Geographer Needs Help!

At this point I will thank Chief Shûl-nak for allowing me to pen my own speculations rather than dictating to an illiterate goblin. Fantastic work by Hora there; progress has been made. I will now offer some more speculation based on demdigs' suggestion about the nearby factions.



Faction Hubs Key
Free Orcs
Guul-Hai (orcs)
Drek-Hhakral (orcs)
Overoad Traders (dwarves)
Lost Dwarves (mechanicals?)
Mellorians (white) (humans)
Heirs of Voyldarn (human mages)
Omen (?)

Their equidistant placements matches up suspiciously closely to the projected lines of Hora's mana-projector map. While it makes sense that these factions would secure space to avoid hostile neighbours and seek to escape the lava-ridden lands of Calumnex, their arrangement is suspiciously neat to have been left to chance. Is it some remnant of invisible energies that draws them to their settlements, like ley-lines? After all, there are still hospitable regions closer to Calumnex, and yet these settlements have all fallen in a neat circle.

Based on this evidence, it seems prudent to investigate the most magically-inclined of the surrounding factions. The Guul-Hai are hostile to all and apparently in possession of ancient elven magics that make even finding their settlements difficult; so, we turn to the Heirs of Voyldarn, and what little information has been shared amongst our court about them.

http://elgea.illyriad.co.uk/#/Alliance/Faction/88

Founded 500 years ago by Voyldarn, a refugee of the Order of the Silver Light, it would seem that his mages have constructed a tiered hierarchy based upon sanctums. From the report, we know that there are mages of at least the ninth sanctum; and by extrapolating the lines drawn from Hora's map, we could assume that there are nine, perhaps ten, points to the outermost circle of mana-mountains.

What's more, their stronghold at Praekorn (and perhaps all of their other bases) is formed of two concentric rings of monoliths with a tiered tower at its heart; like the tower of Omen itself and its vast mountain satellites rendered in miniature. Interestingly, only the first, outermost ring is covered in sigils; we can see only one obvious 'ring' on the geographical map formed by the mountainous areas on the red line.

So, if we were to entertain the notion that Praekorn was a representation of the south-eastern Broken Lands in miniature, perhaps the second ring represents an invisible barrier, or one consisting of energies not obvious to the naked eye. After all, there must be some residual energy that keeps Calumnex so barren and inhospitable to this very day.

Perhaps it is outside the influence of this invisible inner ring that those factions by the orange line have chosen to settle, though they might not fully understand that invisible influence behind their decision: avoiding lava and flying undead spectres is a more immediate and reasonable concern than escaping an invisible magical field.

Ergo, the first ring is represented by the mountainous portrusions; the second by the settlers of those inner hubs. As for how this links in to the Heirs and their hierarchy, I do not know.

Finally, it seems prudent to point out the vast number of dormant portals all over that region, and that the Heirs of Voyldarn are apparently preoccupied with acquiring defensive magical goods and spells - and little else. While we do not yet know what they know, if their 500 years of knowledge is suggesting that there is still some greater threat to be prepared for, it might be wise to do the same. The Sundering has passed, but mark my words: more magic may yet be unleashed.

send help

Shûl-nak


Edited by Shûl-nak - 25 Mar 2015 at 06:39

I suggest you both find a pair of abjuration gloves to protect your fingers.

Reminds me of the time I broke out triangulation, and tried to pinpoint the center of the circle of five strongholds. Then I scouted and spied everything in that area (turns out there is no precise center).

This is excellent information Hora!  I have been waiting for a report from the Circle of Five on this matter, but I am confident that they failed to notice the details of this geography -- or perhaps they were hoping we mundanes would not notice.

Thanks Shul!  Excellent information!

One of the things I had intended in this post is to have people suggest names for various geographic features.  These could then be adopted by either the developers or just by the community.