Work in Progress Tara Primâneasca

Naerys Athravaegon

𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝕭𝖆𝖐𝖚𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖆
Naerys Athravaegon
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📜Character Bio📜
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  • Objective: To flesh out map lore for Tara Primâneasca's people, culture, and history.
  • Category: Location
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  • Development Thread: N/A
  • Permissions: N/A

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General-Information.png
  • Name: The Province of Tara Primâneasca
  • Geographical Features: Tara Primâneasca is a temperate province located in western Bakuronia with seasons that could at best be described as average. The Sea of Enkatas joins it via a jagged bay known as Brimstone Bay leading onto the Duna river, with many smaller rivers branching off at various points dubbed the Veins. Thick forests and rich farmlands coat the landscape in various areas, clinging to the edges of the water, far in from the colder climates surrounding the edges of the Black Mountains.

    The Black Mountains themselves give way here to a valley that follows a larger branch of the river, home to the old ruins known as Dragon's Maw. Along this pass lie the Blackwing Mines, dry of anything worthwhile, where old Tara Primâneasca once gained its wealth. The valley itself and the pass between them, nicknamed Merussar's Pass, stretches back some fifty miles. Eventually, it widens out, dropping off suddenly into a large lake, the Black Sea, capped with a towering waterfall that tumbles from the heights of the mountain range. Behind the waterfall lies a natural domed cave, Glass Cove. Cracks in the stone above create miniature waterfalls inside, which run into small pools that peak over into the Black Sea in several waterfalls.
  • Climate: The majority of Tara Primâneasca enjoys a temperate climate with standard seasons. The closer to the edges to the edges of the Black Mountains you get, the colder the climate grows. Although this climate is not entirely uninhabitable, the people of Tara Primâneasca built their farms closer to the river where the winds are milder, the ground softer, and the water plenty. Brimstone Bay is home to harsher sea air that grows bitter in the winter and brings heavier rainfalls. The further west you travel along the river the more temperate the climate grows.

    Between the mountain passes where Dragon's Maw and the Firefangs lie, protected by the towering Black Mountains on all sides, the climates do not differ drastically from the rest of Tara Primâneasca. It is the actions of the people that live there that change the temperature to such an extreme degree. The Firefangs have numerous furnaces and forges from the mining days of the Priman Empire, and they are still used to this day. Including the large one beneath Furnace Keep itself. These in tandem with the cooking fires and hearths in the many homes here heat the black rock they are built into. The Firefangs suffer from exceedingly warm days with heat that seems to linger long into the night, even in the winter. However, the further up the Black Mountains you go, the more brutal the climate. Heavy snows and tundras lay at their peaks, making travelling over or across them foolhardy for those who are not accustomed to such weather.
  • Terrain: Tara Primâneasca's bay has no beaches, the water reaches right up to the edge of the town that surrounds it. The town itself is built on a flatter expanse of land that juts out from the base of the Black Mountains. Some of the wealthier homes, now used as large storage bays and markets, were built into the sides of the Black Mountains themselves. There are no formally maintained roads in the province, but one of the many remnants of the old Priman Empire runs its length. Although in a great state of disrepair, it serves as a rough guide through Tara Primâneasca, leading to notable locations like Brimstone Bay, the Basilisk Gate, and the Last Nest. Further west, where the river leads into Transslovoka, the terrain evens out and gives way to large swathes of thick forest. Where farmlands have not been cultivated, the rest of the province is relatively rocky, peaking at some points along the river into large rolling hills.

    The river Duna itself stretches a mile and a half across at its widest, reaching between six to thirty-six feet deep on its journey through Tara Primâneasca. As you near the Black Mountains themselves, the ground begins to grow more difficult to navigate on foot. Steep upward climbs lead you to the base of the mountains, which stretch across almost the entirety of Tara Primâneasca. The road through Dragon's Maw and along Merussar's Pass is the only section well-maintained in Tara Primâneasca, as it is a commonly used transport route from the Blackwing Mines to the Firefangs. It clings to the edges of the Black Mountains, just wide enough for two large wagons abreast, overlooking a drop down to the river below. The river, also used as a trade route by the rest of Tara Primâneasca, eventually drops off into a plunging waterfall that drops down into the Black Sea. Glass cove from this angle is almost impenetrable. A perilous climb down the sides of Rhaena's Tears awaits any who try to reach the entrance behind the tumbling water.
  • Natural Resources: Though Tara Primâneasca cannot be described as rich by any material definition, their lands are rich in other ways. Fertile farmlands line the edges of the river Duna irrigated by waterways dug into the earth itself. The variety of crops depends upon the season, and just like any other, they suffer good and bad harvests. The rivers are populated with fish, however, the primary source of seafood comes from Brimstone bay, where dredging for oysters, scallops, and crabs is commonplace. A good amount of hunting takes place within Tara Primâneasca, as livestock is mostly kept for things like milk, eggs, and wool. Wood and stone are in no short supply thanks to the swathes of forest land and the Black Mountains, which are utilised in many useful ways throughout Tara Primâneasca's settlements. There are several stone mines in Tara Primâneasca along the borders of the Black Mountains, though many of them are completely abandoned. Only two operate within the confines of the Claws, and only one remains active near Dragon's Maw.

    Blackwing mines no longer hold the prosperity they once did for Tara Primâneasca either. Their primary resource, a special ore used to make ash vein steel, ran dry long before the arrival of House Athravaegon. Now all that remains are a few veins of copper and iron and a seemingly endless supply of stone and coal. Mostly worthless to the rest of the world, but invaluable to the Firefangs and Tara Primâneasca. Though there are no fields of any kind along Merussar's Pass, those who work in Blackwing mines have taken to owning a hearty supply of mountain goats. These goats thrive along the pass and alongside providing milk or meat when they grow too old, they also provide thicker wool to make the masks that protect people from inhaling the dust and debris in the mines.
  • Demographics: Back in the glory days of the Priman Empire Tara Primâneasca was a thriving province. Major settlements were filled to the brim, but humans could also be found in small villages and towns across the entirety of the river Duna. The Bakuronians that lived here during this rule still remain here to this day, but their numbers along the Duna have dwindled. A few small hamlets remain populated with no more than 80 at a time where the richer farmlands are, but the largest number of them are found in the Claws, the Firefangs, and the Last Nest. The population of Taoar that live here all span from the same family, and are the ruling nobility in Tara Primâneasca. Time, blood, and names have separated them enough to make a distinction, but altogether there is no more than 30 Taoar present here.
  • Religion: Religion in Tara Primâneasca, much like the rest of Gaia, is a risque topic. Their history with strange rulers bringing strange religions to their doorstep means that the religions of their forefathers are almost forgotten. Whilst the majority of Tara Primâneasca keeps to the doctrines of the Curia, it is not through dedication or devotion, but through familiarity. Even House Athravaegon itself claims the Curia only out of habit and political gain. The only other religion within this province has not been openly acknowledged as a religion since before the dawn of the Bakuronian Kingdom. With the details and intricacies lost to the annals of time, not much is publicly known about it. Even its name is no longer spoken amongst the people who live here. If it is still practised, it is in secret amongst the gentry with lines old enough to remember, but Tara Primâneasca is constantly changing, and so too are the people's opinions.
  • Languages:
    • Thession [NATIVE]: The original native language of the old Kingdom of Bakuronia, present long before the invasion of the Priman Empire and commonly used amongst the early tribes that inhabited the subregion itself. Though little is known of the history and origins of this language, it is shared by many of the surrounding provinces as well as a few across the inner sea. Most, if not all, of the people who live in Bakuronia, especially in the western regions, speak Thesion and continue to herald it as the primary language.
    • Slovonoc [NATIVE]: This naturally developed native language of Bakuronia was developed throughout their later years of history after the Eroban migrations. Evolved from a mixture of the languages spoken by the Slovokan and Osterman immigrants after their migration to the southeastern coast. The root of this language is primarily Thession with heavy influences from Old Ostlovokan, Mayhunar and Osterman. Though this language was developed from these major ones and many people who speak Thession and Osterman will understand it on a basic level, there are very few similarities between the offshoot High Osterman and almost no similarities remaining to Mayhunar. Native speakers of these may struggle to follow conversations of a fluent nature.
    • Aeterna [COMMON]: The use of this language in the Curia and the predominance of this religion in Bakuronia due to the Priman Empire's influence in its early history has given Aeterna firm and widespread roots across the whole subregion. The use of this language in the subject of science, religious doctrines and general knowledge also means that most Bakuronian texts were written in Aeterna up until the development and implementation of Slovonoc as the native and primary language. This led to many if not all Bakuronians maintaining a basic grasp of Aeterna in its written form specifically for the purposes of documentation.
    • Old Ostlovokan [UNCOMMON]: As one of the original parent languages of Slovonoc it was brought into the region alongside the migration of Slovokan tribes. Old Ostlovokan was a predominant language alongside Osterman and Mayhunar for a large part of Bakuronia's early history until it was eventually encapsulated by the creation of Slovonoc. Though it quickly began to fall out of popularity there are still many Bakuronians who maintain the use of it due to its heavy roots in modern-day Slovonoc and the heritage and background attached to it.
    • Mayhunar [RARE]: The common language of the Rónai people residing in the Pannhurin Basin. Though this is an uncommonly heard language in the depths of Bakuronia, because it borders the subregion of Rónaság there are a few places that have been influenced by their close connection. It grows rarer the further in you travel but many families living on the borders have a basic grasp for trading and both building and maintaining relationships between the provinces.
    • Osterman [VERY RARE]: The native language of the Ostermannia region, brought to Bakuronia with the migration of Ostermanni tribes into the region itself. As the tribes merged to create one unified kingdom as well as the distance between the borders of Osterman and Bakuronia this language began to dwindle in popularity throughout the region. Today it is very rare to find someone who speaks Osterman fluently, though some market stall owners and shopkeepers retain the ability to hold a basic conversation for the purposes of trading.
    • High Osterman [VERY RARE]: This language is commonly heard amongst the gentry and upper-class members of Ostermannia. Though historically this language would not have been introduced with the migration of Ostermanni tribes into Bakuronia and the distance between the two regions would have made the integration into everyday society difficult, some of the ruling members of Bakuornia itself have learned this language for the purposes of relations and politics between themselves and Ostermannia. It is very rare to find one who can speak it fluently but a basic grasp is considered to be useful for those who are born into positions of power and influence.
    • Taoar [VERY RARE]: The common language of the Taoar people residing in the Tanast mountains and the ancestral language of the ruling population of Bakuronia. This is rarely heard amongst the common folk of Bakuornian as primary speakers are the small population of Taoar. Even then, this is a slowly dying language as the years go on. Especially as the generational gap between the current Taoar and their originally banished ancestors grows further and further apart.
    • Dracædic [VERY RARE]: This original and mostly dead language was spoken by several of the native tribes of Bakuronia, primarily those who practised in the Cult of Drakon, before its unification and the migrations of various cultures across Eroba. The primary influences of this language are unknown and the details of it are largely lost to time though evidence of it can be found in Bakuronian records and in old ruins. It is extremely rare to find anyone in Bakuronia who can speak it conversationally though in recent history efforts are being made to bring it back to life.
  • Key Industries:

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  • Geographical Highlights:
    • BRIMSTONE BAY | Brimstone Bay is the large jagged bay where the Duna meets the Sea of Enkatas. It curves at an extremely uneven angle and is sliced in two at many points where tendrils of stone stretch out into the sea. The black rock there shatters in shards when erosion finally wins its battle against it. At one point in time perhaps it was a smooth crescent shape, and it did have a beach, but the slight elevation here thanks to the Black Mountains has led to this severe erosion along the coastline. Where land meets sea the cliff faces have crumbled inwards, leaving a steep drop where the land once gently sloped toward the sea. It is largely unremarkable save for the long staircases leading down from the town to various sizes of wooden docks jutting outward. On most days you can find it filled with ships of all shapes and sizes travelling both in and out after stocking up or trading their wares.
    • THE VEINS | From ground level, it is difficult to tell why the landscapes between each settlement in Tara Primâneasca have been named "The Veins". View it from the sky, however, and it quickly becomes apparent. The river Duna at just over a mile wide splits the land unevenly, leaving the northern half larger than the southern. From it sprout numerous smaller rivers that spread like tendrils across the land. The people of Tara Primâneasca have used these to build irrigation systems to expand their fields north.

      In the days of dragons, a rider once scribed on ash-marked vellum: "I have studied both the body of man and the body of Gaia in equal measure. Our body is but a reflection of Gaia in many, many ways. Today this proved true as I flew over the province of Tara Primâneasca. The span of freshwater rivers there I can find no likeness to save for what I have seen in the depths of an open wound. As they too deliver life-giving blood to us, so too do the rivers deliver life-giving water to the settlements of this land." The same writer would later pen one of the first rudimentary maps of Tara Primâneasca, dubbing these lands "The Veins".
    • MERUSSAR'S PASS | The great gaping pass in between the Black Mountains that leads towards Blackwing mines, the Firefangs, and the Black Sea. Made of the same black rock as Brimstone bay, the naturally formed valley has a larger finger of the river Duna running down the centre of it. The river, which eventually leads on to the waterfall, Rhaena's Tears, is wide enough to be used as a general travel and trade route by the people of Tara Primâneasca and can often be found populated with their barges and ships. Along both sides of the pass, a road has been painstakingly carved into the edge of the mountain. This road, made wide enough for two wagons abreast, follows the river through the whole of Merussar's pass. Going around the walls of Dragon's Maw, it breaks off at various points to lead down into Blackwing mines and ends at the gates of the Firefangs. It has no form of wall or fence around its edge to prevent a fall into the river below.

      There are very few buildings along Merussar's pass. Those that are there are carved into the rock face themselves and are more like caves than the structured homes that are commonplace in Tara Primâneasca. Small garrisons housing no more than five men are stationed randomly along the pass, particularly near the entrances to Blackwing mines. The road is usually populated during the day. However, the only life you are likely to find at night are the goats kept for milk, meat and wool, and the guards stationed in the garrisons. There are no lamps to guide your way when the moon dips behind the clouds, and it is considered a dangerous journey. It was dubbed Merussar's Pass when the last known dragon of Tara Primâneasca flew over it in his prime, when strength and youth were both in his favour. The beast favoured the goats that grazed against the steep and rocky valley walls and was often found hunting there, it's great shadow blocking out the sun and drowning the valley below in more shadow.
    • THE BLACK SEA | At the end of Merussar's Pass, the splinter river falls off into a sheer-sided caldera, left behind by an ancient and long-since extinct volcano. The resulting gauge in the earth eventually filled with water, creating a large
      lake that at its centre could be no more than ten feet deep. Although the lake is impossible to reach unless you are willing to risk your life climbing down the mountain face, the people of Tara Primâneasca have dubbed it "The Black Sea". Little is known about it due to its inconvenient location, so there is no information on whether there is any life down there.

      However, glancing over the edge, the water below seems beautifully blue in the light of day. Disturbed only by the fine white foam splashing into it from Rhaena's Tears. The rock face surrounding it is so sheer near the water's edge that no plant life grows around it all. The further up you get a smattering of trees and patches of grass are seen until it smooths out again into the rocky faces of the Black Mountains. At night the lake itself is almost indecipherable. At its centre, it is nothing more than a pit of eternal darkness surrounded by the eerie rumble of water as it tumbles down into the endless night.
    • RHAENA'S TEARS | A collection of naturally formed waterfalls that cut through the Firefangs from the depths of the Black Mountains, falling down into the Black Sea below. There is one primary waterfall with many smaller ones coming from glass cove or further up the rock face itself or from smaller channels created by the Primans when they constructed the Firefangs. They range in size, the smallest being five feet wide and the largest primary waterfall being thirty at its peak. The largest of which runs directly through the Firefangs themselves, used as a freshwater source for the city. Nobody knows the original name for these waterfalls, lost to time as the power of the empire that had its hand in forming them. Rhaena's Tears, however, came from the first taoar to step foot in the Firefangs.

      The legend currently surrounding them is just that. A legend. But as all fairytales are, it is rooted in history and tainted by the dramatic, passed down through the generations of taoar that have lived here: Maelor Athravaegon and his wife Rhaena were the first to settle in the Firefangs, long after the fall of the Priman Empire. They were blessed with many sons, but Rhaena was desperate for a daughter. Pregnant for the final time, she lay all her hope on her last babe to be the girl she so deeply craved. When she gave birth, the child indeed was a girl, but the sickly young thing did not last the night. When told the news, Rhaena cried so hard and for so long that the waterfall swelled to a breaking point. The rock beneath gave way, and many of the smaller waterfalls were formed.
    • GLASS COVE | Glass cove is a large naturally formed system of caves tucked away behind Rhaena's Tears and under the Firefangs themselves. There are numerous small rivers and pools that run through these systems. Fuelled by cracks in the stone above that leak water from the main waterfall, these rivers then extend out to create the smaller waterfalls of Rhaena's Tears. There are access points along the edges of the waterfall itself, but the climb makes them nearly impossible to reach without the correct equipment and extremely daring bravado.

      Large columns of black rock support the ceiling of these cave systems where stalagmites and stalactites joined together in the middle. Though plant and animal life is not rich by any definition, there is undoubtedly a presence of them here. Fungi grow rapidly, fed by the constant moist atmosphere. Insects too thrive in the humidity below. With very few light sources to guide your way here, it is considered a dangerous place to be. It is a complex maze with many dead ends leading to a deathly drop down Rhaena's Tears. Nobody knows how far back the cave system goes, but there can be no question about where they end.

    Fauna:
    • BAKURONIAN MOUNTAIN GOATS [X] | These goats can be found in large groups along Merussar's pass. They vary in both weight and height with the largest to date coming in at 42 inches from the ground to their shoulder blade, weighing 135 kg. Their incredible balance allows them to live comfortably on the steep climbs and bitter peaks of Black Mountain. Their wool is thicker than sheep wool, and they mainly survive off the hardy vegetation that grows on the sides of the cliff face. All this makes them an ideal choice for the miners working in the Blackwing mines, who mostly use their wool to create masks to prevent them from breathing in dust and debris. The people of Tara Primâneasca joke that Theos must have been in a cruel mood when he created them. The wool they are prized for is pure white, which is perfect in a snowier climate. But against the sheer black rock the Black Mountains got their name from, the goats are prime targets for predators who dominate the skies. Their only method of defence, save for the people who farm them, is the pair of sharp black horns that protrude from their heads in both the males and females.
    • GRINDSTONE MULES [X] | The land in Tara Primâneasca could not be described as easy to navigate. Its proximity to the Black Mountains means that even the road built by the Priman empire dips and peaks with the curves of the earth. Few are wealthy enough to own a horse so for these reasons, mules are often found in their stead. These mules, nicknamed grindstone mules for their history working in the mines, are a key method of transport. They have an easier time navigating the rocky terrain than horses do, and are at less of a risk of slipping and breaking something on the road that leads through Merussar's Pass. They range in colour and size depending on their gender and how well they are fed. Physically, they are distinguishable from horses only by their height and slightly wider hooves. They are treated with as much respect and care as the horses of a wealthy noble are, and it is not uncommon to see them decorated with patterns in the colours of the houses they belong to.
    • CINDER HAWKS [X] | These little birds are Tara Primâneasca's proof that dragons did indeed exist in significant numbers at one point. Ironically named hawks for their tiny size, no bigger than the palm of your hand, these birds have a rather unique ability. The feathers on their bodies are entirely fireproof. The theory goes that once upon a time, when dragons roamed the province, the birds would sit in their great maws and pick the charred meat from their teeth. It is not hard to see where this theory stems from. The birds thrive in the sweltering conditions of the Firefangs and are often found nesting their young against the black stone furnaces and hearths that litter the city. They are found nowhere else in this province but are considered sacred by all who live here. They flock to the bonfires when festivals of fire are held, and linger until the coals die completely. It is an unforgivable crime to cage one, destroy a nest, keep an egg, or sell one in any form.
    • SHADOW DREADS | A shadow dread is a being of folklore said to live deep in the complex maze of Blackwing mines. Some say they were created when man dared to dig too deep into the crust of the earth. Some say they are a relic of the fae folk that lived here before all. However their existence is explained, this being is always described as a hellish creature cursed by darkness. Though none have seen it, fireside stories describe it as half human, half demon. Using stick-thin limbs it carries itself forward on all fours. Its stone grey skin hangs from its body, so thin you can see the bone through it. The horror it knows has drained the colour from its eyes, leaving no pupil to be seen, but white orbs of terror instead. It fills the caverns with its harrowing screams and all who are said to hear its cries are doomed to terrible sickness. To see the whites of their eyes is an omen of death and destruction.
    • LANTERN THIEVES | This legend stems from the road that cuts through the entirety of Tara Primâneasca. Back in the days of Priman glory, the roads were well-travelled and well-lit at all hours of the day. It has been neglected for some time now and is no longer patrolled regularly. However, those who are brave enough to travel at night talk of the presence of light on the longer stretches of road. It is described as the same dark, sooty light that burns in the coal lamps of the Firefangs. Those who know these lands know not to follow them. For though these are not dangerous and will cause no harm directly, they are mischievous little things. They lead the unwary away from the road and into the rolling hills and fields by placing themselves purposefully where travellers would not second guess their step.
    • DRAGONS | Dragons first arrived in Tara Primâneasca after the Priman Empire had already made a home here. These giant winged creatures had scales thicker than steel and the ability to breathe fire so hot it could melt stone. Ranging in size dramatically depending on breed, gender, territory, or master, the dragons dominated the sky as the apex predator for some time. They could be spotted easily by the rainbow of shades their scales came in and were often found nesting in the cave systems spanning the Black Mountains. Legends here talk of a race of people with silver hair who had the ability to tame these great beasts. They would use them to ride the skies, surveyors of all they reigned over. Where they are now, nobody knows. Extinct or nearly in hiding, nobody has seen a dragon in Tara Primâneasca for quite some time.
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