Geography of Zephyr

(Taken from: A Guide to Traveling Across Tyrra, by Mme Zara, Guildmaster, Ravenholt Astrologers Guild. Original to be found in Ember's Library of Ravenholt)

Fu-Nan

I have omitted reference to my own homeland, the kingdom of Fu-Nan, since I departed it in some haste at the beginning of a period of great upheaval. My charts indicate that this time of trouble is ended, and that Fu-Nan may once again be safe to visit. However, I have received no word of confirmation on the matter, and will refrain from further comment until my information is reinforced by trustworthy sources.  

Koko-sho-ne

    The Isle of Kites is located off the eastern shores of the continent of Zephyr. It is an island surrounded by reefs and lagoons, at whose center is a dormant volcano. Here a society of several hundred humans has established  itself as the most successful purveyors of magical components in the entire region.

    They call themselves the “Af-Zeli" or "Collectors of Song" and the objects of their song are the fire birds of Koko-sho-ne: The Phoenix. Af-Zeli legends say that since time unknown, the island has belonged to a Nida, or nest of the magical birds, who make their homes in the caves and cliffs of the mountain. Fiercely possessive of their territory, they mercilessly attacked any who tried to approach it.

    Several hundred years ago, a great storm caused a shipwreck on the island, but most of its passengers and crew were able to make their way to shore. Among them was a half-elven spellsinger named Mistral. When the storm ended, the fire birds made ready to attack. Mistral gave the greatest performance or her life. She sang a song of friendship to the ferocious fire birds, and won their affection, and mercy for herself and her people.

    Delighted by the song, the fire birds allowed the castaways to remain, even permitting them to enter the Nida for those things which they knew are treasured by mortals for their magical powers. Because of this bond, no mortal  may approach the island who is not counted among the friends of the Af-Zeli, and Af-Zeli children are always taught to sing.

    Yet even as marvelous as the tales are, perhaps more wondrous is the manner in which  the Af-Zeli gather the magic of the fire birds. Since the volcano is only dormant, (it is said that the Phoenix themselves control its activity.) no traveler on foot could survive upon its slopes, or in its caves. The Af-Zeli have devised an ingenious solution to this problem. They construct great kites, which ride up the thermal currents created by the heat of the mountain, up to the Nida and enter the caves only briefly to collect the feather and blood which may be available. (It must be noted that the only way in which the Af-Zeli are permitted to take phoenix blood is during the interval between the death of the bird and its consumption by its own fires.)

    As the chief source of phoenix magic in the entire region, the islanders of Koko-sho-ne command great wealth, yet they continue to live simply and naturally. If a traveler wishes to visit and trade with the Af-Zeli, It is not enough to bear coin, or jewels. One must have an item of great beauty or ingenuity, or magic for exchange, or possess a skill or service rarely found among the people themselves. Dwarven craft masters are particularly welcome, as are Bards with songs or stories new to the Af-Zeli.

Vesti Gorge

This elven realm is situated in one of the most eerily beautiful landscapes on all of Tyrra. It lies in an ancient canyon, formed by the Meander River, in the northwestern continent of Zephyr. It is a heavily forested valley a hundred miles long and thirty miles wide, bordered by sheer cliffs which give way to alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains ten thousand feet high. Eighty thousand “Pervani” (whose name means “The Changed Ones” in their tongue) dwell in the gorge and in the surrounding meadows.

            The elves call their homeland the Vesti-Khirbat, which translates to “ancient dwelling place of spirits” although their legends do not specify which spirits are meant. (It is said that the Pervani were given the name by the land itself.)

            The few non-elves who live in or have traveled in the area have a more sinister name for it. They call this valley, “Zombie Canyon.” This is because from a point where an underground river called the Flume gushes into the Meander at a spot just above Magatharra Falls,  (Maidenhair) some fifty miles upstream to the river’s mouth in Dolphin Bay, both the cliff walls and the river itself are imbued with a harmless phosphorescent mineral deposit. It causes both to glow in the dark with a pale bluish light, which the elves call dhusara, or dusk light, but which humans compare to the sickly glow given off by some corpses as they decompose. Barbarians call Vesti Gorge “taboo” and shun it altogether.

            Unfortunately the mountains, particularly around the Flume, make ideal lairs for a number of fell monsters which are a constant threat to the Pervani. For this reason, adventuring parties are welcome in Vesti Gorge, and may take away with them great rewards, Providing that they do not attempt to remove any magical artifacts, (which the elves regard as the property of the ancient spirit-dwellers.) and provided that upon entering the valley, they present themselves at the Dal-en-Qarat. -The strangers court.- to the representatives of Anilei Hiridakon, who has been the Queen of the Pervani for more than two hundred years.

            Traders will find much of value among the Pervani. In the valley there is great expertise in crafted goods, particularly in weaving and in woodcarving. There is a shortage in the gorge of durable metals such as copper or iron, and good bar steel is highly prized by Pervani weapon smiths. The elves are most interested in trading in magic: spell components are rare in the gorge, and uncommon potions for barter will bring premium prices and occasionally a magic weapon.

            There is also an elven presence in the upland meadows where flocks of angora goats, sheep, and alpaca are kept. Gigantic eagles and hawks rule the air here. Pervani shepherds are possibly the finest archers on Tyrra. (I once saw one strike the eye of an eagle diving on his flock.) It is the coats of these animals which provide the fibers for the weavers of the valley, whose cloth, felt and tapestries are among the finest to be found anywhere.