While a small mass of land rather far north, Jaiman has had a powerful role in the world history. It is the home of many Loremasters and the center of several historic conflicts.
Jaiman is broken by mountain ranges, swift rivers, and a series of great lakes. Much of northern Jaiman is sub-polar (except for the far northeast, which is warmed by extensive volcanic action), while the more southern areas enjoy cool temperate climes.
Northwest of Jaiman lie the isles of the Mur Fostisyr.
The language of Jaiman is called Rhaya, 'The Tongue.' This is predominant language of Jaiman, though there are seven very distinct dialects.
The Races of Jaiman: (see the Races of Therodon for description)
Iylari: High Elves - philosophical
Erlini: Wood Elves
Dyari: Dark Elves
Shuluri: Aquatic Elves
Ta-lairi: Half-Elves
Dwarves: Subterranean Race
Duranaki: Mannish Race
Talath: Mannish Race
Y'kin: Mannish Race
Jameri: Mannish Race
Zori: Mannish Race
Other Races: Fauns and Centaurs, while rare, have homes in Jaiman. The largest Centaur community is in southern Urulan, while there are small gatherings of the more elusive Fauns in many forested areas.
The beautiful, avian Hírazi once made homes in the peaks of the southern Grey Mountains and the hills of Meluria, but it is feared that that elegant race is now extinct.
Jaiman has always been home to a large (if elusive) population of fey folks as well: river and tree Nymphs, and glimmering sprites. While not exactly races, these beings are a subtle and pervasive force in the shaping of Jaiman's history.
The Lands of Jaiman:
Rhaknaan - ruled by Emperor Jerrin Arej Malvion Faslurin VII (see The Kingdoms of Theredon)
States of Rhakhaan - Prevan, Noros, Lethys, Lathornia, Calthos, Sanaria, and Kaytha.
Prevan - A powerful, inner state, Prevan has undergone some internal turmoil over the last few years. The current Duke Avanir is a half Elf, born of the marriage of the human Lord and Elven wife.
While Elves are well-accepted in southern Rhakhaan, they are looked upon with suspicion in most of the realm. Prevan is an old land, adjacent to Haalkaine and with a glorious history. Young Duke Kalen Avanir is facing his first serious challenge: the Usurper Frelik has broken through the border states in some areas of all that stands between him and the Haalkitaine province of Prevan. Many at court are hoping Kalen will fail so that they may pressure Emperor Jerrin into expelling Kalen's family from the Dukedom. Prevan is a fine prize many lesser nobles covet.
Lethys - Dominating the Nea Bay is the great seaport of Lethys, largest city in Rhakaan. Lethys has the largest harbor complex on Jaiman, and not surprisingly is the leading ship-builder. About 20% of the Lethian population of about 500,000 is Elvish, mostly Wood-elven.
Lethys is a bustling seaport, ruled by a Prince Westley and a council of nine greedy (if unassuming) families. The emphasis is commerce, and silver will buy you in Lethys what you'd need breeding or blackmail to get in Haalkaine. Lithys is not only a trading center, it is a renaissance city which owes much of its wealth to banking and astute business ventures. These 'offices' can be found in cities all over Jaiman and Emer, lending money to other concerns and even governments.
There are also the City Guild, Shipwrights, Metalsmiths, Stonewrights, Clothwrights, Seamerchants, Landmerchants, the Allied Cults (all recognized churches), the Uscurac Orders, Scribes, Artisans, and Bankers.
There are other orders in Lethys, groups who are not officially represented in the Council but have their own influence over city affairs. These 'guilds' include the Thieves' Guild, the Followers of Scalu, and the Unseen Eyes. This last group, a spy ring, is actually the darker side of the Guild of Scribes.
Kaytha - The northernmost of the Rhakaan fiefs, Kaytha borders the Lakyran (1. "Lake of Mists"), southernmost of the great Jaiman lakes. Kaytha is of particular note because it is the center of the conflict between Rhakaan and a would-be usurper: Frelik of Minon. Frelik claims that because Jerrin (the current Emperor) refuses to wear the Crown, that he is not the true heir.
Kaytha is valiantly fighting the Frelik's armies, but Haalkitaine politics has held up many Imperial reinforcements, and the Usurper has a seemingly endless supply of Saralian mercenaries.
Ly-Aran - Only the very southeastern edge of this land mass borders the Bay area, on the outer fringes towards the Farok Tesea ("Forbidden Sea"). Once united with U-Lyshak in a powerful realm with Rhakaan but was overrun and devastated ages ago.
What was once the mighty land of the Sea-drake is now a wasteland broken only by haunted ruins of the lost civilization. Deep in the Red Hills are many caverns, however.
U-Lyshak - This mainland region of U-Lyshak is one of the most fertile in all Jaiman. The capital of Cynar on the western coast is still a bustling trade seaport, and controls a fairly large region - including several fiefs. Most of the realm is divided into small states ruled by aggressive warlords who constantly fight amongst themselves. One in particular, Lord Boshkar of Vorn, has a large army and plans to rule the entire region.
Helyssa - ruled by an unknown source. (see The Kingdoms of Theredon)
Vorn - an inland state bordering Helyssa, Vorn has long been jealous of her neighbors sea-given wealth. The current Lord, a greedy man named Boshkar, has plans to attack Helyssa within the year, hoping to take advantage of her politically unstable situation.
Norek - one spot of interest is Norek, a city-state southwest of the Elven Forest. It is a small but cosmopolitan town which trades between the Elves of the wood and many other groups around the Bay. Situated on both sides of Alunn River just above the Bay of Elysea, several beautiful bridges connect the city's halves. It is well defended, essentially an independent city-state.
The Elven Forest - ruled by the Wizard-King Liars Alinar (see The Kingdoms of Theredon)
Saralis - in the northeastern quarter of Jaiman, this land was once very fertile and supported a large united population. The Wyvern Kingdom united the plains and steeps from northern Ulor Bay to the great Jaiman lakes. Now it is a fragmented domain where petty lords and tribal leaders vye for parcels of land. Desertion from these armies is common as young men can earn gold as mercenaries in neighboring countries.
Saral - ruled by Damos Huroth Alizon II (see The Kingdoms of Theredon)
Meluria - Never fully controlled by Rhakhaan since the last king donned the Phoenix Crown, the Melurian states are an alliance of five families who rule their land as one country, the five making up an oligarchic council. Actually, to say that Meluria is a united country may be overstating; it is an alliance of feudal lords, each of whom maintains loose control over a section of the peninsula. The westernmost fief is known as Fulcrumia.
The land is swept by winds from the south - including violent storms from the southwest - but her inhabitants are a hardy, rural people. The Melurians trade with Lethys merchants and both parties are usually quite satisfied with the deal.
Aranmor - An evil place shunned by travellers, Aranmor is surrounded by churning, boiling seas. There are wild tales of demons and ancient curses placed on this volcano-tortured land, yet the stories are contradictory and no one has ever returned to tell the truth.
Plasidar - ruled by....(see Kingdom of Theredon).
Gûl - Capital city of Plasidar. (see Kingdom of Theredon)
Sidar - Isolated from Gûl and most of the island, Sidar is a small fortress-town inhabitated entirely by Elves. A shadowy, mysterious place, it is ruled by an elite of Dark Elves, served by Wood-elven slaves. Though few outsiders have ever seen Sidar, it is said that architecture of cruel beauty dominates this holding, a glittering dark jewel in the foothils of the Plasidar mountains.
Nomikos - (See places of Power)
Tanara - A land with no fewer than four competing cultures, Tanara was once a coastal realm on par with her five sister-kingdoms.
As part of her legacy, the Pegasus Kingdom inherited the vast Halls of the Cloudlords. These early Tanarans were probably related to the Zori and/or the Talath. They were regal of bearing with fair skin and hair. One of the most intriguing aspects of the old Tanaran court was of course the Cloudlords: the Royal Guard trained to ride the fabulous winged horses. These mounts - called Steardan - are not intelligent like true Pegasi, but are otherwise undistinguishable from their willful cousins. Cloudlords kept the peace and led the defense of the realm until the Age of Fear, when intrigue and suspicion opened the way for betrayal. Many of the majestic Steardan were killed in their stalls: poisoned by agents of the Unlife. The remainders were insufficient to protect the land against the invasion of hideous flying beasts which swept from the heights of the Grey Mountains. The few survivors locked themselves inside the Halls and were not seen in Tanara again.
The Dúranaki are very reclusive and will trade with no one but a few Sulini tribes and some Lethian merchants who have lured them out of their caves with precious gems. The Myri are simple and for the most part self-sufficient. Sulini are the tradesmen of Tanara, often dealing with merchants from Lethys and Sel-kai. No one will deal with the Y'kin, however, as these wild people are too hot-headed and unpredictable.
Symbols: Each culture of Tanara has its own symbols: the Y'kin fly a banner of deep red with an eclipsed sun (a black disk with yellow corona) in the center, the coastal Sulini have a blue-green flag bearing a leaping dolphin. Myri tribes vary but the generally accepted flag is pale blue with a many-rayed golden sun. The Dúranaki have a rarely-seen flag, dark purple with a cluster of seven glittering silver stars (the seven Dúranaki Families) in the upper left corner.
Zor - The kingdom of Zor was the proudest of the six, and not coincidentally the first to fall. Her population made up almost entirely of Talath peoples, Zor was a vast land of fertile fields and rich mountains. Now it is the most complete wastelands on Jaiman. The heart of the realm, once a region of rivers and rolling hills, is now a plain of dry and cracked earth. In the very center, where the capital city of Verzor once stood, is a huge crater hundreds of feet across, surrounded by an expanse of black glassy slag extending for miles. No sign of this glorious people remains and no one enters this waste: legends say that those who venture too far into the waste return only to grow sick and die of an incurable malady.
Arion - (see Places of Power)
Urulan - Except for the few small Elven villages, this land is nearly deserted. Interestingly, the rare adventurer to visit has a strange feeling of uneasiness - leading some Loremasters to believe that the Unicorn Crown exists and is being worn in a secret enclave by an heir of the King. While this is extremely unlikely, it would explain the odd sense of forboding which strikes those who venture here.
Symbol: The symbol of Urulan was a green tree on a white background.
Lu-nak - The land of the Blue Forest has a dark history, filled with bloodshed. Once the peaceful realm of Wood-elves, it was largely overrun by Haidic peoples. These in turn fought amongst themselves and witht he Fustir until the Age of Fear when a host of demonic creatures swept through the Blue Forest and nearly wiped out the entire populace in a night.
Only recently have men begun to return to the Blue Forest, for it still has a reputation of being haunted by the evil beings known as Shards.
Symbols: The Jaimani Elves who once inhabited this area had an emblem of a blue pine over a green background. The current inhabitants have adopted a modified version of the Haidic symbol: a green tree with a blue background and a sing star overhead.
Mur Fostisyr - A cluster of snow-covered isles off the northwest Jaiman coast, the Mur Fostisyr is nevertheless home to a number of interesting cultures. It is isolated by chill currents and a powerful Flow of Essænce and has lately felt the cold breath of the Iron Winds.
Symbols: There are three distinct cultures in this cluster of isles. The Ky'taari have a white emblem with a golden, multirayed sun. The Udahir use the great white Ovir on a red field, while the Syrkakar have two pines in silhouette with a rayed blue sun rising between them.
Wuliris - Less of a realm than a region, Wuliris has never seen a united government - this partly due to the rugged terrain and chilly climate which pervades this coastal land. A place of grassy slopes falling steeply to frigid inlets and fjords, Wuliris is a countryside difficult to tame.
Glacial activity carved Wuliris like a soft cheese, leaving its long, angled rigs and windswept plateaus. Now her only residents are stoic arctic men and their flocks of goats and sheep. The torkaan of the Mur Fostisyr have been imported here and thrive in this relatively welcoming clime.
The ocean is turbulent off the Wuliris coast, and treacherous ice floes bar the inlets nearly year-round. Hundreds of small isles lurk amidst the misty, grinding icebergs, but it is hard to tell what is solid ground and what is floating ice.
The Dragonlord has taken some of the more northerly portions of the land for his own, but found little use for the frozen ground. He has since turned his gaze to the southwest.
Ja'Miil Targ - A dramatic contrast to Wuliris, the inland Ja'Miil Targ is a smouldering plain of ash and flowing larva. (The islands which extend outwards are also a part of Ja'Miil Targ, and are volcanic in origin, but have cooled and have frigid climes.) Almost constantly cloaked in a ceiling of ashy soot, the land is home of Sulthon Ni'shaang, Dragonlord and would-be conquerer of Jaiman.
The land is a natural defense for the Dragonlord, but it also acts to inhibit his movements across the lands to the south. There are rumors of great tunnels extending under the Black Fork Mountain, but the Loremasters will not confirm this.
The lands near the coast are less inhospitable, and it is there that the Dragonlord's armies of Lugrôki farm their brown crops and graze cattle, but the plains of southern Lu-nak call to them, and little stands in the Dragon's way.
