Cities:

These are the cities found within this area; each one is marked on the map, and divided by tiers. The larger the tier, the larger the city - tier one may be a small village or town, while tier four may be sprawling cities of grand proportions.

THE SPIRE:

RACE: Yorijian dragons. LEADER: current Calypso. TIER: none.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: Though not a city in truth, the Spire is central to Yorijian Court and its associated brethren located on the Isle of Djomwhetta. Roads and bridges that lead to the great, multilayered tower are white marble cobblestone, bricks of such lining the walls and pillars. The Spire itself resembles a white marble version of Lizzarkyth's vast spirals, though flowing more like a unicorn's horn. If looked at closer, thousands of intricate carvings catch the light, portraying Felnova's history in its entirety. The stories of a thousand souls are here, carved by unseen spirits long, long ago. The Spire is home to three rooms in particular of utmost importance: the Celestial Room, located just beneath the peak; the Room of the Five, where pairbonding rituals are held; and the Spirepeak, the very top.

CULTURE: The Spire is where representatives of each Family gather in the Yorijian Court, led by the esteemed Calypso and her Black Guard, who dwell there in and across the Isle of Djomwhetta. Many rituals are performed within the many rooms, and it serves as a beacon of power and a capital for the entire country.

DORALO:

RACE: Yorijian dragons; Family of the Pearl. LEADER: current Patriarch. TIER: four.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: The pride of all Yorije is the city of Doralo. Made of sheer marble and polished, woven pearl, Doralo is a place of legend. Set upon the Greater Reef near the Island of Solariel, it shimmers and sparkles in the rays of the sun, seen both through the water and the swirling Sunstar Whirlpool located at the very heart of Doralo's golden keep. Through this whirlpool the sun and sky can be seen, a connection to the gods heralded as ultimately divine. The tallest towers actually breach the sea and spread into the sun - many Pearls will ascend these towers to sun themselves on their island, where many make their homes.

CULTURE: Doralo is a place mysterious to other Families, primarily for their worship of the moon; here, the sun is their keeper, portrayed in artwork on each ad every wall and door. As such, the rising and setting of the sun is a time of absolute silence, a meaningful part of everyday.

GORLAN:

RACE: Yorijian dragons; Family of the Firewaters. LEADER: current Patriarch. TIER: two.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: Gorlan is located at the heart of an extinct volcano surrounded by the volcanic chain near Driergard Crevasse, protected through magecraft from destruction year-round. A labyrinth of caverns and caves lends insight to the secretive nature of the Firewaters - for an outsider, one could get lost very, very quickly. Most of the city is carved from sheer obsidian and basalt, and lava is crafted into artistic pools and places of warmth. Statues of dragons from legend are found lining the entrance hall guarded by the Firewater Family's soldier-kin, many of which cannot be told apart from their living brethren until it is too late.

CULTURE: Nothing is known of Gorlan and its customs, save that the erupting of a neighboring volcano is a spectacle to see. Crowds of Firewaters gather at this time and pray to the gods for the warmth it gives in the icy sea, and after the eruption, gathering parties are sent to take any precious stones blown away by the explosion.

NOKESSA:

RACE: Yorijian dragons; Family of the Whiteshark. LEADER: current Patriarch. TIER: four.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: The great city of Nokessa is a proud stronghold located deep beneath the ocean, overlooking the vast Driergard Crevasse on the edge of the Forktooth. Built from solid stone and polished shell, its spiraling towers reach towards the water-veiled sky. Each wall is carved with stories of Yorijian dragons' history, including the legend of the Ancient Leviathan that dwells so very near.

CULTURE: Nokessa's Family is that of the esteemed hunters, the Whiteshark. As such, whitesharks are a common sight around the city, and live fin-in-claw with the Family that represents them. Killing of such is considered a crime punishable by death, ranking up with the destruction of one's precious Pearl. At the beginning of each month, a ceremony is held to celebrate the Family's newest hunters, telling tales of their first successful hunt. From this point forward, they are Whiteshark's proven, and thus accepted into the social hierarchy that marks Yorije apart from all else.

POVOJASTIA:

RACE: oceanic leviathan. LEADER: Poseidon the Tidecaller (NPC). TIER: one.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: none.

APPEARANCE: Hidden inside of a cliff deep within the ocean, this leviathan-built haven has very few openings. Unnaturally warm waters flow through the winding tunnels of the labyrinth, originating at the heart of the haven. A small bioluminescent ecosystem grows here, from simple moss all the way to elusive strings of siphonophores. A smaller cavern carved above the first is a prime meeting room, while a lower cavern, guarded carefully by a single leviathan, is a massive hoard of everything from stone slabs detailing their history, to priceless artifacts collected from many a shipwreck. The tunnels twist and turn upon themselves like undulating snakes, and many end without connecting to anything.

CULTURE: There is no set culture save for the Tidecaller's Law, as only one leviathan lives in Povijastia full time. The Law consists of three short rules: no fighting is tolerated here, no one may enter the lower cavern without permission, and the Ancient Tidecaller's word is Law. Should the ancient leviathan decree one is in fault of breaking any of these rules, he may devour the criminal, and none are able to stop him from seeing his will done.

QIUHZ WYPA:

RACE: merfolk. LEADER: King Tirza Trident (NPC). TIER: four.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: The great city of Quihz Wypa is known as the Pearl City for good reason. Located in Yorije, near the Forktooth Reef, it is a city crafted almost entirely from a mixture of bright coral, pearl, and marble. A towering palace that is made entirely of pearl lay at its center, home to the King, a merman loyal to the Yorijian dragons who rule beneath the sea. The rest of the city spirals outward in a wheel shape, with large towers that reach towards the surface of the ocean. Guardhouses and hippocampi stables lay near every spoke of the great wheel, speaking of a large military force.

CULTURE: Quihz Wypa has a political history that spans the ages, existing far before the coming of the Yorijian dragons. As such, their royal line - known as the Trident family - is a revered and storied lineage, even honored by Yorije as a whole. The City often plays host to some of the merfolk's greatest political debating over all things great and small. These debates range from what should be done about the surface dwellers, what goods should be imported and exported, and the most intense debate that is dividing the city: If they should rebel against their Yorijian rulers.

While the current King sits upon his throne, he desires that they continue their peaceful existence under Calypso. However, rebel movements are starting to form and some have been bold enough even call for the replacement of the King with one not of Trident blood. As of now, the city is still loyal to their ruler, but Qiuhz Wypa is fast approaching rare unrest as things get more difficult.

SYVYVESI:

RACE: Yorijian gryphon LEADER: Wajuko (NPC) TIER: three.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: A human city once above the ocean, now reclaimed by the waters and Yorijian gryphons for their own. Syvyvesi was once a trading port for many species long before Yorije became a country, evident from artifacts left behind: anything from ancient weapons to beautiful pottery may be found here. Old stone buildings have been falling apart from a mix of water damage and the gryphon fights that have taken place. Broken walls have been refurbished with larger, almost dome-like additions to better house the gryphons' size. Originally meant to be a temporary place of rest, Syvyvesi has since become an ideal place for the Yorijian gryphons to live.

CULTURE: Syvyvesi has become an ideal sanctuary, led by a single vast pod of Yorijian gryphons slender in build like their feathered Sleekwing cousins. The gryphons use their home as temporary sanctuary for other pods, and are welcomed with great hospitality. Often, this is how the pod gains new members, and mates for its existing individuals. Non-gryphon species are allowed as well, though often have an allotted time of stay, and will be driven away if they overstay their welcome. In an ancient, degrading keep, there lay a hoard of bones and scales from past hunts, usually traded in lieu of proper coin. It's possible to barter back old cultural belongings, but impossible to drive this large pod away from their home. Due to the large quantities of food that's amassed, it's common for the city to hold mirthful feasts.

WYYNG:

RACE: Yorijian dragons; Family of the Kingfisher. LEADER: current Patriarch. TIER: four.
LANGUAGE(S): Common. ALLEGIANCE: Yorije.

APPEARANCE: Located on an island in the Shoalands, Wyyng is the home of the Kingfisher family, and is one of Felnova's most extravagant cities. Built in the shape of a circling wheel, Wyyng's central hub is a fortress with great, crystalline wings like a bird. Crafted through magic, each feather is carved sapphire, beautifully rendered by skillful claws. Its towers, located at points of the compass, are inlaid with precious gemstones and metals, rivaling the work of dwarves. Each wall is tall and imposing, interspersed with multiple turrets manned by hired kaveri guards.

CULTURE: Home of the lighthearted Kingfisher, Wyyng is the location of many competitions between the five Families. Heralded as the home of sports, its tournaments are spoken of even as far as the Myrlands where wolves dwell. Portals open constantly during one of the many flying, swimming or hunting competitions; it's said that knightly skirmishes are being spoken of, and will soon be seen within the crystal-studded walls.

Landmarks:

These are the landmarks and important places scattered through this area. They can be anything from forests and rivers to special caverns, monuments, ruins, and more.

Driegard Crevasse

Home of an ancient leviathan, the Crevasse is a massive scar in the depths of the ocean so deep no dragon, not even a Whiteshark or the mysterious Firewaters, know where it ends. It is said this underwater canyon was one result of the catastrophe that created Stroen'na, though nobody knows if it's indeed true.

Dunesea

West of the reefs is a vast expanse of sand underwater that resemble the dunes of some great, submerged desert; crafted and molded by the currents of the sea, it looks akin to Exodus in Vystriana. Yorijian dragons go here to collect shells and other such trinkets, and may find things washed away from the surface world.

Firewaters

A chain of undersea volcanoes, the Firewaters are the home of the Family that shares their name. Craggy and dangerous, they constantly spew hot gasses and molten rock into the water, forming a billowing wall of heat and poison. Perhaps because of this, Gorlan, the Firewater Family's home, is the most well-protected of all of Yorije's cities.

Forktooth Reef

The Forktooth is a great coral reef shaped in the form of a broken tooth. Taken as the border between Yorije and the 'open waters' to the south, it hides merfolk rebels who seek to overthrow the draconian Court.

Greater Ridge Reef

The Greater Reef is a massive coral reef closest to the Vystrian coast. It expands southwest some ways to join the Lesser Ridge Reef at Solariel Island, where the two reefs connect. Beneath the waves, it's a beautiful sight to behold, filled with ruby coral and the sealife that lives within it. Great swathes of seaweed sway in among its protective spires, and barnacles dot every jagged rock.

Isle of Djomwhetta

The Isle is the central hub of all Yorije; a place of wonder, in it lay the Spire, home of Calypso, her Black Guard, and her Court. It is a island known for its vast, sandy beaches and lush, green jungle. Along the northern half, the jungle mellows into rolling grassland, until breaking apart into a multitude of sandy islets.

Lesser Ridge Reef

Much like its Greater brother, the Lesser Reef is a beautiful coral structure that holds the homes of many creatures. Deeper than the Greater, darker sealife can be found here, a home for kraken and octopi, as well as ocean snakes and viperfish.

Niona's Plateau

An underwater plateau said to be forever stained with Firewater blood. The very place of Niona's death, an usurper who pretended to be the Daughter of Yorije while slaughtering countless black-pearl eggs. She was killed by the true Daughter, and since, the sand has never grown any plantlife, and remains forever red.

Shoalands

Told to be a remnant of Stroen'na when it broke apart and away from Alubria long ago, the Shoalands are a series of floating islands that hang just above the sea. Though they move about marginally, these small sky-islands never stray from the sight of Djomwhetta.

Solariel island

Where the Greater Ridge Reef and Lesser Ridge Reef connect and climb upwards lay the coral-rich island of Solariel, surrounded on all sides by a variety of thriving sea-life. Touched first by the rising sun, its rocky mountains tower towards the sky, one side alive with crawling moss. Birds sing loudly in the many trees located in its tropical forest, beaches replace by stones used by many as sunning rocks.