Svarlburgen and NW [eastern hemisphere, 1]
This is the first part of the world map of the shared world. This is one half of the planet. Call it the Eastern Hemisphere.
I have done little more than sketch out and put the roughest of outlines on some of these places. It has been left wide open for others to run with the basics and go from there.
This is box 1 on the grid
Dragnar's Cleave - This is an immense fjord that almost splits Svarlburgen in twain running from the north shore straight south, it terminates about 35 miles from Svarlburg. It is nearly 500 miles long and is home to the båttävling (literally Boat race), a tri-annual race from the mouth to the beach at the far south end and back.
Each boat can only contain 30 people and can be powered by oar or sail only. It starts on the summer solstice every three years and the boats race south along the Cleave, they must ground themselves on the beach, fill a pail with rocks, and then race back. The best times are about 2 days (1 there and 1 back). The winning captain wins a special white seal coat and keeps it forever and is able to wear it until the end of his/her days. All participants of the winning boat (including the captain) are able to adorn themselves with a special face tattoo of a boat.
The Cleave is named after Dragnar Shipborn, who won this race as captain 11 straight times, including his first time as a 15 year old, that was 600 years ago. He did not cheat, despite all the other captains trying to claim so, he was just that good of a sailor. Instead of racing for the 12th time, he decided to try and sail around the world with his crew. It is known that he got as far [the furthest eastern port on C5B map] and then continued east. Nothing is known after that.
Giants Islands - a series of volcanic islands that extends north past the normal permanent ice line. The undersea lava tubes and hot springs on the island keep the water around these islands relatively ice free all year long.
There are at least 5 active volcanoes on the islands, with new ones appearing after one eruption and then disappearing all the time.
The islands are home to frost giants, cloud giants, fire giants, as well as other elemental fire plane denizens. There are rumored to be at least 1 gate to the Elemental plane of fire in the area, as well as a gate to the elemental plane of steam, magma. There is also talk about red, white and gold dragons.
The islands have very little contact with the outside world as there are no non-giant settlements and due to the volcanic activity, there are many valleys and areas that are able to support farming and herd animals. The last ship captain to venture to the area was 40 years ago from the city state of Ninphis, he brought an entire herd of larger than normal sheep to the islands. He says he sold them to a band of fire giants who happened to be looking for new stock for their herds. He returned with a stack of weapons, which he sold for a great profit. He was also told to return in 50 years with more sheep.
Gzunder Mu - This ruined city lies on an island attached to the icesheet on the eastern border of the Giants Sea. Its age is undetermined as is the size of the ruins and which race built them. Although their size makes it seem like it was at least built for huge creatuers.
There are huge golems that are scattered about the city that keep people away.
Nekar Gloden - once Nar Gloden, this is a dwarven ruin that has been abandon for nearly a millennium. It had stood for 1200 years before it was overrun by a combination army of drow, deep dwarves and demons. It obviously has a connection to the underdark.
An overgrown canal leads from the eastern side of the island to the ruins of a port town located about 2 miled from the gates of the city in the mountain. In its heyday it boasted veins of adamantine, platinum and silver and is said to contain riches left behind. Every so often an adventuring party will rent a boat from Svarlburg to bring them to the canal.
The last party that went into Nekar Gloden was a few years ago and the captain was paid to wait 2 months. After a week, 7 of the 8 returned and brought with them a pair of chests loaded with silver and platinum jewelry, a few sets of adamantine armor that did not fit anyone in the party (the two fighters in the party had already put on the armor that fit them) and a handful of untarnished steel weapons.
The remaining 7 went back inside and then after 2 more months, no one returned. One of the followers of the party was a cleric of Oghma, whom they brought along to record their deeds and confirm that the captain did indeed stay the time he was paid for. His recorded tale in the epic poem, "The Locked Vault" [aka "One Time Too Many"] retell what he was told by the party after their initial return. Some of the monsters they encountered included mindless undead (dwarves, drow, humans??); some sentient undead (ghosts, haunts, etc); an outpost of deep dwarves (from which most of the treasure came from); as well as creatures of elemental earth. They were going back in because of a locked vault that was found in a temple complex that contained lots of writing and symbols that could not be deciphered by anyone in the party, but the wizard was sure that he had books back on the ship that could help. He did indeed have knowledge in his books that were going to help open the vault, but they never returned.
Svarlburg - the largest town on the islands, located inside one of the bays that line the western side of the largest island, the port remains relatively ice-free for 10 months due to the currents from the Giants Sea. Population 4500. Whaling, fishing, trading, shipbuilding, dark ales are the major industries in the town.
One of the most famous exports of the island are Groblins Gameboards. A dwarven woodcarver he makes intricate, and exceding beautiful game boards and pieces. One of his chess sets (ivory carved pieces, polished wood board, wooden carrying case) start at 300gp and can run upwards of 1500gp, as he does take special orders that take at least a year, with half the money down.
Svarlburgen - norse-like culture. land of many fjords and mountains. more fishing and whaling based as they fish the waters that are warmed by the Giants Sea as the currents pass through the Giants Sea towards their islands. Not alot of raiding as the nearest lands are far away.
Makarite is 1000 miles to the ssw and the northern part of the North Continent is about 2000 miles due east. Occasionally there will be a high king and will try to lead his people on raids to either location, but a Svarlburger king rarely gets powerful enough to be a High King. Its been over 200 years since the last one was strong enough to send parties to raid both Makarite and the North Continent. The raiding lasted 9 years before it ended.
There is one major settlement on the islands, located inside one of the bays that line the western side of the largest island, the port remains relatively ice-free for 10 months due to the currents from the Giants Sea. A few traders do make the trip to the port and bring back ambergris, perfumes, ivory, dwarven made weapons/armor.
Giant blood runs deep among the humans here and every so often a human shows heavy giant traits (bloodline), the last few High Kings have all had a giant bloodline. Wizards are unheard of in this land (as walrus is not a substitution for papyrus), while bards are called skalds and the clerics worship gods that are Norse. Blond, large and blue-eyes is the standard and the people have lived on these islands for as long as their skalds remember. Sorcerers and warlocks are shunned and often live on the fringes of the civilized areas. They are not hunted down and killed as that is looked upon as bad luck. Barbarians, fighters, rangers, rogues, druids all have their places in society. Paladins and monks are absent.
Ice genesi, golaiths, owlin and dwarves are not uncommon in the islands.
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