Fenara

Location of Fenara

### Major Cities

Eversummer, Belgram, Leygower, Aleastris, Eriliath, Khuzen Goroz, Findalhaig, Onatrugaz, Haderhal, Myrinall

### Major Ports

Port Inisbol, Port Tullakille, Port Carradeen, Tilanoc

## Economy

### Exports

Tobacco, Coffee, Sugarcane/Rum, Vanilla, Fruits & Nuts, Rainforest Wood, Llama Wool, Exotic Rare Plants, Iron, Copper, Tin, Diamond, Marble

## Government

### Government Type

City-States

Fenara is a vast territory dominated by city-states that goes by many names, including The Free Lands and The Cursed Lands. Originally belonging to the Kingdom of Fenaris- an ancient Elven civilization- the area was taken over by humans during the Era of Conquest. Prior to that, the ancient dwarven Kingdom of Andun was sacked by raiding duergar from below- many of whom still occupy strongholds in the mountains.

Though several kingdoms have risen and fallen over time, no one human regime has lasted longer than around 200 years. It is believed the elves laid a curse on the land that no human kingdom could thrive here. Over time it has become a territory of rivaling city-states that pop up and diminish just as quick. It has also become a major melting pot of differing races, religions, and cultures and is one of the most diverse areas in all of Arn. Many refugees and outcasts make their way here eventually and the route that leads here from the north is called The Hope Trail. It is also a fairly lawless land and a dangerous one to travel.

Because laws differ from city to city, it can be difficult to apprehend criminals and con artists. The large cities, though well armed with city guards and militias, still face massive issues with crime, piracy, and human trafficking. The metropolitan areas contend with large scale criminal organizations and mafia families and the trade routes face constant siege from bandits and thieves. Mercenaries and bodyguards are in high demand just about anywhere.

Fenara is sometimes called the Lands of Ruin for the sheer number of ruins from previous civilizations and cities to be found. It is a great place for treasure seekers and adventurers. Ruins from ancient elven settlements, lost dwarven halls, and the remains of various human kingdoms including old temples and castles dot the landscape. Much of this has been fairly picked over, and seasoned adventurers know the real and ultimate treasure trove resides within the jungles of the Meliferan Peninsula to the west. Many travel from Port Inisbol to Port Venture seeking out their fortune in the notorious Emerald Wood, never to be seen again.

## Geography & Climate

### **Locations & Borders**

The territory of Fenara is located in southeastern Alderyon between the countries of of Kardath and Boskfallow to the north and Salmarch and Ilann to the south. To the west is the Narrow Sea, and to it's west is the Saltmarsh Sea.

Just southwest of it's center lies it's largest city-state of Eversummer. It's biggest sea port is Port Inisbol.

### **Geography & Climate**

Fenara is located in the tropics of Arn so the climate tends to be hot and humid year round. It rains near constantly in the summer though the storms tend to pass through quickly. Originally, before humans took over the area, it was largely dominated by heavy rainforest. The interior of the territory closer to the mountains remains largely rain-forested. Due to deforestation, many areas have slowly shifted into tropical savannah.

Fenara is dominated largely by a mountain range called the Andun Mountains which makes a great arc right through it's center. The largest mountains are Mount Haelga in the far north and Nylriss Peak and Andunar Peak in the south. Other notable mountains include Losthall, The Tusk, and The Twins. At the southern end of the mountain is a rugged area called the Andun Uplands. These mountains serve as a partial border between Fenara and Ilann.

Just south of Mount Haelga is a large valley called the Selir Basin which is where Lake Selir is located, fed by snowmelt and runoff. This is the source of the two major rivers that run through Fenara: The Oxbow River which runs south/southwest to the Narrow Sea, and the Greenbank River which runs east through Sylannis Valley and the Iltir Ravine in the mountains and into Ilann. Sylannis Valley is part of a large heavily forested area in northern Fenara along the base of the mountains generally called The Deep Wood.

West of the Andun Mountains is a fairly large plain which leads to the west coast known as Fenari Strath. The northern half of this area is dominated by a shrubby hill land called Mullbrad Hills. On the southern end is the most fertile plains in the territory and this area is called Maerim Valley. South of this is an area of swampy marshlands called the Zhatet Morass which leads into Salmarch.

On the eastern side of the mountains lie a relatively dry grassland known as Deorh in the south and the greener Sunken Heath to the north.

### **Flora and Fauna**

The flora in Fenara is composed of large rainforest trees including broad-leaved hardwoods and palm trees. It's forests are also heavily dominated by both ferns and vines. There are many flowering plants including orchids found here and many mushrooms useful in alchemy and poisons which are heavily sought after. The plains are dominated by shrubs and stubborn grasses. Much of the original topsoil has been washed away over time due to the loss of trees.

Fenara is a fairly dangerous place to travel in part because of the wildlife. There are many poisonous creatures in the woods and the hills are home to many monsters including Hill Giants, Bulettes and Chimeras. The forests have fey creatures, displacer beasts, ettercaps and owlbears to contend with. The coasts are plagued by pirates and creatures the stalk in shallow waters. The ruins and abandoned cities are often full of the woeful spirits who died there and guarded by dragons and minotaurs. Just about anything and everything can be found somewhere in this vast territory.

## Culture & Society

### **Culture**

#### **Views on Magic**

Fenara is considered a very tolerant place in regards to the unusual and the taboo. The laws regarding magic vary from town to town but for the most part magic is unregulated here. Though on an individual scale you will find a wide array of different opinions on the purpose and misuse of magic, there are no laws that expressly forbid any kind of magic save for various remote villages.

#### **Religion**

Fenara probably holds the record for number of various gods and pantheons in worship. Though the Common Pantheon is probably the most widely worshiped, you can find cults of all sizes worshiping all manner of deities. Most towns and cities have a multitude various temples for the largest gods in worship. It is considered polite to keep which god you worship to yourself and aggressive conversion tactics are considered impolite and downright taboo in some places.

#### **The Arts & Architecture**

The Arts don't play as major a role as one might expect in a place like Fenara. Most ambitious artists find their way down to Ilann to seek their fortunes. Fenara is more focused on trade and travel than it is the arts and entertainment industries. Still, one can find these things in the larger cities where safety is guaranteed and rich nobles exist to be pampered to.

### **Society**

#### **Racial Tolerance**

Fenara is known for being one of the most progressive places in Alderyon and you arent likely to find widespread racism or superstition. Even tieflings who would have to be extremely wary in places like Va'Sehir or the far north can walk freely here without worry of being hassled. Half Orcs may still find themselves closely watched, but in general, the degree of diversity found in this area makes being a racist pretty difficult.

#### **Sex, Gender & Orientation**

Views on sex and orientation vary wildly from city to city in Fenara. In some areas, like that of the elven settlements of the Deep Wood, gender means next to nothing. In contrast, in dwarven settlements, gender roles and marriage are incredibly important. In general, Fenara isn't rife with sexism and though one may find individuals with more backwards views, it's not a place one would expect to be ostracized for it.

#### **Demographics**

This area is around 40% Human. There are huge populations of Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings, and Elves. Smaller, but still distinct, populations include Half Orcs & Elves, Tieflings, Dragonborn, and Genasi. You can also find individuals of the so called "barbaric" races living in society somewhat normally- this includes full blooded Orcs and Ogres, Goliaths, Shadow Elves, Goblinoids, Kenku, Aarakocra, Lizardfolk, and Gnolls.

Many cities in this area have been newly formed since the dissolution of the previous human kingdoms. Many cities have been settled by traveling groups of other races. For example, the bustling town of Teifitref was founded by Halflings who came from Ilann looking for better farmland.

See Also: Human Settlements of Fenara, Dwarven Strongholds of Fenara, Elvish Settlements of Fenara, Gnomish Towns of Fenara, and other non-human settlements

## History

#### Prehistory

* A group of Star Elves from Melifera, following Fenar Selirine, found the kingdom of Fenaris.
* Fenaris allies with Melifera and the dwarves of Andun against the dragons in the first Dragon War.

#### Late Antiquity (6500 AE - 4000 AE)

* Fenaris signs the Accord and officially joins in with the other races against the orcs and dragons of the second Dragon War in 5660 AE.
* The Andun Kingdom is sacked by Duergar in 4550 AE.

#### Era of Conquest (1 AE - 920 PE)

* Between 20 PE - 600 PE humans attempt to conquer Fenaris. They succeed and found the human kingdoms of Haelgath and Mullbrad. These kingdoms suffer constant civil war and the assassination of kings. The royal bloodline changes constantly, though the name of the kingdoms do not.

#### Era of Stability (920 PE - 2800 PE)

* From 1600 PE - 2230 PE there is a large scale off and on war between Haelgath and Mullbrad over the mountains of Andun. Haelgath wins and becomes the Haelgath Empire, effectively ending Mullbrad.

#### Era of Civil Wars (2800 PE - 3910 PE)

* A massive and final civil war erupts in Haelgath after years of tumultuous and controversial leadership. This occurs between 2866 PE and 3167 PE, the year in which the kingdom fall completely, collapsing into self-ruling city-states. It becomes known as the territory of Fenara.
* Orcs establish a permanent settlement of Kharak near The Twin Mountains.
* Elves return to Fenara for the first time since the area was conquered. They establish a large city in the Deep Woods called Eriliath.
* Descendants of Andun, who had fled to Gulthar, return seeking to take back what is theirs. They establish the cities of Onatrugaz, Haderhal and Khuzen Goroz.
* In 3169 PE, Eversummer is established on the ruins of the ancient elven capital of Seliril.

#### Modern Era (3910 PE - 4491 PE)

* Tieflings establish Nzerhaven off the western coast.
* Elves of The Six Havens draft and sign the Sylan Pact within the elvish city of Sylan.

## Politics

### **Laws & Alliances**

**The Hope Trail Accordance**: This is an alliance between all cities and towns along the route known as the Hope Trail. The purpose of this is to keep the roads between these settlements safe for travelers, traders, and merchants after many years of issues with bandits. Those in the accordance agree to keep a regiment of armed guards called The Trail Walkers to patrol the roads between their towns and the next. Large cities in this alliance include Dulen Gathol, Tilanoc, Findalhaig, Eversummer, and Leygower. They also include the smaller towns of Drensbeg, Moradine, Forsyth, Grundlefary, Teifitref, and Fort Maerim and countless small villages.

**The Seaside Alliance**: This is an alliance between the many cities and towns that reside between Eversummer, Port Carradeen, and Port Tullakille as well as Leygower. This alliance is to fight off raiders, pirates, and other threats in order to keep the largest commercial area of Fenara *relatively* safe. This alliance includes an agreement to follow a small set of universal laws called the *Code of the Free Peoples*. This affords all citizens in these allied cities some measure of rights to things like religion and trial and disallows slavery and racial persecution. These cities also fall under the protection of The Summer Guard, a large military force based in Eversummer in charge of keeping order and apprehending criminals and criminal organizations.

**The Sylan Pact:** The Sylan Pact is an agreement between the original (now reclaimed) elven settlements known as The Seven Havens: Myrinall, Sylan, Eriliath, Istishar, Sinmorel, Cenarath and Tavildara. It is an agreement that should one of these settlements face conquest from human or orcish rivals or threats that they will send each other aid and reinforcements.

**The Lost Kings of Andun**: Alliance between the Dwarven cities of Onatrugaz, Haderhal and Khuzen Goroz against the threat of the Duergar and any non-dwarf who would dare try to claim residence within the lost halls of their ancestors (The Dwarves of Andun).

## Economy

### **Agriculture**

The largest agricultural exports from this area are sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, vanilla, allspice, and tobacco as well as various tropical fruits which only grow here such as papaya, acai, pineapple, passion fruit & dragon fruit as well as cashews. There isn't an abundance of livestock farmers, but this area near the mountains is the native home of Llamas and Llama farms kept for their wool aren't uncommon. Most of it is exported to the north where climates are colder.

Subsistence farmers in the south which has less soil erosion also plant the staple crops of Corn, Beans, and Squash. Some farms also grow barley, brown rice, and quinoa. In the mountainous areas they plant sweet potatoes. Other native crops include tomatoes, avocado, cassava, and bell peppers. There are large farming operations located here which produce the drug Koka.

### **Major Industries**

Fenara dips it's toes in many industries. Due to the wide diversity in its residents and the constant influx of new people with new talents, one can find a huge plethora of industries- wholly dependent on the city. There are some cities known for their focus on the arcane. In the mountains there are plenty of mining / blacksmithing towns. In the plains of course, agriculture rules supreme. Fishing also is a relatively major industry along the coastlines.

### **Trade**

In Fenara, most of the exports tend to be tropical fruits, llama wool, rainforest timber or the ores from the mountains. However it is also the main producer of Kasiri- a unique alcohol made from cassava, and Rum. Woodcraft and carving is also a major industry in these parts due to the variety rainforest wood available. Alchemy is also extremely popular in this area, as the rainforest provides many rare ingredients and people often are in need of things like antidotes from venomous creatures. One of the more unusual trades is the trade of unusual, magical, and historical artifacts. As treasure hunting is a popular occupation in these areas, and due to the lack of strict government, there are many underground trade networks and even black markets for items found within the ruins of the dangerous surrounding jungles and abandoned dwarven halls.

 Crime & Major Threats

### **Outside Threats & Raiders**

Lots of Goblinoids and Gnolls as per usual. Lizardfolk in the forested areas. Sahuagin and Merrow on the coastlines. Kobolds. Black Dragons in the south. Green and Red Dragons in the mountains.