Esoteric

[coming soon]

Allwinds City, Highland Capital. Nestled against the bitter harshness of the Vallone Range stands the castle city of Allwinds. It is the largest city in Ebaea, and the most military. The sprawling city is known for its maze-like roads and the grey stone buildings that are next to impossible to tell apart without their signage. The most distinguishing feature of Allwinds is the towering castle near the center of the city where the royals and nobles live and work. Though it is touted as a city of great wealth and peace, there is a large slum in the city and a good percentage of the residents live in less than ideal conditions. The strong presence of the Allwinds Military has done little to deter the underworld from flourishing in the city. Climate here is windy and cold, being only moderately warm during the summer months. Including the military and royal family, population is well over two million.

Balah Masur, Oasis in the Sands. The sole oasis in the blazing Sirione Desert. Balah Masur is a town of single-story brick and wood buildings huddled together in the sand. There are no roads to speak of and much of the town looks as though it's under perpetual construction from the constant maintenance that much be done to fight damage caused by the sand. At the center of town is the Miracle Spring, which feeds water to the entire town. Balah Masur's entire economy is based around the mining and collection of precious stones, particularly diamonds we can be found in the sand all over the desert that have blown in by the never ending winds. Climate here is extremely hot and dry, rain is incredibly rare. Population is just over a few thousand.

Eriport, Gateway to the North. A town of constant rain and overcast skies. Many know Eriport as a poor city with a depressing atmosphere where only those with solid dispositions can survive. those who live there disagree but do often claim to be more hardy than those from other cities. Trading of raw materials - wood, metal ores, minerals, animal furs, etc - is the main industry in Eriport. It's a simple city with sturdy buildings that follow classic Olde World architecture (German style houses and the like). Climate here is temperate and wet. The population is about 78,000.

Kald, Smoking City of the West. Kald is the cradle of industry in Ebaea. Despite the ever-growing influence of technology, it's a city bathed in color and tradition. The stone roads are lined with intricate pueblo buildings and decorated with bright flags and flowers accented with the ever present hints of technology. The signature steam and smoke that rise over Kald are from the many factories in the city's Iron District. A great majority of Kald's residents live comfortable lives despite a growing pollution problem. Climate here is moderate, if a bit on the warm side. Population is just under a million but it constantly growing.

Paradise Haven, Jungle Island City. The tiered town nestled in the islands. The town is built on 3 different man-made levels built into the side of an island. Most of the housing and building here are very basic huts. The culture here is very community-centric with communal bathing, one room school, and festivals for every occasion. A good portion of the town has embraced the jungle of the island and allow the plant life to grow freely around their homes. Climate here is tropical and wet. Population is about 5,000.

Peria, City of Waterways. Known as the jewel of Ebaea, Peria is a lovers' paradise and playground to the nobles and royalty. It's a colorful city of brick and mortar and stone buildings that appear to be floating in an pure blue inlet on the West coast. There are canals of seawater and decorative bridges in place of roads here with boats are the main form of transportation. The majority of residents in Peria are lower paid service industry workers who serve the nobility who bring their wealth to the city. There is many inns, brothels, restaurants, auction houses, and ballrooms. The climate here is very moderate and the weather very rarely changes. Population of permanent residents is about 150,000 but there is a constant flow of non-residents through the city.

Ripuri, City in the Forest.

The Chasms - Giant cracks in the land that occur all over Ebaea, stemming from the Vallone Range. Most are filled with streams that are fed by springs originating in the mountains.

Vallone Range - A grand mountain range that runs through the center of North Ebaea in a rough crescent shape, limiting access to the lands to the North. It is said it was the rise of these mountains that split Ebaea, once whole, into its many pieces. The snow capped mountains in this range are the tallest in Gaia and very dangerous to all who travel them due to extreme weather. There is little life in the Vallone Range. Flora is limited to pines and hardy evergreens and fauna is limited to only a few kinds of carnivore and wild yak. No towns have ever been established here.

Gilderhem Islands - A small collection of isolated islands far off the Southeastern coast of Ebaea. These islands are somewhat tropical and are known for their high bird population. Most of the islands are rocky with only scrub or grass. The largest island has some variety of trees but the rocky nature of the island limits plant life. Gilderhem's lawless main island is known for its fortress, where the slave trade and other seedy business flourishes because it is so far from Allwinds City.

Paradise Archipelago - A collection of 27 islands of various sizes that spread South from the Southwestern corner of Ebaea. These tropical islands look like mountain peaks rising from the ocean are densely covered in jungle. The largest island is noted for appearing like a mountain split in half, one half having fallen into the ocean and populated by corals. One of the larger is home to the only settlement in the area, a city known as Paradise Haven. Though the archipelago has been thoroughly mapped, few explore the islands as they are a protected natural area. Flora is highly varied, mostly tropical species. Fauna is varied with many birds, reptiles, and mammals.

The Northern Frontier - The Northernmost part of Ebaea, as separated from the mainland by the Breaker's Channel. Though mostly unsettled, this area is rich in resources. There are dense forests that are logged for wood and mines that yield much of Ebaea's metals and minerals. The seasons here are very pronounced with blazing summers and harsh winters. The Frontier is sparsely populated by scattered tribes and seasonally by those there to work. Wildlife is plentiful. Flora is typical of a temperate climate.

The Great Planes - The Great Planes is a large area of flatlands between the Western coast of Ebaea and Ripuri. It's known for its rich soil that has made it a key to farming in Ebaea since the continent was first settled. The Northern parts of the Great Planes are focused more on crop farming and the Southern parts are more focused on livestock farming. Agriculture is heavily regulated in this area to preserve the health and vitality of the land. Flora is determined by the seasons. Wildlife is somewhat scarce aside from birds and insects, as well as the livestock kept by farmers.

Sirione Desert - The Southern edge of Ebaea is home to a small mountain range called the Sirione Mountains. Because of the geography of the continent, these mountains have created a desert that runs the width of the Southern edge of Ebaea. It's the driest area of the continent and wildlife and flora is scarce. The city of Balah Masur was built around the only known oasis in the entire dessert.

Hydra Marshes - The Hydra Marshes are boggy wetlands in the Northeast of Ebaea. They are named such because of an generations-old legend that the last known Hydra to exist lived there, cursing it to forever be a swamp. Because of the dark, muddy, and often unpleasant terrain of the Marshes, it upholds its reputation as a mysterious, cursed place where few wish to travel. Flora here is surprising diverse and has many species that can only be found in this region of Ebaea. Wildlife is varied with a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and fish.

Though the universe that Esoteric is set in an original world that has influences from a million different sources, it's been designed to support common real-life cultures, though only in a very broad sense. Below is a list of "translations" from real life culture to Gaian culture.

The source of Asian and Indian influence in Ebaea would be Ripuri. Those from Ripuri are called Ripurian.

The source of Micronesian, Hawaiian, Maori, and other island aboriginal influences would be Paradise Haven. Those from Paradise Haven are called Paradisians.

The source of Native American influence would be The Northern Frontier. Those from The Northern Frontier are called Northic.

The source of Northern European, American and British influence would be Allwinds City. Those from Allwinds City are called Highlanders.

The source of Eastern European and Russian Culture would be Eriport. Those from Eriport are called Erion.

The source of French, Italian, and Spanish influence would be Peria. Those from Peria are called Perians.

The source of Mexican and South American influence would be Kald. Those from Kald are called Kalderos (male/mixed gender) or Kaldera (female).

The source of African influence would be The Great Plains. Those from The Great Plains are called Plainsfolk.

The source of Middle Eastern Culture would be Balah Masur. Those from Balah Masur are called Masuri.