The World of Ceal
Click on a continent to learn more about it
Ceal is a fertile planet with sprawling plains, lush forests, wide oceans, scorching deserts, majestic mountains, and much more. Plants and animals flourish here, and all things considered, it is a wonderful world.
However, it is also home to eight sentient species, which may not always co-exist peacefully...
Continents
A continent of contrasts. The temperate southwestern peninsula stands in sharp contrast with the deserts spanning the southeastern portion of Rida. The center of Rida is a basin composed mostly of steppes, ranging from dry to wet. At the northern end of the basin lies the Agine Forest, a massive tropical rainforest. The eastern end of Rida is defined by Makariba, the biggest island on all of Ceal.
This continent is also known as the cradle of civilization for the Novean species. The high diversity of this continent allowing trade to flourish.
Politically, Rida is under the control of the Kingdom of Aidenous, and as such is populated mostly by members of the Novean species, although members of other species are tolerated as long as they abide the laws.
The major cities of Rida are the Venturer’s City of Selim on the southeastern peninsula, the Crusader’s Citadel City of Fienyn on the central steppes, and the Trading City of Kekeyro, named after its location on the end of the northern Kekeyro fjord.
The steppe continent. Located in the subtropical arid belt, a big portion of Pelagia is covered by the Ungani Savannah, which in turn encompasses stretches of deserts and steppes alike. At its northwestern tip, the climate gradually becomes more temperate, and the Ungani gradually fades into the Passhar Forest. Likewise, on its northeastern tip, it fades into the Nissem Woods.
The Ungani Savannah is a tough place to live in, but they say that tough places breed tough people. In the case of Pelagia, this statement could not be more true, for the Ungani was the birthplace of the Kingdom of Aidenous, which eventually spread to encompass all of Pelagia, and then Rida as well.
The major cities of Pelagia are the Sky Knight’s City of Rynda - built around the Tower of Rynda - located on the eastern coast, on the southern reaches of the Nissem Woods, and the Capital City of Aidenous, sitting under the canopy of the giant tree Gand’Shirar, located on the western coast south of the Passhar Forest.
The shattered continent. Composed of the subcontinents Jelkyera in the west, Jeljelra in the east, the Islant Yaera to the northwest, and the Jelkekeyra islands, this continent has the longest combined coastline on all of Ceal. Jejelra is almost completely covered by the Jelra forest, which features mighty redwood trees. Jelkyera on the other hand is a more diverse land, with steppes and deserts to the south, forests and plains at its center, and tagia and tundra to the north.
Although the Jel-Archipelago technically falls under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Aidenous, it is largely uninhabited. This is because the Novean Faith, state religion of the Kingdom of Aidenous, names this continent the holy land of Nova, and prohibits people to settle there.
However, pilgrimages to this continent and even extended visits are allowed, as long as the people doing them do not set up permanent residence. The Crusaders and Sky Knights regularly lead expeditions in order to ensure that this holy rule is upheld.
As a direct consequence, there are no (legal) settlements on the Jel-Archipelago, although remnants of an older civilization can still be found in the form of ruins scattered around the continent. In addition, the countless islands of Jelkekeyra provide an ideal refuge for pirates, outcasts and other lowlife, who build their ramshackle towns in hidden bays.
The cursed continent. Almost perfectly round, this continent seems to defy nature in every way. Around the highly symmetric Netal mountains grows the Arc Forest, uniformly for almost the same distance in each direction, before giving way to the Radia plains.
Rumor has it that this continent was artificially created by an ancient civilization - a terrible crime against the providence of nature, as far as the followers of the Novean faith are concerned. Consequently, the Novean races loathe to set foot on this accursed continent.
The sanctuary. Of all the places on Ceal, this is the one where all sentient species seem to get along with one another. The continent itself is almost completely covered by the massive Ukugob Jungle, harboring the massive wet steppes of Boma Irieyra and Ihsoti Kleira in its midst. Towering over Ihsoti Kleira stands Mungaaekrestro, the biggest volcano on Ceal. The southwestern tip of Ventana is covered by the extensive marsh of Magure Hekifra, also known as the mangrove swamp.
Ventana is governed by the Republic of Ninanjiro, a democratic and decentralized state, giving its individual regions great economic and political independence. Members of all species congregate here, mostly those who have grown tired of the conflicts in other parts of Ceal. As such, this continent is one of the most peaceful places on the entire planet, though naturally minor conflicts still arise from time to time.
The decentralized nature of Ninanjiro goes down all the way to the community level. As such, there are very few larger settlements on Ventana, despite it having a sizable populace. Instead, most people live in smaller communities and hamlets rarely numbering more than 100 people, which are loosely interconnected with one another. However, there are still two major cities on Ventana: The Haven of Fiyakko, where the majority of immigrants and refugees arrive, located on the northwestern tip of Ventana, and the ever-shifting city of Ishamuera, a nomadic center of trade located on the eastern part of Ihsoti Kleira, within sight of Mungaaekrestro.
The mountain continent. Steep cliffs surround the craggy peaks of Eknaria on all sides, making it almost completely impossible to access without the capability of flight. As such, this continent has always been a paradise for airborne species, especially the Gryphs. Beyond the ring of mountains surrounding the continent lie several temperate to boreal valleys, along with a few bigger forests and more mountain ranges.
Eknaria has been the birthplace of the Gryphs, and they have never once lost control of it. Their species is adapt at navigating the valleys and peaks of this land ideally, and exploit every square inch to its fullest. As such, it comes as no surprise that they established their own country, the Kingdom of Gryphonia, on this continent. Contrary to its name, though, the Kingdom of Gryphonia welcomes members of other species openly, leading to a colorful community.
If there’s one thing that unites the people of Eknaria, it’s a fondness for adventuring and a sense of wanderlust. As such, permanent settlements are rare on this continent. The major exception of this are the Gryphonia Caverns, a massive city carved into the rock of the Rathrik Peaks, at the center of the continent.
The frozen land. Stretching all the way to the south pole, and being surrounded by cold currents, Ultros is the most frigid place on Ceal. Most of it is covered by the Keysire Tundra and the Nebeiris Taiga. Only to the very north is there a narrow stretch of temperate land: The Traybo Plains bordering the Nilkijelzystra Forest. Yet despite the harsh conditions, there are still people who fondly call this hostile place their home.
Ultros is the refuge of the Wel. They live in the Oligarchy of Cetara under the rule of four Regents. After their defeat in the Novean War, the surviving Wel fled to this remote corner of the world to rebuild their society. Ever since, they have been at constant war with the Novean Species. As such, members of the Novean Species are pretty rare. Though members of other species are more common, all in all, Ultros is a land clearly dominated by the Wel.
The biggest city in Ultros is the Trading City of Aeryamaru, located on the northeastern tip of the Traybo Plains. Apart from that, the only other major city is the Frozen City of Yruma, located at the very border of the Nebeiris Tundra and the Keysire Taiga.
The transient archipelago. Located in the middle of the Yaeresic Ocean, these tropical islands are a haven for all sorts of life. They are also a very volatile place, full of volcanoes and earthquakes. More than once has an island disappeared from the map, only to be replaced with another one growing somewhere else. As a consequence, people who live in this land must be ready to move at a moment’s notice, should the need arise, and while it is a beautiful place to live in, it is also one of the most dangerous places on Ceal. No one rules here but mother nature.
A chain of volcanic islands separating the Yaeresic Ocean from the Zural Ocean, spreading most of the way from Ventana to Ultros. They are mostly barren and dry, with no natural resources to speak of, making them uninteresting for all but those who have no particular desire to be found, and are willing to tolerate some discomfort in exchange.
