Central Fire
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The Central Fire territory is bordered by Icewall Bay to the north; the Wild Northeast and Shimmering Coasts to the east; the Splinter Sea to the south; and the Land of Prosperity and Broken Lands to the west. It derives its etymology from its volcanos, calderas, and other geothermal features.
Massive glacial ice shelves tower over either side of Icewall Inlet, which leads from the Colossus Ocean into Icewall Bay. Sometimes, chunks of ice will break off these shelves, creating icebergs that drift through the inlet and make passage hazardous for even the most skilled of navigators.
The Northern Highlands is mostly between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level. Its northern area consists of rolling hills ranging from approximately 300 meters to 600 meters in height, while the southern area is dominated by lower peaks of the Agniavas. It has a cold winter and a short, cool summer. Abundant pastures, watered by small streams and rivers, support the seasonal movement of livestock between the north and south.
The Agniavas are the largest mountain range on the continent. They stretch from the southern coast to the Northern Highlands and have some of Praetoria’s largest peaks, with over seventy-five exceeding 7,000 meters in elevation.
At nearly 8,500 meters, Mount Praetorous is the range’s tallest mountain (second on the continent only to Mount Mox) and the continent’s largest active volcano. Its summit is relatively accessible and can be traversed via a series of switchbacks on its northern flank.
Two major rivers flow from the Central Agniavas: the Wraitholme River to the south and the Zarotha River to the north; their drainage basins are home to a wide range of flora and fauna.
Also within the Central Agniavas is the Crucible of Fire, the largest supervolcano on the continent, comprising lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountains. Its caldera is considered a dormant volcano and has not erupted in recorded history. Fueled by ongoing volcanism, almost all of the continent’s geysers and hydrothermal features are in the Crucible of Fire, which is littered with rocks and lava flows from volcanic eruptions.
The Bandarul Range and Daigenloft Mountains to the east are considered separate from the Agniavas.
The Southern Highlands is a plateau rising about 2,000 meters above sea level, bordered by the Mox Divide in the west and the Agniavas in the east. The area is dominated by mountainous terrain in the north, rolling hills in the south, and—although they do not share the distinctive geographical features of highlands—the flat coastal lands that abut the Splinter Sea. The climate is relatively warmer because of the geothermal features found within the Agniavas, making it damp and temperate.
The Southern Highlands largest lake is Lake De’lai, a warm, monomictic crater lake that never freezes and is thermally stratified throughout much of the year, giving it a striking blue color and exceptionally clear waters. From it, the De’lai River flows south before converging with the Daltaine River and flowing into an upland basin, which includes the River of Tears and Talia River, before draining into the Splinter Sea.
The Great Scar is an arid, steep-sided canyon which descends to an incredible depth of well over 3,000 meters, exposing billions of years of Praetoria’s history in its strata. Because of runoff from the Agniavas, the Great Scar has an ephemeral riverbed which varies from a trickling stream in the winter to a raging river during the summer months. Subsequently, longer tributary washes and canyons are found on the Scar’s north side, while shorter and steeper side canyons are on the south.
The Midland Archipelago is located off the southern coast of the Central Fire. It consists of four larger islands and numerous smaller islands and islets which are either volcanic, marine sedimentary, or erosional in nature. The archipelago was formed by volcanic activity from an undersea magma source, creating impressive geological features. Earthquakes and tsunamis have caused coastal avalanches on many of the islands, resulting in steep cliffs along much of their shores.
Climates vary considerably, mostly due to mountainous terrain and changes in elevation, which affect windward and leeward weather patterns. On a single island, the climate around the coasts can range from dry to wet; farther inland, climates range from tropical rainforest, through temperate, to alpine conditions with a cold, dry climate.
The Gloridax Empire has laid claim to much of the northern portion of the Northern Highlands and continues to expand into the Pristine Northwest and Wild Northeast territories. Its capital, Oasis, is located in mountainous foothills and protected by the range’s towering slopes. The city of Solace is located on the shores of Icewall Bay and is a major trading port for the empire.
The nomadic tribes of the Duratuk Nation have laid claim to the southern portion of the Northern Highlands. The nation’s only permanent city, Thrakatul, is located in the foothills of the Northern Agniavas.
The Agniavas are home to a wide range of mountain-dwelling species and those adapted to withstand either the cold mountain peaks or the magmatic temperatures of the area. Most noteworthy is the Kingdom of Grimbardun, a kingdom of mountain dwarves native to Praetoria.
The Belurocian Empire has expanded from the Shimmering Coasts into the southern half of the Southern Highlands. Necrulencia, located at the delta of the Daltaine River and De’lai River, is a major trade city and exporter of grain, ore, lumber, and produce. Meanwhile, Darkport serves as a gateway to the empire’s capital of New Beluroc in the Shimmering Coasts.
The largest native settlement in the Southern Highlands is the lupine city of Canicush, which is located on the northern shore of Lake De’lai. While lupi comprise the city’s leadership and the majority of its population, Canicush is also home to a variety of other canisan species.
