The Tearlands

Written by EmberMagic

The Tearlands are a small archapeligo, teetering on the western precipice of the Island where the ocean spills over into the void that surrounds this world. These islands are possesed of great natural beauty but no sane creature dares to venture into them because of the magical curse that overtakes anyone who is foolish enough to visit. The name given to this accursed place by the tribes of the Kra'shal mountains pretty much summs up these islands: "Where Death Weeps".

Geography

The Tearlands are, essentially, on the edge of the largest waterfall in this world - the worldfalls. This cascade of water over the edge of the world is where the central ocean of the Island pours out into the void. The islands themselves are all very small, the largest ones being no more than a few miles across. The terrain itself of the Tearlands wildly varies in elevation, with cliffs and small mountains being a staple of these islands, however, they are not as inhospitably rocky as this might suggest, but rather lush and full of plant life. Attempting to sail to the Tearlands is a dangerous venture beacause of their proximity to the edge of the world. The worldfalls create a strong current that can easily drag a ship off into the void.

Ecosystem

The local environment of the Tearlands can best be described as a jungle, however, the foliage is slightly less dense than in an ordinary jungle, making the terain easier to traverse. The Tearlands are eerily empty of animal life, giving what should be breathtakingly beautiful scenery an ominous feel. Without the sounds of birds chirping and insects buzzing, it is impossible for someone to miss the fact that something is seriously wrong with this place. And, if the abscence of life wasn't enough to tip them off to this fact, then the strange whispers of weeping carried in the wind will definitely show them that something is inherently broken in this place and all people will notice its unnatural stillness.

Localized Phenomena

A supernatural sorrow pervades the air of the Tearlands, filling those who visit with a crushing melancholy which only heightens the longe they spend there. The effects of this are very similar to the symptoms of widespread plague called the Weeping, which is thought to have originated in the Tearlands. This phenomena is thought to have been caused by an ancient magical disaster, so poweful that its warping effects have lasted centuries.

Fauna & Flora

At first glance, the Tearlands appear lush and full of life. With a second glance, they appear dead and empty. But, with a third look, a more sinister truth emerges. Silently stalking the cliffs and shores of these islands are a particularly malicious brand of undead creatures named "the sorrowful ones". They appear to be incorporeal wraiths, blue tinted echoes of creatures that once were. That is, until they attack. Then they are a terrifying sight to lay eyes on. Appearing more solid and real, the tears pouring from their eyes become visible, along with their expresssions - twisted in a pure misery that is so heartwrenching to behold, that some people cannot bear to look at them for more than a split second without becoming incapacitated with a deep, soul crushing woe of their own. The peculiar, disturbing weeping that can be heard in the Tearlands is made by them.

History

The catastrophe thought to have had the sorrowfull effect on the Tearlands was a part of the fall of the ancient empire that once spanned the whole world, that existed so long ago that its name is long forgotten and those who dwelt in it are now just known, simply, as the Old Ones. Nothing concrete is known for sure about this event, but it is thought that there was a magical accident, resulting in a tragedy so great that its sadness remains, staining the land all this time later. The exact date of the tragedy is not known but, it was, at least, over a milenia ago.

Alternative Name(s)

Where Death Weeps, The Worldfalls, Lands of Sorrow

Type

Archipelago

The Tearlands vs. The Worldfalls

Although the terms "the worldfalls" and "the Tearlands" are often used synnonamously, there is a distinction. The worldfalls are the treacherous stretch of ocean bordering the western edge of the Island where strong currents threaten to pull ships over the edge. The Tearlands merely occupy a large section of the south of the worldfalls. A common misconception about the naming of the Tearlands is that it was named this because the waterfall over the edge of the world looks like the world is crying, however, this belief was only really held by people who refused to believe in the strange magic of the Tearlands, the number of whom have declined due to the prevelance of the Weeping.