Gliniswari

Written for Prompt 1 (2019 Summer Camp)

Written by David_Ulph

History

The origins of Gliniswari's unique natures are steeped in Bludalfar culture and mythology, as it is though that this was the area where Thorolf cursed his peoples for his own immortality. Thus, as the Alfar under him turned to Bludalfar, the land itself unnaturally warped into the crimson sight it is to this day. It is thought that because of the immense godly magic which was performed in the region, that is why the black soil seems to be so rich in the minerals needed for bountiful harvests every year.

Geography

Gliniswari is the centrally-west region of Mylrondia. The region borders Lionmidden to the west, the Mistwall and Mistlands to the north, the Back of Terralba mountain range to the south, and the Royal Vale of Hakswari to the east.

This far north in Terralba, the air feels bitter with locals thankful for the lack of wind over the entire region giving it an eerie coolness. For some unknown reason, every single sunset seems to give Gliniswari a red glow over the entire region. During night, when no clouds are in the sky, the moon shines over the region, illuminating the flowers.

The geography of Gliniswari is unique in all the lands of Terralba, with dark black soil and crimson red grass stretching for fields and hillocks. Scattered throughout the fields not used for agriculture are spots of pure white flowers that contrast with the red grass. The entire region seems circular from the centre, where you can ride for 3 days before you rise up a red hill and go back down the standard foliage of whatever region you enter.

The centre of Gliniswari is a large forest known as the Redpine Woods. The trees reach up into the sky, with wide and rich canopies casting pitch black shadows the deeper one travels in. The lack of wind apart from extremely light breezes causes the trees to stand stoic and lifeless.

Flora & Fauna

Large flocks of deer flit in and out of the ruined hamlets. Rabbits and goats can also be caught, poached and eaten all over the flatlands. While there are no Beastfolk, Gliniswari is plagued by spirits such as wraiths (especially with the rich and cursed history of the location) and leshen (especially in the mysterious Redpine Woods).

Some Nangal Vampyres, usually seen only in the Mistwall lands to the north of Gliniswari, can be spotted stalking prey during the night, and it is thought that deep in the heart of the Redpine Woods a coven of the savages hide in the constant darkness.

Civilisation

There are more ruined hamlets and villages than settled towns and cities in Gliniswari, harking back to all the rich histories of the region. These ruins are dotted with small cairns and offerings to the dead resting and restless, as well as various shrines and holy places dedicated to almost every God worshipped before the Twilight Cataclysm.

The relative open flatness of the land allows for civilisation of Gliniswari to be one of the few regions on Terralba to not have the need for walled settlements. This also allows the peoples to take advantage of the extremely rich black soils and have acres of safe farmlands seen nowhere else on Elgerlia except possibly on Slinzir in the Faar Isles.

The closer to the Redpine Woods one travels, the less populated the region gets, due to the innate fears of magic in Bludalfar culture. This causes the forest itself to be populated purely by wide animals and small conclaves of cultists seeking worship outside the eye of civilisation. The closer one gets to the Redpine Woods, the more of the Arassaic Faith becomes a majority religion. Non-cultists, hermits, bandits and madmen, that live on the borders of the forest are some charcoal-makers that spend the year working their craft and selling supplies once or twice a year in the towns around the edges of Gliniswari.

Alternative Name(s)

The Red Fields of Curses

Type

Region

Location under

Mylrondia