Sorcas Islands
An enormous archipelago to the north of Urus made up of hundreds of islands of varying sizes. Unique to the area are the charcoal-colored beaches and the dense coniferous and cold resistant palm forests found on the larger islands. In the south, small mountains lead into the karsts of Urus. The area has a generally mild summer and chilling winter, particularly in the north.
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Politics
Since the events of the 319 A.C. Winter Celebration, Sorcas has been placed under Drakhan's cruel, unforgiving rule. Those who do not bow to the Rime Queen are disposed of without delay or hesitation. However, law enforcement in Sorcas is realized more through the ever-present threat of Vynnfurth and his ice rather than an even distribution of guards and posts across the region.
Once an independent nation, Sorcas is currently being occupied by Drakhan. However, the unofficial 'ruler' of the region is really the ice drake Vynnfurth, who has decimated the rebellion fighting against Drakhan's continuous attempts to secure this territory for themselves.
Vynnfurth patrols the area, and though official sources conveniently omit this information, many Drakhan officials are reluctant to venture into the archipelago in fear of the drake's wrath. Vynnfurth's loyalty, already unpredictable on its own, is primarily to Noktis rather than Drakhan or its government, and the creature's volatile nature makes even the battle-hardened Drakhanites uneasy.
- The Wards of the Lost – This well-organized group of rebels has been focusing all its efforts on opposing Drakhan and its army wherever and whenever they can. They use a network of underground tunnels to traverse the archipelago.
- The Army of Drakhan – Primarily realizes it's presence on Sorcas through Noktis, though his superior, Wyvern Khavestial, is also assigned to the region. Guards occupy many of the northern settlements and patrol the frozen ruins of the archipelago's cities, but avoid areas that Vynnfurth frequents.
Economy
Teams of Niravar often venture into the forests to fell trees, but this task, much like anything in Sorcas, proves to be more troublesome than their superiors expect - the trees' trunks are encased in ice, and the lack of enchanted tools and equipment in Drakhan makes getting through the ice extremely challenging. This obstacle and many others make the islands' economy move at a snail's pace.
In the south, where the ice has thawed a little, small nomadic groups have formed which herd cattle and transport supplies and wares from town to town. These traders are still under strict Drakhan rule. The nomadic groups often keep herds of praying gescralls - large lobster-like creatures covered in a thick coat of fur that can be shaved off and used to make clothing. One gescrall is large enough to feed multiple Niravar also, making these creatures the perfect cattle for these groups to keep.
- Mages, especially those who can control fire, are beyond welcome.
- Enchanters capable of enchanting tools and weapons are likewise a valuable asset.
- The Drakhan Army is always looking for Niravar to patrol the area and keep an eye out for rebels.
- Gescrall herders are always needed in the south.
- Herding
- Farming
- Lumbering
Culture
In the south, some of the archipelago's original traditions are still alive and relatively well. Sewing, knitting, and embroidery are favourite past-times that offer not only entertainment, but also practical use in the form of warm knitted fabrics to bundle up in in the winter.
The Friendship Feast used to be a grand celebration held annually in Totata. However, nowadays, the village's infrastructure is paralyzed due to vynnfurth's ice and unable to support even a fraction of the crowds that used to travel to the area to celebrate this holiday. Typically, this day is celebrated on the first full moon in autumn, and, like the name suggests, was typically filled with drinking, eating and sharing family recipes over a tankard of mead. The residents of the northern parts of Sorcas Islands still honor this day as a holiday, and though they are unable to celebrate it in full, they try to gather at the local inn to at least enjoy a drink together before returning to their work in the freezing wasteland of the archipelago.
International Relations
Factions
Wards of the Lost
Lawful GoodThis well-organized group of rebels has been focusing all its efforts on opposing Drakhan and its army wherever and whenever they can. They use a network of underground tunnels to traverse the archipelago.
The faction's leadership resides in the underground city of Ostroveni, not to be seen or interacted with by anyone, including the faction's own members. This is to ensure the safety of the movement's leaders and their families alike as Drakhan forces comb through the frozen over archipelago in search of them.
The Wards have a simple structure, meant to prioritise efficiency and secrecy, and as a result the faction is more of an informal group of like-minded individuals rather than a formal organization.
The most common way to join the Wards is to try and sabotage Drakhan efforts in Sorcas. Sooner or later, the individual obstructing Drakhan's progress in the archipelago will be contacted by an agent of the faction, and they will be offered membership in the Wards proper. However, it will be long before they're allowed access to the underground sections of the archipelago - the Wards of the Lost need to be sure they're not an undercover Drakhan agent, first.
- Access to the underground is only permitted to those verified as anti-Drakhan fighters.
- No crime is permitted within the Underground, or against fellow Wards members.
- Though Drakhan soldiers show no mercy, Wards agents are above their brutality - any deaths of Drakhan Army members required for the cause should be swift and without prolonged suffering.
'The Leadership' ◈
The Wards of the Lost have a specific leader, but their identity is known only to a handful of faction members. They maintain complete anonymity and operate all across Sorcas, and sometimes even within Drakhan itself.
The Heralds ◈
The Heralds are the only Niravar who know the identity of the Wards' leader. They communicate the leader's messages to the rest of the faction and make sure day-to-day operations run smoothly. There are typically one or two Heralds per one outpost of the faction.
The Vanguards
The Vanguards take orders from the Heralds, but hold arguably more power - they oversee the running of underground settlements in the caverns below Sorcas Islands.
Resistance Members
The bulk of the Wards' members carry no name or formal title - they typically know each other personally, and their only distinctions are in the roles they fulfil within the faction. Healers, hunters, guards and spies are especially valuable to the Wards of the Lost.
Notable Characters
Wyvern KhavestialA high-ranking Drakhan Army official sent into Sorcas to monitor and control the situation. They make few public appearances, and many speculate this is to protect themselves from any potential rebel attacks. Though Khavestial is technically Noktis's superior, they issue few commands to him. |
Frostdeath VynnfurthAwakened by Noktis, Vynnfurth had slept deep in the mountains of Drakhan in the hundreds of years since the Cataclysm. There is another layer of terror to seeing a creature once thought a mere legend roaming the land in search of opponents to crush, and Vynnfurth's constant presence has been the main reason for many locals' compliance with Drakhan's occupation. |
Dragoon NoktisDragoon Noktis led a battalion of 300 soldiers in the Sorcas Islands in an effort to quell the rebellion against Drakhan. In spite of his efforts, his attempts at securing the archipelago failed, and he turned to seeking out Vynnfurth to finally bring the opposing forces in Sorcas to their knees. He has built a shaky alliance with the drake, and can occasionally be seen surveying the frozen wasteland of northern Sorcas, seemingly basking in his accomplishments. |
Void Reaper Presence
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Geography & ArchitectureBlack, rocky islands of long forgotten volcanic origins. There are more Aether Pools here than anywhere else in Terran, forming in circular depressions between crags of sharp volcanic rock. Blueish gems - precursors to Drops - dot the shores, scattered and twinkling on the black sand beaches. Since the great ice drake Vynnfurth claimed the area, the landscape has remained frozen, with ice-blasted vegetation and destroyed villages. Snow and frost can be found coating the once temperate beaches.
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TotataA sizeable fishing village wiped from the map. It seems no one from the village survived the frigid onslaught by the great ice drake and now the only reminder of what the village used to be consists of the shattered docks and fishing boats suspended in an icy tomb along the shores. |
MoritoaA larger fishing village partially devastated by Vynnfurth's attack. Those that survived now work to rebuild their village, but with the despair that another attack could come at any moment. |
Mt. IlingfalAn ancient volcano that marks the highest elevation point across the Sorcas Islands. Long dormant lava tubes crisscross through the ground surrounding the volcano and those who still fight against Drakhan's hold on the islands have adapted these tubes to their own purpose, forming enclaves and pathways to travel unseen across the island. |
DarmirdokhA settlement in southern Sorcas. Nomads often pass through here with their wares... alongside rebels looking for passage into Urus. |