Korak

This is a screen preview of an old, low-res image of the continent of Korak. It lacks some newer data, but what's there is accurate.

Korak is the western most of the two far northern continents on Menelon. The islands of North and South Jarlstadt are typically considered part of the continent, as they are separated from the continent only by the Kierkken fjord, which isn't really visible from space. Korak is home to two major kingdoms—though one has recently dissolved into a collection of semi-independent regional powers—and two minor states. It is also home to the largest remaining wilderness area on the planet,¹ which has become a nursery for dragons and home to all manner creatures from the planet's evolutionary past. Few save the bravest adventurers dare to tread Korak's wild north lands. For the rest, bright steel is the only thing that keeps Korak's settled lands free from marauding bands of orcs and trolls and goblins and wyverns—and worse!

Geographically, it is the south east, home to the rich and powerful Kingdom of Cascadia, that has the most water and arable land. The Caspian River delta has some of the most fertile land on the planet, and the rich, rolling hills of “the wine country” in the south eastern corner of the continent produces delicious sweet wines that are exported all over the planet. The western side of the continent, home to the war like Balcheri, is full of fjords and rivers that run between the rugged mountainous terrain. Only pockets of arable can be found, and the Balcheri work it to the hilt.

The northern wastelands contain massive plains that grow tough grasses and scrubs that are home to the Korakian Aurochs, a small, untamable bovine fierce enough to take on a a pack of orcs and win. They have very long, and very sharp horns and are incredibly strong. All attempts at domesticating them have failed, though the mountaineers often hunt them for meat, along with the Wooly Bison. Unlike the aurochs, Korak's native buffalo is huge, strong, and stubborn. While not as easily angered as the aurochs, the bison have been known to trample entire hives of orcs under foot when pushed into a stampede. (The aurochs don't stampeded, they form lines of defense with their huge horns, and then, pushed to attach, charge like a line of cavalry.) Despite the danger, the aurochs and bison are the staple animal protein of all the large predators in the north. Only the wyvern can hunt them in relative safety. For the big cats and wolf packs – and even man! – they are a challenge indeed!

In other areas, near the mountains, dense forests carpet the land. One, the Great Forest of Tinhellerin, was once home to the largest elven population in the northern hemisphere, and also the largest (semi)active inter-dimensional gateway on Menelon. As of 580 CE, Tinhellerin remains unpopulated, but well guarded by the dwarves. The other wilderness forests are home to far less august creatures such as deer, elk, squirrels, and all the other creatures one would expect to find in a temperate forest.