The Vairni Islands | Downloadable Map
As part of this weeks' worldbuilding tutorial, our mapmaker Ryan made a new fantasy world - the Vairni Islands. For your use and ours, we have uploaded it here. Along with a few details about the world that you can use for your campaigns.
For those that missed our tutorial on YouTube, you can check it out HERE.
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A Guide to the Vairni Islands
Between the Sea of Scolant to the north and the Great Southern Sea to the south lies the island chain of the Vairni. On its fertile shores has civilisation flourished for thousands of years around the greatest city of the region: Vairn. To the west and east, on the larger continents, greedy eyes look to the green fields of Vairn. There, ancient ruins hide powers from the long-forgotten days of yore.
The Kingdom of Lower Vairn
The centre of the region's history and culture is the great city of Vairn, the jewel of the south. And from its iron halls, the red-clad rulers remember the days that it ruled everything beneath its sight. For Vairn has a long history of peace and of tyranny, mixed together through the ages.
The people of Lower Vairn are peace-loving and unconcerned with the passing of the politics around them. They live comfortable lives and do not notice nor care about the worries in the lands around. So long as their lives are unaffected, they do not look too deeply into the affairs of their rulers.
The Cities of Truvairn
Long ago, at the very beginning of history, the colonies to the north and east of Vairn split away from their motherland. For an age, they went about forging their own culture and significance. Over the ages, the cities to the north realised the difficulties that they had caused themselves in their arrogance. They had named themselves Truvairn, in insult to their former masters.
They have split apart from one another since, and live in fear of the power slumbering to the south of them. For while they are divided they are vulnerable, should Vairn and its armies decide to reclaim its empire once more.
The Old Stoiga'Lat Republic
In those misty days of yore, when the cities to the east of Vairn split away from their motherland, there was no pursuit nor war with that city. None now know precisely why, but it is rumoured that the peoples of Stoiga'Lat held a weapon of incredible power. Its potency kept them safe for the long centuries since. But though their senate is becoming senile and corrupt, few dare to speak openly of lust for the Stoiga'Lat power.
Their land is a land of ruins: white marble towers and villages built and then abandoned over time. The land is rich with magic and myth, and its lands are prowled by beasts and monsters.
The Tolbara Holds
To the east of the strait are the Holds, fortified keeps in the vast untamed forests and mountains. Their people are hardy, quick to ire and quick to friendship, and distrustful of outsiders. Strength and cunning is valued, and the journey is perilous for any through the unmapped borderlands. But it is said that the mountains are filled with seams of precious metals.
The Warbands of Volbard
Once a colony abandoned by their motherland, the Volbardi are a strong and proud people. They thrive on battle and glory, and their joy is to raid the weaker villages of their neighbours. They take the wealth and plunder of the civilisations at their mercy and mock the fat, defenseless merchants that provide them their sport.
Their ships are the envy of all on the seas, as is their ongoing agreement with the Aiqualtians. With the mer-people of the Bay of Bells, they hold an annual summit and exchange goods and information.
The Bay-Realm of Aiqualtis
It is rare for a kingdom of the mer-folk to be acknowledged on the maps of the surface-dwellers. In the case of Aiqualtis, however, it is needful. The Vairni Islands are treacherous enough for ships attempting the crossing but the mer-folk are territorial and protective. Those attempting to avoid them must cross the Braver's Bane, which swallows whole ships.
Those who wish to cross the Bay of Bells to avoid the Bane must pay tribute to the mer-folk. Woe betide those who attempt to sail an armada across their waters.
The Boundless Imperial Manara
It is said by those on the islands that Manara stretches without end. That it circles the globe itself in a quest for more and more land. But whether or not that is true can only be answered by someone who has passed beyond the mountain-chain. Those who have seen the centre of Manaran territory know the truth. However, the Empire does not appear to be interested in conquest in the Vairni Islands. Perhaps due to the dangers of the Braver's Bane, or the threat of the Aiqualtians.
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