[Rynmere] Lore

Welcome to the Kingdom of Rynmere.

This is an Out of Character forum for the players of Rynmere, Andris and all satellite villages In the kingdom, looking for further information about the area.
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[Rynmere] Lore

Rynmere Lore
Whilst Idalos is split into distinct "Regions" and islands, and many cities share alliances, said cities are still considered to be individual "city states", with their own governing bodies, laws and cultures. The island of Rynmere is slightly different, in that it is ruled by a King, with a capital city and and the country split into seven distinct Duchies, each further divided into Baronies. Various towns and villages exist within those Duchies, but each one is led by a Duke from one of the Seven Noble Houses, each of the lineage from one of the Sacred Seven. The whole island is a nation, and all living in it pay deference to the King, no matter where they live. To emphasise the link between all locations on the island, there is one OOC forum for the entire island, though there are individual threads for some. So please be careful where you're posting!

For players new and old alike, in this thread, you will find anything you wished to know about in-character life in the capital city of Rynmere. Please, read on! This is an incredibly important resource and, as all Prophets will tell you for any city, reading these posts will give you the best insight into the city that you could ask for. Ignorance as an excuse doesn't really fly on this site, especially when you have all the information right at your fingertips, so please read this before beginning your roleplay within the city, and refer to it should you ever have any niggling questions. If there is something you believe is missing, feel free to fling a local Prophet a PM, as we are constantly updating the information available to players!

As well as reading the lore, you should be able to find a lot of information 'Behind The Throne' regarding The Iron Hand, Housing in Rynmere, Noble Houses, and much, much more.
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History
The Symbol of Rynmere
The Ouroboros (or in this case a Jacadon eating its own tail) is the symbol of the Kingdom of Rynmere, significant because the people believe the land is a large sleeping Jacadon (dragon), that curled up and turned to stone after it was defeated by Ser Verne Andaris, the first Knight Lord Commander of Rynmere. To this day, they still fly the flag of the Ouroboros, both within the city and on the battlefield.
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Rynmere was discovered and settled around the year 180 and almost fifteen generations of the royal family have held the throne since that time. It goes without saying that the crown has often been challenged and the land ransacked, which led to the building of an army Idalos has never seen before. Knights, Skyriders, and Sailors patrol land, air, and sea day and night to ensure that the city remains unchallenged, as it has since their founding almost two hundred years ago. Of course, Rynmere has always had Knights, a profession held and continued by the first men that ever reached these shores, but the addition of sailors, and especially Skyriders is still in its infancy.

The city itself was built up around a large, mountain of earth, which the people of Rynmere cut to fill in the gaps around the great expanse of stone walls they erected within the first fifty years of construction. Two large moats complete the work of art, and a large, flat barge ferries horse and carts to the main gates, while up on the top level behind the third set of walls a small passenger ferry sails between the castle and the monastery, zipping the royal family and their guests, or guards back and forth. Since its completion in 487, no outside forces have been able to penetrate the city walls. The location of Andaris City was skilfully planned out by Lord Andaris, his War General, Warrick, and his guide Gawyne, to sit high enough to see to the shore and a vast stretch of the surrounding land either side, but also keep it far enough from the beach to avoid direct attack from the sea.

Andaris has seen war, hardship, and lived on the edge of starvation throughout its construction, but today it is home to many different races who all reside in collective peace under one banner and one religion. The city’s laws and military help maintain the peace and the walls that make it possible. Andaris is a vibrant place to live, providing warmth, food, education, shelter, and protection to those who seek it. After one year of living in Andaris, people can apply for residency as long as they have committed no crimes during such time. Residents are able to compete in the annual games, attend the prestigious university, join the army, and start and run their own businesses. Rynmere is a land of opportunity, come make the most of it.
Timeline of Rynmere
178: Rynmere is discovered by a group of men and women numbering some 150 strong.
179: Construction of Andaris City begins.
181: Work on the walls begins.
200: What little progress the people of Rynmere have made on the city is near destroyed by attackers who have sailed from distant lands.
202: Lord Commander Verne Andaris dies from his wounds four months after a successful campaign to kill or enslave any who linger unwelcome in the Kingdom of Rynmere.
211: The Creed of Silence is discovered.
234: Construction of the three walls is complete.
273: The construction of Andar castle is finally finished.
314: Work on the Monastery begins.
320: The city is attacked by foreigners who sailed up river to Lake Krome.
321: A peace bargain is struck with the attacks and broken eleven days later. The people of Krome burn the foreigners ships and reinforcements from Warrick take a trail through the Burning Mountains to flank what remains of their forces.
350: Fort Venora and fort Warrick are established.
372: Fort Krome is established.
420: A pass from Nora’s Rest all the way to Warren’s Peak is discovered.
428: Fort Gawyne is established.
440: Fort Burhan and Endor are established.
448: Watchtowers along the Burning Mountains are constructed to alert distant establishments to the sightings of foreign ships on either coast.
457: The City of Andaris is attacked and the Prince is taken hostage.
459: The Prince is beheaded by his captors and war erupts within the city again.
461: The city is finally reclaimed after a war that lasted almost four years.
473: Work on the city moat begins.
487: The moat is finally complete and water is redirected from the sea across land to fill it.
492: City plumbing redirects waste from the city to the moat. The health benefits are quickly recognised.
504: Plans to build Fighting Pits and a Grand Arena are submitted to the king, work begins the following year.
513: Work on the Fighting Arena is finally complete and games are held in celebration of what will now be an annual event to find The King’s Champion. Many slaves meet their end in the arena.
536: Year of the first Jacadon rider since Verne Andaris. The woman's name is Skye Verath.
572: Darcy Andaris becomes the first king to ever fight in the arena.
618: Fights break out in the streets after Craig Luther is named King of Rynmere. After years of the title belonging to those of the Andaris line, people are not happy to see the title of king handed over to a stranger and buildings are burnt to the ground in protest.
663: William Luther, the younger brother of King Owen Luther, is killed after an attempt on the king’s life was made in the city marketplace. William moved to protect his brother Owen and was struck through the neck by an arrow with a golden arrowhead.
671: A Seeker Cell is constructed alongside the university, people are unsure of what this means for the city and tensions remain high.
673: Two rebel leaders of the Seers faction are captured, stoned, and hung after being discovered standing over the body of one of the Seekers.
710: The king and queen’s ship is attacked by pirates and sunk out at sea, leaving their only living son, Cassander, to rule in their place.
716: Rumours of an uprising against the king reach the capital from the far west of Rynmere. Informants believe Veljorn Burhan leads an army at least two thousand (2000) strong, well fed, supplied, and funded by three of the seven noble houses.
716: Queen Freya, married to King Cassander, is said to have finally succumbed to wounds sustained in Yimiden after catching an arrow meant for the king. Rumour has it she died of blood-poisoning, but those closer to the royal kin say it was the king who put her out of her misery. Her body is burned on a pyre beside the sea, one of her favourite places in Rynmere near the docks. She is only the third royal in history to go unburied in the royal crypt, though no one has been told why.
716: From the 34th to the 40th of Saun the kingdom is plagued by these shadow beasts, able to take the form of any living thing. They appear only during the day, crawling out from the shadows to attack and kill. People are safest in numbers and many have been encouraged to seek shelter, but for the time being the city gates will remained locked.
716: Veljorn's bones have been dried and fired by a Jacadon. They were then coated in gold and gifted to noble houses in each of the regions to scatter. Ryns believe that if a person's bones are scattered that they will never rest and that their soul can never move on from this world. Andaris keeps the skull, Venora takes the chest, the right arm goes to Warrick, left to Burhan, right leg to Krome, left leg to the region of Gawyne, and Endor keeps the organs in a big glass jar, buried deep in the heart of the underground city.
717: The 'Rynmere Citizens Alliance' continue to grow in popularity. On the 5th, the people of Lowtown join in a vigil to commemorate those who have died. The RCA give out food during this vigil, there are calls for the obliteration of the Rynmere Tax for those in poorer wage brackets and better health care for the poor. Civil unrest is looking more and more likely.
717: Another meeting between Emerson Sands and the RCA brings the rumour that major changes to the structure of Rynmere nobility are afoot. There is talk about all sorts with some rumours being wildly unlikely, but one thing is sure: the RCA are gaining support on a trial by trial basis and soon, they might well be able to force the King's hand unless he is willing to risk civil war.
717: Notices go on notice boards and the information is given to all. Magic in all its forms has been outlawed in Rynmere. Later that trial King Cassander and his betrothed, Empress Emerson Sands, gives a passionate speech about the dangers of mages who have been allowed free rein for too long. Licensing requirements have obviously not worked and the recent attacks on himself, on the Iron Hand and on the innocent citizens of Rynmere for this. Those mages who were previously licensed and of good standing will be given clear and strict instructions and, save for those whose sacred duty requires them to learn it, magic will henceforth be restricted by Royal decree.
717: King Cassander marries Empress Emerson Sands in Andaris Temple. The Iron Hand and Orobouros Guard are out in full force to protect the King, Empress, and guests. At least one noble of each house is expected to attend and bring a gift for the freshly married couple. Additionally, a hundred commoners have been randomly selected and received a personal invitation from Emerson Sands, inviting them to attend, these guests are not expected to bring gifts and these invitations cannot be traded or resold.
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Legend
The Legend of Rynmere and The Sacred Seven
The world had burned and from the ashes, the survivors crept forth, starving and blinking at the dawn of a new world. Idalos was young again but a fresh start only meant more bloodshed. Tribes and villages were formed, followed by towns, and later cities until the age of men seemed to thrive once more. An adventurous young man by the name of Verne Andaris, Lord Commander of The First Shields, set sail with his young wife Cynere Venora from where historians believe was located within the central-west part of Idalos, on a ship built by his childhood friend Rahiko Burhan. During their endeavor to find and settle new land to escape the chaos of the new world, Andaris led a small army of men and women on a voyage that many believed would be the death of them.

Excerpt from the journal of H. Warrick.
Our gracious captain points us north this eve after picking up a stranger from the eastern shores of Idalos. Gawyne, The Half God, some of the men have deemed him, was found wandering along the beach by one of our hunting parties. Andaris has dubbed him Warren, of the shore people, for he tells tales of the earth and great beasts that dwell in the belly of the world. I worry for my friend’s sanity, for Andaris has always been a dreamer, and tonight we look to the sky, chasing this stranger’s fables, searching for a giant Jacadon named Rynmere, lost pet of the gods.”

Andaris and his fleet sailed along the west coast of Rharne, following the Scar in the Sky further and further north until they found the nest of the Jacadon, a floating island hidden above a wall of mist, far from the reach of their ship masts and arrows. Rynmere was nowhere to be seen, and after three days and nights of wild weather, their boats were forced to dock on the rough west coast of Viden, tucked away in a bay behind a small island that sheltered them from the storm.

While exploring the strange shore and hunting to ensure that the army was fed, the earth shook and the sea roared, and from the depths the Jacadon emerged to lay waste to their ships with but a swing of his tail. Andaris and his wardens raced to the beach with their hooks and spears to face the beast. Of their fleet only one ship remained which Andaris and his brave crew sailed under the cloak of the island’s shadow and out to sea where the Jacadon swam through the water like a serpent, only the points of his jagged spine, as big as mountains, in view.

Excerpt from the journal of H. Warrick.
There were bodies everywhere, the sea was a mess of blood and the mangled remains of our troops. We pulled a young man aboard who had lost one of his arms, I’ve never seen so much blood. The beast rose up out of the sea and blocked out the sun, slamming into the tide where a great torrent of water almost capsized our vessel. We fired at Rynmere with our crossbows and spears, but it was Andaris who brought the serpent down, blinding the creature with a gem he wore around his neck, which saw it crash into the floating isle and fall from the sky to rest in the sea. Shards of broken rock rained from the sky and pierced the heart of the Jacadon, and we watched as the beast coiled about his death, groaned, and turned to stone.

The remains of the floating island became Sunset Isle, the one and only place Jacadon go to breed, and still to this day call the Isle home, raising their young and protecting the sacred stretch of land with their lives. Every year, keen hopefuls from all across Rynmere flock to the island in the hopes of bonding with a Jacadon, though few are ever successful. The Jacadon will only accept those with a spirited soul, who are brave and true of heart, like Verne Andaris, who is rumoured to be the very first Jacadon rider in all of Idalos. Today, Jacadon riders are called Blazers, fearless men and women that work for The Order of The Sacred Seven.
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Andaris
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Walls: The walls of Andaris City have stood the test of time, defending the city itself for over five hundred years. The secret to its success has been its three tier system. Andaris City itself is surrounded by a large, deep moat at least fifty metres across. The first walls at the base of the hill is a sheer fifteen metre drop straight down into the moat. Earth from the construction of the moat was carried into the city to make sure the first layer sat a metre shy of being level with the outer wall, providing the residents with plenty of sunlight during the winter and a good view of the surrounding landscape.
The first level is home to most of the city’s defence force, stables, and businesses. The second tier saw another fifteen metre high wall of solid stone cut off the next layer of the city from the first, with the ground level raised to fall a metre short of the wall, insuring that children and livestock do not go over the edge to their deaths. This second level is home to most of the city’s families. The third wall surrounds the castle and adjacent monastery. The land here was not raised, instead the cut the top of the hill away to fill the second tier and built high walls around a second moat that protects the castle from siege weaponry. The castle is only accessible by boat, which is guarded at all times by some of the city’s most trusted Knights.
The three walls took over fifty years to complete as the landmass within the walls consists of almost one hundred square acres of land. The Andaris region was all but stripped of stone to see the completion of all three walls and today stone is carted all the way from Venora in order to make repairs and keep the city well maintained. All along the first wall, small towers, called nests, play host to the armies Volareon and Jacadon, offering them a place to take shelter or house them for the knight. An intricate drainage system funnels water from all around the city through hidden pipes under ground and in the walls, where it then flows out of stone carved Jacadon heads into the moat.

Roads: A zigzagged, cobblestone road leads up from the city gates to the second tier and castle gates. A horse and cart can navigate the winding bends with ease, though anything bigger might find it has trouble. Each level of the city has a Main Street that circles the second tier and castle, with smaller roads and pathways stemming from this. Houses are packed together tightly and narrow walkways often make the city feel a lot like a maze. To anyone raised in Andaris, the city is their playground, and more often than not the locals can pick out a stranger in the crowd as they tend to lose their way quite easily. Andaris would make for a thief’s paradise if it weren't for all the Knights posted on patrol, and the residents can rest at ease knowing that the Moseke Knights watch the walls night and day.

Castle: Andar Castle is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Northern Territory of Idalos. The aged, multi-levelled stone and walls dressed with ivy make it easy on the eyes. A single boat ferries the royal family across the moat between the castle and the city’s monastery. Seven tall towers reach skyward from the midsts of the castle, one to represent and fly the flag of each region within Rynmere, and small, narrow windows flood each of the one hundred and forty rooms inside, including the grand hall, throne, and ball room. No less than fifty Knights stand guard day and night, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the first Rynmere bloodlines.

Monastery: The monastery was constructed long after the deaths of the Sacred Seven, in fact none of them ever saw the completion of the city but all have been immortalised in the seven windows that light up this holy place. The windows on either side of the building and one large one at the head see that the wooden floors are bathed in coloured light, each depicting a scene from history. Andaris bringing down the mighty Jacadon, Rynmere, Venora’s knighthood, Warrick slaying the giant, Hunter, from The Burning Mountains, Endor discovering The Lost Labyrinth, Burhan building the first ship that carried the Sacred Seven to the land of Rynmere, Gawyne and The Scar in the sky, and finally, Krome and his three wives, Sacrifice, Justice, and Fate. The building is gothic in style with high, vaulted ceilings that expose the natural beauty of the timber beams supporting the weight of the dark stone walls and single tower.

Rynmere University: The university is almost as old as the city itself. Founded by Rahiko Burhan, the Patron Saint of Knowledge, the university takes up ten square acres of land on the second tier of Andaris City, equal to the amount of land retained within the walls that surround Andar Castle. The university itself stands three stories high and sinks another four into the earth, and has a sports field, a battle arena, a swimming pool, four workshops, its very own morgue, infirmary, library, and miniature animal farm with an on site veterinary clinic.

Fighting Arena: Perhaps one of the oldest traditions in Rynmere, The Fighting Pits have entertained generations for hundreds of years. The arena had just had an overhaul, making it bigger and better than enough, with enough seating to host over four thousand guests. Every year, the king hosts a tournament, with jousters, fighters, and cart racers from all reaches of the seven regions coming along to retry their luck at winning the title of the king’s champion. Once every full moon, slaves are out against each other in a battle to the death, where the winner walks away with his freedom and enough coin to start a life for himself. There is big money to be made in placing bets, making this sport a gamblers paradise.

The Fighting Pits: A place where not so honest people go to make wagers on underground fights between slaves, captives, paid mercenaries, and other unfortunate souls that find themselves pit against their foe here in a fight to the death. The winner makes his master a lot of gold and the loser is swiftly forgotten.
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Villages
Journey Foot MountCaravanBoatAir
Andaris - Venora 6 days3 days 6 days NA 1 day.
Andaris - Warrick 14 days 7 days 14 days NA 3.5 days.
Andaris - Krome 8 days 4 days8 daysNA 2 days.
Andaris - Burhan28 days14 days 28 days 5 days 2.5 days
Andaris - Gawyne 12 days 6 days 12 days NA 3 days.
Andaris - Endor28 days 14 days 28 days 9 days 4 days
Fort Venora: Nicknamed The Garden Capital of Rynmere, Venora is known for vast fields of fruit trees, grapevines, and endless crops. Venora supplies Rynmere with just under thirty percent of the year’s food trade, shipping goods as far as Endor. The stone outpost is decorated with elegant statues, sweet smelling gardens, and ponds filled with a vast array of interesting and colourful fish. Venora is the region of peace, tranquility, and love.
Fort Warrick: Set amongst the grassy plains at the northernmost point of the Kyo Rover, Fort Warrick is one of the oldest communities in the kingdom. The people of Warrick use a strong mix of sand, lime, water, and stone to build their houses, which are more often than not only one story high, with only the very wealthy building anything higher than that. Farmsteads are scattered right across the region, famous for raising some of the most beautiful horses in all of Rynmere. Most of the people that call Warrick home work as farmers, animal handlers, glass blowers, and hunters, making the most of the long, warm summers and fertile land. Responsible for producing just over fifty percent of the nations food, Warrick is considered one of the most important regions for growing.
Fort Burhan: One of the hardest outposts to get to in all of Rynmere, Burhan is walled off by swamps in the north, Rocky Mountains to the west, and the powerful Avari River and Lake Krome to the south. It's dense woodlands make it hard to traverse and the roads are windy, overgrown, and difficult to navigate. The outpost is stationed deep within the Burhan forest, where a large, single tower stands so tall against the trees it seems to touch the clouds. This is The Heart of Rynmere, a place tucked so deeply within the land, few outsiders have ever set eyes on it and lived to tell the tale. Burhan is connected to the maze of underground tunnels that stretch all the way from Venora in the south, to Gawyne in the north. Its location is tactical, providing enough shelter to house half of Andaris City in times of war. Most of the surrounding dwellings are made of wood, boasting some of the finest log cabins Idalos has ever seen. If one is ever in need of a shipwright or builder, look no further than Burhan.
Fort Endor: A small outpost on Norr Bay oversees the thriving trade business of Endor’s precious stones and metals, though the people of Endor live much, much further down within the mountainous terrain. Over hundreds of years, Endor’s miners have carved their homes in the rock below the mountains, where iron ore is plenty, and there is gold enough to fill one’s boots. Gem-crafters, metal smiths, and masons call this part of the kingdom home, growing fat and rich on the fruits of their labour. The burly men of Endor make their jobs look easy, but this is no place for the faint of heart, where the City of Andaris sends slaves by the boatload to work in the mines: crooks, thieves, and bandits better off put to work than sit rotting in the city’s prison. Endor is also rumoured to host and maintain the most secure bank in all of Rynmere and possibly Idalos, buried deep underground; few know of its exact location.
Fort Gawyne: It it here in the northern most region of Rynmere that troops from all divisions of Rynmere’s Army are sent to train for at least one year of their internship as squires, sea and airmen. Here the weather is bad and the food is worse, pushing every man and woman to their very limits. Fort Gawyne is an outpost made of iron, wood, and stone, that spends most of the year buried under two or three feet snow. Gawyne sons are raised tough, though most of them end up in the Rynmere Navy as U’frek Sailors, spending most of their youth fishing along the rugged North Coast.
Fort Krome: No region knows how to throw a bigger party than the people of Krome, who make the most of their geographical location, utilising the lake and nearby rivers to trade with Burhan and the City of Andaris. Their houses are made of flat stone, piled on on top of the up to make beautiful dome shaped buildings with tall stacks for chimneys and no windows, keeping as much warmth as they possibly can during the cold winter months. They like to brew beer and cider, importing most of their ingredients from the region of Venora, where a lot of Krome’s young people travel to celebrate Nora’s birthday every year. The sons and daughters of Krome have a long, prestigious history serving as the Moseke Knights, and are a very proud people, valuing trust and honour above all else. A deal that ends with a handshake in Krome is said to be stronger than any contract written on paper.
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Climate
Andaris: Being one of the largest and oldest cities in the north, Andaris relies on its farming community and trade system to keep things running smoothly. The city keeps a large store of grain and it is said that the explorers of Andaris has collected samples from all types of fruits, vegetables, trees, rocks, and animals to keep stored in their research facility under the university. The city experiences mild snowstorms each year, and a thick cover of fog often lingers across the land in the winter, but summers are warm and pleasant with lots of work to be done. Rebirth is a time of celebration, just as it is in the region of Warrick, and it is usually during this season that the rains come, filling up the city moat and revitalising the land.

Venora: Known for its rich, fertile farmlands and sunny vineyards, Venora’s is one of the biggest outposts in all of Rynmere. Winters here are mild with the odd frost from time to time and enough rain to see that the region is green all year round. Summers seem to go on forever, warm and inviting, it's no wonder people from all over Rynmere flock here during the warmer seasons to celebrate Nora’s birthday and make the most of the fine weather. Rebirth is a busy time of year with a lot of Venora's farmers spending time planting their crops and selling the leftover of the winters stores to other regions. In winter, most of the trees and vines are cut back, insuring that they will grow bigger and better the following year.

Warrick: Warrick sees little to no snow in the winter, though the sandy West Coast tends to get battered by the sea and rain. In the summer, the lush, green grass on the plain turns gold, and the strange Wickon Trees, found only in this region of Rynmere and the world of Idalos, lose their small, pointed leaves in trade of a large blue fruit (similar to a persimmon). Rebirth is kind in Warrick with lots of new life and celebration. The region grows many different types of fruit trees on the lower southeast part of the map which spread out all the way into the neighbouring region of Venora. The warmer climate in the south of Rynmere makes Warrick the perfect region to raise livestock and live off the land.

Burhan: Situated in the centre of Rynmere, Burhan hosts the largest density of woodlands in the whole Kingdom. It is bordered by swamps along its northernmost ridge, and walled off by mountains and the river Avari in the south. Burhan sees plenty of snow and frost in winter, when most of their trade focus switches from wood to caribou or moose hide and meat. Most of the buildings in Burhan are made from logs, with the majority of the wood cabins situated in the south near the fort and Avari River, which are heavily fished during the cold winter season. Summers are unbearably humid, as too is the rebirth season. It takes a person strong of will with well honed survival skills to succeed in Burhan, as it is accessible by no roads and completely self reliant.

Endor: Best known for its fishing and metal, is a rugged, harsh environment, suited only to those hard of heart. What land isn't counted as mountain range tends to be rocky, growing little grass, and well suited to goats. Winter sees a lot of heavy snowfall like the neighbouring regions of Gawyne and Krome, but the people are able to keep warm in their mountain dwellings, carved into rock, hundreds of metres deep. Summers are warmer than Gawyne but not quite as kind as Krome, with heat being trapped by the mountains, or rising up from the thermal pools. The coastline is rough, targeted by many Pirates for the precious metals to be found within the mines, but Norr Bay is made up of a fine, pebbly rock, smooth underfoot, but soft in areas. Rebirth is unpredictable, blowing warm one year and cold the next. Houses are kept warm by burning a fire pit in the middle of the living area with underfloor ventilation that sucks heat up through the walls and traps it, warning the area throughout.

Gawyne: As the northernmost region, Gawyne gets a lot of snow, frost, and fog in the winter, and unlike The Burning Mountains, Warren’s Peak is snow capped all year round. The northern coast is rocky with jagged rocks like Jacadon’s teeth rising up out of the sea, making it impossible to dock a ship nearby. All trade is sent by horse and cart, and in the winter when the ground is too thick with snow to get horses in, Skyriders traveling by Volareon fly to the city in order to deliver food supplies and take away exports of unique stone and leather from the outpost. The rebirth season is cold, wet, and frosty, and the summers are mild with just enough heat to grow spinach, carrots and radishes.

Krome: Windswept and beautiful, the region of Krome is battered by the sea in the north and graced by the most stunning lake and rivers in the south. Winters in Krome are cold, wet, and snowy, but being the trade capital of fur, the people of Krome have adapted to the unpredictable seasons. Rebirth is mild and usually sees a lot of rain, and summers are warm but windy. The North Coast is rocky, hence the shipwrecks in Pathos Bay, and the East Coast is very akin to the pebble like stones found in Endor, later blending into long sandy beaches further south close to Zor River. During the height of winter, most of Lake Krome freezes over, putting a halt to the Burhan river trade.
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Surroundings
Overview: Rynmere looks southeast for expansion, less concerned about the icelands of the north and cities in the west that are separated from them via long journeys are sea. The east and central regions of Idalos are considered good farming lands by the people of Rynmere, and therein lies their plans to conquer all.

Viden: Rynmere has no intention of becoming king of the ice, and for the most part has left Viden’s shores untouched, save for the odd piece of land they have started farming in recent years east of Andaris city across the water. As the population slowly grows, food is becoming more and more of an issue, forcing Rynmere to look outwards and forge new alliances.

Rharne: Rynmere often imports goods from Rharne as it is a reasonably small trade city, sending them precious metals in return that the city struggles to access as easily in its surrounding lands. Rynmere’s young king has plans to take over Rharne and use the land for farming but wishes to start a family first and sire an heir before these notions are acted upon.

Cahryst: Rynmere has long had people working within Cahryst to foster a good working relationship. With their plans to take over Rharne someday, Rynmere sees Cahryst, which is a small city, as a stepping stone and intends to take over and establish a base for its vast army there. From there they believe taking Rharne will be all too easy and have already started recruiting the locals, training them in the art of swordsmanship.
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Eastern Settlement
R Y N M E R EK I N G D O M
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Legend: F (foot) M (mount) C (caravan) B (boat) A (air)
Rynmere - Welles: F M C B 2 days, A 1 day.
Rynmere - Pyke: F M C B 1.5 days,A 1 day.
Pyke - Welles: F M C B .2 days,A .1 days.
Welles - Oakleigh: F 5 days,M 2.5 days,C 3 days,BA 2 days.
Welles - Berwick: F 12 days,M 7 days,C 8 days,BA 5 days.
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Pyke: Pyke is a small island that takes just under two days to cross on foot, and less than a day by mount. It is occupied and run by three very wealthy merchant families, Calder, Henderson, and Seaton, and considered to be a bit of a holiday destination by most. On the west side of the island are white sandy beaches and steep cliff-faces residents have built their lavish houses into. All dwellings on Pyke are made with imported volcanic stone, usually basalt or ignimbrite; alternatively, the use of limestone has also been rather fashionable in recent years. Through the guts of Pyke are grassy fields used for farming sheep and deer, and surrounding most of the island are its native trees, sheltering its residents from any winds that might blow in off the coast.

The Calder’s made their money in iron, and own a runoff in the Endor mines that continues to line their pockets to this day. They are a controversial family due to their treatment and trafficking of slaves, which is less than favourable. They own three very large, extravagant ships, which include two schooners, and a fully rigged galleon, fitted with forty guns across two floors. The Henderson’s made their money in a similar fashion, working out of a stone, lime, and marble quarry tucked away in the Burning Mountains. They also have a small gold mining operation in Five Rivers, Oakleigh, which the Lark family are currently in a bidding war with the Cobb family to purchase for themselves. The Seaton family made their fortune the old fashioned way, when Vinn Seaton purchased his first fishing boat in Arc 509 and died twenty-seven years later, leaving six vessels and charters to his children, one of which continued his legacy, and today the family owns forty six vessels across Rynmere, completely flooding the market with their goods in all regions.

Land on Pyke costs the same amount as it does in the City of Rynmere, ensuring that only the wealthiest Ryns may buy here, which in itself is a stipulation for purchase, as anyone who isn't a resident of the mainland is unable to acquire land here. Weather conditions on the island are favourable, but the sea surrounding it can be deadly, especially during Cylus, when the water around the island forms whirlpools, and access to and from Pyke is restricted to flight only. In all of Pyke’s recorded history, it has never snowed.
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Welles: Welles is a shoreline settlement that gets its name from all of the small lakes to be found in the north and south of the region, both areas framed by beautiful, green mountains. The large valley through the guts of Welles is flat and perfect for farming crops that do well in mild, but warm temperatures. Most of the land has been carved up into sizeable farms, with many of the crops situated on the east side of the region, while the west is dedicated to beef farming, and goats further up in the hills. Some of the best meat in Rynmere is farmed in Welles, cured and sent to the finest restaurants in the capital.

The Mason family made most of their wealth through farming, and were one of the first to sail over and establish their claim on the land here. The Eastern Settlement belonged to the Shore People before it was taken over and colonised in the year 337 by King Dedrick Endor. Some of the Shore People still reside here today, one family in particular that took the last name Shaw and made all of their wealth in construction. Nearly all of the houses built in Welles were built by the Shaw’s, a humble, honest merchant family with a long history in the east. The Luther family were always very political and made most of their fortune buying and selling land. Their history is closely linked to the royal family, with two generations having been either married or born into royalty. Outside blood has never been very popular with the nobles, but out east, the Luthers are treated with the utmost respect, as they own most of the land in Welles. The Ettrick family are famed for their smithing skills, with weapons built in their forges bought and sold all around the world. They use a special mix of metals found only in the mines in Welles, and have kept their knowledge secret for the last seven generations.

The land in Welles is perhaps the most densely populated of the four regions found in the Eastern Settlement, but still relatively affordable, going for no more than it might in Venora or Warrick. Farms here are slightly more popular as the threat of Faction VII does not exist in the mountains that surround the rich farming lands, and life here is a little more peaceful.
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Oakleigh: Oakleigh is a beautiful region divided into two parts, north and south. In the south of Oakleigh the fields are flat, perfect for farming, and easy to build on, while in the north, the terrain is rocky, the land is hard to cultivate, and the forests are slowly expanding. The two halves are divided by mountains with only a single pass that traders use to get through. Land in the north is cheap, but it costs a lot of money to remove the rocks that litter the landscape.

One family that has made a living from landscaping are the Clyde’s. They breed horses and cattle which they graze in the north of Oakleigh. Most of their horses are used for racing where there is a lot of money to be made in gambling. The Lancaster’s also reside in the north of Oakleigh, where they raise sheep and have made their fortune in wool and all sorts of items that can be crafted from wool. In the south of Oakleigh, the Raglan’s own and run the biggest vineyard in the area, and ship their wine as far as Ne’haer and Nashaki. The Thorn family, on the other hand, made their money growing special plants used to make medicines and different recreational and medical drugs. They run and supply the only infirmary in the Eastern Settlement.

Like Welles, Oakleigh boasts some beautiful lakes where plenty of the locals do a lot of their fishing and hunting in the surrounding woodlands. The mountains are stunning, and the land north of the divide is relatively unpopulated, leaving a lot of room for development to take place.
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Berwick: Berwick is the largest region in the Eastern Settlement, but has the least amount of farmable land, with the south containing a lot mountain terrain and the rest of the region covered in dense forest. The township of Berwick is surrounded by the majority of its farming community, and situated furthest from the coast, they don't see a lot of trouble or visitors from Rynmere.

Of all of the rich merchant families here, the Rowan family is perhaps one of the wealthiest, having made a lot of their money clearing the forests and selling wood right across Idalos. They are focused on sustainable milling practices, and make sure they replant almost twice as much as they take in any one year. For this reason, land in Berwick has always been difficult to come by, as anything that goes on the market is usually snatched up by the Rowan family. The Foyle’s prefer the lifestyle in Berwick, but made all of their money in Welles, where they continue to farm for black gold. The Lark’s are a mercenary family, sell-swords and the likes, who command the majority of Berwick’s military forces, and tend to buy slaves they train up as reputable fighters. The Cobb family made their money farming the land in Berwick, Welles, and Andaris. They produce eighty percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables supplied to the capital by the Eastern Settlement, and have a strange knack for deterring any competition in the area.

The Kane’s are a famous old family, known for their trouble making and extortion tactics, no one really knows how they made their money, or whether or not they have much of it left, though most believe it was through smuggling and gained via other illegal means. No one fits the definition of ‘old money’ better than the Ward family, who have lived in Berwick for as long as there has been history to tell. They were of the Shore People, and owned the first and only castle to be found in the Eastern Settlement. They can trace their linage all the way back to Anthony Ward, who was known as the King of the Shore Folk. Being a reserved, quiet people, no one really knows just how much gold it is they sit on, but as they own the diamond mine, and the whole of Glenbervie, it's safe to say that it is quite a substantial amount.

Berwick is difficult to travel to as their is only really one path from the shore to the township situated in the far north of the Eastern Settlement, carved through the mountain passes set between Welles, Oakleigh, and southern Berwick. For this reason, most visitors travelling this far east of Rynmere don't tend to venture so far inland.
The Kingdom of Sheor


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Historical Population: 8,836,602
Current Population: 1,146,217, mostly in the Eastern Settlements
Dissolved: Arc 178
Ruling Family: House Luther
Capital: Luthreign
Major Cities: Luthreign, Cairene Sol, Breichiawl

Sheor, a great land once dominant among the realms of the North, lies now a fallen Kingdom with naught but grim stories and fleeting recollections, stored in ancient books now described by all as "irrelevant", "conspiracy", and "obsolete". Sheor is, as such, is known only as the land where the peoples of Rynmere once would dwell. What was once an Empire seeking to expand, uncontested, through the eastern continent lays now a desolate and twisted foundation for terrors, abominations and haunting dreams. It is Sheor where much of Idalosian technology, philosophy and intellectualism were once developed, but the grand Kingdom now lays the site of the greatest massacre in all of the world's history.

In their dreaming of a brighter world, free from the tyranny of the Fallen Lord Galador, the last remnants of Sheor traveled westward in the pursuit of a future away from their desolate lands. Among these great travelers were the families now known as Warrick, Endor, Gawyne, Krome, Venora, Andaris, Burhan, and the royal family House Luther, with a collection of common citizens behind them, serving as the settlers of a new realm. These people, once Sheoran, became the foundation of what is now known as the Kingdom of Rynmere, with House Andaris, Venora and Luther leading their colonization.

In the first twenty years of settlement, the eight families managed to develop several footholds into the Kingdom, populating the lands and developing townships that now serve as capitals within the island Kingdom. Between the initial colonization and the founding of Rynmere however, a great event took place that finalized the death of Sheoran identity, and the birth of Rynlism.

The King of Sheor, Bryndel Luther, was cast to the ocean and bathed in Jacadon's fumes. Unknown to the people of the island, the King had been involved in a cruel political game, constantly battling with Ser Verne of Andaris for dominance. With the removal of the wealth and influence of House Luther, disloyalty spawned in the Houses he brought with him, especially the greatest of them. Believing himself to be the greatest of the eight colonial Lords within the island, Verne sought desperately to destroy House Luther and create a long-lasted dynasty among its remains.

Opportunely, the Lady Cyrene came to his aide, recognizing the treacherous ambition in his eyes. She offered him a rose, and a promise: that if he would marry her come Saun, and let her rule as his beloved, she would put an end to the whole of the House of Luther. He accepted, and she began to weave her plot, painting a tale in her head of the final days of the Luther dynasty. Upon the final days of Ashan, she came to the developing estate of her liege Bryndel, and offered him and the whole of his family wine and song. The whole of both their families came, a Venora for each Luther, and more. Musicians, authors, depressed poets - they all came forth, entertaining the members of the King's family, singing of Sheor's former glory, and now Rynmere's ascent to greatness.

The King and his family were delighted, their only curiosity being why none from Venora had even tasted a singular drop of wine, leaving their hosts, bards and strumpets to the fine beverages they'd brought. By the end of the night however, their curiosities were sated, as the men and women of Luther were deteriorated by poison, their children slaughtered in their bedrooms while the adults were dragged into the ocean with steel bondage among their arms and legs. Come the morning, every last Luther was dead, with their estate burnt to the ground. Everyone in Rynmere believed only that they were destroyed by some divine event, incapable of imagining disloyalty to their liege. The seven houses - and by extension the Sacred Seven - repeated the lie that the Luther had been destroyed by the Gods, their hubris the reason for the destruction of Sheor.

Cyrene and Verne became the new face of Rynmere's rulership, and finally, the last remnants of the Fallen Kingdom were gone. The only ones left to know of the history of what happened were the successors of Venora and Andaris, complicit in the final end of the Kingdom that preceded them. All others forgot, or were not allowed to discover.

None but the current Duke/Duchess of Andaris and Venora know this information, and their predecessors (if they are alive). There are no exceptions, save for with approval from all of Rynmere's moderators.

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Luthreign


The capital of Sheor, known as Luthreign, was once the heartland of the eastern continent, a developed ancient city with an array of wondrous technological innovations, spanning hundreds of years before recorded history. Their walls were built high, their houses had access to water, and their citizenry developed granaries, mills and places of production. Luthreign developed some of Idalos' first aqueducts, amphitheaters, stables, equipment of iron and steel, and even built some of the world's earliest roads, between Luthreign, Cairene Sol and Breichiawl.

At its peak, Luthreign was the most populated city in Idalos for its time, with nearly a million inhabitants and an expanding market of innovators, fueled by noble investments. Not much is known of Luthreign today, except perhaps by magical scholars, particularly the Seekers. Luthreign is known today as one the greatest bastions of magical knowledge, freely allowing mages to dwell in the Kingdom. While many speculate why they so freely enabled mages to study, develop and engage in their domains, mages today know: it is because of the Immortal's War. Luthreign, and Sheor as a whole, were formed before the Immortal War, and devastated by its fallout. As such, they created an order of mages to defend the Kingdom, operating by in large within the confines of the city of Luthreign.

Many innovations within the domain magics were originally authored within the city walls, with outer Sheor as their place to practice upon. As such, the city ruins today are fabled among mages to contain many unique and antique magical artifacts, though few would dare attempt to find them.

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Downfall

The tolerance of magic, in Sheor, became a dependence. While their armies were vast and powerful, armed with mages as commanders and auxiliary forces, the Sheoran people eventually began to fall beneath their thumb, and lost the ability to police or regulate rogue mages. Crime performed by mages spread rampantly throughout the Kingdom, with the development of magic in Sheor quickly surpassing the development of military strategy and martial weaponry. Magic became the Kingdom's greatest asset, as well as its great adversary; by the second century, the people of the Kingdom had begun to deeply resent the arcane arts across the realm, and arcanists became a controversial but privileged class.

And then... perhaps as an example of the dangers of uncontrolled magic, came Galador, one of the greatest mages of Sheor, and Mortalborn of Mastes. The man was known to be a criminal along the southern realms, forming a large faction of outlaws within the Kingdom known as the Sheoran Blight. The man was a known Aberrant, back then an extremely rare magic that virtually none had heard of. All that was known was that Galador was voracious, cleaving through whole townships and devouring the inhabitants by the hundreds, even thousands.

Eventually, Galador became something else - something unknown to the Sheoran, and still yet to the people who descended from them, such as the people of Rynmere. He became a Fallen Lord, one of the most powerful entities imaginable, forever earning his name as the Sheoran Blight he so described himself as. Galador's power became amplified to an extreme, and the hundreds he would feast upon became thousands, and then millions - the more he killed, the more power he acquired, and so all the more resources to kill an expanding amount. The Fallen would eventually go on to devastate Sheor, wiping out over ninety percent of the Kingdom's population and eviscerating all of their major settlements. What was most damning was not this, however, but the scar he left upon Sheor - Conjunctions, an ability of Aberration, left laying among the Kingdom and polluting whole stretches of the region with chaotic, corrosive bubbles of energy.

The land would never again be inhabitable, or even if it was, none would dare try. The only remnants of Sheor, left relatively untouched, were the then-uninhabited territories of Welles, Pyke, Oakleigh and Berwick. The vast majority of the Kingdom beneath those settlements were obliterated utterly, with the people spreading out across the world, and largely abandoning their cultural and ethnic roots in all but name.

Today

Today, Sheor is an uninhabited land, save for a few of their "Realms" which are now inhabited by Rynmere's colonial settlers. Otherwise, much of the Kingdom is covered in chaotic conjunctions, and filled with freakish abominations once animals and plants, now something entirely different. It is also alleged that the Harvester of Galador became so monstrous and powerful that he transcended the boundaries of what his own kind are, becoming living and physical, continuing to roam the fallen Kingdom as a beast with no equal. The capital and all of the great cities of the Kingdom lay in ruins, not even delved into by the most ambitious of explorers and treasure-seekers.

Mostly, Sheor is a place of memory, and of folktale and fable for the people of Rynmere and the lands to the south. It is said, however, that the spheres - or conjunctions - have begun to decline of late, potentially providing a motivation for surrounding powers to seek colonization among the ruins of the fallen Kingdom.
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Geography and Landmarks
R Y N M E R EK I N G D O M
Legend: F (foot) M (mount) C (caravan) B (boat) A (air)
Andaris - Venora: F 6 days, M 3 days, C 6 days, A 1 day.
Andaris - Warrick: F 14 days, M 7 days, C 14 days, A 3.5 days.
Andaris - Krome: F 8 days, M 4 days, C 8 days, A 2 days.
Andaris - Burhan: F 28 days, M 14 days, C 28 days, A 2.5 days, B 5 days.
Andaris - Gawyne: F 12 days, M 6 days, C 12 days, A 3 days.
Andaris - Endor: F 28 days, M 14 days, C 28 days, A 4 days, B 9 days.
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Andaris City is the capital of Rynmere Kingdom. The Kingdom is made up of seven regions named after the knights that first fought for and established lives for themselves on Rynmere. These regions are overseen by Dukes who are in charge of settling disagreements, raising armies for the king, and seeing to it that there are no disputes within the kingdom. In the Kingdom of Rynmere, everyone pays taxes to the king to ensure that their region is well manned and cared for by the Moseke Knights, supplies via trade, and land which the people are able to farm. Each region is famous for something unique.

Andaris: Named after Ser Verne Andaris, Knight Lord Commander of The First Shields, Andaris region is the home of King Renault and his soon to be Queen Freya Renault (nee Krome), who live in Andar Castle at the centre of Andaris City. The Capital is famed for its deep water port in Cyrene Bay, which is able to host a large fleet of naval, passenger, and trade ships. It has been said that the city of Andaris is one of the trade capitals of Idalos, and as such, the waters surrounding Rynmere are closely protected.

Venora: As a knight and famed wife of Lord Commander, Ser Verne Andaris, Lady Cyrene Venora was the first woman to ever receive a knighthood in Rynmere. The soil in Venora is very fertile and every Ashan the people of Venora are blessed with a wealth of crops, including but not limited to, sweet corn, potatoes, beans, barley, broccoli, wheat, carrots, peanuts, asparagus, and pumpkin. They also gather harvests from a variety of vines and trees, including grape, passion fruit, black pepper, walnut, cherry, elderberry, lingonberry, and plum.

Warrick: Henry Warrick was a famous War General that settled the southwest of Rynmere from the Burning Mountains to the end of the River Kyo. He slayed the a fearsome giant called Hunter, who had ruled the land before him and forged a pass through the Burning Mountains named after the beast. Today Warrick is a peaceful region famed for its flat, grassy plain and the well known Sunset Isle off the west coast. The best horses in all of Rynmere are bred here and are considered lucky mounts to ride into battle, and Garado, Warrick’s first stallion was said to have sprung from a rib bone that he pulled away from the defeated giant, Hunter.

Burhan: The people of Burhan are the best shipwrights in all of Idalos, their skill made all the more impressive due to the region being landlocked. It does, however, provide the realm with some of the finest timber in the north, being the most densely populated woodlands in all of Rynmere. Rahiko Burhan designed and built the ship that first sailed to Rynmere carrying Verne Andaris and his knights to the eastern shore. The shipwrights use the rivers to transport logs and partially constructed ships to Krome Lake, and later out into the sea.

Endor: Famed weaponsmith, Oron Endor settled on the far northwest part of Rynmere at the northernmost point of The Burning Mountains, which are rich with iron and other precious metals. From Norr Bay, the people of Endor send trade ships to the city of Andaris that supply king's army them with weapons, metals, and tools.

Gawyne: The North was once considered a frozen wasteland before Warren Gawyne set down his flag and claimed the region of Gawyne for himself. He showed his followers how to tame even the harshest environments, and to this day, the outpost in Gawyne still thrives. Gawyne mysteriously went missing after a routine visit to the underground pass through Warren’s Peak to Nora’s Rest. Some believe he became lost in the labyrinth, leaving his life’s work, The Creed of Silence ,to be discovered in his absence.

Krome: Gerrard Krome was a treasure hunter before joining The First Shields under the command of Ser Verne Andaris. He retired as a wealthy man said to have married three wives who bore him many sons. He commissioned a large ship to be built on the lake that he lived on right up into old age, filling the hull with his treasures and keepsakes until one night the boat sank unexpectedly. Some say the vessel was so weighed down with gold that its belly blew out and spewed treasure down into the depths of the lake before going down with Gerrard and his three wives aboard. Krome is a small fishing community, making use of both the lake and the sea. The people of Krome are said to be sharp of mind and tight of purse, known for its artists and philosophers. Most of the teachers working for Andaris university originate from the settlement in Krome.
L A N D M A R K S

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Cyrene Bay: Named after Lady Cyrene Venora, the bay is the biggest deep water cove in Rynmere and sees a lot of boat traffic, especially during the warmer seasons. Though the bay was named after Verne’s wife, the bay is located closer to Andaris City than it is to Venora’s outpost. Many people work on the ports within the bay and the fishing is always good. As Cynere Bay is one of the busiest ports in all of Rynmere, it is heavily patrolled and sees very few smugglers, bandits, crooks, thieves, or pirates, who tend to sail further north to Krome in order to seek their fortunes.

Hunter’s Pass: Legend says that Henry Warrick, the first true man to be called Hunter, slayed a giant and with one strike of his mighty ax lobbed the beast’s head clean off, creating Hunter’s Pass where the giant’s body fell between two mountain and paved the way for a road to be set down. This, however, is merely a legend. In truth, the Pass was created by the efforts of many Nehren throughout many years, as directed by the first Hunter. Nowadays, the crooks and bandits of Rynmere gather in this dark place to plot and plan their wicked deeds. Caution to any innocent intending to go near.

Iron Mines: The Iron Mines in Endor produce over seventy percent of Rynmere’s precious metals, stones, and gems. They provide jobs for the majority of the population in the region and make the kingdom a lot of money in exports. Most of the iron is processed into blocks that fit together for easy storage on ships and it often sent to Andaris where it is turned into tools, weapons, and other assorted items before being shipped overseas for sale. Prisoners and slaves make up almost half of the workforce in the Iron Mines, sent to the region from all across Rynmere for various punishments and lengths of service. Slaves earn only half the wage that a miner makes in a season and are still expected to pay tax to the king. It's hard, backbreaking work, but someone has to do it.

Kyo River: Water flows down from The Burning Mountains through underground pathways and gushes from a cliff face in the heart of the Warrick region, forming a deep pool that has helped carve the Kyo River which runs south through Warrick all the way to the ocean. Every year salmon swim up the Kyo River for spawning, which attracts bears from all across the countryside. Seals also make use of the pool, swimming up river with their young, treating the pool like a nursery while they go out on long trips to sea in search of fish. Farmers draw the fresh water away from the river for their crops, and livestock often line the banks to drink from the sweet, clear spring water.

Widow's Point: Legend has it that Widow’s Point is haunted by the ghost of a woman from Venora, the wife of an U’frek Sailor who went to war. She waited for him at the top of what is now known as Widow’s Point, watching for the masts of his ship to return. It’s said that when they didn’t return, the women threw herself off of Widow’s Point and fell to the jagged rocks below. Now, if you listen closely, you’ll hear the widow’s wail over the wind that billows over the waves of Widow’s Point. And on clear nights, when the moon is full, you might even see her, still watching for her lost love.

The sound of wailing comes from the wind and surf blowing through the dozens of little caves and rock formations at the bottom of the cliff. There have been numerous suicides off of Widow’s Point, but the one that inspired this myth and the cliff’s name occurred some time during the winter in the year 460, although it is not known if the unnamed woman who leapt to her death was the bride of an U’frek sailor.

Avari River: A waterway that has been used to transport logs down into Krome Lake from Burhan for as long as the people of Rynmere can remember. As Rynmere’s biggest supplier of timber, Burhan has laid claim to the river with little dispute from any of the surrounding regions. During the winter the river runs a lot higher and faster than normal with all the rain and snow over the Burning Mountains being channeled down into the River Avari, causing it to break its banks from time to time. Some say that the river is a good place to pan for gold they believe washes down from the mountains, lining Krome’s lakebed with flakes of gold dust.

Zor River: A river shared by Krome and Andaris, its water is used to keep a lot of the region's crops alive during the hot season, when the ground tends to dry out and even crack in some extreme cases. The river was named after Gerrard Krome’s first son, Zor, and has kept the name ever since. Every year salmon swim up the river from the sea into Lake Krome to spawn which attracts local fishermen and wildlife from all across the two neighbouring regions.

Nora’s Rest: Nora was the one and only child of Verne Andaris and Cyrene Venora. On the morning of her death , at the young age of twenty-two, the people of Andaris chose to build a shrine at the foot of the tallest mountain in Rynmere which later came to be known as Nora’s Rest. It is considered a holy place and each year on Nora’s birthday, Ashan 3, the people of Rynmere gather at the foot of the mountain to partake in an age old ritual. They say the caves leading into Nora’s Rest tunnel all the way to Warren’s Peak and that somewhere beneath the realms of Burhan, Endor, and Gawyne is a lost labyrinth that was built by a race of men that have long since passed. Explorers have gone looking for the labyrinth countless times but say the caves are too deep and dangerous to explore further. Not everyone shares the same belief, however, as some believe the labyrinth is really the belly of the giant Jacadon Rynmere, brought down by The First Shields.

Nora’s Ritual is an excuse for most to take a day off work once a year in favour of climbing up into the high set vineyards on the south side of the mountain, which people climb in droves following a decorated black bull that is painted with white markings and sacrificed so that the next growing season may be blessed. This is not the only ritual that takes place, as in recent years it has come to light that an underground group of sorcerers called ‘The Seers’ partake in their own dark ritual, sacrificing a young woman Nora’s age that a necromancer then brings back to life for a few short moments, believing Nora’s ghost inhabits the host and shares a vision regarding future events with the group.

The Lost Labyrinth: When a Jacadon dies it turns to stone, which has led people to believe that the labyrinth is really the ‘Guts of Rynmere’, the stony innards of the mighty beast defeated by the Sacred Seven. It was found by a lone explorer who wrote about his discovery over several books, documenting what he saw and found during his time exploring the twists and turns of the Labyrinth, which he believed to be located somewhere beneath the region of Burhan. Many have gone looking for the tunnels leading to the Labyrinth via Nora’s Rest and Warren’s Peak, but there have been no successful discoveries since, leading most to believe that the myth of The Lost Labyrinth is little more than a fairytale.

Sunset Isle: The Sunset Isle is the only known Jacadon breeding site in all of Idalos. Each year a mating pair will protect one egg, taking turns to keep the nest warm until their young hatch. Each egg contains two Jacadon twins, one male and one female that fight to the death upon hatching. The victor is raised by both parents, who fish in the sea in order to gather enough food for the young Jacadon to grow strong enough to learn to fly before the winter.

The isle is tall with sharp, jagged cliffs that deter most other predators from climbing up to the nesting grounds, though every year hopeful generals from across Rynmere scale the walls in order to try and form a bond with a young Jacadon in the hope of becoming a Blazer, the highest honour bestowed to Rynmere’s Xiur Sky Riders. Jagged rocks make the climb almost impossible for most, but the flat, soft sands of the nesting grounds are a welcome relief to any that do, thought they might not feel so welcome standing face to face with an adult Jacadon or breeding pair, who are said to be some of the most protective parents in the animal kingdom.

The Burning Mountains: The legends say that a giant Jacadon who once ruled the sky crashed into the sea and fell into a deep sleep, later becoming the body of land the people now called Rynmere. The Jacadon was so hot that even during the coldest parts of Vhalar and Zi'da, no snow is able to settle upon the scorching earth of The Burning Mountains, or as the people know it, Rynmere’s Backbone.

Norr Bay: The trading base for Endor, a large outpost built of blood, sweat, and iron. The men and women of Endor have constructed a large stone wall they call the Gate to the South, which stretches from the outpost near the bay, all the way to the northernmost point of The Burning Mountains. As Endor is rich with natural resources, it is often targeted by pirates, crooks, and thieves, willing to risk life and limb to fetch what they desire, and so the wall has helped to counter their invasions and is patrolled at all times by the men and women of the Moseke Knights.

Warren’s Peak: The air is slightly thinner up here and the wind blows cold off the northern sea, chilling a man to the bones. Only the hardest of people take on the lifelong challenge of taming a patch of earth for themselves in Gawyne. Warren’s Peak is well known for its deep, winding caves and hot spring pools, nestled within the mountain which is more often than not dressed with snow all year round. It is said that Warren disappeared after a routine trip to the caves, and even hundreds of years later, no body, bones, or items have been found that might give some insight as to his bizarre disappearance.

Pathos Bay: The sea is rough and unpredictable along the northern coast of Rynmere, and many a ship has washed ashore over the years, claiming countless lives. Here there is a dangerous sandbar that only seafaring experts have ever been able to navigate safely, but it is the rocks closer to shore, hidden beneath the waves that see most pirates, sailors, and explorers steer clear of the area. Every now and then the people of Krome have reported seeing Mer people playing in the shallow mer-pools during the warmer summer seasons, but other than the odd fishmen, Pathos Bay has very little to offer.

Lake Krome: The biggest body of water in the kingdom, Lake Krome has been dubbed ‘The Eye of The Jacadon’ and is said to be the final resting place of Gerrard Krome who lived on a ship in the middle of the lake. It is rumoured that when the ship sank, it took all of Krome’s fortune to the bottom of the lake with it.
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[Rynmere] Lore

Rynmere Coastline
Everything you need to know about Rynmere's Coastline.
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Andaris Coast:

The Andaris coast is wild and beautiful, white-capped and unpredictable. This body of water between Rynmere east and the land beyond is called The Eastern Trench and divides Rynmere from its settlements in the Northern Region of Idalos. The water here moves quickly and hidden dangers make it impossible for novice and even some competent sailors to navigate. Cool water from the north mixes with warmer waters from the south forming whirlpools that erode deep underground hollows on the seabed which have formed a vast cave system the Mer like to live in.
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Andaris Caves:

The coastline is littered with caves big enough to hide anything from a schooner to a flight of dragons, and wild Avriel have been known to gather here. It is common to find old shipwrecks scattered along the short stretches of white sandy beaches dotted between the caves, and travellers should be wary of pirates and thieves. Faction VII have been known to erect makeshift hideouts in the caves when trying to smuggle goods in and out of the country, and though there is a strong group of knights and skyriders on patrol a lot of the time, it is impossible for them to check every cave.
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Venora Coast:

The sunny south of Rynmere attracts visitors from right across the country, especially during the warmer seasons of Ymiden, Saun, and Vhalar. The coast is known for its high cliffs, long sandy stretches of beachfronts, and calm tides. Cyrene Bay often sees a lot of trade ships moving back and forth along the horizon and families enjoy watching from the clifftops as the tall ships sail along the coast avoiding the moving sandbars. Mer come and go but prefer the rockier coasts of Gawyne, Krome, and Andaris. Of all of the beaches, Venora has been voted the safest for swimming.
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Warrick South Coast:

The lonely shores of Warrick are often plagued by pirate attacks where cattle are stolen from the farms dotted along the shore. The coast is patrolled by skyriders during the warmer seasons, but during Zi’da and Cylus the dragons seek out warmer climates and tend to stay closer to the Burning Mountains. Of all of the beaches in Rynmere, Warrick is most prone to an invasion, but with the biggest military force in Rynmere, and the village situated so far from the shore, the rest of Rynmere is quietly confident that the region can support itself.
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Warrick West Coast:

West of the Burning Mountains and the Stone Forest lies the steep cliffs of the Western Rim. The cliffs here are impossible to climb and though the sea is very calm in these parts, pirates have given up on forging a route through the dense forests and high mountains. Jacadon and Volareon young come here to learn to fly, throwing themselves from the tops of the cliffs to spread their wings and make the most of the warm air that circulates through the deep caverns. An old family of Mer call the aqua coloured water home.
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Endor Coast:

Dark, dingy Endor isn’t for the faint hearted, and the year round cold weather is only appealing to those who have lived here for generations. The seawater is too cold to swim in, and the rocks are impossible to traverse without appropriate footwear. A dangerous clan of Mer call these waters home and don’t take kindly to trespassers or locals. Smaller ships have been warned to stay clear as the Keel-Saw-Sea-Dragon has also been known to visit. The seawater is black and difficult to see in when diving even with the help of firelight shone against the surface.
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Gawyne Coast:

The coast is littered with tall, jiggered rocks that stick up out of the sea like giant shark fins. No one sails off the coast of Gawyne, as the only way ashore is in a small canoe or rowboats. The weather here is unpredictable and often rainy. The Mere here are very welcoming, unlike their neighbours in Endor. It is said that Henry Warrick’s youngest son fell in love with a Mer that he met while travelling around the Gawyne coast, though others have debated that she was from the south. The rocky shore protects the Wise Wood, known for its sturdiness and quality by shipwrights across Idalos.
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Krome Coast:

The white cliffs of Krome and rocky shore can often make one feel as if they have travelled to the edge of the world. The dense surrounding forests are difficult to cut a path through, and the trees here tend to grow back at an alarming rate. Some say it has something to do with the Wisps that haunt the woods, believed to channel their collective energy into seeing the forest thrive. The tides here are calm one day and wild the next, with high waves crashing against the white walls. People have tried and failed to build docks along the coast with little success.
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Krome Caves:

Dark caves tunnel into the shore as deep as one hundred metres in some places and though explorers have only been able to map these caves during the season of Ashan, they have never found anything of value. Some of the caves have pictures carved into the walls, believed to have been etched by the Mer-folk who have been known to record the history of their clans in caves throughout Idalos. Perhaps the most famous thing about the Krome Caves, however, are the giant sea eels that grow up to six metres long and feast on wild goats.

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