Hadaar

**Hadaar** is a large, tropical continent located within the western hemisphere and is considered to be the rightful domain of the Zohuar race. For long ages of the world, the mysterious continent of Hadaar has remained hidden to outsiders. Those that manage to pass the Isth Sea find other dangers, the coasts are home to treacherous tides, unnatural eddies and storms of great power. In the clear blue waters lurk scaled marine beasts whose jaws can splinter a ship’s hull and swallow the entire crew whole.

While the waters surrounding Hadaar are perilous, the whole of the enormous continent is one of the most hostile regions in the entire world. The majority of its landmass is covered in jungle, a lush yet deadly abode where death comes in myriad guises. Mighty, prehistoric carnivores rule the forests, some actively stalking their prey, while others lurk in ambush, patiently awaiting whatever foolish creature that wanders close. No less deadly are the jungle’s smaller killers; everywhere, deadly parasites lurk, awaiting their opportunity to latch onto a fresh new host, and the humid air buzzes with swarms of blood-sucking insects so voracious they can drain a man's blood before his body can even collapse to the forest floor.​

Only the Zohaurs and other cold-blooded creatures can endure the stifling heat and dense humidity for long; other races eventually are overwhelmed by the brutal heat. To its native races, however, it is a haven. Hadaar contains mighty rivers, vast tracts of unbroken swampland, arid deserts, soaring mountains, deep grasslands and savannas that stretch beyond the horizon. Yet none can even when combined into all come close to the sheer scope of the colossal green mass that envelopes the greater portion of the landmass.

## History

The Aurchon Transcendists that landed on Gaia, splintered into various smaller subgroups. One such group congregated in Hadaar, they recorded that the environment would make the perfect testing ground for their experiments into curing their infertility. They shifted and manipulated the weather to better suit their needs, instructed their Sezonian slaves to construct great cities and many other architectural wonders across the continent. Each was raised purposefully to form a vital nexus in a world-spanning ‘geomantic web’, an interlinked matrix of natural energy that encompassed the planet. Each site was linked to the next and the were able to draw upon this vast reservoir of energy to power their devices and technology.

It was here, the Aurchon Transcendists conduced experiments, they examined and studied their bodies, removing parts of themselves in an attempt to find a biological cure for the sterility. Despite their efforts, they were always unsuccessful in their attempts. Due to these repeated failures and a realization that they couldn't cure themselves, they instead focused on the new goal in trying to create a new form of Ps, one able to carry on the will of the Pure Ps.

Taking specimens from the local fauna, they poured their life essence and the amalgamation of various different creatures, before dunking them into vat of nutrient solution. From the vat, they crawled out and rapidly mutate in horrific ways, fusing together. The result was a massive, swollen amalgam of flesh, twisted into a monstrous form. They discovered that their creation was highly intelligent and possesses potent psychic powers, qualities which the Aurchons believed gave the creature much promise.

Despite this, their creation proved to be infertile and unable to reproduce. They deemed it a failure, despite being disappointed with it's inability to create viable offspring, they nevertheless realized that it could prove useful later and stored it in the deeper chambers of the main city.

The Aurchons continued their experiments, each time the result was the same; misshapen, weak and bestial creatures barely intelligent. All of them failures. Years since the first experiments began, it ended and the Aurchon Transcendists of Hadaar moved on to other projects.

One such project was In the search for shock troops to consolidate their hold over Gaia, the Aurchons turned to an unlikely source: the ambulant fauna of the surrounding jungle. They chose several particularly sturdy varieties of local reptiles, and uplifted them, imbuing them with an upright gait and sufficient intelligence to wield weapons. At first they were effective and obedient to their Ps masters.

It was not until a mysterious and virulent pestilence arrived and the Aurchons showed the unmistakable symptoms of disease, did the first seeds of rebellion sprout. Soon these reptilian servitors grew disobedient, they turned on their masters. Furious, the Aurchons began slaughtering them in great numbers and crushed their breeding chambers, unleashing their other failed experiments and deformed offspring on the rebellious reptile-men in an effort exterminate the revolting slave-race.

The Aurchons' drive to complete the great purge against the Zohuars drove them to leave their holdings in disarray. They oversaw the slow clear-cutting of the jungle by their thralls and the gradual genocide of the Zohuar race. But as disease ran rampant through the cities of the Aurchons and their numbers dwindled, leaving them in utter disarray as they soon lost control over their other thralls. One by one the Aurchons' cities fell as the inhabitants ether succumbed to their maladies or were slain by mobs of uprising slaves and hordes of the merciless Zohaurs.

With the fall of the Aurchon Transcendists of Hadaar, their former slaves were free to do as they please with the Zohaurs claiming the vast majority of the continent's interior. The first human to reach Hadaar (and survive) was the Gaian explorer Lord Nesen, who landed on the coast.

## Geography

Hadaar is diverse and exotic lands filled with many wonders. At least four-fifths of Hadaar is covered in jungle so thick that its many levels of canopy block out the sky. Even the high peaks and plateaus are blanketed, and it is said that arboreal creatures can cross the entire continent without once stepping upon the ground. In places, the trees soar many hundreds of feet in the air. The jungle floor is choked by dense undergrowth and there are few true paths beyond animal trails. Visibility is limited and the air is thick, the overall humid environment creates a light mist that lingers and often the forest floor is wreathed in these drifting mists.

The land is barraged with a variety of coastal storms that dissipate into near-constant light showers. High rainfall for much of the year ensured that a constant flow of water worked its way across, into, and under the land. Rivers sprawl like little roots underneath the actual roots of the trees. The constant flow sculpted the land, carved deep gullies, and leveled the grasslands. It filled holes to create pools and wetlands and fed the ravenous jungle that swathed most of the continent.

### Notable Locations

* **White Guardians**: A chain of imposing mountains to the north of Solaxotalu.
* **Pacu Peaks**: A cluster of peaks that rise high into the sky.
* **Ziggurat of Illumination**: A small temple east of Solazotalu.
* **Pyramids of Stellar Skies**: A favorite pilgrimage site for seers and priests of the Zohaurs.
* **Kalzul Lake**: A large lake adjacent to the Pacu Peaks.
* **Solaxotalu**: The City of the Sun.
* **Forest of Vipers**: A dense tropical forest that is full of large venomous vipers.
* **Lone Watcher**: A statue of one of the Old Masters that looks out towards the west coast.
* **The Sunstone Pyramid**: A great temple that holds the power of the very sun itself.
* **Lake Incqua**: A large inland lake.
* **Ruins of Zul'kals**: A small crumbling ruin.
* **Ziggurat of the Ancients**: A long-abandoned derelict temple.
* **Chaypua**: The Drowned City.
* **Shrine of Krosk**: A shrine dedicated to the bloodthirsty Krosk.
* **Izra**: The First City.
* **Azorgei Swamps**: A vast expanse of swampland.
* **Tomb of the Gold Mask**: A ruin that holds a golden mask possessing great power.
* **Luhoek Lake**: A small lake which contains great treasures in the lake's bed.
* **Oyrta**: The City of Creation.
* **The Sunken Keep**: A outpost that eventually was swallowed by the sea.
* **Lazuma**: The City of Fates.
* **Bloodpox Marsh**: A marsh that teems with all manner of debilitating diseases.
* **Thalxotl**: The City of the Moon.
* **Monument of Dohiamundi**: A monument raised in homage to the fallen Zohaur leader, Dohiamundi.
* **River Amasen**: The longest river in Hadaar and for that on Gaia.
* **Naazmir**: The Profaned City.
* **Ruins of Qyesltako**: A sprawling old ruin overgrown by the jungle.
* **The Golden Pyramid**: A pyramid lined with gold in a remote part of the jungles.
* **Temple of Huan**: A temple built in the name of one of the Old Masters.
* **Huzgen Desert**: A stretch of desert.
* **Juugge Valley**: A depressive valley with lush vegetation.
* **Uldixt**: The City of Stone.
* **Altar of Sumdar**: An altar to one of the fallen Old Masters.
* **Mull'weekie Wetlands**: An stretch of dense, primeval swamps and marshes.
* **Cavern of the Tharagosaur**: A cavern that houses the terrifying Tharagosaur.
* **The Marble Colossus**: A colossal marble construct half buried under the sand.
* **River Razhe**: A river that eventually joins up and merges with the Amasen.
* **Halls of the Forgotten**: A crumbling ruin which spans throughout the Silver Spine.
* **Bechota**: The City of Jewels.
* **Pillars of Gwenta**: A series of pillars that mark the landmark.
* **Mortuuan**: The City of Dead.
* **The Monoliths of Xeel**: A location known for its monolithic structures.
* **Bleaktangle**: A vast, dark and twisted swamp.
* **Ruined Temple of Ithriro**: A temple that lies in ruins.
* **Bloodletter Swamps**: A track of swamps that is overrun with bloodsucking insects and parasites.
* **Marks of the Old Masters**: A small earthwork of geometric symbols in the central jungles.
* **The Dune Gates**: A pair of warp gates that often are buried under by dunes and sandstorms.
* **Crimson Desert**: A barren and unforgiving landscape known for its red parched soil.
* **Silver Spine**: A chain of mountains that runs down through western Hadaar.
* **Ghelaax**: The City of the Sky.
* **Ruins of Lest**: The remains of a former fort now retaken by the thick jungle vegetation.
* **The Hissing Caves**: A series of caves that are said to be the lair of a monster.
* **Velduzka**: The City of Doom.
* **Ruined Temple of Nemol**: A once grand temple left in ruins ravaged by conflict.
* **The Black Monolith**: A eerie monolith carved out a greasy black stone.
* **City of Ash**: A ruined city that has been completely devastated by volcanic eruption.
* **Forest of Soot**: A forest particularly destroyed by the constant ash and soot fall.
* **Fuming Mouth**: A volcano that constantly releases poisonous fumes.
* **Hajautuual**: The City of Ghosts.
* **Slithering Fen**: A fen named for being the hunting grounds for large serpents and amphibious predators.
* **Reaver Beach**: A famous pirate den and settlement.
* **Plains of Cerluen**:  A large, fertile plain encompassing the southern tip of Hadaar.
* **Scalding Bog**: A delta, the bog smells strongly of sulfur and the waters are heated near boiling.
* **Nahuoqa**: The Forlorn City.
* **Scath**: A village inhabited by a tribe of intelligent cat-warriors.
* **The Bone Hall**: A single wooden longhouse that is adorned with bones.
* **Skittering Chasm**: A deep crack where sunlight rarely touches this dark place, a number of arthropods such as Archspinners and Cerbrotors reside here.
* **Pools of Destiny**: A series of mystical pools where Zohaur seers would peer into to gain glimpses of the future.
* **Spire of the Old Masters**: A tall formation of white marble stone built by the Old Masters.
* **Pyramid of the Winged Serpent**: A place sacred to Qazdel.
* **Xhosuba**: The City of Idols.
* **The Monoliths of the Great Ones**: A grouping of hulking stone statues that dot the coast south of Xhosuba.
* **Jungle of Shadow**: A think jungle shrouded in shadow and home to many deadly creatures.
* **Maw of Akton**: A sacrificial pit dedicated to one of the Old Masters.
* **Quicksand Swamp:** A swamp that has many concealed quicksand pits and fall traps.
* **Ruins of Zelqax**: An old ruin that has become overgrown with deadly plants.
* **Monument of the Pale Defiler**: A dread icon supposedly built to honor one of the Old Masters.
* **Kacota Lake**: A great lake that is home to creatures unknown elsewhere.
* **Ruined Obelisk of the Ancients**: A mysterious, ruined monument.
* **Temple of Unseen Signs**: A temple that holds all manner of arcane and mystical secrets.
* **Amazenia**: The capital of the Amazeni.
* **Valley of the Sleeping Great Mothers**: The hidden resting place for the Amazeni matriarchs.
* **Lair of the Spider Fiend**: The home of a fiendish eight-legged monster.
* **Tualax Ruins**: A series of ruins that has become a den for jungle predators.
* **Kazz**: A small village of cat-warriors.
* **Shrine of the Jaguar God**: A shrine to the Jaguar God.
* **Blood Coast**: A coast inhabited by the vampiric fleet of Luther Kromer.
* **Ziggurat of Blood**: A temple profaned by Psoom blood rituals.
* **Gurgdatop**: The treetop lair of Gurg the Scale Taker and the "capital" of his little empire.
* **Ruins of Azajah**: A series of ruins that seem to resist the encroaching jungle.
* **Plunder Town**: A pirate den and small settlement.
* **The Sky Tower**: A mysterious tower held afloat above the jungle in the sky.
* **Ruined Temple of Pacetlo**: An old temple that has fallen into disarray.
* **Valley of the Mightosaurs**: A valley that is home to a herd of highly territorial Mightosaurs.
* **Fizra**: A small fishing village belonging to the cat-warriors.
* **Temple of the Great Condor**: A temple devoted to a great condor-like creature.
* **Ruins of Otepa**: An old ruin that has become one with the jungle.
* **Shrine of the Silver Claw**: The location of a mysterious device.
* **The Clicking Ruin**: A ruin that has become the site of a massive infestation by Clicking Horror swarms.
* **Mazotal**: The City of Masks.
* **Great Ziggurat of Mazu**: A large monument.
* **Meowz**: A cat-warrior village.
* **Forest of Pain**: A section of the jungle that seems to emit painful sensations.
* **Ixaku Ruins**: The ruins of a once grand city complex.
* **Temple of the Bat God**: A temple dedicated to the Bat God.
* **Catza**: A village of fierce cat-warriors.
* **The Stinking Mire**: A swamp that reeks with the stench of death and decay.
* **Great Pyramid of the Expansive Horizon**: A great edifice and a place of mediation for Zohaur seers.
* **One Claw's Lair**: The lair of a distinctively scarred Megalosaur.
* **Monument of Izzaltu**: A monument raised to honor a revered Zohaur mystic.
* **The Sunken Gate**: A warp gate lost having been swallowed up by the earth.
* **Sacred Lakes of Xiccal**: A cluster of lakes held sacred to Xiccal east of Quhati.
* **Quhati**: The City of Dreams.
* **Pyramid of the Blood-Drinkers**: The Skezabtli Blood Dynasty's home.
* **Ring of Eight Mounds**: A circle of eight large earthen mounds.
* **Ruins of Kesh**: The crumbling ruins of a destroyed site.
* **Grotto of the Dark Ones**: A small cave
* **The Blighted Scar**: A stretch of jungle blighted by the Old Masters in the Zohaur revolt.
* **Sky Serpent Peaks**: A range of mountains.
* **Dragon Toad Isle**: A remote marshy island that is home to the Dragon Toads.
* **Skravkeyfall**: The City of Vermin.

## Flora

Being a continent mostly covered by rainforests and jungles, Hadaar is teeming with various plant life. The flora of Hadaar is wild and varied. Most of the natural beauty of Hadaar is still undocumented, a great amount of known plant life of Hadaar are carnivorous, grasping creeper vines, toxic spore clouds and massive gobbling flytraps.

## Fauna

Not only does the land boast wide variety of plant life, the local fauna and wildlife are diverse too. The deeper one ventures into Hadaar's jungles, the more outlandish and diverse the animals get. Great hunting cats, monstrous beasts, and the buzzing swarms of enormous insect life make the jungle a constant battle zone, where survival is an hourly struggle, but most dangerous of all are the giant reptiles. These beasts have long been extinct from the rest of the world, but in Hadaar, they rule supreme.