Thalume

Thalume is a mid-sized continent, characterized by its three physical distinctions: a complex river system, a vast open plains, and an overwhelming desert. Where Serata is located on the far-side of Bo-Sera, Thalume permanently faces Gorga'thal and receives constant light either by Trialume's direct rays or Gorga'thal reflection of those rays.

The Rearmest Greatlands is defined by the wide-open plains and rivers that course through the continent. The Greatlands occupy the northern half of Thalume, ensuring plenty of sunlight but at an angle that deflects the most harmful radiation. To the south is Serata's cultural and climate opposite, the Verestik Valley, a sand-ridden desert with plots of rocky outcrops. The only source of water in the entire Valley is the Font, a massive oasis that springs from a natural underground aquifer.

The Rearmest Greatland's wildlife is nothing short of spectacular, with large and colorful animals. The Uto is a large, flightless, but dangerous bird, standing at over nine feet tall. The Rearmesti people for generations used them as mounts. The Ziram is a fierce feline-reptilian predator, with shoulders as tall as a grown man. In the Verestik Valley, the only wildlife is a few insects, spiders, and lizards. However, from the caves, large bat-like creatures called Woltoks roam the bare skies. The people of the Valley look to them as both mounts, predators, and food, and thus Woltoks receive near-religious respect.

The human population of the Greatlands is the Rearmesti, who have in the past 150 years developed bigger and larger cities, having gone through an industrial revolution. The cities are developing close to the rivers, as much of Greatland economics is based on irrigation farming. They have developed a robust if early rocketing program, having placed early satellites into orbit, but not yet human flight. The Rearmesti people developed from fierce hunter tribes defending livestock from the Ziram, but that tradition has become less and less necessary with the increased rate of urbanization and technological development. A central city for the Rearmesti people is Portono, located at the vergence of the Flerest and Quel'tome Rivers, in the central of the plains.

In the Valley, the only human settlement is Gorga-Riahn, located at the Font, and named for the imposing and permanent feature in the sky, Gorga'thal. The people of the city, Riahns, are martial in culture, practically spartan. Initially combative, warring tribes, the Riahns have settled after centuries of combat over the Font. Rule by combat is still the chosen means of selecting rulers, the Oroytnoi, who then settle all water disputes. The Riahns, however, have culturally evolved, pursuing art, philosophy, mathematics, and science, but are more resistant to non-water conserving technology.

The Rearmest Greatlands are rich for agriculture, but mining for hard minerals and drilling for dirul have been economic staples for over a century, especially after policy pushes from Portono. Control of rivers continues to remain a key legal issue, however, with long-lasting families contesting for rights against each other. In the Valley, the only valuable substance besides water is a unique material called yumatch. Unknown to anyone but the Riahns, yumatch is a mineral within the sand near the Font. When extracted and processed via heating, it provides an alternate source to both dirul, irilumium-67, and gravium.

The Rearmesti people, growing away from their tribal origins, became more ambitious to explore the world, and have come to see the more advanced Nilur as a model for excellence and a rival to success. The economic and technological output of the Rearmest Greatlands is not enough yet to compete with Nilur but is quickly developing, especially in human flight.

The Riahns, living in greater isolation than the All-Tribe, are known only in name. Rearmesti rarely come in contact with those from the Valley. Thus, in seclusion, the Riahns live in peace to develop their vibrant culture.