Outer Regions of Anesidora

The Outer Regions

So far, we have covered the major populated regions of Anesidora. Now we will cover the outer regions that surround the known world of Anesidora.

Oceanus

Located along the east edge of the known world, and bordering the regions of Midgard, Olympus, and Elysium, is Oceanus. The waters of Oceanus are teeming with life, though other than near the coasts and islands of Elysium, very little is visible. The region is named for the Titan Oceanus, who is believed to live deep below the water, influencing all aquatic life. Due to the many Changed species seen between Alfheim and the Aegean, the most direct route between Olympus and Alfheim is nearly impassable to traverse.

Muspelheim

Located along the south edge of the known world, and bordering Olympus and The Nile, is Muspelheim. The northern border of Muspelheim is a grand volcanic mountain range, and south of that is a land of continuously flowing lava. No living thing can survive in Muspelheim, though the region’s extreme heat is the source of the life-giving warmth of the Nile and Phlegethon rivers. The only inhabitants of the region are the Titan Atlas and his children, the Fire Giants, who spend most of their time wandering the lava wastes, occasionally traveling north into inhabited lands and wreaking havoc.

Thule and the Sea of Lir

Located along the west edge of the known world, and bordering Gaul and The Nile, is the Sea of Lir and the wastes of Thule. The border between these regions fluctuates seasonally, with Thule extending all the way to the main continent during winter. During the warmer months, The Sea of Lir has many similarities to Oceanus, as it is filled with all manner of aquatic life. Unlike in Oceanus, where the influence of the Titan leads to rapid Changes and the occasional Monster, the species in the Sea of Lir are more stable and less aggressive. A few species can be found in both the Sea of Lir and Oceanus, leading scholars to believe the waterways must connect, though whether that occurs in underground caverns spanning the continent, or by circumnavigating the globe is unknown.

The wastelands of Thule are perpetually frozen, and unlike the other colder regions, no animals or plants live there. Much like Muspelheim, the only inhabitant of Thule is the Titan Danu, and her malformed Unliving children. Thankfully for humanity, although the children of Danu are some of the largest Unliving, they are incapable of moving on their own and only drift with the seasonal ice flows. So far, none have made it near to the shores of Gaul or The Nile, but if one ever did, they would be more dangerous than any Unliving of Pallas.

Hyperborea

Located on the north edge of the known world, and bordering Gaul and Midgard, is Hyperborea. Unlike the other outer regions, Hyperborea has several permanent human settlements. The southern border of the region is the Niflheim Mountain Range, a range of mountains believed to be impassable for most of Anesidora’s history. During the Second Age, a small number of paths were found, though they remain unpredictable, are open only during the summer months, and don’t fully thaw every year. A bridge that predates the Ancients and spans the mountains was also discovered, but the magic guardian of the bridge does not allow anyone to cross with magic items, which makes surviving in the harsh northern climate extremely difficult. North of the Niflheim Mountains, Hyperborea is mostly just frozen wastes. However, some animals and plants have learned to survive, enough to support a few human settlements, but the settlements rarely grow large, and must be vigilant to the threat posed by the climate and Unliving that call Hyperborea home.

The most northern point humanity has reached is the Bastion. The Bastion is a fortress with automated defense systems that predates the Ancients. No human has managed to breach or sneak past the Bastion. Those who have come close claim they can see the Titan Yggdrasil on the horizon, as well as a lush green paradise that is just out of reach.