Geography & Environment
The physical landscape, including mountains, forests, oceans, and climate. Consider how geography affects travel, trade, and cultures.
The Continent
Emberdown resembles Antarctica with the ice removed, and distances scale from Antarctica's size. The map is canon only as a continental shape.
The King's Mountain is the tallest peak. The King's castle stands on its summit, and the capital, Cornerstone, sits at its base at the center of the continent.
Kingsport lies on the far western shore, about 1,000 miles from Cornerstone, roughly 40 days by large-breed dog at 25 miles a day.
The east is the most heavily populated. The land between Cornerstone and Kingsport is sparse farmland, costly to defend, constantly attacked, and a breeding ground for criminals.
Terrain and Frontier
The map shows an archipelago and peninsula in the west, a large eastern landmass, a mountain rim along the north, and a diagonal range through the middle. The dreadspawn hold the western archipelago and the large island just south and southeast of it.
Forts and Rivers
- Military forts stand anywhere, especially along the frontier.
- Villages, towns, and rivers are invented as stories need them and become canon once created.
- Rivers and streams are unnamed unless a story names them. They are streams, not creeks.
Skyfolk Platforms
- Skyfolk cities, towns, and villages float on amber crystals, on platforms that move very slowly.
- Platforms must never be so numerous that they block sunlight to the ground.
- A city-sized crystal takes 100 years to grow, and a city needs hundreds.
Climate and Seasons
The calendar runs 360 days in four phases. Highs range from 34°F in Harvest to 89°F in Wrath, and lows from 18°F to 66°F.
Summer
- Wrath is the hottest and most somber month, with drought.
- Chains is the storm peak, with hurricanes and tempests, and the Day of the Watchers falls on its 15th day.
- The summer phase is Judgment, and autumn is Redemption.
Winter
- Winter slows travel.
- Frozen rivers allow ice crossings.
- The Harvest Festival, on the 5th and 6th of Harvest, is the largest celebration of the year.
Summary
Places
- Cornerstone: the capital, at the base of the King's Mountain.
- Kingsport: the western port, about 1,000 miles from Cornerstone.
- The King's Mountain: the tallest peak, with the King's castle on top.
Peoples' Homes
- Landfolk can live anywhere.
- Oceanfolk live in the ocean, and Mountainfolk on and inside mountains.
- Skyfolk live on floating platforms.
Key Features
- The continent resembles Antarctica without its ice.
- A mountain rim runs along the north.
- A diagonal range runs through the middle.
- The east is the most heavily populated.
- The west is sparse farmland and frontier.
- The dreadspawn hold the western archipelago and the large island south and southeast of it.
- Forts stand along the frontier.
- Rivers and streams are unnamed.
- Invented places become canon once created.