Thousand Cities:Locations
Locations of the Thousand Cities[edit]
Sharp mountain peaks part the icy northern winds, and glaciers wind towards the ocean. Few people live in the north, for the northern villages are first to suffer Tardrace's changing tempers. Those that survive hide their homes in mountain passes, and make devoted sacrifices to the mistress of storms.
Bordering the elemental pole of Wood, the forests and jungles of the East teem with life. Two major human civilisations are found in the central east, but neither has regular contact with the cities of the Central Islands. The East is also home to the two greatest rivers of Creation. Mzima, the life-spring, originates in the Far East and balances the flow of water out of the West. Aletschis, the crystal-spring, draws on meltwater from the northern glaciers.
Rocky coastlines mark the southern shore of the Central Sea. Atop the cliffs sprawls the city of Rakandra - birthplace of metalwork in the Thousand Cities. The southern lands are unstable, quickly falling away into the element of Fire. Great oceans of magma flow in the distant south, and the air itself glows with heat.
Scattered coral atolls are the only land in the west. The great ocean flows westwards, eventually cascading over the edge of the world. Merchants and fishermen take care to stay within sight of the western islands. Beyond this point, strong currents drag vessels into the deep West, where giant creatures feed on incautious travellers. Only the favour of Herneia can aid a ship caught in the western current.
The Central Islands are home to most of the Thousand Cities. Sheltered by their proximity to the elemental pole of Earth, the island chains of the Near South house the greatest human civilisations of the current age.
The Celestial Palace is home to the Cerulean Throne, where Yedan and Klesthes rule over Creation. Most of the Gods have quarters within the palace, although many of the Primal Gods choose to spend their time elsewhere.
Home to the forgotten, the Underworld contains all that has passed from the lands of Creation. Mortals eventually pass into this realm, as do memories, hopes and dreams. The caretaker of the Underworld is Ergonus.
