of the South

The Greencloaks were an elite military regiment of scouts and rangers hailing from Blackhills in Ortal. After the Second goblin siege of Blackhills  , the wast majority of soldiers serving in the regiment deserted in favor of starting their own band of mercenaries still using the "Greencloak" name. Mercenary work quickly turned into lawless banditry, and the group fled west to Gorlovoye, and allegedly settled in an abandoned fort near Lake Argalan.

Ever since, the company of bandits has been a plague on those faring up and down the river Sygyt. Lucrative wares headed for the wastelands are desirable targets for the outlaws, who now utilizes streamers themselves to travel to and fro the river from Lake Argalan. Not settling for just attempting to rob the ships, any ship putting up more of a fight than the Greencloaks have patience for is susceptible to be set on fire. Because of this the Greencloaks have been branded as terrorists by the countries Gorlovoye and Ortal.

Goblins of the Wastelands

Being the reason for Gorlovoye's existence, goblins being a threat to all who follow the river north past Abelein comes as a surprise to no one. All ships being pulled further than the capital is required to have at least one reaver and a minimum of six trained arbalists on board to ensure the safety of streamer, crew and cargo.

While no feral goblin is intelligent enough to deduce that a ship coming up the river bears resources for those that would kill them, the mere sight of something floating on water is enough to enrage them. Any singular goblin will charge towards the waters, inevitably resulting in them being taken by the strong currents that only a streamer could withstand. Should a group of goblins spot a ship on the river, or even worse, a group led by a hobgoblin or any other greater goblinoid, they will inevitably act smarter and engage in ranged combat. Though loss of life is usually avoided aboard the ships, loss of cargo is often the result of these conflicts as it is unloaded into the river to hasten their escape.

Carach's Wrath and Sawaarre's Deluge

During winter, only the wide and shallow parts of the river tends to freeze over. Transportation of goods slows down during this time, but does not halt, as a streamer can easily break the ice with its strong legs.

by ArtBreeder

Every 20 years or so the winters are particularly harsh, though, a phenomenon called Carach's wrath, named after the god of winter. During these winters parts of the Sygyt will freeze completely, creating a dam. Water continues to flow over the dam, building more height into it. Given enough time this dam will form a thick, tall wall, disrupting the flow of the river and making it impossible for ships to pass through.

In the spring following Carach's Wrath, another phenomenon is expected to occur as the giant walls of ice melts, this time named after the goddess of spring, Sawaarre. Large chunks of ice is flushed downstream in sudden flash floods. The floods are dangerous enough by themselves, but together with the ice rocks, piers, docks, mills, and boats along the river are likely to be severely damaged.

Not counting those that are actively pulling ships during these phenomenons, streamers seems to have adapted to these occurrences, and are hardly bothered by them. With the waters freezing, they can just swim underneath. Should the river freeze completely, the sandpaper-like texture of the skin underneath their feet allows them to walk on the ice with ease. And when rapid flash floods occur during spring, the streamers are able to lock the joints of their legs to ensure that they stand fast.

Mighty Sygyt

by ArtBreeder

The river Sygyt flowing towards the mountains separating the Wastelands and the southern parts of Gorlovoye.

Gorlovoye

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Points of Interest

Abelein

The mighty Sygyt splits the capital city of Gorlovoye in half. The western parts make room for the ever-growing civilian population. The eastern part is home of the Reavers' headquarters, the royal palace. Here, overlooking Lake Abel, the reaver king sits with his elder council which tends to the daily business of the kingdom.

Fort McBlutered

Formerly known as Fort Arbas, this fortress was renamed in honor of General Rupert McBlutered who led a successful counter siege against a goblin horde that would otherwise have decimated the defenders. Though being the northernmost fort farthest from civilization, it is the best supplied one, as it sits near the source of the mighty Sygyt.

Port Abellan

A small town with a huge port, this is where the river Sygyt ends its journey into the ocean. But for ships going north this is where the journey begins. The culture here revolves around Streamer breeding and transport, and everyone and their grandma tries to profit of off it. Streamer watching, kid's rides on streamers, "Streamer Spit" being served in the taverns, and of course streamer rental for pulling ships up-river. You want anything related to these huge beasts you can find it in Port Abellan.

Triffeld

Triffeld is the largest city in the kingdom. Called the "Crossroad City" by many, this is where the river crosses the main road between Gardelinden and Ortal. Some 2000 years ago the river was shallower, and there was a ford connecting the roads. But over the course of the next millennia the river grew deeper and wider, and people had to ferry across on boats or streamers. But within the last couple hundred years the river stopped its expansion, and the worlds longest bridge was built here. Now, bridge enthusiasts from all over the world come to Triffeld to gaze upon the bridge that spans several kilometers across the mighty Sygyt.

Type

River

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