World of Samardan: Local Geography...

Good Afternoon, Everyone:

I'm still working on finalizing the map I want to use for the World of Samardan campaign setting. Making the Granbalem ("Great Valley") region look interesting has been quite a challenge for me. However, I have made a list of geographic locales I wanted to make sure I included on the final map. Here are some basic descriptions of the more prominent geographic regions and elements:

Barbalemdan ("upper+valley+land"): The habitable region known as the Grandbalem is divided into two regions, one being the upper valley known as the Barbalemdan. Much of the mineral-based resources of the region come from this region. Only a few remnants of the Ancient Ones remain behind in the upper valley.

Blendel ("highland+rift"): A deep chasm dividing the Torafeldan, the Blendel has been carved by the Tratagak River over many millennia of erosion. In this region, only the city of the Ancient Ones now called Pulsok ("bridge+height") connects the wastelands of either side for those who would travel by land.

Dulamader ("dark+forest"): This dense jungle, located in the Malbalemdan, is very dangerous, filled with many strange and unusual creatures; survivors insist that even some of the local flora is carnivorous. Yet, rumors persist of great wealth to be found in the holds of many airships that have mysterious crashed while flying over this region.

Malbalemdan ("lower+valley+land"): The Malbalemdan is the lower valley region of the Granbalem, which is covered with lush forests and marshes surrounding a small salt lake. Most of the Granbalem's agricultural resources can be found in this area. No one has discovered any extensive ruins of the Ancient Ones that were left behind in the lower valley. Dinosaurs and other terrible beasts are frequently encountered in the wilderness of this region.

Milapand ("salty+body of water"): This shallow salt lake located at the base of the Malbalemdan is among the last vestiges of standing water on the planet's surface. Only dire beasts of a reptilian nature and very quick fish appear to dwell within the waters of Milapand.

Soradigari ("golden+hills"): So named because of the bright yellowish color of clay in the soil, these hills of the Barbalemdan are said to be the home of unusual abominations and several sites left behind by the Ancient Ones.

Torafeldan, The ("rocky+wastes+land"): The local name for the desolate wastelands that cover most of the surface of Samardan, this is the native home for the Husrani people. Here, tribes of the hyena-men dwell in the remains of various ruined cities of the Ancient Ones, migrating from site to site as the hunting grows lean.

Tratagak River ("ancient+flowing water"): The river that flows through the deep chasm of the Blendel into the Granbalem, through the Barbalemdan and Malbalemdan before emptying into the Milapand.

Like most maps/settings I build for gaming purposes, I look forward to the day when these place names take on personal significance, backed by a number of great playing sessions. I love it when a group has been playing in a region long enough that everyone at the table has a strong familiarity with the locale. When they can speak of it as if they had visited there on vacation last year, then I've done a good job. As a GM creating an immersive world, that's one of the things I live for.

Enjoy,
Flynn