Haide/Tular Plains At A Glance

(Written by Christoph.)

Tular at a Glance

This blighted wasteland covers the mainland's southern peninsula, below Alerar. Known for its volcanoes, rocky crags, and ashen deserts, Tular's very presence is a black spot on the map. Sensible folks avoid this haunted land, and for good reason. It was here that the first Haidean demon legions poured forth from beneath the earth, and here their remnants still prowl. Venture here at your own peril.

Things to remember when role-playing in Tular:

• Fiery wasteland -- Don't expect to find roads or towns here, as a thousand years of war and volcanic activity combined to scour away what civilizations once stood in Tular. Now, the ground is barren and the air thick with hot ash. Only the hardiest and most vicious things survive.

Core themes

These are the most notable and distinct storytelling elements present in Tular. Note that this is far from an exhaustive list, and the themes below are not exclusive to this region. Rather, they are merely the themes most strongly present, the ones that truly define Tular.

Here Be Demons -- In the previous age, demons spilled forth from great chasms in the earth, swarming the surface by the thousands. Now, only scattered tribes remain to haunt the Tular wastes, the palest shadow of their long lost empire.

Shadowland -- Tular's very identity is its natural hostility. If the demons don't hunt you for sport, the toxic ashen air will burn your lungs or a tar pit will swallow you up. Exiling someone to Tular is considered one of the most severe punishments in Alerar.

*

Places

Haidean Crator: When the great underground nation of Haide finally collapsed, it left this vast crater behind. Spanning over five-hundred miles across and sinking over a mile into the earth, this massive pit is the festering heart of Tular. The last remnants of Haide's leaders reside here, scraping out an existence while trying to excavate what they can from their lost civilization.

Exile's Overwatch: Built into a volcanic mountain near the eastern coast, this imposing fortress serves as sanctuary for any exile who swears service to the mysterious Queen of Exiles.

The Tar Sea: Stretching a thousand miles across the western reaches of Tular, the Tar Sea is a bubbling, steaming mess. Most believe it to be a dead place, but others posit that strange, dangerous creatures lurk beneath the simmering black surface. Care for a swim?

*

Major Factions

Demon Tribes -- The descendants of the great Haidean demon legions, these scattered tribes fight amongst themselves for scarce resources. Some bold leaders even raid Alerar and Raiaera. All swear loose fealty to the elders who still reside in and around the Haidean Crater. Physically, the Haideans vary wildly, some hulking fanged behemoths and others lithe, scaly stalkers.

Alerian Exiles -- Those banished from Alerar usually die within days. The hardiest and most stubborn, however, may find themselves at the gates of Exile's Overwatch. There, they can find shelter and succor, serving under the Queen of Exile's banner. While their goals are unknown, their acts of banditry are not.