South Chrysalis

South Chrysalis is defined by dramatic contrasts... an entire continent sculpted by tectonic upheaval, dense jungle canopies, and ancient river systems that predate written history.

Kingdom of Bumia

Bumia is a land of unyielding mountains, many of them sheer cliffs or stacked ridgelines broken only by narrow passes. The terrain is so unforgiving that only seven percent of the kingdom is genuinely habitable. Carved villages cling to slopes like stubborn moss; terraced farms appear as fragile steps carved into giants.

Its northernmost reaches cradle a belt of rainforest: thick, dripping with moisture, and teeming with unusual flora that manage to survive the cold by absorbing heat from geothermal vents deep underground.

At the heart of Bumia is the Kiruan Waterfall, a cascading titan of water plunging from a glacier-fed cliff. It is one of the most iconic natural landmarks on Caelum Prime.

Cubria Empire

Cubria is the continent's great expanse of flatlands and rainforest, a green sea stretching for hundreds of miles. About half of the empire is dense humid rainforest, broken by the river channels like the mighty Lindero River, whose branching waterways feed towns, farms, and the empire's monumental logging and agricultural operations.

The southern and western edges flatten into humid grasslands, dotted with monsoon-adapted trees and small farming communities.

South Chrysalis' ecosystems operate on extremes of height, moisture, and temperature:

1. Mountain Ecology (Kingdom of Bumia)
• Alpine mosses, lichens, and cold-tolerant shrubs
• Snow always present above 7,000 ft
• Herding animals adapted to thin air and steep terrain
• Apex predators that stalk narrow ridges
• Rainforest pockets heated by geothermal activity
• This region is fragile; a single landside can erase an entire valley community.
2. Rainforest Ecology (Cubria Empire)
• Towering canopy trees reaching 60-90m
• Swampy river deltas hosting amphibious mega fauna
• Orchids, medicinal herbs, carnivorous plants
• Insects the size of small birds
• Eaters and Mongrels using the dense canopy as hunting grounds
• The rainforest operates on constant decomposition and renewal. Life grows fast and dies fast.
3. Grasslands and Transitional Zones
• Seasonal blooms
• Herd species
• Birds of prey migrating between coasts and mountains

These ecosystems are tightly interlocked. River overflow feeds rainforest soil, while melting mountain snow feeds rivers and lakes.

Seasonal Cycles

South Chrysalis experiences two major seasons and two minor transitions:

• Verdant Cycle: heavy rains, expansion of rivers, rainforest renewal
• Dry Cycle: Slower plant growth, mountain snows stabilize
• Thawing Weeks: Glaciers melt and feed the Kiruan Waterfall
• Breathless Night: Rainforest humidity spikes, fog drifts inland

Celestial Cycles

The continent is sensitive to lunar alignments, which influence:

• Rainforest tides
• Nocturnal animal breeding
• A rare mountain event called the Snow-Break, where peaks glow faintly under a double-moon alignment

Bumian Snow-Cap Permanence

No matter the season, Bumia's mountain peaks remain perpetually snow-covered. Local scholars believe this is due to an unknow astral effect that cause unusually efficient heat dissipation.

Cubian Mild-Storm Paradox

Despite being half rainforest, Cubria receives far fewer storms than expected. Locals claim the land is "protected by old spirits." Scholars argue the region sits in a uniquely stable pressure system.

Rainfall is moderate, steady, and reliable but very rarely violent.

Mountains (Bumia): Cold, dry, sharp winds; high-altitude frost

Rainforest (Cubria): Hot, humid, moisture-rich air; warm nights

Lowlands/Grasslands: Moderate temperatures with humid breezes.

Coastal Regions: Warm ocean winds; occasional fog belts

The continent hosts countless species. Signature examples include:

Fauna

Wind-Grazers: Metamorphic mountain herbivores shifting between grounded and gliding forms

Ridgeclaw Panthers; Predators that scale vertical cliff faces effortlessly

Gloom Herons: Silent rainforest birds with night-black feathers

Mireback Beasts: Semi-aquatic megafauna that churn riverbanks

Star-Tongue Frogs: Amphibians whose croaks mimic the night sky's hum

Flora

Ironroot Trees: Rainforest giants with metallic bark used in Cubrian construction

Lurkmoss: A bioluminescent moss carpeting Bumian caverns

Dawnpetal Vine: Blooms only at sunrise, used in royal ceremonies

Glacedown Shrub: Alpine plant with frost-resistant petals

Some flora and fauna are used medicinally, others spiritually, and others in warfare.

Abundant Resources

Hardwood timber (Cubria)

Medicinal herbs (Cubria)

High-altitude minerals (Bumia)

Freshwater from Bumia's glaciers

Geothermal pockets (Bumia's rainforest edges)

Extraction & Protection

The Cubria Empire heavily extracts timber and river minerals, often clashing with environmentalists.

The Kingdom of Bumia restricts mining due to erosion and cultural reverence for mountains

Several groups in Cubria fight to preserve old-growth forests.

Depleted Resources

Several sacred groves in Cubria were logged centuries ago and have not recovered.

Certain alpine herbs in Bumia are nearly extinct due to overharvesting.

South Chrysalis is steeped in conflict and myth:

Cubria's history is intertwined with the Gloombringers and The Blue Curtain, which shaped its early militaristic expansion.

Bumia endured a small period of fractured mountain rule before unifying under a single crown.

Border skirmishes, rainforest rebellions, and mountain disputes defined much of their shared history.

The Hollow Coast Bridge served as a wartime chokepoint multiple times.

Despite this, the two nations have maintained long stretches of peace, usually mutually beneficial and occasionally tense.

Before the Cinder War, visitors flocked to:

• Falcon's Nest: Cliffside city with legendary views
• Kiruan Waterfall: Romantic pilgrimage site
• Lwendiasa Library: An architectural and historical treasure

After the war:

• Kiruan Waterfall remains a symbol of romance and renewal
• The Lwendiasa Library is quieter but lovingly preserved
• Forest travel diminished due to conflict scars and damaged infrastructure.