The Canary Coast

Located in the southwest of the Free Realms, the Canary Coast is famous for its canaries that grow up there and was named after them. Many canaries that are kept as pets throughout Rythalion come from this coast, and traders who make a living selling canaries are willing to make long trips in order to make some extra gold. The most popular species of canary native to the Canary Coast is the Firebelly Canary that makes its nests in the Land of Hotsprings region, and it is the symbol of the Canary Coast. The coast is ruled by the authorities of the Ten Keeps, one of the major city states in the realms.

Ten Keeps
The largest city in the Canary Coast, it was at first ten separate keeps each belonging to a distinct warlord. The warlords and their armies were allies with each other and they were ousted by the Joint Meadwell Military Front due to disputes about who would control the trade of Meadwell’s mead and the shipments to other major settlements (that was before the Free Realms had formed). Once they had settled to the location they built their ten keeps and started expanding their influence in the region. They had their fair share of enemies so when the Fire Giants suggested an alliance they accepted and helped them to create allies. In return the fire giants helped them with their regional enemies and even helped built the city that the keeps eventually evolved into. The city still honors that alliance and are in friendly terms with the fire giants. The city’s population is around 135.000. While it is the largest city in the Canary Coast it is one of the smallest major cities in the Free Realms. The city's emblem is ten keeps that surround a firebelly canary. The ruler of Ten Keeps controls all of the Canary Coast as per the clauses of the Treaty of Artara.

The Eternal Bonfires of Sveitild and the Prize Mountains
In the eastern foothills of the Prize Mountains there exist giant bonfires that legends say were lit by the goddess of fire giants, Sveitild herself, when she was calling the fire giants into war against the frost giants and their god, Tolgan Frosteye. The war is in the long list of conflicts between Sveitild and Tolgan Frosteye and it was about who would claim the mountains in the coast; the reason being why they are called Prize Mountains. The highest peak that it is also a top of a volcano is called Sveitild’s Throne. It is not known why these mountains specifically gained the attention of these two deities, but it is known that after Sveitild won, the mountains became ripe with volcanic activity. In the present day and age, the Eternal Bonfires of Sveitild still burn and around them live fire giants that have built settlements and various forges. The fire giants of the bonfires are lawbound to still honor the old alliance made with the then newcomer humans when the latter built the Ten Keeps, an alliance that defeated the frost giant hordes in the old battle.

Port Plentycoins
A port living off of trade and fishing. It is a stop for many traders and sailors, and their fishers are the best in the Canary Coast. Its population is 30.000 and counting. It is one of the most prosperous cities in the coast.

Orikoris
A city in the sea built upon a Zaratan’s corpse that died on a reef. Around the main city, smaller districts of the city built from wood and from parts of the dug up reef dot the waves. It is named after the person who killed the Zaratan with his ship, the half-elf Orikoris the Seasplitter more than a century ago. Its population is around 10.000 permanent residents that reaches 20.000 at winter, when sailors and other travelers spend the winter there. Orikorians have a reputation of being selfish scumbags and at worst pirates, although they view themselves as being a fair and free people without need for the covers of nobility or political prestige. Orikorians trade with the Ten Keeps, Port Plentycoins and Silverwater, but Orikorians don’t have a good reputation as traders either, and those who trade with Orikorian merchants take extra care. The city and all its inhabitants have Calaseid’s favor thanks to the founder who killed the Zaratan that was an enemy of the goddess and her domain. However, Orikorians don’t care much for any of the gods including Calaseid. Be that as it may, they fear the power of the sea all the same and have devised ways to use the sea for their benefit; sometimes it blows in their face and sometimes the sea rewards them as true seamen. This relationship they have with the sea is enough for Calaseid to keep her old favor upon the city, and when they are being compared with the people of the Ten Keeps and how they have treated the sea in the past, the goddess regards the Orikorians as respectful. In another note, Orikoris is the only settlement in the Canary Coast that is not controlled by the Ten Keeps and is instead its own entity. That is because the founder, Orikoris the Seasplitter, used a technicality in his contract with the lords of the Ten Keeps while he was a hired as a privateer by them. He managed to keep the land he made by killing the Zaratan as his own since it counted as a spoil of war because, as per the contract, he got to keep and own any spoils of war while on missions.

Neraroma
Built by the shore of Lake Boot, this city was built as a fortification to defend from assaults from Meadwell in older times. The city is well defended by its sturdy walls, and the lake itself provides fresh water and food in times of trouble. Its population is around 26.000.

Silverwater and the Blessed Hills
Silverwater is a city that lives from business in its port as well as from mining silver in the Blessed Hills. They export their silver to all the settlements in the coast and they are payed well for it since it is the only place in the Canary Coast to have silver mines. The city’s population is at 21.000; it could be bigger if not for the city’s more remote location. The Blessed Hills in turn are somewhat vast and while plenty of silver exists there, danger is also quite common since at some places the ground can give in and collapse from the excessive digging. Many abandoned mines also exist that have been emptied of silver and now host monsters and other dangers in their depths. It is also said that a hidden entrance to the Gloomdeep is located somewhere in the hills.

Myconid Abode
This area is filled with various giant mushrooms that are as big as trees and bigger even. Myconids live among these giant mushrooms and prosper while being friendly with neighboring settlements. These mushroom people are said to have emerged from the Gloomdeep from an entrance within the Blessed Hills and planted the giant mushrooms that mark their home. The Myconids neither deny or confirm this theory and instead say it does not matter where they came from and what only matters is that they are here in peace.

Akelocer's Watch
The largest town in the coast built in the Mead Road by a famous explorer named Akelocer Fartreader. It is a stop for many travelers of the Mead Road and the town fares well by trading with said travelers. Its population is 6000.

Temple of Annalyon
The temple of the god of light was built in the crossroads of the Mead Road after a cleric of Annalyon stopped in the crossroads to help travelers. He remained there and made a camp to stay in, in order to aid more travelers passing through. People started followed his example and some also joined the faith, and like that the temple was starting to slowly being built. Now it is a landmark and a rest spot for weary travelers. It also serves as a trading hub since after it was made famous it was used more and more frequently and traders started settling in.

Ship’s Dirge and the Ghost Lighthouse
In the sea exists a lighthouse that is believed to be a ghost, since it is always somehow changing locations and appears in front of ships that crush on its shores. No one knows exactly what this is or why it keeps appearing and disappearing, but sailors believe that even mentioning it in a conversation is bad luck and it’s more likely to draw it to you the next time you set sail if you do. It has been theorized by seasoned captains that some ships that disappeared when they run into the lighthouse turn up in the Ship’s Dirge, the large and dangerous reef that ships also crush to. However, nothing can be proven 100% since undead of the dead crewmembers of shipwrecks dwell in Ship’s Dirge, making looking for clues dangerous to say the least.

Sea of Mists
This area is completely covered in thick fog. Ships who can successfully navigate its tricky waters will find themselves in the Feywild. Sometimes, parts of the Feywild are leaked into the material plane inside the mists, be it parts of the fey lands or even fey creatures. Of course, no one seems to know that the place is connected to the land of the fey. The only thing people know about the Sea of Mists is that the majority that go there do not return; those that do seem to have lost memory of their time spent inside the mists, or be found years later but haven't aged a day. Some scholars theorize that it could be connected to the Feywild but there are other places and magics that could have these effects to creatures. Be that as it may ships avoid this place.

The Pinks
Eight islands that are famous for their sandy beaches completely covered with pink sand. People sometimes favor these islands as resorts and some nobles from Ten Keeps even have mansions there used as summer retreats. The animals there are all pink as well and their hide is extremely rare due to their unique color. This has led to poaching in the past and now all animals in the Pinks are protected by law. However, poachers still exist there and continue to sell hides and animals in the black markets of the realms.

Calaseid’s Mouth
A humongous tower built in the middle of a raging whirlpool by priests of the sea goddess Calaseid. It is a temple dedicated to the goddess and it is also guarded by a Leviathan. Many have drowned trying to reach the temple and many more were killed by the Leviathan over the years. Only those who have the goddess’s favor can pass from the whirlpool and the Leviathan unharmed and reach the temple. It was built there after corrupt rulers and traders sought to overuse the clergy of Calaseid and the control of the tides in the sea routes to their own ends without having any real reverence to Calaseid or having respect for the sea and its creatures. As a result the clergy of Calaseid left from all settlements of the Canary Coast and built a temple in the sea. Now whenever someone wants their services must first win the favor of Calaseid and learn what it means to respect and fear the sea. The Ten Keeps have a custom where each time a new ruler is crowned they must pass the trials of Calaseid, win her favor, and then proceed to Calaseid’s Mouth to petition for safety in sea trading and beg for the Sea Queen to protect their sailors.

The Land of Hotsprings
Because of the volcanic activity in the Prize Mountains this expanse of land contains a high number of hot springs. Firenewts live in many of them. There are some businesses that offer services and organized grooming in some of these hotsprings; sometimes Firenewts raid these businesses. The famous Firebelly Canary also lives in this region and is sought out by animal peddlers and even poahers. As such, it has been declared endangered lest the populations be reduced to nothing.

Alvel Navani’s Tower
A tower that is constantly being built by an elf wizard named Alvel Navani and his clay golem look-alikes. His goal is to make the tower the tallest in the world, including the gigantic tower of the priests of Calaseid. It has become something of a novelty.

Neryli Ruins
Wekal Ruins, Ruins of Vahkatlen, Ruins of Ilennas and Nyrai Ruins date back to the ancient days of the Neryl Empire. They were once cities of Neryl and their various magical defenses and traps still work. The ruins have treasure inside sought by treasure hunters and adventurers. Those seeking the lost relics of Neryl find horrible deaths from the magical traps there or from the monstrous denizens that have occupied the ruins.

Forbidden Marshes
These marshes contain landscars left since the time of the Scarring. As a result, numbers of landscar horrors roam in the swamp and its murky waters. It is declared forbidden by the state, and anyone who enters it and is seen by authorities is considered either dead or a criminal. The Ten Keeps have declared anyone influenced by the corruption of the landscars to be scheduled for execution if seen in any settlement of the coast or in the roads.

Blankenrach Forest
A large forest that also spans in the realms of Meadwell and Rineya. Some of its foliage in some parts is so thick that sunlight can’t pass through. Many say that the forest hides a legendary treasure of an ancient wizard.

Nyrai Canyon
The Nyrai River passes through this canyon. North of it is located the ruined and ancient Neryli city of Nyrai. Many outlaws of the coast choose to live in the canyon or in the ruins. As such it is a lawless zone where anything goes. People too wild even for Orikoris that are ousted from the city are eventually drawn there as well. The Ten Keeps have plans for routing the whole canyon and rid the place from the bandits and marauders hiding there who are raiding caravans and settlements in the Land of Hotsprings. The authorities have done so in the past but the place seems to be always attracting ne’er-do-wells. This is why the current ruler wants to find a permanent solution; but the longer he takes to find it the longer the problem persists.

Awakened Woods
This forest has many trees that have been awakened and talk as well as walk. Some animals there also have been awakened. It is believed that the forest is surrounded by a potent magic that has that effect in its residents.

The Three Nymphs
A trio of lakes near each other spoken of in folklore. The stories say that they are in truth three nymphs that have taken the form of water and are sleeping. These stories also suggest that aspects of the nymphs materialize in moonlit nights and sleepwalk in the surface of their actual bodies. Many fishers search for a glimpse of the nymphs that are said to be beauty incarnate without success.

Fort Pearl
A fort located atop a steep hill overlooking the Mead Road and the lands around it. Patrols scour the area and are making sure that the road from the Temple of Annalyon to Ten Keeps is safe. As a result this part of the road is safer than the rest. Guards from the fort are also stationed at the temple in order to maintain order and defend it from any would-be threat. The fort got its name from Pearl, its first commander when it was first built. Records say that she was a fierce spear warrior that was always sporting a pearl necklace; perhaps her namesake.

The Seer’s Plateaus
These crags are home to a mysterious seer of legend, or so they say. Some believe that the seer who supposedly lives there is an old man that can tell the future by reading the stars; others say that the seer is a hag and that she will eat a part of you first and then predict your future. Other stories suggest that the rocks themselves are alive and that they utter your future doom if you are not pure of heart. Regardless, the place is feared among locals and the only people who venture forth are few foolhardy adventurers and desperate people who want to find the Seer for solutions to their problems. No one has seen anyone living there for the last century and no one alive today can either confirm or deny these stories.

Shrillcaller Woods
This eerie forest is also avoided by locals as it is believed that some malevolent force dwells there. The woods always emit shrilling cries and high pitched noises that are terrifying enough to make even seasoned rangers and hunters scream in agony. Most people who go there do not return; those who do speak of unholy screeching and moving shadows.

Villages and Towns
As with any realm in the world, a number of villages exist in the Canary Coast, some with populations of 100 and up, and some with populations of 1000 but no larger. That is also true about towns; while not as numerous as the villages they are of course larger with some towns having populations of 1000 and up while others have as many as 4000 people.