Suoaïa

Suoaïa is a vast, ancient, geographically diverse landmass and continent. Suoaïa finds itself fairly isolated from the rest of the world, having a vast coastline which bounds the majority of the continent. The mountainous North of the continent can be and is inhabited, but the mountain range grows more impassable to the North, isolating Suoaïa from the lands on the other side of the mountain range. A mysterious event known as The Cataclysm fundamentally affected Suoaïa, both geographically and culturally forever. Since The Cataclysm Suoaïans decided it was too dangerous to live and embrace the wilderness so they cultivated their cities with huge magical walls that block out the wilderness and enclose 'safe' parts of the wilderness into reservations.

### The Cataclysm

For centuries and centuries Suoaïa was home to many towns, cities and villages all across the region. This all changed when The Cataclysm occurred. The prime plane of existence, that Suoaïa finds itself on, existed alongside other, more abstract, planes of existence. These planes were distinct and separate from Suoaïa, the only way to access any would be through ancient portals or via strong arcane magic. These constituted:

The Feywild

The Shadowfell

The Elemental Plane of Air

The Elemental Plane of Earth

The Elemental Plane of Fire

The Elemental Plane of Water

It is unknown what caused The Cataclysm to occur, and initially Suoaïans were unaware that anything had even happened. It wasn't until small villages and farmsteads started disappearing and eldritch horrors from dimensions unknown started appearing. At first, reports of these came from civilians and adventurers encountering them in the wild, then they started moving into the cities. The scale of destruction was so great that people left their homes, villages and towns and convened in their nearest city.

As a result, these cities expanded their borders, enclosed surrounding farms, forests and lakes and erected huge arcane walls that worked to keep the extraplanar dangers out of the city. A total of seven cities from across Suoaïa established themselves successfully as these new hubs of civic protection and self-sufficiency. Over the following centuries each of the cities expanded and developed, pushing up against the arcane walls. Portals were created between each of the cities, allowing free movement across Suoaïa. During this time of gradual expansion and economic and technological development within the cities, the wilderness of Suoaïa remained untouched / undiscovered. Suoaïans were free to adventure and explore outside of the cities whether it be in exile, to establish a new life / settlement or just a temporary excursion. The chaotic and unpredictable nature of the wilderness meant that settlements came and went, often being established in haste and demolished by extraplanar forces.

### Cities

The seven major cities in Suoaïa, where 97% of the population of the entire region live are:

#### Arentaius

Arentaius finds itself in perhaps the most dangerous location in Suoaïa. Located at the intersection of the Elemental Planes of Ground, Fire and Air and in a harsh desert climate, Arentaius makes for an unlikely city to thrive, yet owing to the strength and power of the ancient arcane walls and the tenacity of it's people, it has become somewhat of a jewel in Suoaïa's crown.

There is little in the way of reservations and enclosed wilderness in Arentaius, as the surrounding landscape is harsh and barren. Likewise, due to immense extraplanar dangers right outside it's walls, very few Arentaiuns venture directly out of the city. Power is the lifeblood of Arentaius. Huge geothermal plants and substations can be found all across the city, generating power for all of Suoaïa. Being known as the beating heart of the region, as it supplies the vast majority of electricity to the other cities, has given Arentaius a bit of a reputation. A garish conglomeration of lights can be found on almost every building. The streets hum with the electricity of the inhabitants. Arentaiuns can be seen as hedonists, indulging vices in the cities famous nightlife districts as well as numerous casinos and gambling halls. It is this reputation that brings Suoaïans to Arentaius, it is the city-lover's city. It's fast paced, bright, urban sprawl that's devoid of nature. It's inward facing, existing only in it's walls, to Arentaiuns there may as well not be a world outside Arentaius, for who would want more?

#### Earanroc

Earanroc is a proud and historic city. It was one of the first cities founded in ancient Suoaïa, where many cities and populations see no need to acknowledge pre-Cataclysm history, Earanroc seeks to remember and preserve it. Known as a prestigious university city, it attracts academic Suoaïans from all cities to study in it's ancient University District. Penned in by the modern towering city and pressed up to the arcane boundary walls, the university operates in the ancient, low-rise, stone and timber buildings of what was once a noble's palace and its surrounding buildings.

Earanroc is located on a plateau in the mountains, it was always been known for its strong winds, exacerbated by the tall coniferous trees the surround it on all sides, funnelling the wind. After the Cataclysm, the Elemental Plane of Air now pushes up alongside Earanroc, only strengthening the squalls and felling more trees. Due to the relative safety on the plateau between Earanroc and Ycepas, some settlements and independent farmsteads have been settled between the two cities, and foot traffic between them is not uncommon. But due to the cold temperatures, strong winds and regular snowfalls, conditions here can be tough. Large amounts of the surrounding coniferous forest have been enclosed into urban reservations for sustainable forestry and reservations for farming livestock can also be found in the city. However Earanroc sees itself fundamentally as an exporter of knowledge over resources.

#### Midtropolis

Midtropolis is the largest city in Suoaïa, by a long measure. It is an incomprehensibly large urban sprawl of towering glass and concrete buildings. To cross from one side of the city to the next on foot would take days. Midtropolites can live in the city for their entire life and still encounter new districts. It is served by a comprehensive monorail system that allows city dwellers to travel all across the city with relative ease. Midtropolis is seen as the cultural heart of Suoaïa. It has a thriving music scene, a bustling film industry and more museums, theatres and galleries dedicated to the arts than can possibly be counted. Despite it's size and the huge circumference of its arcane boundary walls, Midtropolis still find itself a densely populated city, with buildings ever rising to the sky in search of space. This can lead to certain districts being perpetually in darkness.

Midtropolis finds itself on the border of many different ecosystems. Between the desert of central Suoaïa and the lush rainforests to the West, Midtropolis is built upon grasslands, dispersed with trees. Large parts of this environment have been enclosed into the city, in reservations. The purpose of the reservations is mainly so the people of Midtropolis have access to nature within the city, but there are numerous reservations set aside for farming. In the years since the Cataclysm rough boundaries of where the alien Planes of Existence meet the prime plane can be approximated. Midtropolis finds itself, luckily, not adjacent to any, unlike many cities. It is however dangerously close to all Planes of Existence, except the Elemental Plane of Air. This means that although in a relatively safe location, extraplanar threats from all over can soon stumble across the city.

#### Steelport

Cold, smoggy and oppressive, Steelport can feel like a prison, but it's often been said that the streets are clad in gold, not steel, and many travel here to try and make their fortune. Huge manufacturing plants clinging to the shoreline belch smoke across the city. Not only that but standing in the shadow of Mount Clastya (a long dormant volcano, revived after the Cataclysm) means that volcanic activity also contributes to Steelport's poor air quality. Life can seem bleak here, but the promise of wealth is enough to keep the city thriving. Steelport is best known for its docks. Dozens of steel peninsulas jut from the coastline, each filled with ships. The majority are trading vessels from elsewhere, however some are military. Alongside this Steelport boasts a huge shipbuilding factory, sprawling across the coast. Any industry imaginable can be found in Steelport which attracts both skilled Suoaïans and those looking for a craft. Towering steel and glass skyscrapers exist here, as with anywhere in Suoaïa but they are less densely packed in, dispersed with a gargantuan factory or plant every so often.

Steelport is sandwiched between the Elemental Plane of Fire and the ocean. Denizens of the Plane of Fire seldom venture down from Mount Clastya and instead the real dangers Steelport face are from hostile natives and pirates. Once a rocky and craggy coast, over the years Steelport earned it's name by cladding the city in steel, making a durable city and collecting run-off to power factories. It is perhaps the city most removed from nature. The arcane walls constructed to keep Steelport safe have had complex alterations to allowing the busy flow of ships in and out of the city. This isn't the first time the walls of Steelport have been altered. An ancient volcanic protrusion off the coast was used as one of the few points of access to the Underdark (a gargantuan underground network of caves and settlements), this was originally brought into Steelport's jurisdiction in the days following the Cataclysm. However, it soon was found out that within the Shadowfell had started to bleed into the Underdark, and Steelport had essentially annexed a dangerous plane of existence into its safe and impenetrable city. The walls were quickly rebuilt to exclude the Shadowfell, the Underdark and the surface protrusion thus saving Steelport from horrors from the shadow realm, but dooming the Underdark and its inhabitants.

#### Tideltis

Tideltis finds itself in an unusually fortuitous situation in Suoaïa, it is far from the dangers of the other planes. In the immediate aftermath of The Cataclysm, before much was known about the repercussions, Tideltis established itself as a safe city, bringing together all the Suoaïans who lived across the archipelago. Arcane walls were erected and the was city built up from what was once a small Triton town atop a coral reef. Over the years the city developed both above and below the waves. Land was reclaimed and buildings were erected spanning from reef to rocky outcrop to sandbar. Under the water, Tritons and other amphibious races built towers up from the ocean floor and clinging on to rocks. Coral reefs were proliferated and buildings and dwelling constructed into them. Above the ocean, Tideltians lives are intertwined with water. The constant changing of the tides changes the morphology of the city, floating paths, bridges, and small boats are used to get around.

Tideltians enjoy the most freedom anywhere in Suoaïa. Originally constructed in response to the Cataclysm, it transpires that Tideltis sits far from where the other planes touch Suoaïa and therefore there are few extraplanar threats beyond the walls. This means that travel outside of the walls of Tideltis is not uncommon and the ability to fish along large parts of the southern ocean has huge economic benefits for Tideltis. Aside from Tideltis' exporting of fish and seafood to the region, tourism is also a big economy here. The safety, beauty and location of Tideltis makes it popular with Suoaïans looking for a change of scenery.

#### Vierdrun

Where nature is kept out of most cities, apart from carefully cultivated reservations, it is a part of life in Vierdrun. Glass and metal skyscrapers stretch all across the city, as with anywhere in Suoaïa, but in Vierdrun vines twist up buildings, flowers can be found growing abundantly through the concrete and trees provide shade. Located on the edge of the rainforest, Vierdrun can be a hot and humid city. It is also one of the few cities that can boast a coastline within it's boundary walls. Whereas Steelport's coast is clad in metal and dotted with huge heavy industry plants, Vierdrun has miles of lush, sandy beaches, which is often a pull for visitors. These beaches, like the rest of the city, are dense with rare and exotic vegetation.

Away from the rainforest, Vierdrun also hosts many fertile plains, these were swallowed up into reservations and people move from all over Suoaïa to tend to the farms there. The vast majority of food eaten by Suoaïans is grown the Vierdrun reservations. Vierdrun is also famous for science and innovation. Huge greenhouses take up an entire district of the city, located in these geodesic domes is a world of different flora specimens. Some taken from elsewhere in Suoaïa, some hybridised, native, genetically engineered flora, and there's even a dome where samples collected from the nearby Feywild are cultivated. This is all in the name of science, and sharp minds flock to greenhouses and laboratories of Vierdrun to see what secrets can be unlocked.

#### Ycepas

Although the ground is permanently frozen and snow falls throughout the year, there is a warmth to Ycepas and its people. Perched atop a huge glacier in the frigid mountains to the north, Ycepasians enjoy a city that is relatively at one with nature. In the ancient pre-cataclysm city that stood where Ycepas is today, skiing, snow-boarding and mountain pursuits were a cultural phenomenon. This fact was respected when the arcane boundary walls were erected around Ycepas with huge swathes of mountain passes and slopes being annexed into the city. To this day Ycepas attracts people from all over Suoaïa to it's slopes and to enjoy the Après-Ski vibe of the lively mountainside districts of the city. Although not completely undisturbed, with concrete and glass urban sprawl clawing up the mountains in certain places, there are regions of the city, in the mountains, that feel as if they were in the wilderness. Cabins and small pastoral farmsteads are sparsely dotted about the mountain, acting as a kind of 'psuedo-reservation'.

Conveniently, Ycepas finds itself as one of the safer cities in Suoaïa, with no immediate threat from the other planes. This means that foot traffic on the plateau between Earanroc and Ycepas is not uncommon and travel down from the glacier to the rocky lower mountain pass is a common occurrence. Where the glacier abates and meltwater channels split the mountain pass, mines push up against the city's souther boundary walls. Although more fruitful than the mines of Steelport, the process is less desperate and vicious in its extraction. Outside the city walls many Ycepasians, and often academics from Eearanroc, venture down the mountain pass to the ancient temples and caves, although this carries a more marked danger and precautions must be taken to avoid running in to any denizens from the Elemental Plane of Earth that may be roving up from the desert.

### Geography

The entire North of Suoaïa is a plateau in the mountain range that makes Suoaïa inaccessible from the North. Its high altitudes mean that strong winds were common and the coniferous forests there were often pummelled by the winds. Post-Cataclysm, the Elemental Plane of Air now resides here, just above Earanroc, further contributing to these squalls. The plateau ranges geographically from a moorland in the West, to dense coniferous forests, to a glacier in the East. Ycepas sits atop the glacier, nestled in the frozen, unscalable mountains. The ice retreats south of Ycepas, where the landscape becomes craggy and spotted with glacial lakes. The plateau drops sharply and is only feasibly scalable here in the far East where the slopes become shallower.

At the base of these cliffs is a vast sandy desert, dispersed with rocky volcanic protrusions that border the desert to the South. It is in these volcanic protrusions and in the long dormant Mount Clastya that the Elemental Plane of Fire emerged. The Catalcysm reinvigorated Mount Clastya and now the southern part of the desert and the area around Steelport is subjected to regular lava and pyroclastic flows. The Elemental Plane of Earth bled into the Suoaïan desert, beseiging the city of Arentaius. The desert abates south of Arentaius, where it becomes a savanna, gradually becoming more lush and green to the South. The majority of Southern Suoaïa is a vast grassland split by rivers, it becomes rocky to the East and becomes a dense rainforest to the West. Atop this grassland sits the enormous and sprawling Midtropolis.

Steelport sits in the South East of Suoaïa, clinging to the rocky cliffs that constitute the the Southeastern coast of Suoaïa. Although Steelport became plated in steel, the rocky network of caves under Steelport and along the coast still exists. This subterranean warren is known as The Underdark, and the only, easy, way to access it is via a large volcanic protrusion sticking out of the ocean. Unfortunately, after The Cataclysm, the Shadowfell bled into the Underdark and now it sits alone and abandoned. The fate of its denizens unknown. To the West, the grasslands give way to dense rainforest as the climate becomes more humid. Vierdrun sits on the edge of the rainforest, boasting a sandy and verdant coastline. A series of rocky, sandy and coral atolls can be found not far off the coast of Vierdrun. Tideltis was built upon an ancient Triton settlement on one of these atolls.

North of the rainforest, the trees thin and become more deciduous as, historically the land was peppered with farmsteads, stretching all the way through marshland to the base of the cliffs in the North. Since the cataclysm, however, virtually all the farmsteads have been abandoned as people flocked to Vierdrun. It is now reported that the Feywild has opened up in the forest and any farmsteads that remain have been taken over by / besieged by fae denizens. There are reports that there is an ancient Gnomish city that people flocked to post-Cataclysm, but it is a dangerous place.

In the centre of Suoaïa sits the Great Lake, which is a huge inland sea, bordered by many different ecosystems. Villages and towns thrived on the shores, with several floating towns existing on the lake. Since the Cataclysm however, the Great Lake proves to be a dangerous place. The Elemental Plane of Water can now be found there, with many shoreside settlements being obliterated before the citizens could make for safety in one if the cities.