REGION OVERVIEW
Located in the east of Vathria, Ulthran is a dense tropical rainforest with exotic plants and large trees stretching towards the clouds. Most of the wildlife and plants in the region are unique, found nowhere else in Vathria. Populated mainly by Timberlings, the name generally given to the various races that dwell in the forest, as well as a number of Human that live as Druids or Amazon warriors.
The rainforest itself is 'alive', with trees capable of twisting around each other and moving to form pathways throughout the land as a result of the region's ‘mother tree' the Champion Omamol taking root in the forest.
GEOGRAPHY
The rainforest is divided into three levels; the floor, the understory, and the canopy. The floor is lush despite the dense tree growth hindering direct sunlight. Fruits and fungus can be found with abundance at the floor level. With the difficulty involved in traversing the tangled floor, most denizens of the forest utilize the understory for getting around. The understory and canopy levels consist of a system of interconnected branches, forming pathyways that are utilized by all residents of Ulthran. It's important for residents and visitors to remember that the rainforest is alive, with its trees and flora capable of moving around each other to perform tasks and create new pathways since Omamol took root and gave the forest sentience. Through millennia of communication, Omamol has developed a close bond with the forest that allows her to maintain control of it through meditation - even when not rooted within. Much of the unique plant and animal life in Ulthran is poisonous or venomous. While this makes the region dangerous to the unaware, those skilled enough to do so are able to use these properties to make some of the best medicines in the continent.
DEMOGRAPHIC
Initially, Ulthran's population consisted entirely of Timberlings who valued compassion and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. As a result, the Ulthrish peoples formed habits of making decisions based entirely on altruism, helping others before themselves, even to the point of death. Because of this, many people considered the Ulthrish regardless of their race as naive and weak, with swindlers from all over the Vathria travelling to Ulthran in the hopes of taking advantage of them. Over time, with advice from settlers from other regions, who respected the Timberlings and had good intentions, the Ulthrish population became wise to swindlers. Currently, the majority of the population of Ulthran remains Timberlings, including the Faeries and Harpies that frequent the region. There are additional races that relocated to Ulthran as the years passed including smaller communities of Humans, Dwarves, and Trolls. The Humans split into two main factions, the Druids and the Amazons and while anyone can learn Druidism and take up the powers of the animal spirits, only women may become a feared Amazon warrior. Their settlements can be told apart primarily by their architecture, though both construct buildings largely out of stone and clay. Druids build standing stones, monoliths, and rings with altars that they use for rituals and prayer. Meanwhile, Amazons build small homes in their settlements, with large halls, military complexes and a field of empty space in the center of their towns for community and social activities including battle practice.
RULING
There is no specific form of leadership in the lands of the druids. Druids have no need for kings or lord, instead opting to obey the voice of the Messenger, a person within the community with the powerful ability to hear the will of the forest. The Messenger is often viewed as a great person of wisdom who leads the druids to peaceful resolution. There are several sects of druids/ They generally do not interfere with each other, but all obey the leadership of the Messenger. There have been many Messengers over the millennia, many of whom had no ability to listen to the voice of the forest. Despite the great importance in leading the region, to some the title was considered more ceremonial. This changed with Fara, who could directly interface with the trees and hear the voice of Ulla. She decided rapid change must come to Ulthran which inevitably resulted in her death.
Ulthran
LEADER
Aevra, Messenger of the forest
GOVERNANCE
The Messenger, an elected or gifted person chosen who can listen to the will of the forest and employ the Eye of the Forest to carry out its will
CAPITAL
Nagundo
MAIN BELIEFS
The great Ulla tree is the most sacred and holy site in the whole kingdom of Ulthran. The location is where the God sacrificed herself during the War of the Gods. Ulthrish creatures and denizens make a pilgrimage to the great tree at least once in their lives. The Druids worship to the animal spirits of the jungle and in turn receive the power of transformation. More a way of life than a religion, the Druids become one with the animals of the land to understand them. The Amazons, rather than follow the religions of the forest, worship sword logic. They believe solely in the lessons learned through combat. Omamol, the last of the Treants, is revered by the Ulthrish people almost as much as God Ulla herself. Many believe that for as long as Omamol stands, the forest of Ulthran will stand too.
ACTIVE FACTIONS
CLIMATE
As a lush tropical jungle region, the lands of Ulthran are incredibly humid the further a person a travels inland. The floor areas, while receiving little direct sunlight, flourish due to fertile soil and ample water sources. Rainstorms are frequent and seasonal rain can transform lush forest into swampland in a matter of hours.