The continent of Verden is the primary setting of the LA Chronicles.
A large continent -- taller than it is wide -- partially divided by a massive sea. The climate is largely temperate.
The Lalvican Sea
The central heart of Verden is the Lalvican, a huge inland sea that was allegedly formed by a geological catastrophe in prehistory. It is peppered with small islands that have long been home to pirates, smugglers, and misfits. The northern and southern regions of Verden maintain maritime shipping lanes to transport goods, as the overland route is a long journey filled with administrators who happily collect regional tolls and fees.
The easternmost section of the Lalvican connects to the ocean beyond, but the water narrows to form a natural choke point that has often been exploited by pirates and official navy vessels alike.
The Tor-Denma Mountains
Verden's northern mountain range is known for its intimidating snow-capped peaks, biting cold, and extensive glaciers. Numerous agricultural villages can be found in the fertile valleys at the base of the mountains, but the only settlements that exist above the treeline are a handful of secretive monasteries. Explorers have never been able to fully map the heights of the mountains, as they are home to dangerous beasts and even deadlier terrain. Monster hunters can make a tidy profit protecting villages from stray beasts.
The Interior
The fertile interior of Verden exists between the mountains and the sea. Over seventy percent of Verden's population lives in this region. Massive cities like Van'Duras and Olimandias are centers of commerce and industry. Farmland dominates any land that hasn't been eaten up by urbal sprawl. The "inner curve" of the Lalvican Sea is dominated by port towns and maritime trading hubs.
The Innagos Desert
The Taj-Nar Mountains form a network of arid canyons and a desert on the southern edge of the Lalvican Sea. The coastal city of Plentrich is the only major settlement in the region, with buildings engineered to optimize airflow and passively vent heat. "The Desert" itself is dangerous to explore without a guide, with most travelers sticking to well-established caravan routes. Rumor has it that the canyons are home to forgotten ancient temples.
The Taj-Nar Mountains
The southern mountain range of Verden is shorter and more well-traveled. Volcanic activity is far more plentiful here, and so certain areas are off-limits to sensible travelers. Wyrms and dragons will often nest here, especially along the mountain peaks that are closest to the desert. The westernmost area of the Taj-Nar Mountains is home to the range's tallest and most treacherous peaks. And supposedly a subterranean kingdom of violent raiders.
