#imenia

[theempireofsnow]

WBJ Day 7: Technology

This one’s probably going to be the shortest post of them all because...well...they’re animals. They don’t really use technology. Not even the dragons. Magic and/or natural attributes are kinda the driving force of these societies. They can kinda use the rocks and plants to their advantage, but again, magic.

I suppose there is some technology in Ausaia. The faerie smiths living in the volcanoes do have some tech that they use to create armor and weaponry and stuff. But then again, a lot of magic does factor into that.

The humans who once lived were pretty medieval-level in terms of technology. They had carts, carriages, ships, wheels, and that sort of thing.

[theempireofsnow]

WBJ Day 3: Races

My story and my world focuses mostly on real-life animals. Namely, animals from the Canidae, Felidae, and Hyaenidae (sp?) families.

First of all, hyenas. While they don’t play too major a role, they’re still very common throughout both Imenia and Ausaia. They have a very unique, matriarchal culture and society and, just like on Earth, they live in clans of up to eighty, usually sharing territory of the feline kingdoms. Typically, they keep to themselves and don’t bother the felines, especially since these felines can call upon reinforcements and pretty soon, the hyenas would be facing an entire army. While highly spiritual, these clans prefer not to dabble in magic.

Real-life canids really only exist in Vorunia. However, there is no shortage of them! They live in small packs of varying species amongst the human ruins. In fact, there is a unique breed of wolf hybrid living in Steimar. Called the Steimarian Ardire wolves (or just Steimarians), these are Arctic wolves bred with direwolves to create a gigantic furry beast. They were once used as guard animals by the Steimarian people, but they lived on their own ever since the humans died out. Back to real-life canids, though! Many also make their homes in the Chiambe, living mostly solitary lives and sometimes intermingling amongst the felines. However, in Vorunia, they have no idea that the felines exist. In fact, some canine cults have formed along the borders of the Chiambe that worship the mysterious creatures with the beautiful spots, stripes, and voices of thunder.

Speaking of such, felids are pretty much the dominant species group in both Imenia (minus Vorunia) and Ausaia. Their kingdoms are complex, some Ausaians dabble in magic, and any other animals know to stay the hell out of their way. While the kingdoms in Ellerin really only contain the cats you’d expect to see in that particular environment (snow leopards in Nenisr, jaguars in Iroteil, cheetahs in Lissabi, etc), the kingdoms in Ausaia are much more diverse, and hybrid species such as ligers are much more common. However, the felines are practically unaware of the canines beyond the Chiambe, and believe that wolves and other canids are just a myth. Unlike the canids, they never lived amongst humanoids, so no human ruins can be found in their territories. In fact, even the most pretentious of Chanolians, the most militaristic of Lissabians, and the toughest of Nenisians would freak out at the sight of a human. What’s pretty unique, though, is that the different species of feline actually live and work together. For example, while lions would try to kill cheetahs in real life, in an Imenian or Ausaian kingdom, it would be quite normal for lions and cheetahs to be best buds (in fact, the great Queen Kisarae, a cheetah, had a lioness named Lady Iura as a loyal general and bodyguard).

[theempireofsnow]

WBJ Day 2: Geography

Why, oh why, did I choose to take on both Imenia and Ausaia?

Okay. So first of all, the terrain is very diverse on both continents. I’m just going to give a rundown here:

Imenia:

Vorunia- The eastern region of Imenia is actually the larger region. Up on the far north is the kingdom of Steimar, which is considered a frozen wasteland. Below that is a gigantic conifer forest, which spans the kingdoms of Qani, Graecia, Nalir, and some of Thedoba. Thedoba itself is the largest kingdom in all of Imenia--in fact, it is larger than every region in Ausaia, apart from Hydryr. Most of it is a prairie; in fact, the kingdoms of Meuseia and Eanith share this prairie, but the latter two also share and once disputed over the seaside cliffs of the Gulf of Maniae, once considered a great port. Lerussi, meanwhile, is a temperate rainforest, and Hyriam, the southeasternmost of Vorunia, a tropical rainforest peninsula. In Hyriam lies the sacred Ahzulai, the only active volcano in all of Imenia.

Ellerin- Ellerin is divided up into three regions: the mountains the Nenisr calls home (roughly based off the Sierra Nevada and the Caucasus mountains), the rainforests of Iroteil (roughly based off the rainforests of southern China and Thailand), and the Lissabi Desert (roughly based off the Mojave and Gobi deserts, with some influences from the bush of Botswana and the Kalihari desert). In Nenisr territory lies the Nodai River and Licarme, the only dormant volcano in Imenia. Meanwhile, the Lissabi desert is home to Labyrinth Canyon, a former prison for lawbreaking cats.

Chiambe- The huge mountain range, based roughly on the Himalayas (though some peaks reach much higher than Mount Everest) stretches from as far north as Cloudrunner Bay and as far south as the Felcan Sea. It is what divides Ellerin and Vorunia.

Ausaia and Imenia are connected by a thin landbridge that starts at the south of Lissabi and connects to Willowgem. There was once a landbridge that connected Hyriam to Hydryr, but it has mostly sunk.

Ausaia:

Willowgem- The small, enchanted forest at the northwest of Ausaia. The trees are said to glow at night.

Taheke- A volcano range full of active volcanoes towards the middle of Ausaia.

Ghailia- Mostly seaside cliffs, this kingdom contains some jungle and some volcanoes

Hnovori- Another volcano range, this one occurs on a peninsula sticking out from the west of Ausaia. However, it does not contain as many active volcanoes as Taheke.

Alraia- A rolling, windswept plain full of hills

Chanolia- A large, tropical jungle with lots of mountains and cliffs

Ingil- A huge, arid desert with many palm oases dotting the land

Ereldell- A sinister-looking mountain range with a red sky and some snow in the winter

Inena- A seaside kingdom that mostly operates in a network of caves

Dynacia- Another jungle, though flatter and smaller than Chanolia

Faromol- A meadow in the south of Imenia, with many magical wildflowers growing there

Hydryr- Lots of mountains. Many, many mountains, and many rivers winding below

The Kingdom of the Dead: A mysterious forest, located on the very southeast of Ausaia. Some claim that the Kingdom is an entity in itself.