The first land of the world: islands in the western sea, ringed by winds that turn every sailor back.
Raised: c. 6,000 years before year zero (First Age), by Sylvanus — the first act of creation.
Story
Sylvanus raised an archipelago in the western sea, shaped it, and set permanent winds about it that drive any sailor away, so that the islands are almost impossible to reach. At the same time Astralis grew a bamboo here like no other — waterproof yet hard and supple — with as yet no one to use it.
Its islands include Elaruun, the dragon’s island; and Nyravel, the Last Tide’s island, with its city Nerathis. Around 2,000 years before year zero the Water Elves were made and spread through the islands along the cold currents, the bamboo letting them build rafts; their Explorers set out for far shores, and a party that turned inward became the Last Tide. Around year 100 the Astral Chord learned that the bamboo, bent and poured just so, gives tones that stun any listener.
With the Coming of Magic two of the four known Great Crystals stood here — on Elaruun and on the Last Tide’s island. At the Shattering (c. year 630) the Last Tide’s crystal broke, chosen by chance, and the rest cracked.
Now
The Last Tide’s island is wild magic and Monstrosities, its decadent navy unable to build new ships for a generation. Sylvariel keeps to Elaruun. The winds still hold.
Connections
- Sylvanus — raised it and its winds
- Water Elves — its people, bamboo-raft sailors
- Elaruun · Nyravel — its named islands; Nerathis — the city on Nyravel
- Shattering — broke the crystal on the Last Tide’s island