Ignia Geographic Location in The Crossroad Realms | World Anvil

Ignia

Entering the realm is like stepping into a Red Dragon's maw, and is especially dangerous to visitors from colder climates. Its scorching atmosphere, pervasive volcanism, and other natural defences are the Realm's ultimate security, bolstered by the magic of the Burning Sultanate of Ignia.

Geography

Ignia's "landforms" do not contain earth, except near the edges of the Fountains of Creation, where minerals such as basalt and obsidian are more abundant. Throughout Ignia, the solid areas are either burning coals, piles of ash, or slower-moving sections of lava. Like many Realms, the physiology of Ignia is in flux, and exact distances are difficult to chart, even on the more solid areas.   Its lakes, rivers, and oceans, which are much more abundant, are either fully-liquid lava or a form of liquid fire native to the plane. This flowing fire has no current, but moves in the direction of fuel. Thus, Ignia's rivers are constantly changing course and shape, and are impossible to create permanent maps of.   The Realm dissolves entirely into a molten ocean along its western border, which eventually cools into a plateau beneath the The Great Conflageration on the shores of the Misty Sea below Auria. Some islands remain steady here, and specially-made ships sail among them. The southern reaches of this sea would share a border with Baator, were it not for that realm's dimensional displacement.   The northern borders cool somewhat into the volcanic mountains and hot desert of Primus' southern reaches, and the eastern and southern borders are highly-volcanic mountain chains that continue into the Fountains of Creation as well as the southern realms of Gehenna and Hades

Localized Phenomena

Ignia's Realm Magic keeps the entire region under perpetual heat. The same Realm Magic is responsible for the lava flows never cooling into solids, and for the weakened power of spells which call on any form of water or chill.   Beyond its ever-burning abilities, the flames of Ignia are renowned for their beauty. Due to the alchemy of gasses in the air under constant heat, along with some help from the Realm magic, the fire here burns in every color. Some fuels burn white-hot, while chemical solids and gasses light up in shades of blue, green, purple, or even black. Even the warmer tones such as gold, yellow, orange and red span their entire colour spectrums, creating an incandescent rainbow.

Climate

The sky in Ignia is often obscured by clouds of smoke and incendiary gasses, especially in the western reaches where the The Great Conflageration rises in a huge and constant ash shroud. Pockets of superheated steam occasionally burst, sending scalding water to instantly boil away on any surface—or creature—it lands on.   Weather here is hot and violent; firestorms and fire tornadoes, as well as burning rain and gusts of scorching wind are common, while rain and snow are unheard-of. The heat is so intense and constant that it can be difficult to see over long distances because of the rippling distortion of heat waves.

Natural Resources

The fire of Ignia burns forever, covering but not consuming its fuel. Such a resource is in high demand, but getting it to work outide of Ignia's realm magic is no easy matter.

History

In the time of the Old Empire, Abenean Prosvenati archmages opened a gate directly to Ignia, and asked the Grand Sultan and a Salamander lord of the Cinder Wastes for help in conquering the other nations of Primus. In exchange, they offered use of permanent portals to be set up in each territory, as well as a share of the spoils.   The elemental lords agreed, and the rapid spread of the Abenese Empire is still marvelled at today. However, when it came time to make good on their promises, the Prosvenati swiftly reneged on the arrangement. They used magic they had prepared in secret to cast out the Efreeti armies, whose usefulness had expired. However, their spells failed to expel the more corporeal Salamanders, Azers, and other members of the armies.   This miscalculation cost the empire dearly, and was instrumental in its eventual fall. The armies of flame were only expelled back to Ignia through the cooperation of Kossuth, the god of fire.

Tourism

Despite the hostile natural environments, Ignia has a steady flow of traffic from other Realms. The bulk of its visitors are from Baator, Gehenna, and Hades, whose denizens are accustomed to heat. However, by the grace of the Grand Sultan, species from colder climes can travel to the City of Brass as part of trade caravans—provided they come bearing suitably extravagant tribute befitting the stature of the Grand Sultan.

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Cover image: Plane of Fire by Andy