Grasslands

The Grasslands is one of the Five Great Lands of Mystos. House Gardener holds the title of the Lord Protector of the Grasslands.

The region’s capital city is Griffon’s Den.

## Geography

Outside the over-populated cities, the Grasslands are sparsely populated because of the harsh terrain.

The Red Savanna covers a majority of the Grasslands. The Red Savanna stretches from the Lion’s Mouth gulf to the Valley of Smoke. There are two major cities in the Red Savanna: Dryton and Wilderton.

In the middle of the Red Savanna is Quiver’s Valley. Quiver’s Valley begins at the Split River and the Long River and continues into the Southern Rainforest. The valley has no mountains, but the rivers surrounding it are above the valley. The Great Sword of Margo is located in Quiver’s Valley.

In the west is the Valley of Smoke, covered almost entirely by lava. The only city near the Valley of Smoke is Griffon's Den. The Valley of Smoke is the shared border with the Grasslands and the Mountain Realm.

To the north is the Iron Vale which separates the Grasslands from the Deadlands. Along the Iron Vale border is the Snow region, the only snowy area in the Grasslands. There are two cities in the Snow region: Lionguarde and Golfang.

The Grass region is the Grasslands’ most populous region because of the peaceful and fruitful terrain. Four major cities are in the Grass region: Liongrove, Calarri, Restaway, and East Meadow.

The Southern Rainforest is in the southern part of the Grasslands and is split into three regions: the Khanat region, the Ember region, and the Trader’s region. Firti is the only city in the Trader's Region. The Ember region boasts of its enormous singular city known as Emberwich. The Khanat region has two cities: Oroketi and Gonpinari. The Khanat region was decimated by the Khanatian Flu that ravaged the Grasslands from 480-496 SM.

There are six rivers in the Grasslands: Iris Beck, Lion’s Tail River, the Long River, the Split River, Restaway’s Estuary, and Amirah’s Inlet. There is also a large lake called the Lake of Lions. In addition to the Lion’s Mouth gulf, the Grasslands also have Trader’s Harbor and the Golden Coast as waterways.

## Climate

The Grasslands’ weather varies depending on location.

In the Snow region, snow covers the terrain most of the year. The snow melts during the summer moons, and the Snow region looks similar to the Grass region. The Grass region stays mild throughout the year.

In the Red Savanna, there are two distinct climates. Desert heat in the summer and cool grassy fields in the winter. The Southern Rainforest is hot and humid year-round, along with daily rain showers.

## Demographics

The Grasslands are known as the most diverse of the Five Great Lands. This is because of the Gifting Immigration law passed in 342 SM by Lord Protector Joshmir Gardener. Promising land and peace during an extremely violent era in Mystos, the law created a mass exodus to the Grasslands. The families who moved to the Grasslands during this time are known as Gifters. All people who can trace their ancestry to this migration are labeled as Gifters, even if they are natural-born in the Grasslands.

A majority of the population is Grasslandi, a term given to any person who can trace their ancestry back to the first people of the Grasslands. Although the Black Ice Tribe is from the Deadlands, the people are still considered Grasslandi.

An extinct Arcan race called the Nekoman controlled the area surrounding Gonpinari during the Empyrean Ascendency Era. The Nekoman is a mix of humans and the legendary Lower Arcs, the nekojin. It is said that House Linus can trace their ancestry to the Nekoman.

## Economy

The Grasslands rely heavily on tourism. Although the other Five Great Lands practice isolationism, the Grasslands thrive off tourists from all over the world. The Grasslands also rely heavily on their natural resources.

### Great Wonders

There are eight Great Wonders in the Grasslands that have become significant tourist attractions.

The Lion’s Den Castle is a unique castle built into the mountainside in Griffon’s Den. The castle was built by King Shelet Quiver, also known as Shelet the Architect.

The Great Sword of Margo is a greatsword once wielded by the giant princess, Margo, located in Quiver’s Valley. It is said that when a massive bolt killed Margo, she thrusted the sword into the ground and screamed out in pain.

Caenum Gardens is located in Wilderton and is one of the Five Magnificent Aqua Parks in the world. Wilderton thrives off of its tourism from Caenum Gardens and continues to expand the park.

Aros Arena is an ancient arena where human slaves used to fight each other for the entertainment of the Arcs. The crumblings of the arena can be found outside of Dryton.

The Lion’s Tongue Aqueduct is an enormous aqueduct that carries water from Dryton to Griffon’s Den.

The Pyramids of Olufemi are a trio of pyramids located deep in the Southern Rainforest. The pyramids are named after King Olufemi Quiver, who believed the sun was the singular god instead of the gods of the Clouds. He built the pyramids as a resting place after having a vision that he would be assassinated.

Sedah’s Hole is a gigantic natural cavern located near Calarri. Originally named the Hole to the Underworld, the name for the cavern changed to the demi-goddess of disease, Sedah. The name change happened in 485 SM, after the Lord of Calarri, Kachila Pilot, decided that any person infected with the Khanatian Flu in Calarri would be thrown into the bottomless cavern.

Obum’s Waterfall is the largest in the Grasslands, located in the Iris Beck near Lionguarde. The waterfall splits into six gorges at the Iron Vale before the falls. The two middle gorges are the Mypalyean gorge and the Ereus gorge, which flows back to the Iris Beck. The other four gorges taper off into small streams and creeks.

### Natural Resources

The Grasslands have a lot of natural resources that are beneficial to the population. Iron is harvested from the Iron Vale, and many structures in the Grasslands are made out of iron. The Southern Rainforest has hundreds of species of trees that are beneficially harvested.

The Grasslands’ official fishing industry is split into the River Fishing Industry (RFI), the Ice Fishing Industry (IFI), and the Sea Fishing Industry (SFI). The Lake Fishing Industry (LFI) is a newer industry that may become the fourth official fishing industry.

The Grasslandi Federation of Red Ranchers (GFRR) is a union of ranchers located in the Red Savanna that controls the Grasslands’ meat industry.

Hydro-power is a newer industry taking natural power from the rushing rivers. The Grasslandi are actively working with several northern Riverland houses to create the perfect hydro tower to power an entire city. The only city that currently runs off of hydro-power is Lionguarde because of the enormous Obum’s Waterfall.

Although the Grasslands have an abundance of natural resources, they do not trade their resources.

## History

During the Exordium Era, many of the Lower Arcs left Lismure and lived in the Grasslands. In the Grasslands, the Lower Arcs discovered natural resources that could help them more than living in Lismure.

In 1500 EE, five main Lower Arc groups lived in the Grasslands: the giants, the nekojin, the fairies, the elves, and the centaurs. The giants lived near the Iron Vale and made everything out of the iron harvested from the mountains. The current House Batam of Golfang is distant relatives to the giants who lived near the Iron Vale. The nekojin lived in the Southern Rainforest, harvesting rubber trees and cocoa beans. The fairies lived near East Meadow and did not interact with the other Lower Arcs. The low elves lived near the Valley of Smoke and interacted the most with the Highest Arcs. The centaurs lived in the Red Savanna and lived prosperously as nomads.

Griffon’s Den, the current capital city of the Grasslands, first laid ground in 1971 EE as an Arcan outpost before entering the Valley of Smoke.

### The Arrival of the Humans

The first humans arrived in the Grasslands in 64 BI from Nempur.

It is said that the first people of the Grasslands arrived in ten ships packed with people. The first people were later referred to as Grasslandi. The Grasslandi created the first human city, Humus, located near present-day Restaway. The humans first interacted with the nekojin. Since the nekojin had cat-like features, the Grasslandi worshiped them as creations of Citia, the goddess of animals. The nekojin agreed to help the humans but warned them not to explore the Grasslands because of the other Lower Arcs. The Grasslandi and the nekojin peacefully coexisted for 100 years, even after the human invasion deeper into the Grasslands. A new race of nekojin-human called the Nekoman emerged in the populace.

In 65 BI, a Grasslandi named Zyno led a group north from Humus into the Red Savanna. In 67 BI, Zyno returned to Humus alone. He explained that the centaurs in the Red Savanna murdered his entire group. He was the lone survivor to warn the other humans not to travel north.

In 83 BI, a ship maker named Rykras took her entire family north via the sea. In 90 BI, Rykras’ son, Cuzus, returned to Humus and told the humans how they encountered fairies who did not want to interact. He also explained that his family created a small village, and other humans can join him when he returns. It is said that half of the Grasslandi population in Humus traveled with Cuzus.

In 106 BI, the leaders of Humus discussed plans to move groups of humans west, deeper into nekojin territory. The leaders agreed not to tell the nekojin of their goals. The city of Firti was the first human city outside of Humus, created in 110 BI. Many humans began to leave Humus and create their own villages, towns, and cities.

After the Beast Pact was signed in 175 BI, the Highest Arcs enslaved all the humans living in the Grasslands. By 20 EAE, there were no free humans that lived in the Grasslands.

### From Arenas to Freedom

For thirty years, every human in the Grasslands was a slave. In 50 EAE, the Arcs created arenas where humans battled against each other using their Art. The arenas became a successful business, causing the Arcs to find more human slaves outside the Grasslands.

In 75 EAE, a Grasslandi slave named Rahmet won fifty consecutive fights. Impressed, the Divine Queen, Geija, allowed Rahmet to have a singular request. Rahmet requested that he, his wife, and his children be freed. Queen Geija accepted the proposal, angering many Arcs. By 100 EAE, a small population of freed humans was forming in the Grasslands.

### Power Struggle in the Oldest City

In 100 EAE, Magistrate Kalb Massi bought Griffon’s Den and made the growing area a tourist town. Magistrate Kalb outlawed the mistreatment of the humans in Griffon’s Den. However, humans could only visit Griffon’s Den. They could not live there. Outside the city gates, a tiny human town arose and peacefully traded with Griffon’s Den. This kind of treatment of humans was taboo amongst the Arcs, but as more humans began to live near and trade with Griffon’s Den, the richer the city became. Magistrate Kalb was quoted as saying: “Money is money.”

In 350 EAE, Magistrate Kalb died, leaving no heir. The High Families in Griffon’s Den voted and installed Hakim Abbas as Magistrate. Magistrate Hakim immediately banned humans, much to the distress of the High Families. In 352 EAE, Magistrate Hakim suspiciously died. Anubar Fanon was voted the new Magistrate of Griffon’s Den and reversed Magistrate Hakim’s ban on humans.

In 718 EAE, Griffon’s Den fell into enormous debt, so the Highest Arcs took control of Griffon’s Den and cut all trading with the freed humans. In 720 EAE, the High Families rebelled against the Highest Arcs. Divine Queen Narissa single-handedly crushed the High Families, and in 722 EAE, she made Lyes Quiver, a human, King of Griffon’s Den.

### The Human Kings of the Lower Arcs

In 724 EAE, with permission from Divine Queen Narissa, King Lyes Quiver allowed humans to live in Griffon’s Den. This was the first time humans who were not Arcan slaves lived in a city in the Grasslands.

In 763 EAE, Amirah Quiver became Queen of Griffon’s Den. Seeing an opportunity, the Arcs of Griffon’s Den rose against Queen Amirah. Amirah decided not to call the Highest Arcs for help and defended the city with a human army. In her army, she had an elite team of humans called Themis’ Gardeners. Impressed, the Highest Arcs allowed Queen Amirah to expand the land that she controlled.

Olufemi Quiver became king in 954 EAE. For five years, Olufemi was a popular king who was seen as a problem-solver. He led a crusade to defeat the centaurs who were murdering his people in the Red Savannah. During one of the last battles in 959, Olufemi had a vision that the sun, not the gods of the Clouds, was the true god. This religious awakening shook the Grasslands as the idea spread. In 960 EAE, Olufemi envisioned that he and his family would be assassinated in two years. Olufemi had three pyramids built in the Southern Rainforest near the Lake of Lions instead of stopping the assassinations. The pyramids were the resting place for Olufemi, his wife Ide, and his three sons, Oluwaseun, Yetunde, and Folami. In 962 EAE, King Olufemi Quiver and his entire family were poisoned.

In 962 EAE, Komaniso Quiver became king and decided to carry out Olufemi’s wishes and buried him and his family in the pyramids. This upset many who believed that the Chapel of the Clouds should burn Olufemi’s body for worshiping something other than the gods. In 963 EAE, a group of monks vandalized the pyramids. Livid with the vandalization of his older brother’s resting place, Komaniso had every monk in the Southern Rainforest executed. After the mass execution of the monks, Komaniso made the pyramids a religious site for the gods of the Clouds where many faithful traveled to pray to the gods.

In 1148 EAE, King Salah Quiver expelled Themis’ Gardeners, who had served as the King’s protectors for hundreds of years. The Gardeners came together and decided to become “one family,” creating House Gardener. In 120 SM, Sahasha Gardener led her army to Griffon’s Den, defeated King Mansur Quiver, and installed herself as Queen.

### After the Secession of Man

Griffon’s Den stayed the capital city after the Secession of Man. The city also continued to serve as an essential trading center in the Grasslands and throughout Mystos.

In 122 SM, Queen Sahasha Gardener sent her siblings to each of the regions to create a ruling house and city. All other houses in the Grasslands were created after a family paid enough taxes to manage a city.

In 300 SM, the Five Great Lands of Mystos changed the ruling title from King of the Grasslands to the Lord Protector of the Grasslands.

The Gifting Immigration law was created by Lord Protector Joshmir Gardener in 342 SM. Promising land and peace during an extremely violent era in Mystos, the law created a mass exodus to the Grasslands.

From 480-496 SM, the Khanatian Flu affected the Grasslands, killing millions of people.

## Recent Events

### A Death at Dawn

After Ser Colvic Rames ousted Raynese as a Mara, Raynese explains that she was born in the Grasslands and serves under the Lord Protector of the Grasslands, Merrick Gardener. Colvic later realizes that Raynese is the Red Cobra, a member of the fearsome Quiver’s Pit.

Fearing for her children’s safety, Gloriana Wayward wrote to Sable Wayward, asking if her son, Josef Wayward, could be housed safely in Griffon’s Den.