Cathrican Cradle

Home of the Holy Cathrican Empire

Cathrican Cradle

(Temperate Fertile Region) In the South of Hyperborea lies the continent’s most fertile land, shielded by the Dinianic and Jorgmungandr mountain ranges. The Cathrican Cradle is a region of rolling hills and lush fields in the south of Hyperborea, hidden behind the Jorgmungandr and Dinianic mountain ranges. It is a region where rivers and streams overflow with fish, and the soil yields abundantly year after year. Remarkably, even the rains always fall on time! This bounty is no accident but the result of the Holy Cathrican Empire’s theocratic control, where Church and State harmonize under the watchful eye of the Imperatori. The region's regular rains, mild seasons, and near-perfect growing conditions are maintained by druids and elemental mages who balance nature’s elements, making the region the breadbasket of the continent and the Empire which calls it home the continent's most powerful political entity.

Geography

The Cradle borders the Northeast Territories and The Lakelands regions of Hyperborea. Along much of its Northern border is an unpatrolled old-growth forest frontier called the Battlewood. Its southern territories constitute the northern shores of the Axion Ocean.

Mountains & Plains

The Cradle is hemmed in by two mountain ranges, with the Jorgmungandr Mountains forming the backbone of the Empire's territorial defenses along its northern border and the Dinianic Alps extending along its western length. In between these slopes and the coast lies a large plain in the valley of the Poh, the largest river in the Empire, which flows southerly from the Dinianic mountains to Venado Bay. At 46,000 km² (18,000 sq mi), it makes up over 40% of the total flatland in the Empire.

Fauna & Flora

Cathrican Cradle

- **Flora:**

Golden Grain is staple crop enhanced by holy magic which grows fast and yields abundantly. Each stalk glows faintly at night. It is grown everywhere in the Empire. Another typical example of Imperial thaumoengineering, Blessed Vines are climbers that spread rapidly along rivers, providing both edible fruits and medicinal herbs. Their rapid growth can be controlled easily by adjusting their watering schedule and exposure to sunlight. Found primarily in Estimonde (although a few exist in Skodia and Dyre), Sanctuary Trees Massive oak-like trees that act as natural shelters for wildlife. They have symbiotic relationships with druids who use them to house magical wards.

Fauna

Found in all of the Empire's member nations, River Serpents are harmless water-dwelling snakes with scales that shimmer in sunlight, often caught by the locals for their beautiful skins and kept as pets. The forests of Estimonde boast Feathered Deer which look like white-tail deer with small, decorative feathers along their spines, and were once believed to be divine creatures. Their antlers are used in ceremonial rituals.

Natural Resources

Agricultural Abundance

The Cradle boasts some of the most fertile soil on the continent, producing an array of crops such as *Golden Grain*, *Blessed Vines*, and other enchanted foodstuffs that grow rapidly due to magical intervention.

Holy Oils and Incense

Derived from various plants, these oils are used in religious ceremonies, as fuel for lamps, and even as catalysts in alchemical processes.

- **Medicinal Herbs:** - The region is rich in *healing plants* like *Sanctuary Trees* and other herbs used in potions and salves, valued across the continent. - **Livestock:** - The well-maintained pasturelands support herds of *Celestial Boars*, cattle, and sheep, whose hides, meat, and magical by-products (such as glowing tusks) are traded widely.

History

As long as there has been civilization in Hyperborea, it has existed in the Cradle. Its fecundity and ease of defense has seen societies here since the Yuan-ti and Lizardfolk both invoked the blessing of Solus for the swamps of prehistoric Skodia.