The continent of Havilon
The first settlers arrived on the continent roughly a century ago. The first to arrive was an explorer, named Havilal, a clanless bronze dragonborn, so the new world was named Havilon in his honor. A new calendar was adopted since then, with time starting at 1 PRH (post rediscovery of Havilon). They arrived at an eastern point, in the region that is now called the Eastern Sunlands. The dragonborn of the Eastern Sunlands these days call it Gate of the Clanless.
While Havilal and his fleet were the first to arrive, the landscape is dotted with ruins of the past civilization. Each settlement is days or weeks apart, and the wilderness can be dangerous. Being stocked up and prepared is important.
On the importance of the continent
Havilon, as it came to be called, was the place of origin of the pantheon of Peios and Veil. It was a tragedy when the location of the entire continent, then called Iuzucae, was lost and unable to be found for roughly two thousand years. Try as people might, no word reached the continent, and no words were sent.
Then, in what would be Year 1 PRH, the clanless dragonborn, Havilal, set out on an expedition to find this lost world. He was successful, but what he found was a ravaged world with no people, with wildlife and monsters have taken over the continent with free reign for so many lifetimes.
Calendar
The Calendar associated with the new age has twelve months, each with 27 days, followed by a single day each year that marks the end of the seasons. This day is called Tenebrae. Each month is three nine days, the days of which are Ardere, Claudere, Canere, Saltare, Congerere, Operiere, Glacies, Ventus, and Lux.
The twelve months are divided into seasons of three months each, the first and third months of each appended with Rise and End. The seasons are Sationem, Suntide, Maturam, and Withertide, meaning the twelve months, in order, are Sationem's Rise, Sationem, Sationem's End, Suntide's Rise, Suntide, Suntide's End, and so forth.
The world has two moons; Luna and Sanctus.
- Nights with one new moon and one full moon is called a winking moon, which provides just enough light that travel is easy without bringing your own, however, odd events have been known to occur during these nights.
- On nights with a - (a double full moon), monsters are more numerous and stronger than ever, as they prowl bathed in the bright moonlight.
- On nights with no moons (two new moons), travel is safest but darkest, as long as one steers clear of creatures that excel in the darkness.
Regions of Havilon
The continent can be described as several subregions. These are:
The Central Flatlands. The Flatlands is the central area in the southern part of the continent. This region has a balanced mix of races and is home to Capital, formerly Adenastin. It is a very flat landscape that rises to the north and east. The south and south-west are mainly farmland.
Central to the Central Flatlands is Capital, the largest capital of this world. A long way's travel south is Pebble, and further south still is Murharbor (Merchant's Harbor), the primary area for trade and import by the sea. Additionally, the Hunting Grounds, a prime area for hunting, is a large and dense forest due north-west of Capital .
A trade route runs from the dwarven fortresses in the north to Capital, and from Capital to Murharbor through Pebble. Going south-west from Capital takes you to the Riverlands. The Flatlands also houses the Peian Monastery of secluded monks and the training grounds of Wingskeep.
A person from the Flatlands is called a Flatlander and a person from Capital is a Capitallan.
The Elven Aristocracy. Named the aristocracy due to its subregion where high elves have situated and founded Ascalon, the Floating City. The weather is often gray and rainy, with a terrain of rolling hills; more often than not it hosts harsh rains, and floods are not uncommon.
The region has several ports along the coastline, the west of which is primarily cliffs, but the location of Whiteharbour serves as a quiet inlet. A small rocky pathway to the north along the cliffs and through the Great Chain serves as the easiest land access between here and the northern regions. Equally noteworthy is the Greenwood Glades, a haven of fey creatures, druids, and wood elves, with a tight relationship with the major city of Big Hamlet in the center of the elven region.
A person from Ascalon is an Ascaloni, and other people from the Aristocracy are Aristocracites.
The Eastern Sunlands. A sandy, rocky desert region to the east, in which many dragonborn have settled. The dragonborn have a functioning alliance with the aarakocra tribes due north of here and a warring relationship with the orcish tribes of the Highlands.
A very notable location is the Gate of the Clanless, the point at which the First Explorer arrived a century ago, now a large port city. The region has many dragonborn tribes scattered near and far from the great canyon that spans the Sunlands, which is known as the barranca. Each small settlement in the region is mainly self-sustaining and self-governing. If they ever require more protection, they go to Capital or the Gates; the area is very liberal.
A person from the Sunlands is called a Sunlander, and a person from the Gate of the Clanless a Gatesman.
The Riverlands. A lowland region of farms and rich soil sits between the Central Flatlands and the Elven Aristocracy. In the very center, splitting the region in two is the great river going all the way from the ocean in the south to the Great Chain, the mountain range that splits the continent into north and south.
At the southern end of the great river sits the River Gates, or 'River City', an enormous city split between the east, and west, and two small islands between them. A person from the Riverlands is called a Riverlander, and a person from River City is a Riverene.
The Highland Bluffs. Located just north of the Great Chain and settled by tribes of aarakocra and caithuna. The birdfolk live in high altitudes in spires built high on top of difficult-to-navigate terrain, while the caithuna settle mainly on top of the Great Chain. Scattered in the north of the Bluffs on the ground below the spires are the numerous orcish tribes who often send raiding parties south to raid and pillage the Sunlands. The aarakocra light beacons to warn the dragonborn in advance.
Due to living on the bluffs, the aarakocra are mostly ignored by the orcs.
A person from the Highlands is called a Highlander and a person from the Great Chain mountains is called, unofficially, a Chainlink.
The North Swamp. Lastly, the swampy mess that sits west of the Highlands. This enormous region is completely inhospitable, a murky area hosting frequent monsoon rains. As the story goes, the band of the First Explorer met their end in this swamp.
Of note, however, is the small town of Blackglass that sits on the edge of the Great Chain, and across the lake is the location of Wyrm-End where a sizable force of holy warriors and followers met an unfortunate end.