Llyne ((Lean))
The current capitol city of the The Faith Keepers, Llyne was once a simple, uninhabited island found to the far east of Tregaron. During the feudal era, humans were driven in a mass exodus that lead to them fleeing overseas in hopes of finding a new home, safe from the war scarred realm of their homelands.
What they found was Llyne; a fairly cold land with somewhat harsh conditions, but in time, mankind claimed it as their own kingdom, with the holy Church of Aine being given supreme control over the continent.
Geography
Llyne is made up of vast mountain ranges taking up the heart of the country. Ever since The Pit formed, the mountain chain became a far more crescented shape at the center, leaving a massive valley spanning towards the sinkhole at the heart. Many people of Llyne find this suiting, as it provides the perfect entryway to the greatest city across the human kingdoms.
Most of Llyne is made up of pine forests dotting the landscape, with a few exceptions made to the artificial plains and massive meadows that were made shortly after humans landed upon the isle. The taiga and tundra take up most of the northern country, and what sections that weren't hilled highlands or clearcut by man is mostly made of pine forests.
Ecosystem
Thick fur pelts to keep warm throughout the year, with dense layers of fat to protect predators and keep their survival against the competition. Llyne's ecosystem is a bit of a rough one due to a variety of reasons, with fairly large creatures found living within it. Across the Tundra for example, are the powerful Plowhorns; enormous deer that grew oversized antlers. They form roving herds to defend each other from their predators, with their prodigious size more than capable of fending off attacks from greater dangerous.
Predators frequently compete with each other for prey; with some often even going out of their way to hunt or attack other predators. Such is the case for the Worg, which dwell within the forests. Worgs are known for their rapacious appetites and hostility, lashing out at just about anyone and anything that happens to catch their attention. Their large size leads to them being capable of hunting just about anything, though this comes with the downside of constantly hunting. They estivate during the warmer months, developing a thick, white fur during the winter that allows them to lay low in wait for their (typically dangerous) prey. Worgs are frequently called 'the predator of predators', due to their common prey being other predators that happen to wander out at winter -- or in many circumstances, unlucky humans that kick them along the way through a thick layer of snow.
Due to size being a factor, and due to the danger of massive predators, animals have frequently developed a herd or pack mentality throughout Llyne's ecosystem. Plowhorns, Elk, and small game like rabbits often stick together due to the increased chance of survival through numbers. Creatures like the Tundra Wolf, for example, have pack mentality due to the massive size of their prey.
Biological Cycles
During the winter months, many animals develop a winter pelt; a fur coat that helps insulate them from the snow, and also provide camouflage due to its frequency. The coat is pale, stark and white on most animals. Certain animals have evolved to estivate during this time due to a certain niche they fill during the wintry month. Many herd animals migrate down south during the summer due to the dense foliage and lush meadows that begin sprouting throughout the southern half of Llyne. During the winter, they migrate north after grazing to feed upon anything that may be left within the tundra.Flora Cycles
Meadows grow lush with a variety of greenery that provides a notably colorful view. Lavender is a very popular plant found throughout Llyne due to its importance in manufacturing incense; as a result, it isn't too uncommon for manmade meadows of lavender to be found throughout farmland.Fauna & Flora
Worgs
Rapacious, savage, and constantly hungry, these massive beasts skulk low with a frame that hides most of their bulk against the ground. They have long, toothy mouths that are often compared to a trap, designed to clamp and keep still of whatever prey unfortunate enough to catch them. Their massive claws also allow them to burrow, dig, and keep themselves safe within the snow, while their shaggy fur often collects dense snow to leave them blending seamlessly with their environment. They are also incredibly bulky, surprisingly fast, and much to the dismay of any prey unfortunate enough to be pursued by them, really good climbers. A worg attack often ends in a death, with exceptions only given to those prepared enough to deal with them.Plowhorns
Plowhorns are found within the tundra, but can sometimes be seen in migratory herds that make their way through the woods during the summer season. They are massive creatures that can stand on an average of 7 feet at the shoulder. Plowhorns are incredibly aggressive towards those that aren't welcome within their herds, a behavior adapted from the harsh, hostile environment they live in. Their massive antlers are also known to scoop up smaller threats, which they use to shovel aside with ease, hence the term 'Plowhorn', referring to their tendency to quite literally slam into hostile creatures before lobbing them off to the side with ease.Llyne Wolves
Wolves are a notorious pest throughout Llyne due to their size in both numbers and height. They, like much of the other fauna across the isle, have adapted to deal with competition with size and strength, while also utilizing their numbers to overwhelm larger prey, such as the Plowhorn. They typically skulk around the woods during the summer and winter migration season, mostly due to the fact that migratory herds of Plowhorns and prey are much easier to isolate and overwhelm within the forests.The Flora
Throughout the entire country are massive pine forests divided by snowy marshes, taiga, and a tundra far north. Most trees within Llyne are conifers and evergreens that do not change colours throughout the seasons. Lavender is a notable herb found throughout the meadows and grasslands, sprouting in brightly coloured, purplish groves. Far north in the tundra is a plant called Bladegrass; a special, leafy fern that develops stiff leaves sharp enough to tear or cut skin. The thick-skinned fauna have adapted to wander through these areas safely, while creatures like Plowhorns often use their hooves or horns to uproot or crush the plant so they can reach the firm, pulpy roots.Natural Resources
Wood: Wood is a common resource found aplenty throughout Llyne thanks to the pine forests that make up the entire isle. It's a common commodity that Llyne definitely has a surplus of.
Pelts: Perhaps the most important commodity found within Llyne are the winter pelts of animals found throughout the country; pelts brought from animals in Llyne are known for being luxuriantly soft and warm to the touch. They're also a pleasant, stark white colour that makes them popular for fashionwear and clothing for the wealthy.
Myria Gems: Perhaps the most well known ore to be mined in Llyne. Myria gems are given their name due to the myriads of different colours seen shifting throughout it; a curious quality that leaves them popular in jewelry. They are incredibly colorful, and also serve as powerful magical conduits. They are among the most valuable commodities from Llyne, outside of the many relics found within The Pit.
Iron: Due to the Bladegrass found within the tundra, Iron is capable of being refined through a special process. Lengths of bladegrass can literally be planted and regrown, allowing Llyne to essentially 'grow' iron. This process is tedious and consumes time, but still leaves them with a plentiful iron reserve.
History
Llyne's founding comes from a trifling era within human history. During this time, humanity was caught within a feudal era filled with strife and warfare. The Faith Keepers were established for the sole sake of protecting those that pledged their faith to Aine, but war had still plagued the landscape of Tregaron. In hopes of escaping this with and with dreams of a new land on the horizon, Svallin -- now a saint, lead a pilgrimage overseas in hopes of finding a new home that he called the 'Promised Land'
This 'Promised Land' came in the form of Llyne. Llyne was, surprisingly, entirely empty when it came to sapient life or tribal creatures. This left a ripe land that mankind had trouble adapting to at first, but in time, man grew to establish their own settlements across the isle. In time, they found the holy city at the center, known for a grandiose palace chiseled within the walls of a mountain.
Though mostly uninhabited on the pilgrims arrival, there have been frequent traces of old civilization found within old, shambling ruins across the isle. Scholars still lack much in terms of what the previous inhabitants were, but do know of their fondness in using Rainbow Rocks for decorative crafting and magical tools.
The Pit
A harrowing event for many, a great sinkhole sunk at the heart of Llyne, swallowing the palace and grand cathedral with it. This collapse lead to a massive sinking that cascaded across the entire heart of the city, leaving countless citizens missing, buried, or injured as it took place. Often called The Collapse by the Church, the center of the great city was left lost forever. When adventurers and explorers opted to dive into the Pit in hopes of finding the lost relics, ruins, and potential survivors of the collapse, they instead found a trove of primeval creatures, otherworldly environments, and unique treasures that have not once been found within the old palace. This bizarre phenomena lead to the last and only frontier of the world to be found, in the form of the massive Pit found at the heart of Llyne.Tourism
Ever since the formation of the Pit, Llyne has long since became a tourist hotspot for adventurers and travelers alike. People from across the world eagerly seek out to see the last and only frontier left within the world of Veska, while adventurers flock to the land in hopes of finding primeval treasure. Contributing further to Llyne's melting pot is the concept of Second Chances.
A recent concept made by the church of Aine, those that have found themselves unable to find footing on land are free to descend into the pit for a second chance at life, away from whatever dangers or wrongdoings they may have committed on the surface world.
Alternative Name(s)
The Promised Land
Type
Island
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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