Lands of Ithia – Gothique.
Gothique a large continent formed by a masterwork of bardic craft that almost resembles a forsaken book with one cover torn off. The Binder Mountains run along the entire back side of Gothique, giving it the ragged appearance of a torn cover. The lands are full of pale, dark, and dreary sights, though leakages from other bardic works have added spots of color that burn through the darkness. Siger’s light hardly ever breaches the shadows of Gothique, and its lands are full of plants that have adapted to feed off the light of the moons.
The center of Gothique is home to the Tower that serves as the tomb of Mary Lavenza Gothique, her husband, and her unborn children. Around the tower, the homunculi known as Stonecroft creatures born of Gothique’s masterpiece build a city where they can worship their mother, their god, their creator, who, with Zatolen, has given them the lives they could never have in their tragic tome.
To the west, the Shae form their small settlements, here there be color, they spread forth life and light, having escaped from a bardic novel about fantastic fairies. Their lands are flat plains of grey black grass, tall trees that grow heart-shaped fruits, and patches of nettle fighting invasive wildflowers for territory. The Zver have a strong presence here in roaming territorial clans.
The Gano rule the east all along the Binder Mountains, their females building primitive cities while their males roam in gangs to earn enough tattoos, piercings, and scars to earn a mate. They dwell among the sparse grasslands where pike trees grow long, sharp branches straight towards the sky, ash falls from the mountains like snow, and the Gano grow small gardens of color in the hearts of their settlements.
The Felis and Danse rule the South, scattered across deserts, hills, and lush plains where blood-red grass grows thick. Both build intricate, beautiful cities, live hedonistic lives, and live for whatever amusement comes their way. Though the Felis rule through armies of the undead to build monuments, those are dead and gone. The Danse feed off attention, throwing endless lavish parties; their entire society is dedicated to games with no need for bread. The two factions seem to get along well, and their cities are major points of trade with the outer world.
The Curdle have a small city-state between the Felis and Stonecroft. They live in rocky lands scarred with large valleys, twisting chasms, and thick haunted woods. Few dare to enter the Curdle lands; the monotone, shadowy woods turn people around easily, and the sudden chasms can end the lives of those not paying close attention.
The Northwest has many Zver and even more Waxin who have helped spread the flowers the Shae brought to Gothique. Their lands are full of morbid and beautiful flora, from bleeding trees to flowers that look like clawed hands to those with seed pods that sound like screams when they pop.
The Hade ruled the North from dark, craggy plateaus where they built their dread castles overlooking vast forests and grasslands. All the lands the Hade rule over feel lonely, sounds feel diminished here… save for screams. Colors are the most muted here, and it’s constantly raining. Terrified ‘humans’ serve the Hade, and they stand as one of the most powerful factions on the island.
Recent Posts
Tales of Ithia 
Leave a comment