#fwcr: lesser territories

[fiendix-wcr]

LESSER TERRITORIES

I've come up with a working definition describing the "lesser territories" as just autonomously run places with a combination of one or more attributes:

1) located on a realm that it's not affiliated with 2) functions as a "proxy realm" i.e. moon 3) functions as a secluded coastal and/or island region 4) has an abnormal placement (airborne, deep underground, etc.)

SOLARIA

Nemos, Cosmos, Lunaria

Nemos is an Eraklyon-claimed territory that sits on Solaria's northernmost coastline. Flat cliffsides, dry weather. Salty breezes. People here are more withdrawn than the average Solarian, but remain community-oriented, and are much friendlier compared to their stoic mainland counterparts.

Cosmos is an airborne settlement occupying Solaria's middle cloudbank. It's ancient, likely as old as the realm itself, and is often used as a resort for thrill-seeking tourists (fitted with breathing gear, if necessary). Big astronomy culture. Permanent residents rarely, if ever, descend towards the ground.

Lunaria is a small province located in the realm's "underside" gorge, where sunlight from Solaria's suns barely reaches. Dawn, dusk are experienced, but never sunrise. Has a thriving, witch-friendly night culture.

MELODY

Espero, Cumulus

Espero is Melody's moon; it has a non-magic majority population, with a slow-moving, traditionalist culture in comparison to Melody's. Still, it remains a popular tourist destination, especially for wealthy retirees, or for those originating from colder realms, like Dyamond.

Cumulus is a high-elevation territory claimed by Linphea. Subtropical and heavily forested, it contains a nature reserve with an associated settlement of Linphean researchers, conservationists, and their families. With its similar climate, endangered species of Linphean plants are able to be replicated here.

LINPHEA

Karunda, Ohm

Karunda is another Eraklyon-claimed territory, sitting along Linphea's western coast. It's rainy, and contains different species of rare fruit, some of which favored by and exported back to Eraklyon (the "stoneberry jam" craze is still ongoing) whenever possible.

Ohm, a Melody-claimed territory, sits on Linphea's mountainous northern coastline. BIG meditation culture. There's many interconnecting waterfalls there, and at their apex, an open-air temple is concealed from outsiders.

ANDROS

Tenesa, Dolona, Oppositus

Tenesa is claimed by Solaria, and is a large peninsula on Andros's eastern coast. Surprisingly temperate. A few disgruntled Lunarian nobles settled there in secret, and naturally, several Solarian nobles followed. The rest is history.

Dolona serves as Andros's moon. Tropical, prone to monsoons. Rumored to be where the "blue-haired" gene originates, though that's unlikely.

Oppositus is actually miles beneath Andros, upside-down, and located in a deep sea cave system. Residents there are unusual and coy, and rarely, rarely ever get visitors. The one truly autonomous lesser territory, in my opinion. The MD's equivalent of Atlantis.

ERAKLYON

Hoggar, Bezel, Romulea

Hoggar lies on Eraklyon, but is separated from the mainland by both a northern-bound gorge and Eraklyon's enveloping North Sea. Jagged, bone-dry cliffsides, but it sits upon a gold mine (I guess) of metal ores, namely iron and copper.

Bezel is Eraklyon's southern province, and the realm's main supplier of gold, gemstones, and fine jewelry.

Romulea is a province bordering Bezel, claimed by Andros. Like Bezel, the territory is known for its precious gems, though theirs slightly differ from Bezel's variety. Also, textiles.

DOMINO

Callisto, Pyros

Callisto is Domino's closest, largest moon. It's older than it looks, and is seemingly average, aside from its warm, sparkly beaches. Tourists love those. Following Domino's destruction, an unofficial royal line was established there, that will only be dismissed upon Domino's eventual restoration.

Pyros is Domino's smallest, farthest moon. Younger than it looks. Following Domino's destruction, it became the designated breeding ground for hundreds of the other realms' dragons, monitored by the small and ageing population that volunteered to reside there.

ZENITH

Polaris, Vector

Polaris sits near Zenith's Arctic Sea, at the northernmost point of the realm, and belongs to Dyamond. Much of the Dyamondan diaspora lives here, and have found comradery and peace among the helpful Zenithian locals.

Vector is Zenith's moon. For some reason I haven't quite thought of yet, the residents here have blue skin, and look more alien-like.