Maika

From mountains to jungles, to deserts and shrub lands, forests and plains, Maika has it all and more. The farther from Tomu one travels eastward, the drier it becomes and the typical 'Nerzin magic' fades away. For many, this often represents the metaphysical border of where Nerzin is as an idea, rather than a continent. By necessity as much as practicality, the more mundane lands are ever considered apart of the continent. Given how little attention is paid to them, however, there is not much to be said for those who do not already live there.   While not quite the homogeneous flatness that defines Immensio, Maika is rather flat compared to the roughness of Aochen and Tomu. Still possessed of its own mountainous areas, many of these tend to form large valleys and plains, which centralize the huge sweeping storms that pass over. Much of the harsh weather that lands in Tomu, and then Aochen, first crosses Maika. It is a testament to Veltrona's powerful weather that the great roving rainstorms still have enough left over, even after passing across Maika.   A truly bizarre quality arises, however, from the great spires that dot Maika. These varied, twisting pillars were once thought to be the work of goddesses and thus sacred. Eventually there were those who wished to know more. In breaking apart the spires, the rocky shell revealed cores of twisting ores and crysium, offering an unimaginably wealthy opportunity. Greed soon overrode piety, and many of the spires were mined down to the veltron and deeper.   Nobody is quite certain where they came from, but one notable thing is they do return. New spires erupt in mighty earthquakes, molten shells hardening once again into twisted and gnarled form. Strangely non-volcanic, even the oldest of dragons and jiuweihu are befuddled by it. Furthermore, the petrakin are oddly drawn to the spires themselves. Certainly not to worship or anything, they gather around and busy themselves with each other. As far as they've cared to say, the spires just serve as a convenient place to meet. Rare are those who trust the mysterious petrakin to their word, however.

Frequent rainfall and equitable farm land leave Maika rich off in food, complimented by the decent magical life sprouting across its western front. A combination of farming, shepherding, and nomadic lifestyles combine together to define much of the rural workload. Larger cities sit at crossroads and river junctions, forming powerful hubs that stretch influence inordinately far across the land. In turn, a number of villages, towns, and hamlets form a web work of smaller gathering points. Altogether, Maika's wildernesses and veltron can produce quite a lot in sheer quantity, if not the exotic quality commanded in other lands.   Its mineral wealth, in much the same imagination, is not spectacular but makes up for in raw opportunities. The spires themselves offer fanciful materials when they do emerge, though there is some contention if they should be mined or not. Older faiths and spiritual beliefs still maintain their divine nature, and this is a rather sore point for many.