Gaia Ilands

The Gaia Islands are a unique continent made up of five massive outer islands encircling a sixth, larger central island. Though referred to as islands, each one is vast enough to house multiple civilizations and large populations they are among the largest landmasses in the known world. These islands are also the ancestral homeland of the Beastfolk, with each outer island historically claimed and shaped by one of the Beastfolk subtypes. For most of recorded history, the five islands remained under the dominion of their respective lineages.

The central island, Gaianthar, has a far more convoluted history. It has seen enormous conflicts, shifting alliances, and times of harmony throughout millennia. While it was previously a source of severe conflict, Gaianthar has evolved into a shared territory with people who are more connected and worried about the outside world and less consumed by historic rivalries and territory for the moment.

Geography

Lopvera Home to the Bunnyfolk

The landscape on this island is that of luscious green plains with several rolling hills breaking up the terrain. These hills divide into three main zones: the Northcrest Downs, the Hart Fold in the south, and the Momiji Rise near the center. On the east side of the island, you'll find two distinct swamps Whispermarsh in the center and Crookroot Mire down in the south. Several ponds and rivers like Thistleflow and Lapi Creek wind throughout the land, creating a peaceful and fertile environment.

Mirakasha Home to the Catfolk

This island has a wide amount of terrain for the Catfolk to explore, hunt, and build their civilizations. Toward the southern tip of the island is a swamp called Murkpaw Fen. The northwest holds a stretch of rolling hills, while the lush central forest known as the Velwhisper Wilds is deep and shaded, perfect for stealthy clans. On the eastern side of the island is the Kashari Spine, a mountain range that runs along the edge of a desert region called Sunsprawl Expanse. Most of the island is surrounded by grassland, with rivers like Galdera Run and Silverclaw Fork mostly appearing near the central to western side. A few rivers also flow from the mountains down toward the south.

Duvharka Home to the Wolffolk

This island is actually made up of two landmasses so close together that the sea between them is shallow enough to walk across. The smaller northern island is mostly desert, with a central mountain range called Howlspire Crags that includes a dormant volcano. The larger southern island is long and full of variation. It starts with a small forest in the north called Leto Grove, followed by a stretch of desert known as The Red Hunger, then a Odette mountain range and another small forest know as the Silverfang woods, finally ending in the Moonclaw Ridge down south. There are several rivers throughout the area, including Fangroot Vein and Lonewolf River, making it a dynamic landscape for the pack-driven Wolffolk.

Kumharth Home to the Bearfolk

This is a land of sturdy ground and thick woods, with several forests like Brimfur Hollow and Hearthpine Vale scattered across the land. Two large mountain ranges dominate the center and west the Stonecoil Heights and Karmal’s Rest giving the Bearfolk places to carve out homes and temples. Plenty of rivers run down from these mountains, including the Havenflow and Yaro Creek, making the island rich in freshwater and perfect for homesteads and quiet strength.

Vulmyra Home to the Foxfolk

If you could see this island from the sky, you'd swear it was shaped like a crescent moon. In the middle of that crescent lie two smaller isles Dusksand Hollow to the south, which is completely desert, and Celeste Mirror to the north, which has a mountain called Mount Echoheart, some sparse grassland, and a large pond called Erika. The main island is home to two major forest zones: Whimvale in the south, filled with ponds but never soggy, and Stargleam Thicket to the north. In the center of the island rises a purple-hued mountain range known as The Moonpetals, surrounded by rivers that flow through much of the land.

Gaianthar Claimed by All the Beastfolk

This is the central island that belongs to all the Beastfolk. It features almost every kind of terrain. At its heart lies Mt. Zaruvan, an active volcano that rarely erupts but is still feared and respected it is the mountion range Kenta . Around the Kenta mountion range are two major deserts Blazebasin Dunes in the East and Dustdrift Wastes in the south. There’s a small mountain range in the east called the Thunderjaw Range, while forests like Twinshade Woods, Cindertail Grove, and Verdenthrall Expanse are spread between the borders of different clans. There’s also a hilly area near the Bunnyfolk side called the Lapinrise Hills, and closer to the coasts you’ll find two big swamp zones: Mossmire Hollow and Siltveil Marsh.  
Gaia Islands

Climate

Lopvera

Most of Lopvera’s climate stays between 40°F to 80°F year round. It gets a lot of rain in specific areas, mostly in the swamp zones, but not much snow during the winter. While it does get decently cold in the colder seasons, it’s rarely extreme. Some parts of the island get good wind flow, though the rolling hills tend to block much of it in the southern and central regions. The eastern swamp areas, however, are very humid, often making those parts feel hotter sometimes reaching up to 90°F or even 100°F depending on the time of year.

Mirakasha

Mirakasha has one of the widest ranges of weather across the six islands. The western side tends to vary greatly, with temperatures ranging from around 30°F in the cold season up to 90°F in the heat, and it sees a decent amount of rainfall. Humidity is high in some areas, making the hotter days feel like they’re in the hundreds. The northern part of the island enjoys cooler seasons and sometimes gets snow during the winter, while the eastern desert region tends to stay hotter than cold throughout the year. Rain is light in that area, and winters are usually mild and dry.

Duvharka

Duvharka the weather here depends a lot on which of the island you’re on. The northern island barely gets any rain, and it stays hot nearly all year. However, the nights there can drop sharply and get extremely cold. The southern mainland experiences a full spectrum of climates, with heavy rains, deep snowfalls, and blazing heat all depending on the season and location. If you’re on the coastline, the strong ocean breeze helps during summer months, offering relief from the heat, but it can also make winter feel much colder than it actually is.

Kumharth

Kumharth is known for having very comfortable summers, with temperatures usually staying below 85°F to 90°F even at their hottest. Winters are cold and often bring heavy snowfall across most of the region. Spring here is especially beautiful, with fresh growth, blooming flowers, and cool, crisp air. If you’re near the woods, you’ll find great shaded areas and a pleasant breeze flowing through. The same goes for the coastline, which enjoys a steady, refreshing wind that makes the edges of the land feel peaceful all year round.

Vulmyra

Vulmyra’s weather tends to swing to the extremes due to the variety in its terrain. The forests experience the most rainfall, while also getting beautiful winter snowfall that doesn’t overwhelm the land. The inner plains and mountain areas have surprisingly steady weather light rain in the colder seasons and mild, not too hot summers. The strange part is how the climate behaves on the two smaller islands. Dusksand Hollow, even though it’s a desert, never gets too hot and stays windy most of the time, with the highest temperatures rarely reaching 90°F. Sorei’s Mirror is similar, but it actually sees consistent rainfall and shifts through all four seasons like a mainland region, making both islets uniquely unpredictable.

Gaianthar

Gaianthar truly has it all. Temperatures here can fall below freezing in one region and rise over 100°F in another, depending on location and season. Some areas have dry, scorching heat, while others are thick with humidity. You’ll find heavy snow in the mountains, muggy air in the forests, hot sandstorms in the deserts, and cool breezes rolling through the grasslands. Ice, hail, fog, rain, blazing sun if there’s a kind of weather or a seasonal shift, you’re almost guaranteed to find it somewhere on this island.


Cover image: by Valcin (Marc Zipper)

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