The Commonwealth of Iyen

Patron Deity: The Hero Shrine: The Swordpoint   General Climate: Temperate/Alpine Region     Geography: Iyen is a temperate region, experiencing a regular four season year. Most of the towns in Iyen are against one of the splits of the Spine, from where it diverges on the edge of Priavegia. This rounded mountain range is officially the Skullbound Peaks, but unless you are a scholar, the locals just call the round and the valley “Head”. The Westbound Split is known as the Arm of Asckes, after a former Incarnation of the Hero who saved most of Iaeton from a Human paladin who was corrupted by the Void, into trying to perform a genetic crusade across the continent. The Eastbound Split is the Shield of Hamon, actually named after the daughter of a different Incarnation of the Hero. Hamon and Asckes meet near the south end of Iyen at the Dueling Peaks, where the Capital of Iyen, Eacai lies. The curving of the Spine has created a natural split between weather zones, as many of the cities exterior to the Head are exposed to a Temperate Coastal zone, with high humidity and frequent rains, while the interior often leads to a much more dry and stable mountainous weather system. Cities are frequent through the mountainous areas, often dotting both sides, connecting cities with bridges through the mountains, or tunnels beneath their cores, connected to Vaults here and there from the Early ages. Smaller villages that pay tribute taxes to the larger cities dot the landscape, often providing food and other goods the mountains cannot. The Trees here form loose canopies, allowing for lots of light to shine through the underbrush and foliage below, sometimes making wildfires a danger during the dry season.This often leads to trenches and ”cut zones” where Iyen rangers will go into the forests and cut down clearings of trees while digging up underbrush, so that in the case of these wildfires, they don't spread close enough to hit the major cities, or head down the mountain to the flatlands. Among the oddities of natural phenomena in Iyen, are the Primordia, large natural creatures that will sleep for months at a time, but look like outcroppings of Rock or even in some rare cases, small 50 foot peaks that jut off of the main ranges. These creatures will rally every 5 years or so, in the Moving of the Mountains, a Migration event where herds of a few dozen Primordia will move along the forest, knocking down trees for food, trampling new trails in the undergrowth, and generally making a mess of things. There are hunting bounties placed by local governments to either redirect or bring down the largest of these beasts, who are far more difficult to redirect from their paths to go around cities. However, they are otherwise a protected species, as their living rock provides home to many forms of wildlife, and they often form caches of naturally occurring Dust that can be harvested as one might hear a sheep, or collect pearls from an oyster.   The other phenomenon unique to Iyen has been called Jumping Groves. These trees, often form close groups of 10-15 trees, with light blue bark, and leaves or needles of stark white, or a faint yellow. Most civilized traders and pathfinders avoid groves like these, as at certain times of day, all living animals in these natural portals will be transported somewhere else in Iyen, often to another set of these groves. Most of these connections seem to be random, though a local group of Sylvari and their commune of naturalists seem to have worked out a few of the connections, as their path through Iyen involves a few of these groves. Some of these groves have been cut down, but it seems when one of these nodes of power is removed, a new grove is converted from a natural grouping of trees in another area. This process is called ghosting by Iyeni citizens, as the natural greens and reds of trees will begin to bleach, while their browns and greys will doak in the color of the sky. Among conjuration magic specialists, the Sap of a Blink Tree is a valuable material, often used to help create inks used to create portals or temporary gates to other planes. Collecting the Sap takes a trained hand, and delicate care to ensure that none of the sap touches bare skin, until it has been dried and powdered, as in its liquid state, the Sap is likely to randomly teleport the unfortunate harvester at inopportune moments until it is washed off, or the latent energy within the sap wears off. It usually doesn’t result in any kind of injury, but it seems at least once every year or two, some unlucky harvester is shunted into a wall or tree, and the splintering of the harvester from the solid object leads to some severe injury, or in some very rare cases, death. Residents: Iyens citizens are a fairly hearty mix of above ground species, with the most common race in the region being Jal’rok and other Hakirish species, followed by a fairly high concentration of Kitsune, due to their proximity to Ayru, and the remaining majorities comprising of Minos who live throughout the mountains, and Sylvari who live through the tree lines. There is also a fairly significant Vault near the split of the Spine, which has evolved into a surface based city with plenty of Vaulters and Asura living in tandem, and the rare Morgal among their assembly. All other species can be found in pockets of the Freelands, as Iyen prides itself as being a place where anyone’s voice can be heard.   Society The Government of Iyen is a Republic, run by the Council of Journeymen, elected representatives from each of the major cities-states of Iyen. The Council has control over the Militia, as well as general taxation laws to keep the Militia armed and able to defend Iyen’s Borders, however laws vary from city to city, as the Charter of the Common Folk prevents the Council from interfering in the personal business of any of the members of the Charter.     Conflicts and Threats   Notable Locations   Points of Note: Iyen is the 5th Region of Iaeton, the Southern Continent in the Eastern Hemisphere of Kalio. For the most part, Iyen is a fairly temperate region, experiencing a regular four season year. Most of the towns in Iyen are against one of the splits of the Spine, from where it diverges on the edge of Priavegia. The Westbound Split is known as Asckes, after a former Incarnation of the Hero who saved most of Iaeton from a Human paladin who was corrupted by the Void, into trying to perform a genetic crusade across the continent. The Eastbound Split is Hamon, actually named after the daughter of a different Incarnation of the Hero. Hamon and Asckes meet near the south end of Iyen at the Dueling Peaks, where the Capital of Iyen, Eacai lies.   The Government of Iyen is a Republic, run by the Council of Journeymen, elected representatives from each of the major city-states of Iyen. The Council has control over the Militia, as well as general taxation laws to keep the Militia armed and able to defend Iyen’s Borders, however laws vary from city to city, as the Charter of the Common Folk prevents the Council from interfering in the personal business of any of the members of the Charter.