Tyrrus

Tyrrus is a large region on Estiel, home to many of the most powerful empires in Coryphiel.

Tyrrus is a fertile and temperate land of grasslands and forests. It is enclosed on three sides by mountains, and to the south by an ocean.

Tyrrus is where the Erdannian Empire, the Kingdom of Whytehold, and the Dominion of New Haven are centred. The people from Tyrrus are generally referred to as "Tyrraneans"

## History

### Etymology

The name "Tyrrus" is related to what is thought to be the first human city ever built in the region; "Tyrra". Historians of the Rune Kingdom knew that humans had migrated into the region from Caerland, in the north-east, and thought that Tyrra was the first city they built after arriving in the new lands. They therefore called the people who had left Caerland "Tyrraneans", and expanded that to broadly categorise the ethnicity of the people of their known world. Many centuries later, when the nations of the region began to form alliances and coalitions, the scholars of Haven proposed that they name the region "Tyrrus", and the name stuck.

### Origins

Legends state that long ago humanity was surrounded by danger on all sides, they were at a constant war with each other and the future was hopeless. That was, until Zythia, Dragonqueen of Pure Magic, led a group of the greatest people to a land of fertile plains and expansive forests. The myths state that she enlisted the help of Shoguvhan, Dragonlord of the Earth, to raise mountains around this land and keep humanity safe. This was done on the year 0. Tyrranean calendar does not go any further back and dates are only estimations before this time.

There are a few records of a civilisation that existed in the are prior to this, but this 'Forgotten Empire' suffered a great tragedy and only a few of its citizens survived. This empire was centred in the current location of the Forgotten City.

## Geography

Tyrrus is a large, fertile valley, with many rivers running down from the mountains to converge at the White Bay. The southern lands of Tyrrus are long stretching grasslands, largely cultivated. Further north heads into areas with many hills. In the centre of Tyrrus is the Dragonclaw; largest mountain on Coryphiel. On the western edge of the region is the Sunset mountains, and on the opposite side is the Sunrise mountains. The only way past these mountains are various pathways and passages, making Tyrrus incredibly defensible by land.

There are several large forested regions in Tyrrus, though many of these have been reduced in size due to the industrial movement in the last century. In the south-west is the Westwood. North of that is the mystical Everwood; an ancient forest connected to the Fey, and further north is Caerland, the oldest forest in the region. In the north-east of the region is the large sprawling Hinterlands, an incredibly large, wild, and dangerous place.

## Provinces

Tyrrus is further split into several distinct provinces

#### The White Bay

A very large bay, upon which sits Erradan, the capital of the Erdannian Empire and largest city in the world. Most rivers in Tyrrus converge on the White Bay, and it is known for an abundance of fish.

#### The King's Moors

The land north of Erradan is a large region of rolling hills and arable fields. It is currently where the majority of the battles fought in Tyrrus take place, as it borders both the Kingdom of Whytehold and the Dominion of New Haven.

#### The Stormcliffs

The shore east of the White Bay is a series of sheer cliffs, often battered by storms. This area also holds the ruins of the ancient "Forgotten Empire", and is where the tribes who would become the Erdannian Empire came from.

Nowadays, the Stormcliffs is home to orchards, vineyards, and fishing ports. It is owned by the Erdannian Empire.

#### Wyndshire

Wyndshire is a large region of plains which the Eradall's Path river carves through. The city of Varawyn is here, and it is owned by the Erdannian Empire.

#### The Westwood

The Westwood used to be an enormous forest that stretched from the Everwood to the Stormcliffs. When the city of Varawyn cultivated the region, it shrunk greatly. This area is owned by the Erdannian Empire.

#### The King's Plateau

A highly defended raised portion of land upon which sits Whytehold, and the heartland of the kingdom. To the south is the river Strom, to the west is the river Silverwater, and to the east are the Sunrise Mountains.

Promiment cities of the region include Whytehold, Kirkenhold and Brücke

#### The White Cape

The White Cape is the shore west of the White Bay. It is a region of sprawling grasslands and forest, with a long coastline, and is considered one of the strongholds of the Kingdom of Whytehold.

The White Cape can be further split into the regions of: Suden Reach, Randmark, Umberlain, Overstrom, Weitmark, and the Wrakstrand.

Prominent cities of the region include Reiken, Calcaster, and Salzborgue.

#### Silvershire

Silvershire is the most central region in Tyrrus, and is a large grasslands filled with farmlands. It is known for large silver deposits, and has many wealthy mines. Thassalus is the main city of this province. This area is owned by the Kingdom of Whytehold.

Silvershire can be further split into the regions of: Avamore, Theracoure, Treugard, Morvay, Margover, and Charlemont.

Prominent cities of the region include Thassalus and Avamore Court

#### Rivenwald

A fairly small region, between Erradan and Whytehold. Historically the site of the Kingdom of Bordellyon, and a place of great cultural significance. This area sits at the warfront between the Erdannians and the Whyteholders.

Prominent cities of the region include Bordellyon, Karlasonne, and Gildenstadt.

#### The Hinterwald

A tract of land between the Hinterlands and Silvershire. It is an untamed land, populated by hunters, and knights who defend the kingdom from the monsters of the Hinterlands. This area is owned by the Kingdom of Whytehold.

Kilzig is the only prominent city of the region.

#### The Hinterlands

The Hinterlands is a massive, untamed wilderness filled with ancient ruins and fey creatures. It was the seat of the ancient Rune Kingdom, but has now become overgrown and protected by Aelves and other fey creatures. The druidic settlement of Woodsthrinn is somewhere in the Hinterlands, and is where the King of Aelves holds court. It is said also that demons lurk in the Hinterlands.

Also in the hinterlands are the Maerkwald, the Hochlands, and the Fen.

#### Dragonvale

A hilly region between the Dragoncrags and the Sunset mountains, north of the Everwood. The city of New Haven is here.

#### The Everwood

A mystical forest favoured by the fey. This area is one of the most ancient forests in Tyrrus, and home to many enchanted trees and druidic tribes. This area is technically owned by the Dominion of New Haven, though the elves of the region would never acquiesce to that human empire.

#### Caerland

The northernmost province in Tyrrus, and the oldest forest in the region. Caerland is a wild place, home to elves, trolls, and all manner of forest creatures.

#### The Blackwald

A small region of land where the Dark Monk stronghold; the Black Monastery, is located.

#### The Palewood

Known as "Bàn Weald" in the native language of the Athelings. North of the Hinterlands is the cold, dark Palewood. This region once held Zaikerik's town of necromantic research; Mortholme, and twice has the Blackspire been built there.

## Geographical Features

### Rivers

Sapphire River

River Bael

River Arn

River Tyr

River Forr

River Esst

River Ayr

#### Eradall's Path

The Eradall's Path river is named for the famed King Eradall I, who strode alongside the river and united the disparate Valarr tribes he encountered on the way. It originates in the Sunrise mountains and carves a path east through the Westwood and Wyndshire, until it reaches the White Bay. The river passes through the city of Varawyn. The river has been deliberately widened to allow freight vessels to sail up and down from Varawyn to Erradan.

#### River Bright

The Bright is one of the longest rivers in Tyrrus, though its exact length is unclear because its origin is an unknown location in the Hinterlands. From the Hinterlands, the Bright travels south through the Hinterwald, Silvershire, the Loclands, the King's Moors, and eventually joins up with the river Wyrm as it reaches the White Bay. It is fed by the Athel, the Bael, the Straza, and the Esst. The Bright passes through Thassalus and Avamore Court. It forms three lakes, Loc Dyrne, Loc Elle, and Loc Arn.

#### River Straza

The river Straza is a fairly short river that originates in the foothills of the Dragonclaw, and travels south until it joins with the River Bright. It forms a natural border between Silvershire and the Loclands. It is named after the ancient dragon Strazakira. The most notable locations on its path are the city of Telmont, and the town of Bruggenstraz.

#### River Strom

The Strom is a river in the east of Tyrrus. It flows from the Sunrise mountains, south-west through the Kingdom of Whytehold, until it reaches the White Bay. The River Strom forms a natural barrier for many of the provinces within the Kingdom, it separates Silvershire from Ebenreich, and Ebenreich from the Rivenwald. The river is wide enough to sail up, a small vessel could sail all the way up to Whytehold itself.

#### River Wyrm

The Wyrm is one of the longest rivers in Tyrrus. It originates in Caerland, and flows all the way down to Erradan and the White Bay. It passes New Haven and Old Haven. On its southern path, the river is fed by the many streams and tributaries of the Loclands. It is also fed by the River Bright. The river forms two lakes, Loc Verre, and Loc Wyrmtongue. At the delta of Erradan, the Wyrm splits into many smaller rivers, the most prominent of which are the Eastwyrm and the Westwyrm. These rivers feed into the canals of Erradan.

### Lakes

Loc Dyrne

Loc Arn

Loc Elle

Loc Drak

Sapphire Lake

### Mountain Ranges

#### The Sunset Mountains

A large mountain range between Tyrrus and Hirokir

#### The Sunrise Mountains

A large mountain range between Tyrrus and Izir

#### The Dragoncrags

The dragoncrags are the series of mountains that run from the north of Tyrrus to the Dragonclaw. The ancient city of Old Haven is built on the foothills of the Dragonclaw. This area is owned by the Dominion of New Haven.

### The Secluded Sea

The sea south of Tyrrus, holding a series of barren islands, and once blocked off by a barrier of storms. This area is contested between the Erdannian Empire and the Kingdom of Whytehold.

The Kraken's Isle is the most important city in this region.

## Nations

### Major Nations

There are three major nations in Tyrrus, each of which occupies a vast stretch of land.

### Independent Nations / Factions

These are very small nations, which are often no larger than a single city, but are nevertheless independent

### Annexed Nations

These were once independent nations, but have since been absorbed into larger empires.

### Destroyed Nations

These are ancient nations, whose people and settlements have been long taken over, and of which barely a memory remains.