VII. Ilusia Geography

The capital of Ilusia, Asgard, is full of all sorts of people. Humans, beastmen, faeries, and elves live here without any sort of tension. With the ocean being at Asgard's back door pretty much, there is the occasional scuffle between beastmen and merfolk, but local law enforcement usually steps in before it can get too bad. The same local law enforcement is also the reason crime rate is low and why people live in relative peace. Still, Heim's influence is obvious, and whenever a person from there arrives in Ilusia, gossip and insults go wild.

Black Rose Walkway is the business district of town. The cafe and tavern are two extremely popular places, and the general store provides excellent service. Asgard's inn provides the comforts of home without being home. The only better cooking you can get is at the cafe, but hey, if you're staying at the inn then it's free, so even better for you. There's a small park near the center of town with a school located next to it. Carmine School has a dormitory for students. Houses of citizens are scattered everywhere in Asgard.

It takes about a day of traveling to reach Meridell and Volos. This trip is faster with a horse or carriage, and much slower walking. Many people stop at the many small towns scattered throughout the land.

The coast acts as most of Ilusia's border. The mountain has the ocean as the backdrop while the forest has patches of ocean nearby as well, despite serving as the land route to Avalon. Asgard is situated right along the ocean and has a harbor built for importing, exporting, and traveling purposes. The merfolk live in the underwater city of Lemuria. It is a beautiful, majestic place full of vibrant colors. Merfolk love music and have a famous band that uses magic to play instruments in the ocean. The aquatic race has been known to frequent the surface and either visit those who come to the beach or get into fights with beastmen. The strife between those two races won't be going away in the near future, that's for sure. (Also, it is important not to litter or eat fish when merfolk are near. They tend to get extremely upset by this.)

The fields of Ilusia are traveled often. While Asgard, Meridell, and Volos are the largest towns, there are quite a few small villages and farms that cover the countryside. Patches of trees, clear streams, and hills can be all over the place. Most travelers do so with others for the fact that, unfortunately, some bandits do roam the area and try to score.

Located a few miles away from Asgard is a garden surrounded by trees. This place, known as Memorial Garden, is where most events and festivals are held in Ilusia. It is often used as a meeting place as well.

The mountain of Fairmist is a beautiful place with thick patches of fog. Most who travel do so carefully since there are a number of sharp paths and sudden drops. The mountain itself is rich in minerals and ore, leading it to be a popular mining place. The village of Volos was built because of this. Most that live there work in the mines, work in the factories, or hunt in the forests dotted about the mountain. Asgard is about a day's journey, depending on transportation and weather, and Meridell is two. The dominant race in the village are beastmen and humans. Some elves and faeries do as well, but they are fewer in number.

There are a number of secret places up in the mountain. Hidden hot springs, paths leading to medicinal herbs, caves that can easily serve as homes... one particular cave called Garmon is spoken about often in local legend. It is said that a great hero fought a battle near this cave. He wielded a sword that held the spirit of a faerie sealed inside of it. His companion wielded a matching sword. The two of them perished after winning the battle and their swords were laid to rest in this cave. Some believe that swords are still there hidden deep inside the cave. Three hundred years later, no one has found them, so it is easy to understand why most believe this is just a fairytale.

This large forest is dense in some places and extremely easy to cross in others. There are a few patches that make you forget you are in a forest at all. Be wary of the swamps in the darker parts... especially since there is some quicksand too. There are many beautiful places in the forest that people look to explore, including plenty of rumors about hidden treasures.

Meridell, a forest settlement built by faeries and elves, is up in the trees entirely. It is common to see balls of light zooming by or graceful elves jumping from tree to tree. While all races are welcome, most newcomers are greeted coldly until their purpose has been stated. The faeries and elves who live here tend to be more like what you would find in Avalon, their home country, and a bit more wild.

Cen: The conditions of the desert are harsh, causing people who come from Cen to be stronger, hardier, and more rough around the edges. They mostly work as miners and laborers, working sun up to sun down, and take the edge off the day with some alcohol. Here, beastmen are considered slaves. This is one side of Cen; the other side of Cen only available to the extremely wealthy shows silks, glamor, and precious jewels. Be careful since this is even more dangerous than the mines. There are numerous small villages located within hours travel of each other.

Cen is located southeast of Ilusia.

Avalon: The home of elves and faeries has their own ruling system. The two races are extremely close due to their extended lifespan and respect for nature. Avalon is, essentially, one giant forest. There are a few docks for people to arrive in, but it is hard to find a place that isn't covered in trees. The deeper into the country you go, the taller and more dense trees get. There is a sense of magic and wonder all around, and the air itself seems to hum with some sort of energy. Finding small settlements and caravans is common, but the middle of Avalon where Miseran is is where most have to go for quality goods.

Avalon is located east of Ilusia.

Romuda: The island of Romuda has a very different culture. Most names have a very distinct sound and they can speak their own language outside of Common. In fact, this barrier gap is a reason why most from Romuda stay on the island. The food they eat, clothes they wear, and way they go through life is just very... well, very different, as it has been said. For convenience, compare Romuda to Japan.

Romuda is located west of Ilusia.

Heim: The most technological advanced place in all of Adonea is Heim. There are buildings that reach towards the clouds and lifts that take people off the ground. Special rails with vehicles on them take people from one side of the city to the other. A huge ferris wheel exists in the middle of Heim. There are night clubs, restaurants, casinos, strip joints, theaters, and countless shops. The economy is steady and strong, though the slums are increasing with time. On top of a large hill is a dark castle where the ruling family lives just a bit outside the capital of Steene.

Heim is located north of Ilusia.

Located in the middle of Adonea, this tree is a place many people come to to pay tribute to the deities that govern the world. Celestia, the goddess of creation, Fiore, the god of darkness, and Lifae, the goddess of light. Some places worship all of them equally and others are dedicated to a single deity.

The tree itself is huge. It is said that the air is so rich with mana that little orbs of colored light can be seen floating around like fireflies in the darkness. Priests and priestesses of Adonea are expected to make a yearly trip here in order to receive blessings.