|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
 Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:31 pm
 Within the major landmasses of Tarallus are various, smaller areas. Though all follow the same basic guidelines of materials and transport, as in our world they all have their own specific cultures and ways of living. The largest of these areas are the regions; the equivalent of Earth’s continents. Within the regions are countries, and within these countries are the cities and towns of the realm.
At A Glance
Eurlak is largely a low-farming, high-trading region.
Otalin is the self-sufficient, well-rounded place of discovery.
Afrikaanis is the place of largely uncolonized plains, with many indigenous peoples.
Svalbard is the explorer’s region: a place of ever-frozen snow and ice, home of orcas and giant fish.
Kavata is the New World, a land of the unknown, but filled with the promise of good things to come.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:32 pm
Eurlak
Largely the most important and influential region in the realm, Eurlak (yer-lack) is Tarallus’s Europe. The geography is relatively similar: a mountain range going through the center is very close to the Swiss Alps of Earth; another goes through the land above the Valkan Sea. The area north of these Valkan mountains is largely ice, stretching from the westernmost tip, all the way to Otalin, encompassing a few islands. Much of the uninhabited land is forest, with some places of grassland. One river splits the Valkan peninsula in half; another runs from the Sea of Aldera to the mountains, with the city of Jaradin sitting near the banks of this river. Weather is much like our Europe’s, varying between cold blizzards and hot droughts. Some places are more temperate that others, typically those in the valleys between the mountains and coast. The northern peninsula is colder than the rest.
As for culture, Eurlak is closest to 16th to 18th century Europe, mainly England. Just about anything created in the 1700s or earlier is around in Eurlak, though there are some restrictions due to materials available. The region is considered the most trade-oriented region, as its large areas of forest and mountains do not offer many resources, besides wood and, rarely, various stone and metals. The region is able to feed itself, but most effort is put into manufacturing items to be traded to other regions, and so many jobs within Eurlak are merchants or factory workers. Many of the people of Tarallus live within Eurlak, setting its population estimate at about two billion people, Jaradin housing at least six million. Few censuses are given, so the true population is not known. If one was from Eurlak, they would be considered Eurlakian.
Countries
Many countries within Eurlak are the same culturally as Earth’s countries. However, many borders are changed, and the region follows a pattern of fewer, larger countries, rather than many small ones. Great Britain is present, called Brittanica in this world. Greece and Italy are largely the same. Otherwise, the country borders are much different from our world. One country is simply an area of mountains, largely uninhabitable all but for the bravest of souls. It is only called “Mountain Country,” having no formal government or towns. The furthest north area, along the Valkan Sea, is relatively cold, but inhabitable, taking after Norway and Sweden in our world.
Though the countries' placement may differ, many countries in our world have language counterparts in Tarallus. The equivalent of Ireland has similar names; France, Italy, Greece, Sweden, and Norway follow many similar customs as well. Really, the only differences are the shape, size, and location of the countries; the style of naming is the same.
Cities & Towns
There are two different types of cities: the larger manufacturing and trading hubs, and the smaller, widely spread towns. Each country has its main city, most often close to a river or other body of water. This city is the hub of most business within the country. Other towns dot the rest of the country, many being either a farming town, trading post, or port. Many people come from these smaller towns, having traveled to the larger cities to find work and then staying there for ease of transport.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:33 pm
Otalin
Otalin is most like Asia in our world. It is a place much like a combination of China, Japan, and other Oriental countries. The only places that are at all like the other countries of our Asia is the far north, which resembles Russia and Siberia, and the far west, with countries like Iran and Turkey. Otherwise, the rest is very much like China, with one mountain range in the north. Most of the rest of the region is plains, with some forest. The southern countries have more grassland and desert-like terrain. Two great rivers go through much of Otalin: the Yinzou, the main river that winds from the ocean to the northern mountains; and the Chin'ma, a shorter tributary of the Yinzou, stemming from the largest lake in the world. A third, but much shorter and smaller river, provides an important link from the lake to the Sea of Aldera. These rivers provide the interior with a wonderful way to transport things to the larger coastal cities and other countries for manufacturing and trade. Weather is a bit cooler than Eurlak’s, and more temperate; the north is coldest and the southern tip hottest, with the river-strewn interior the most comfortable. This makes Otalin good for farming. The region, however, is largely self-sufficient, and is not as dependent on trade as Eurlak. Despite the attempts by those within the further western region, the inventors and scientists of Otalin have found the most discoveries since Professor Jaradin’s time, such as Magika-powered fireworks.
About one and a half billion people live within Otalin, with its general culture a mix of ancient Asia and the 16th to 18th century. One from Otalin would be considered Otalese.
Countries
Disregarding the far southeastern, smaller countries, most countries within Otalin are giants, even larger than Eurlak’s largest. Some borders are set by rivers, others by agreement. There are five important countries, each one connected to the ocean by rivers or coastline. These larger countries are the ones most like the Orient of our world. The smaller ones to the southwest are much like the Middle East of our world, though even now the more prevalent culture of the east is starting to change that. The far northern country, however, is a place of mountains and, in the furthest northern reaches, ice and snow, called the Northland. Some people live up here; however, unlike the northernmost peninsula of Eurlak, it is largely uninhabitable. Its giant mountain range, the largest in Tarallus, and vast stretches of ice and snow make it a place where no creature can live; at least, no known creature.
Cities & Towns
Unlike Eurlak, there are three different “classes” of towns: the few giant cities, the medium-sized cities, and the smaller farming towns. A few giant cities exist close to the coast, though none measure up to Eurlak’s largest city. Most cities are along rivers, allowing them to send products to the various places in Otalin. The largest city is right in between the mouths of the two major rivers, allowing it to be the hub of all trade in the region. The rest of the towns are small farming, mining, or logging towns, almost like villages. Resources are sent via ox or equine-drawn cart to the nearest city, where they are then shipped to the giant port on the coast to be manufactured and sent out to whichever city needs them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:34 pm
Afrikaanis
Afrikaanis (ahf-rick-kahn-niss) is much like Africa within our world. It is a land of a variety of landscapes: dense rainforests, scorching deserts, and wide, sweeping plains. Little else is known about it, as the expeditions sent to explore it were forced to spend only a little time in the region. A giant river runs from almost the very tip of the region, all the way north to the sea close to Otalin. It resembles the Nile River, and is charted as the longest river in the realm. It has been used to explore much of the interior. A mountain range crosses the north, only leaving a small stretch between coast and mountains for those parties landing on the northern shores. Another chunk of more well-known land is to the east of Afrikaanis, serving as the equivalent of Saudi Arabia; however, it is a large desert, and therefore few people live there. Otherwise, the geography and weather of Afrikaanis are almost exactly the same as our world’s Africa.
Though they rarely come into the "developed world," one from Afrikaanis would be said to be Afrikaan.
Countries
The north and northwest coasts are the only places with countries, and even then these countries are not governed; simply areas of land that have been claimed by other countries from Eurlak and, rarely, Otalin. People have only just begun to come here, and so these countries are largely empty. The only area actually filled with humans is the Interior, home to the indigenous people of Afrikaanis. They have seemed friendly, though cautious, but little contact has been made, as they tend to hide.
Cities & Towns
Some small towns dot the coasts and interior and are along the rivers, but these are rarely used, and are more trading posts than true towns. In the last few years, however, the trading post at the mouth of the great river has had a few people come to settle in it, and has grown to become a bit of a village for those wanting to live in this largely unknown place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:36 pm
Svalbard
Nearly nothing is known about Svalbard except that it is a place of ice and snow, a large collection of smaller islands separating it from Eurlak. The ocean surrounds it on all sides, creating a haven for those creatures able to survive in the cold, such as orcas, whales, fish, polar bears, and seals. Ice connects it to the more northern islands. There are no countries or towns, as only the brave explorers with a liking for cold climates dare to come here. Of the previous expeditions that came here, only half have returned alive. The rest either disappeared, or died along the way. This region is not for the faint of heart.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:38 pm
Kavata
Even less explored than Afrikaanis, but more so than Svalbard, is the New World of Kavata (kah-vah-tah). Incredibly similar to our Americas, it is a place of tropical jungles, cold mountains, hot deserts, and temperate forests. Nearly everything is here…but no one knows it yet. Only the areas close to the coast and near rivers are known, but the rest is not. There are no indigenous people known of so far, and so only small towns designed to mark explored areas exist. No countries, no governments, no inhabitants other than the native animals and foliage. Much of Kavata is yet to be discovered, yet if you forget the rough ocean voyage from the Old World to the New, it is a much easier place to explore than Svalbard or Afrikaanis, and so is destined to be fully known long before the rest of the frontiers of the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SM - Duncan Haylen Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
