Ghaur is the northernmost continent on Eler. Intense volcanic
activity has covered the skies in a thick layer of smoke, causing an
eternal winter. In these unforgiving lands of fire and ice, most cities
are located underground. It is home almost exclusively to diverse clans of Bantaks and a few Margraces.
LUU'SÜM
Country : Luu'süm
Capital : Delkhiin
Leader : Galmur Tsusmanj Khaantor
Inhabitants : Üntsus Clan
Rife
with boiling marshes, volcanoes, and great battlefields, Luu'süm is an
inhospitable land. Nevertheless, it is the seat of the Khaantor's
fortress and thus the
most politically significant country in Ghaur. An immense iron bridge
connects Exilieu and Delkhiin, flavouring commercial exchanges between
Bantaks and Margraces.
The accursed countries, Luu'süm, Tostolbo,
and Gyalkhii, are often pelted in glutinous rains that decimate
anything in its path. Animals have mutated into demonic monsters.
Horrible, misshapen creatures with distorted, squamous limbs. Not only
are they dangerous, but they're also inedible.
Luu'süm is only
partially afflicted. Although the surface is tainted, the earth and
water underground are rich and pure. As such, cities are built deep
below and have great agriculture. The ingenious Bantaks having managed
to replicate sunlight artificially to grow their crops and raise fish in
cavernous lakes.
The name Luu'süm means 'dragon temple' in
Banetongue. In Bantak culture, a temple is not for cults, but a
sepulchre. The territory is named such because the dragon demi-god
Helvete was slain there by Uzbeg Khaantor during the civil war. The clan
name, Üntsus, means 'ashen blood', a name they took after Helena, wife
of Helvete, placed a curse upon their blood, turning it black and
boiling.
TOSTOLBO
Country : Tostolbo
Capital : Khaanyambaar
Leader : Narny Büslekh Khaantrix
Inhabitants : Tengerkhün Clan
Tostolbo
is the country most afflicted by the malediction, but attracts an
impressive workforce due to the mines, oil, and other various
industries. There is never a shortage of work in Tostolbo and many brave
the dangers of the country to earn a living.
Aside from its
inhabitants, Tostolbo is nearly devoid of life aside from the wild
demons. Being so close to the volcano Gurvel, the land is a vast desert
of black ash marred with rivers of lava. Therefore they entirely depend
on victuals from Luu'süm, brought via railway, to survive.
The
region was founded by the Tengerkhün clan, great voyagers responsible
for mapping the entire planet. Decades ago, the Khaantor of Tengerkhün,
Renur Ysmur, after becoming a widower, remarried to the Khaantrix of
Üntsus, Narny Büslekh, and gave her full power over the region, making
both clans even more powerful.
Nowadays, Narny is an old woman
commanding utmost respect amongst the Bantaks. When she took her place
in Tostolbo, she gave her place in Luu'süm to her first born son from
her early marriage, Galmur Tsusmanj.
Tostolbo means 'oil stain'
in Banetongue, a name in honour of the oil fields in the region.
Tengerkhün means 'sky people' due to their love of travelling as well as
their invention of flying machines.
GANEREG
Country : Ganereg
Capital : Giskhöt
Leader : Ainur Luudarga Khaantor
Inhabitants : Gangakh Clan
The
nordic region of Ganereg, the largest territory of Ghaur, is untouched
by the malediction. Far from the volcanoes is the great, mountainous
tundra of Ganereg. Ice fishing and whaling are common activities in the
country. Its great forests also supply most of Eler's demand for wood.
Due
to the abundance of lakes and rivers, jobs related to hydroelectricity
are thriving. Favourable winds from the coast grant Tostolbo rays of the
suns, benefiting from a very mild summertime. The great glaciers and
permafrost never melt, but it still makes it a popular destination for
those seeking traditional Ghaurian vacations.
The Gangakh clan is
a branch of the Üntsus clan. Their leader, Ainur, is Galmur's brother.
This means that the three major economic powers of Ghaur are all
governed by the same family.
Although the region is immense, most
of its territory is inhospitable due to the mountains. Many towns have
also been deserted a century ago after a major incident at the
Mengur'uurkhai mine. Although this was a major blow to the economy and
population drastically lowered, Bantaks have persevered.
Ganereg
means 'steel shore', named for its coast full of spiked rocks like
swords extending outwards. Gangakh means 'steel grip'.
ORKHISON
Country : Orkhison
Capital : Chötgör
Leader : Osarn Koschei Ikh'dainy
Inhabitants : Orkhin Clan
Beyond
the treacherous Aldarner mountain range lies the seldom visited land of
Orkhison. The only passage into the country is through an abandoned
mine near Boolchloi, overgrown and well hidden.
Many ruins lie in
the eternally frozen landscape, sites of many ancient battles.
Necropolis for dragons, built by followers of the warlock Sartaq
Nügelten. Most of the area is covered in forests and peaks, with cities
being far apart and their inhabitants not taking kindly to strangers.
The
infamous Ergüüleg Tower is located in Orkhison. A place of dark,
forbidden magic where warlocks and sorcerers hold coven. It is said that
even the Witch of Iracomté visits yearly.
Orkhison means
'abandoned' in Banetongue, relating to how its inhabitants feel
forgotten by their southern brothers. This resentment led many Orkhin
Bantaks to turn to the dark arts, making them more sympathetic to the
heretics of Khüsner.
KHÜSNER
Country : Khüsner
Capital : Kharkhoshuu
Leader : Lazare Khelshatakh Ikh'dainy
Inhabitants : Tamlaj Clan
The
eternally frozen north of Ghaur. A place where foul creatures and
heretics roam. Plunged in the darkest of nights for most of the year, it
is quite an eerie country.
The Tamlaj clan is formed by
descendants of the demon-worshipping Bantaks who followed Sartaq
Nügelten during the civil war. They have remained in Khüsner since their
race first settled there after leaving Zardunel. Despite their
perceived evil nature, they are seldom bothered by their enemies due to
the nordic territory being unfavourable for warfare. Anyone wishing to
invade Khüsner would have to either go through the Khüchil'namag swamp
then through the narrow and highly hazardous pass of Tsagaanükhel. The
other way in brings anyone to the very borders of the Gyalkhii region, a
path too narrow for any army to traverse with unfathomable dangers
lurking.
In ancient times, a truce was formed between the Ünstsus
and Tamlaj clans. The capitals of Delkhiin and Kharkhoshuu were linked
by the greatest railroad ever built. Unfortunately, on the same night as
the incident at the Mengur'uurkhai mine, the underground railroad
collapsed. Being cut off at the height of political tensions resulted in
the already strained relationship to completely deteriorate.
Khüsner
means 'wanting' in Banetongue. The region was thus named for the
Bantaks' desire for a new beginning after they left Zardunel, far from
Auriel oppression. Although it used to belong to the Üntsus clan, it is
now solely inhabited by the Tamlaj clan. Tamlaj translates to
'demon-sworn'.
GHYALKHII
Country : Ghyalkhii
A country without any cities and not belonging to anyone. Ghyalkhii is solely an immense cauldron, surrounded by serrated peaks, like a fortress bordered by the Luu'tsaiz mountains. The Great Volcano Gürvel is at its centre, raging from its thousand chimneys since the dawn of time.
Dragons patrol the skies, darker than the night due to the ash in the air. Some of them so large it would take an entire army to bring them down. A constant hail of fire and brimstone pelts the land. The air is so thick with sulphur and cinders it's unbreathable.
There is no terrestrial access to Ghyalkhii. The mountains are too treacherous to pass over or under and the only breach within is where the Nisleg River lazily sluice into the sea.
Gyalkhii means 'glowing earth' in Banetongue due to the light from lava and volcanic storms being seen hundreds of kilometres around.
MORE GHAURIAN LOCATIONS
Major Cities
- Kharansar
- Erdenes
- Uulyndalf
- Demontorch
- Uzbeg Complex
- Irmeg
- Süirel
- Yörne
Dungeons
- Bulan'butsalgana Underwater Rig
- Dragon Necropolis
- Setgel Fortress
Notable Landmarks
- Obsidian Diadem
- Luu'shüd Badlands
- Mösordon
- Tömör'güür, the Iron Bridge
- Great Lake Shuurgakhyalt Dam
- Luu'khanchlakh, the Eternal Battlefield
- Ergüüleg Tower
- Nisleg River
- Petrified Egg of Balmyron
- Bones of Gulcifer
- Duulsan Forest
- Dölkharaag
Anomalies
- Great Volcano Gürvel
- Mengur'uurkhai
- Shilengaval Falls
Defilements
- Shöniin'gazar