FANTASY UNIVERSE
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Here you can learn more about the locations and creatures of Pelsatia! Click any of the links below to be taken directly to the respective section. Keep in mind that these are only brief summaries - there's a lot more to discover! Head over to the books section when you're done and have a look at the stories and books about Pelsatia already released.
Aaru One of the strangest humanoid races on the planet, the black-, purple- or blue-skinned Aaru possess but a single eye, any number of horns on their head and a pair of wings on their back, though they cannot fly. As the dominant race on Asakors, the Aaru control one of the most powerful nations on the planet since their thirteen kingdoms were joined in the Aarunic War by Ogramar the Unifier. The Aaru are also one of the races to exhibit the greatest magical prowess: within their kingdoms, witches and familiars are very much integrated into the daily life of the populace, and their mages and famed and sought after for their abilities. Back to top Asakors "it seemed like they could see the entire uplands of Asakors now whenever they took a look around. A bumpy carpet of green and grey pastels was stretching out before their eyes, dotted in a mild blue here and there." - from Gophirith of the Mountains A continent to the east of Gyvna. It was named by the Aaru, who have shared the continent with the goblins for millenia and founded thirteen kingdoms that are now unified in one nation. The youngest visitors to Asakors are the ssyrean, who sailed here from Kaphokr to establish the Kingdom of Sserendon in the south-west. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot, Gophirith of the Mountains Back to top Basajaunak Covered in wood-like skin and growing leaves in place of hair, the rare basajaunak represent a strange fusion of plant and humanoid animal. Though civilised, they prefer to dwell in remote locations, such as the rough northern mountains of Gyvna, and avoid showing themselves to foreigners if in any way possible. Their unusual nature assists them with this - they camouflage perfectly among the trees. Back to top Blobs "Ssalia was delighted at the sight of this strange creature. The creature, however, was not quite so delighted at Ssalia’s presence and made a sudden swift bound for her. She flinched and tried to dodge it, but the slimy mass managed to wrap its mouth around her right hand and stuck to it as though it was trying to digest it." - from Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Among the most unusual animals of Pelsatia are the blobs, gelatinuous masses loose in consistency and of ever-changing shape. Featureless apart from their understated eyes, they are hardly recognisable as animals on first sight, a fact that they take advantage of in order to slither around unnoticed and camouflage themselves. Though they have but a vague hint of a mouth, blobs are omnivorous and digest their prey alive by encasing it in their flexible, acidic bodies. While most species pose only a small danger to humanoids as they are not big enough to devour creatures of such size efficiently, extremely large variations can be encountered chiefly in the Gammit. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Back to top Bronks "Bronks were quite uncommon in and around Sserendon, but some were brought to the kingdom from time to time by travelling merchants since they were peerless as draught animals; coachmen would dangle fruit and other objects of desire before them to make them move." - from Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Six-legged, horned and thick-skinned, these sturdy creatures originally from the savannahs of Kaphokr are imposing, but popular as beasts of burden all over the planet. Sluggish and gentle unless provoked, bronks are easily tamed and trained to pull carts and coaches. Due to their demand as working animals, small populations of bronks have been exported to all continents except Jonojo, making them one of the most commonly recognised animals around Pelsatia as well as earning them the dubious honour of appearing in children's stories and songs highlighting their placidity and stubbornness. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Back to top Dragons "It was quite an indescribable sight: the dragon was of majestic build, the sun reflected on his lustrous scales and his ruby red eyes radiated infinite wisdom, but there was a golden collar around his neck which seemed rather out of place to Ssalia." - from Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot These gigantic reptiles are the largest humanoid race on the planet - twice the height of a Ssyrean on average! - and also the only one capable of flight thanks to their strong wings. They also possess very long lifespans, averaging at 4000 years. Though more beast-like in appearance than most humanoids, they are no less intelligent; combined with their physical prowess, this has enabled them to dominate the planet for many millenia before the dawn of the wingless races. The unified dragon realm under the Empress and Emperor, previously a globe-spanning power of proportions unmatched, has since collapsed, leaving behind only ruins and guidelines for the civilisations to come - and the last dragon children, residing primarily in Avienot, see it as their task to watch over the new, blooming world. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot, Vellisia and the Jinx (short story) Back to top Goblins "they were plain as goblin houses could be, yet cosy inside, and that was what always had mattered to the goblins of Thobog." - from Gophirith of the Mountains On average, these reptilian creatures are the second smallest humanoid race on Pelsatia. They are also the most widespread, however; goblins are highly adaptable and can be found in most corners of the world. Many varieties of goblins exist, though the ones most recognisable to Asakorians share the common traits of brown, orange or yellow hues, stubby tails, noticeably long arms and a stout build to compliment their short stature. Goblins are traditionally regarded as magically adept and legends of the healing powers of wandering goblin monks and hermits are widespread. Can be seen in: Gophirith of the Mountains Back to top Great Ephiana "When he closed his eyes, he could see a glorious metropolis, bursting with pompous architecture, public parks and gardens maintained with painstaking care, technological innovations around every corner, flags and banners flying high in the wind… But would there be any room for the simple joys among which he grew up in such a magnificent place?" - from Gophirith of the Mountains A major settlement of the mountain goblins of northern Asakors. Fortified and overlooking the small town of Ephiana from a tall point, it once served as a stronghold against aaru advances to the north in bygone times; since the aaru have pulled back from the mountains and peace agreements have been reached, it has become an important trade point and the site of an academy. Not surprisingly, the city of white and blue remains a popular destination for many an ambitious goblin to make their fortune and put their talents to good use. Can be seen in: Gophirith of the Mountains Back to top Gyvna Although not a very large continent, Gyvna - a continent to the west of Asakors, just a ship cruise of less than a day away from Sserendon's port - is rich in culture and beauty. Ethnically diverse and unique, it is home not only to the blue elves of Urlon and over a hundred societies of elfkin, but also to the last refuge of dragonkind, Avienot. In its cold northern regions, the lands of the basajaunak or woodfolk lie amidst the planet's tallest mountain ranges. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot, Vellisia and the Jynx (short story) Back to top Irmtaek Although it is Pelsatia's largest continent, much of Irmtaek is ironically covered by large, hostile wastelands. This has not prevented civilisation from flourishig, however; the Komok Maraen, or Kobold Lands, span the largest part of the continent and have shaped it more than any other culture since the fall of the dragon realm. Back to top Jonojo The world's smallest continent also possesses the smallest area of connected landmass. Split into islands and archipelagos as though it had been smashed into a billion pieces, it may not be able to brag with large empires, but its rainforests, mountains and beaches harbour countless riches and hundreds of distinct cultures. Jonojo is home to the merians - cat people - whose many different tribal societies and secluded civilisations seem to inhabit a cosmos of their own. Back to top Kaphokr Out of all the continents on Pelsatia, the largely flat Kaphokr is the one most touched by the dragons during their reign and speculated to have been the root of their civilisation. Though the forebearers are long gone, the remains of ancient draconic architecture still grace the forests-turned-savannahs and shrublands now home to a significant presence of ssyrean and goblins. Back to top Katoblepa "We call them henôrin. Many a proud katoblepon makes its home in the land of Khârod, but not all are under our power. If you should happen to walk this land alone, be careful, since they care not for your authority; they are mighty and can be destructive and deadly." - Chieftain Genevâr (Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot) Known as henôrin to the Khârodin, these large beasts are at home in the steppes of Gyvna and easily distinguished by their appearance. The body of the katobleps is mostly covered in long, grey fur, rests on thick legs and culminates in a hunch on its back. The most recognisable feature, however, is its boar-like head, sitting at the end of a long neck; due to the weight of its skull, the animal keeps its neck bent in an arc and its head close to the soil. The Khârodim were able to tame a great number of katoblepa and harness their power for labour and as a demonstration of their culture's might; their fierce nature makes them unpopular as beasts of burden outside of the Khârod lands, however. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Back to top Kobolds "Like that time he bought a kobold-fashioned writing tool – it could write without ink, but he always dunked it like a goblin-made pen anyway!" - Gophirith (Gophirith of the Mountains) The smallest race on Pelsatia controls one of its most powerful empires: the self-sufficient and technologically advanced Komok Maraen. Largely originating from harsh environments, the dog-like kobolds have built a reputation for being enduring and innovative and are widely recognised for their own form of magic, which manipulates metal and steam. Despite this, many have taken the path of thieves and con artists - certainly, not everyone on Pelsatia will welcome their presence outside of the Kobold Lands with open arms. Back to top Mok-Morok Hugging the banks of the Kemphea river, the capital of the Komok Maraen impresses with its gigantic aedefices built in the traditional cylindrical kobold style. A bustling centre of commerce on a largely barren continent, it's no surprise that Mok-Morok and its surrounding areas are also the richest parts of the country. The Kings of Komok have resided here for centuries and undertaken countless projects to make the city as welcoming, lush and downright breathtaking as possible, fitted with exotic plants, animals and the newest innovations in kobold magic and machinery - all at a hefty price, paid by the working class all over the country. Back to top Shore folk "We have never given ourselves a collective name, for back then, we had been the only intelligent beings we knew of, so we did not need a name: we were simply ‘we’." - Nikit, the Healer (Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot) Known by many names to outsiders, the yellow-skinned shore people of Gyvna are among the oldest post-draconic peoples to settle there and yet have never been a major power. Content with their bamboo villages along the coastline, the shore people have based their lifestyle around the sea - indeed, the small fins on their legs and extra-ordinary endurance in holding their breath make them excellent divers, able to snatch their meals straight from the ocean. Not all of their diet consists of seafood, however; picking fruit and wild-growing vegetables from Gyvna's many forests is essential and becomes easier thanks to their special poison that can put any dangerous beast to sleep. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Back to top Sserendon "After about an hour of walking, she reached the gates of Sserendon: a pair of strong iron doors were filling a wide gap in the wall that been erected from stones of many different colours around most of the settlement back when Sseren himself was still alive and watching over it, and behind it loomed the tall, brown and grey brick buildings of the city itself, which abruptly concluded in flat roofs." - from Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot Ssyrean kingdom in south-western Asakors. Located by the Bluewater Bay and neighboured by the Aarunic Kingdoms to the north and the goblin county Griphendia to the east, it was founded by Sseren, Son of Alissa and Handor, as a colony for the ssyrean of Kaphokr. Since deposing the puppet king in a coup and winning the fight for independence, Sserendon - now ruled by the descendants of Sseren - has risen to a reputable nation, extending even beyond the city of Sserendon's walls and claiming countless acres of fertile farmland. In the arboreta lining the inside of the walls, every citizen of the burg maintains a Kaphokrian fend tree, the expensive wood of which has been the source of the kingdom's wealth for generations and led to the tree's becoming its national symbol. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot, Sserendon (poem) Back to top Ssyrean "Frynnik closely examined the ssyrean, whose green scales now bore a lavender colour in the light of the amethysts, and for the first time spent close attention to the way she flicked out her forked tongue, and a strange sense of fascination overcame him." - from Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot The tall "snake people" are actually distant relatives of the goblins. Long-fingered and often vibrant in colour, the graceful nature of the ssyrean makes them a sight to behold, though they rarely take the lead on the world stage. While their greatest presence is on Kaphokr, they have spread to other parts of the world, notably founding the port city and kingdom of Sserendon in the southern reaches of Asakors. Can be seen in: Ssalia and the Dragons of Avienot, Sserendon (poem) Back to top Storin Gammit Though the "mysterious continent" also known as the Gammit has seen a boom in exploration with the growth of the wulver empire Tzânalon and rise of the troll civilisations, it still holds many secrets to the outside world. Boasting swamps and rainforests that remain largely untouched, it hosts a wealth of the strangest natural and cultural treasures of Pelsatia, the largest amount of which still remain well hidden from the public and provide fodder for the most renowned explorers of modern times. Can be seen in: Tzânalon to the Wolves (short story) Back to top |