Shallorin

Far to the south of the continent of Ethurun lies Shallorin. It as an island, circular in shape and approximately one mile in diameter. In ancient days, it was the home of the nation of Dawn, a highly advanced, sea-faring culture. As best as our historians can decipher, it fell into ruin before the First Fall and the subsequent exodus of our people to this plane. The cause is unknown, but believed to be related to the highly unusual properties that Shallorin now exhibits.

Despite being only about a mile in diameter, it is impossible to journey directly through the center of Shallorin. As one travels inland, the land stretches and warps in a way that is totally incongruous with space. Recorded journeys have traveled as far as seventy miles inland, with no sign of the other side. Additionally, traveling closer to the assumed center leads to an increasing array of physical side effects. Sickness, exhaustion, hallucinations, and more have all been documented. They grow in strength the further in. Past about seventy miles, death is certain. Acclimation is possible, but takes long periods of time, and past a certain point is no longer a viable option. Magical options are constantly being researched and tested, but it is a slow process.

Beyond the Exhaustion, the ecology of Shallorin becomes increasingly dangerous. Approximately every ten miles, the land, flora, and fauna change. Each segment of Shallorin is referred to as a Ring. The land is not bound to the island nature of Shallorin. The fourth Ring, for example, is mountainous, despite Shallorin appearing relatively flat from the outside. The sixth Ring has a volcanic landscape, and the seventh Ring contains snow. There is no flow or order to the landscape.

Given the obvious dangers of exploration, possibly including guaranteed death, one may wonder why anyone would delve into the island's interior. The reason is simple: artifacts. Objects and items left behind by the nation of Dawn are extremely useful. Our current mages have been unable to replicate most of them. Even the masonry from Dawn is valuable, as it is stronger than our masonry and lighter to boot.

This Delving, as it is termed, is supported by a settlement on the shoreline of Shallorin. It is officially called Ring Zero, as it circles the entire shoreline. Most residents, and those outside of Shallorin, simply call it Ring. It is officially an outpost of the kingdom of Ethurun, but in practice it is an independent settlement. The Coldsea Guard operate as the de-facto local government. They serve as administrators, stewards, and soldiers, underneath the leadership of Vrethan, The Novel Dawn. In simple terms, it is a cult. The Crown of Ethurun has been content to leave Shallorin to its own devices, hence the need of the Coldsea Guard. The process to become one is mostly unknown, but the first step is reaching the Sixth Ring. There, once the outpost of Doomfront is reached, each man is tested by Vrethan. If successful, he is accepted into the Coldsea Guard, given a mask, and is either sent back to Ring or is otherwise engaged in work in Doomfront. The mask that each man receives is personally designed, although it is always made of cloth and covers the entire face. Due to long-standing agreements, Ring is the destination for most serious criminals. Murderers, traitors, pirates, and others are sent here. Typically, they either serve a lengthy or lifetime sentence, or attempt to become Coldsea Guards. The mask that each man receives in the Coldsea Guard, therefore, serves to guard his former identity, lest he be recognized for crimes he has atoned for.

An accounting of Shallorin is not complete without some words for Vrethan, The Novel Dawn. Without delving into great detail, Vrethan is known to be extremely long-lived, with the first accounts of his actions taking place in KE 590. Some have described him as a mage, but he is known to prefer the title of scientist. He is credited with discovering Shallorin in KE 592, and is the largest force at play in regards to its subsequent development. He has overseen the documentation of Shallorin, extensively recording its geography, flora, and fauna. As of this account, Vrethan has spent years at Doomfront, experimenting and testing ways to journey deeper into Shallorin. His constituents are extremely loyal to him.