Emer (Shadow World)

Emer is a continent on Kulthea, a fictional planet that serves as the backdrop for Iron Crown Enterprises’ Rolemaster campaign setting called Shadow World. Roughly located within the center of the western hemisphere, this large and diverse land consists of a multitude of ecological and climatic contexts. Its geography is extensively diverse, and consists of fractured and coasts, tall mountains, and sprawling plains and deserts.

Seven general geographic regions are apparent on mainland Emer: Hæstra, Tai-emer, Silaar, Uj, Khûm-kaan, Onar, and Ræl. Námar-Tol, a chain of seven large islands, is east of Emer in the Circular Sea. While technically separated from the continent, it is counted as the eighth among Emer's regions.

Culturally, Emer is equally diverse, and is home for elves, dwarves, and a host of human sub-groups. Lugrôki dwell in the Spine of Emer, while garks are prevalent throughout the tropical forests of the eastern Silaarian peninsula. In its past, vast empires have risen to dominate nearly all of Emer, but today it is largely fragmented politically.

=Geography=

Hæstra

Hæstra covers the northwest portion of Emer. It is an area of fertile soil, mild temperate climate, verdant and slowly undulating land, and extensive and varied natural resources. As a result of this, the region is one of the most densely settled and widely cultivated areas in all of emer. In the south of the region is the unnaturally calm Sea of Votania whose central island, Votania, has been the center of several important historical moments. The Spine of Emer, a long mountain chain that runs through the entire north-south axis of the continent, borders Hæstra to the east. The Morbek highlands separate Hæstra form the desert plains of Uj to the south. The Bay of Izar forms a portion of the region's southwest border.

During the Second Age, Hæstra was the central region of a continent-wide empire ruled by the Masters of Emer, a group of six Titans who made their home on the Isle of Votania. This group, ruling over a kingdom of Laan, managed to subjugate Emer through slow conquest of each particular region. The Empire remained intact for nearly 2000 years (S.E. 1230-3000), after which it suffered internal conflict, rebellion, and invasion. It finally dissolved around S.E. 5000.

Khûm-kaan

Khûm-kaan forms the main southeast block of Emer. It is a diverse land, consisting of broad plains, dense tropical forest, tall mountainous peaks, and temperate coasts. The region consists of lowlands bounded on the west, south, and east by mountainous ranges. These are the Spine of Emer, the Black Mountains, and the Green Mountains, respectively. A break between the Spine and Emer and the Black Mountains allows access to the Rælian Bay in the southwest, while the Green Mountains, the eastern shore of Lygaar, and the northern shore of Quon form the Bay of Zalkali in the region’s northeast area.

Quon consists almost entirely of dense jungle and comprises nearly three quarters of Khûm-kaan’s total area. The mysterious Kuluku inhabit the rain forests of Quon. In the northwest of Khûm-kaan is a region known as Lygaar. Generally occupied by dispersed Shay settlements, it is currently under the control of Ardan City and the empire flowering there.

Námar-Tol

The island kingdom of Námar-Tol, also known as the Seven Isles, lies off the southeast coast of Emer, and, with its capital at "Varnost", is one of the few purely elven kingdoms within the region. Outsiders are generally not welcome in Námar-Tol, though the trade city of "Orv Cibur" allows non-residents.

While the Erlini, who are more-or-less indigenous to the island chain, represent 75% of the kingdom’s population, it is actually the Loari, comprising 20% of the population, who rule. The remaining 5% is made up of mortals who reside in Orv Cibur and Linæri elves. Both the Loari and Linari arrived from the east in ca. S.E. 3000, refugees from the distant elven realm known as the "Kingdom of a Thousand Dawns".

Onar

The tropical peninsula of Onar stretches east of Khûm-kaan, connected to the mainland by only a narrow band of mountainous land. The southern side of the peninsula (running parallel to the peninsula’s east-west axis) consists of stepped and fractured mountains that inherently cut the northern lowlands off from the Swirling Sea to the south, The western portion of the region, closest to Khûm-kaan, is covered by Rulaash Forest, an unexplored and relatively impenetrable jungle. In central Onar is Ahnasan, an area of broad and rolling plains. Ahnasan is home to the Kinsai whose name, which means “cat-people” is derived from the large, six-legged panthers they domesticate and use as mounts. The plains of Ahnasan are virtually impossible to get to on foot and can only realistically be access by sea or air. Finally, Malqanar is located at the far eastern extremity of Onar. Like Ahnasan, Malqanar is difficult to get to. This region is home to the Shuluri, the Sea-Elves, who, for the most part, remain reclusive.

Ræl

Located far to the south of Emer (and technically within the southern hemisphere), Ræl is a desolate and generally uninhabited region. It is connect to the Emerian mainland by the southern extent of the Spine of Emer, which bends and continues east until sinking into the Swirling Sea. The region of Ræl consists of this eastern chain of the Spine and the flatlands located between the mountains and the Rælian Bay. The flatlands are arid and inhospitable. Little fertile ground exist in the region, mostly occurring along the coast and among the islands of the Rælian Bay.

ilaar

The Silaarian peninsula juts out of the northeast coast of Emer. Connected by a narrow band of arid land known as the desert of Arul, it is separated from the mainland by the Sea of Tears and the Bay of Arûl. The Silaar peninsula itself is flanked by two mountain ranges: the Rust Mountains on the west and the Mountains of Ash on the east. Its northern zone consists of broken and pitted plains known as the Thanor Wastes, once part of the Thanorian Empire and currently home to a number of competing warlords.

The Lake of Glass is found within the center of Silaar, sandwiched between the two mountain chains. To the east of the lake is the Værkin Mire, a huge swath of unrelieved swamp dotted by numerous ruins (many Thanorian towns were once located here). West of the lake and nestled on the eastern foothills of the Rust Mountains is the small realm of Reandor, a holdover from the Emerian Empire. This kingdom has remained largely unchanged in the intervening years, largely due to their geographic isolation. Their capital, Tendorn, is immensely hold and dates to the Second Era.

The southern portion of peninsula is called Nuyan-Khôm, a region of confederated tribes consisting of historically nomadic Nuyani, a variant of the Y’nari. Their capital is at Ashenoq, and it is here that they Nuyani, who are not known as merchants, trade their goods (the Nuyani are known as exceptional artisans). The region of Nuyan-Khôm is arid to semi-arid and generally hot.

Tai-emer

Tai-emer occupies the northeast portion of Emer, bounded by the Spine of Emer on the west (which separates it from Hæstra) while the Sea of Tears and the Bay of Arûl separate Tai-emer from the Silaarian peninsula, located to the east. As a result of its geographic context (i.e., sandwiched between the tall Spine of Emer mountains and the Sea of Tears), the flat steppes of Tai-emer generally tend to be windy, hot, and semi-arid, largely consisting of unbroken plains or semi-arid savannahs. Increased moisture near the T’voca River and among other river valleys create more temperate or tropical climates, but these areas are generally restricted in extent. The southeast portion of Tai-emer, known as Arûl, is characterized by poor soil and very little rainfall. With little to no topography, this area is little more than a wasteland, offering little to attract settlers and making it a rather difficult journey to cross. The desert of Arûl, however, is a convenient and natural defensive feature for southern Tai-emer.

The south of Tai-emer is called Lankanôk, home of the Lankan Empire. Their capital, Kenezán, is located in the far south of Tai-emer on the T’voca River. Pochantos, which comprises the northern portion of Tai-emer, has recently been conquered by the Jaaderi peoples of Lankanôk. Prior to their conquest, the capital of Pochantos, Dúbach, was flattened by an earthquake in T.E. 6039. This only hastened the Pochanti fall. Now under Lankanôk control, the ruined city is being rebuilt with the new name Pahtôm, and the Lankan Empire spans nearly the entirety of Tai-emer.

Uj

By area, Uj is the largest Emerian region, located south of Hæstra and separated from that region by the Morbek Highlands. For the most part, however, Uj consists of desert or arid plains. As a result, the region’s population, which primarily consists of the nomadic Rhiani, is very low. The western portion of the region, separated from the arid zones by the Barrier Hills, is relatively fertile and does boast increase population densities while coastal areas contain a number of diverse ecological zones. The famous city of Kaitaine is located west of Uj and southwest of the Isles of Itanis.