The Western Peninsula
A harsh, inhospitable land, and home of the berstock tree.
Located to the southwest of Bandoor, The Western Peninsula is the home of The Sampalan Kingdom. It is most known as the location of this kingdom, which has risen around the highly valuable Berstock Tree
It is connected by a small strip of land, named 'Gredan's Strait' (named for King Gredan who founded the kingdom), to the continent proper.
The peninsula is a harsh and inhospitable environment, both due to it's climate and its denizens. The bulk of the land is difficult for humans to live on. The lowlands, and generally the first thing that greets travellers coming across Gredan's Strait, is thick and humid jungle. There aren't really discrete jungles across the peninsula, rather they are thought of as one large entity, the Serphon Jungle. Towards the centre of the peninsula there is a steep incline, and gradually the trees thin out, and the landscape becomes much more cold and harsh. These Warres Mountains, are frigid cold even as the land below them is deathly hot. These mountains offer a something in the way of a haven to humanity in the form of the city of Warres. Even here, the landscape is harsh, and there is a tense relationship between the people and the nearby frost giants. Warres is the home of King Guster Sampala, and the capital of The Sampalan Kingdom. The thick jungle disappears into steep mountainous regions in this same fashion around the perimeter of the continent as well as at its centre, in that the entire continent is ringed by mountainous regions, with the exception of its western coast - the location of 'The Sister Cities', the ports of Perron and Gestan. The other major cities on the peninsula are squeezed into the small areas which are the most hospitable, generally they exist at middle elevation of the various mountain ranges. The 'Satellite Cities' of Noor in the north, Morten in the south and Lesten in the east are all built into the mountains surrounding the continent, slightly lower than the inhospitably cold and snowy peaks up high, and slightly higher than the inhospitably hot and humid jungles down low.
The peninsula is a harsh and inhospitable environment, both due to it's climate and its denizens. The bulk of the land is difficult for humans to live on. The lowlands, and generally the first thing that greets travellers coming across Gredan's Strait, is thick and humid jungle. There aren't really discrete jungles across the peninsula, rather they are thought of as one large entity, the Serphon Jungle. Towards the centre of the peninsula there is a steep incline, and gradually the trees thin out, and the landscape becomes much more cold and harsh. These Warres Mountains, are frigid cold even as the land below them is deathly hot. These mountains offer a something in the way of a haven to humanity in the form of the city of Warres. Even here, the landscape is harsh, and there is a tense relationship between the people and the nearby frost giants. Warres is the home of King Guster Sampala, and the capital of The Sampalan Kingdom. The thick jungle disappears into steep mountainous regions in this same fashion around the perimeter of the continent as well as at its centre, in that the entire continent is ringed by mountainous regions, with the exception of its western coast - the location of 'The Sister Cities', the ports of Perron and Gestan. The other major cities on the peninsula are squeezed into the small areas which are the most hospitable, generally they exist at middle elevation of the various mountain ranges. The 'Satellite Cities' of Noor in the north, Morten in the south and Lesten in the east are all built into the mountains surrounding the continent, slightly lower than the inhospitably cold and snowy peaks up high, and slightly higher than the inhospitably hot and humid jungles down low.
Geography
The peninsula can be divided simply into its dense, humid jungle regions, and its steep, cold, mountainous regions. These mountains form the perimeter of the continent, with one further range immediately in the centre, with thick jungle lowland filling in the remaining space.
The mountains surround the peninsula, bordering the sea, on all sides except a small portion of the west, in which the land directly borders the sea (the location of the two port cities Perron and Gestan). This makes it difficult to move any produce out of the peninsula by sea, other than through these harbours - necessitating long and arduous treks through the jungle from the other cities. The people of the city of Noor, to the north of the peninsula, have developed a tunnel system through the mountains to a small harbour to the north, making it easier for themselves. Numerous rivers run through the peninsula, both from the ocean to the west and from the mountains that surround it. It is rumoured that there is a large network of fresh underwater rivers as well. The Western Peninsula is a beautiful dichotomy of nature, with representation of its harshest extremes of climate. The wildlife is diverse, numerous and wondrous. However, its beauty hides the harsh and often fatal conditions, and for the humans who make their home there, life is not easy by any means.
The mountains surround the peninsula, bordering the sea, on all sides except a small portion of the west, in which the land directly borders the sea (the location of the two port cities Perron and Gestan). This makes it difficult to move any produce out of the peninsula by sea, other than through these harbours - necessitating long and arduous treks through the jungle from the other cities. The people of the city of Noor, to the north of the peninsula, have developed a tunnel system through the mountains to a small harbour to the north, making it easier for themselves. Numerous rivers run through the peninsula, both from the ocean to the west and from the mountains that surround it. It is rumoured that there is a large network of fresh underwater rivers as well. The Western Peninsula is a beautiful dichotomy of nature, with representation of its harshest extremes of climate. The wildlife is diverse, numerous and wondrous. However, its beauty hides the harsh and often fatal conditions, and for the humans who make their home there, life is not easy by any means.
Fauna & Flora
The jungles are home to a variety of different creatures. At their thickest, to the south of Noor, the jungle is home to the Lizardfolk, the largest non-human civilisation in the area. The jungle is also home to gnolls, orcs, and other tribal creatures who exist throughout. As well as these humanoid tribes, there are numerous wild animals, all of whom have been known to be ferocious. Attacks on human properties are common from the various creatures of the jungle.
The mountains are no less dangerous, home to frost giants at their highest peaks, as well as various native territorial creatures.
The mountains are no less dangerous, home to frost giants at their highest peaks, as well as various native territorial creatures.
Natural Resources
Most notable is the Berstock tree, which is the foundation of the economy of the humans who live there and why they brave the harsh conditions. The trees are enormous, deep rooted gnarled and twisting things which strech well into the canopy of the forests they occupy. They regenerate remarkably quickly, meaning that trees can be mined almost infinitely.
The sap from the trees is used in a variety of alchemy, and can contribute to both powerful poisons and healing salves. It can also be mixed with arms and armour to make it unnaturally light.
The bark of the trees can be ground and added to arnour to strengthen it without making it significantly heavier, and can even be added to building materials and other wood.
Various criminal elements have also found uses for both bark and sap, in the form of illicit drugs of various types.
The trees are unmeasureably valuable, and have made their masters rich for eternity.
Type
Peninsula
Location under
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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