The Moon Shards

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Like passing into the eye of the storm, the tumultuous weather that had followed us for the past few days seems to have dissipated as we broach the Shards. Its starnge, I thought we'd have run ashore of Othna by now. The shift of the islands confuses me each time I try and enter these lands, but I shall find a way to understand them one day.
— Excerpt from a Captain's Journal
 
The Moon Shards is a huge archipelago of 23 major islands. It is located in the far south of Ossalimar and east of Kyradon. It is separated from the major continents by the Kyratos Sea. With islands ranging from a few miles long, such as Koreda, to city bearing islands like the vast Mu'tarna, the archipelago is mainly split between two societies: the Drendonic Tribes and the Lantern Wanderers.
 

Geography

The Moon Shards have an intense magical aura that causes the islands to slowly shift and change, causing maps to quickly become out of date, and needing to be updated constantly. As a result, many expeditions that claim to discus the geography of the archipelago seem to find that they are quickly corrected upon returning. As recently as 752 AR, some sailors who have returned form known trade routes in the Moon Shards, have claimed that they saw a number of the islands starting to float into the air.
 

Known Islands

Koreda
The smallest of the major islands within the archipelago, Koreda is known as the site of an ancient Giant temple. In the last ten years, the temple has been searched by members of the Obsidian Forge, who discovered a forge deep within the island.
Mu'tarna
The largest island in the archipelago, Mu'tarna is the primary home of the Drendonic Tribes. It contains the closest resemblence to a city within the archipelago, with several major settlements, but most of them are built around a lack of magical potentital in comparison to other civilizations around the world.
Ja'ne'thta
The second largest of the islands, Ja'ne'thta is the only permanent home of the Lantern Wanderers, a group of primarily nomads, who traverse the ever-changing Ja'ne'thta, which seems to shift and move more sporadically than other islands in the archipelago, leading them to discover more about the nature of the arcane.
Othna
Often the northern most island in the arhipelago, Othna seems to be bound in a similar region due to a strange link with powerful primordial rites that stem from The Dawning. There's a strong sense of nature in the island, its only inhabitant being a druidic elf that is said to have survived through The Shatter
The Moon Shards
Moon Shards by Owen Davies
General Information
Full Name The Moon Shards
Terrain
  • Coastal
Fauna
  • Myatha
  • Dinosaurs (possibly)
Location Information
Plane Material Plane (Nonvyrox)
Historical Information
Created During The Shatter
Affiliated With
  • Drendonic Tribes
  • Lantern Wanderers

History

Pre-Shatter

Much of the history of the region known as the Moon Shards from before The Shatter has been lost over the centuries of the divine war. There are small fragmented rumours, but nothing is certain when it comes to the origin of the archipelago.   In the past few decades, as people have started to explore the region, a mythos has begun to appear surrounding the name and cause of the unusual islands. The most common myth is that in the earliest years of existence there was once a landmass in the region. This landmass was said to be home to many different strange and unsual materials and creatures, alongside a civilization of Giants with thier own pantheon of beings. However, this Pantheon got too greedy and started encroaching on the power of The Prime Pantheon.   As a result, the joint forces of several of the Primes brought down the power of a suppposed third moon on the planet, crashing into landmass and scattering it. The runic magic of the Giants combined with ancient primordial rites to create a nexus of magic that influences the scattered islands that remained. This is why people call the land the Moon Shards, believing it originates from the destruction of a moon into the continent.

The Shatter

While information of the Moon Shards is scarce for the times leading up to and during The Shatter, the Moon Shards have become intimately known for the magical power that seemed to emanate from it over the course of the many centuries of the divine conflict.   Some of the stories that still remain of the area during the divine war are focused on what can be gleened about the end of the conflict. There are remnants of the original cultures of the lands. One family that can trace its line back to a survivor from the Moon Shards spoke of a powerful Giant that lived in one of the central islands, a herder of various animals. Their island was a home to a mass of animals and creatures unlike anything the other continents have seen. Lizards the size of a building that could swallow a humanoid in a single bite.   It is said that Thoura and Exa are responsible for the strange magical phenomena on the island, their magical prowess with the arcane secrets of the realm twisting and shaping reality around the isalnds. Combined with the supposed third moon and Runic magic, the swirling potential of the islands resulted in a mass of different magical personalities emerging from the Moon Shards.

Age of Reclamation

Much of the Age of Reclamation has been revolved around exploring the islands of the Moon Shards to try and discover the most accurate version of the archipelago. Since global travel became easier with the advent of more sturdy ships, travel to the Moon Shards through expeditions and travel became more common.   By 139 AR, a large envoy of explorers and adventurers from a number of nations travelled south from the Marros Valley towards the Moon Shards. After spending a number of months, and eventually years on the islands, they took the name of the Lantern Wanderers. They found themselves rivalled with the Drendonic Tribes for the space among the islands. And over the many years, the two societies have had a tenuous relationship. Including the destruction of many of the ships that were initially brought with the Lantern Wanderers, leading to the archipelago being isolated from society for many years.   The most accurate map of the Moon Shards was compiled in 582 AR by a combination of cartographers, explorers, and archivists. Hired on a voyage by the Obsidian Forge, many of this set of adventurers spent time among both societies and found themselves staying alongside various others in the communities. Though at least seven of these explorers returned with information that is the current standard of information from the Obsidian Forge to this date.
 

Pre-Shatter

Much of the history of the region known as the Moon Shards from before The Shatter has been lost over the centuries of the divine war. There are small fragmented rumours, but nothing is certain when it comes to the origin of the archipelago.   In the past few decades, as people have started to explore the region, a mythos has begun to appear surrounding the name and cause of the unusual islands. The most common myth is that in the earliest years of existence there was once a landmass in the region. This landmass was said to be home to many different strange and unsual materials and creatures, alongside a civilization of Giants with thier own pantheon of beings. However, this Pantheon got too greedy and started encroaching on the power of The Prime Pantheon.   As a result, the joint forces of several of the Primes brought down the power of a suppposed third moon on the planet, crashing into landmass and scattering it. The runic magic of the Giants combined with ancient primordial rites to create a nexus of magic that influences the scattered islands that remained. This is why people call the land the Moon Shards, believing it originates from the destruction of a moon into the continent.

The Shatter

While information of the Moon Shards is scarce for the times leading up to and during The Shatter, the Moon Shards have become intimately known for the magical power that seemed to emanate from it over the course of the many centuries of the divine conflict.   Some of the stories that still remain of the area during the divine war are focused on what can be gleened about the end of the conflict. There are remnants of the original cultures of the lands. One family that can trace its line back to a survivor from the Moon Shards spoke of a powerful Giant that lived in one of the central islands, a herder of various animals. Their island was a home to a mass of animals and creatures unlike anything the other continents have seen. Lizards the size of a building that could swallow a humanoid in a single bite.   It is said that Thoura and Exa are responsible for the strange magical phenomena on the island, their magical prowess with the arcane secrets of the realm twisting and shaping reality around the isalnds. Combined with the supposed third moon and Runic magic, the swirling potential of the islands resulted in a mass of different magical personalities emerging from the Moon Shards.

Age of Reclamation

Much of the Age of Reclamation has been revolved around exploring the islands of the Moon Shards to try and discover the most accurate version of the archipelago. Since global travel became easier with the advent of more sturdy ships, travel to the Moon Shards through expeditions and travel became more common.   By 139 AR, a large envoy of explorers and adventurers from a number of nations travelled south from the Marros Valley towards the Moon Shards. After spending a number of months, and eventually years on the islands, they took the name of the Lantern Wanderers. They found themselves rivalled with the Drendonic Tribes for the space among the islands. And over the many years, the two societies have had a tenuous relationship. Including the destruction of many of the ships that were initially brought with the Lantern Wanderers, leading to the archipelago being isolated from society for many years.   The most accurate map of the Moon Shards was compiled in 582 AR by a combination of cartographers, explorers, and archivists. Hired on a voyage by the Obsidian Forge, many of this set of adventurers spent time among both societies and found themselves staying alongside various others in the communities. Though at least seven of these explorers returned with information that is the current standard of information from the Obsidian Forge to this date.

Flora and Fauna

Fauna
There are many strange and altered fauna in the Moon Shards. There are creatures that are larger forms of creatures, such as Giant Rams and Giant Chicken, remnants of the ancient Giants. Different fauna has adapted to fit the everchanging challenges of the isalnds.
Flora
Magic is infused in the very essence of the islands, which has bloomed into many of the flora of the lands. There are powerful healing agents and poisons in the same family of ivy and vines, but there are also flowers known to empower certain schools of magic.

Environment

Due to the magical nature of the archipelago, the environment of the islands can vary drastically from island to island. However, the majority of them experience two intense seasons, a rain season and a drought season. During each of these rain and sun are intensely prominent, often going days without seeing the other. Many of the people who reside on the island long term have found a way to prepare for both scenarios, avoiding constant flooding or lack of water.   The central two islands of Mu'tarna and Ja'ne'thta are known to be warmer than most other islands, providing a more stable climate for habitation. The region is still warmer than most other regions of the world, with a powerful wind known to blow like a scorching furnace against the skin.   Many of the islands contain mountainous terrain that is difficult to scale without training or access to flight due to the sheer faces of these cliffs. However, there are those among the island residents who have learned to scale them due to the benefit of high ground and access to mountain springs in the dryer seasons.

Society

Drendonic Tribes

Main Article: Drendonic Tribes   Those who have been to the Moon Shards, often refer to the Drendonic Tribes as the indigeounous people of the archipelago, with many of them having been born in the islands over the course of the last few centuries. It is still unclear as to how many of the people of the Tribes surviived the fallout of The Shatter, however they seem to have become somewhat open to the idea of trade, both of goods and information. In recent years, they have developed a tentative trade with the Daunka Province and several smaller independent shipping organizations in both Ossalimar and Kyradon. However, while goods have been traded, the sacred practices and knowledge of the island is their greatest secret and they keep it as part of their religious practice.

Lantern Wanderers

Main Article: Lantern Wanderers   While the Drendonic Tribes are the people who originated in the islands, the Lantern Wanderers are a mostly nomadic people who are said to be descended from a group of explorers and envoys who were sent to the islands after they were rediscovered early after The Parting. The group is split into several nomadic factions that explore the land, sea, and sky using a unique set of innate abilities that each member of the Lantern Wanderers possessses. This has allowed them to become the foremost experts on the natural world of the Moon Shards and this has led to some conflict with the Drendonic Tribes, who see the lands as sacred, and the knowledge of the place as a secret that is theirs to covet and keep.

Notable People

Name Pronouns Location Description
Laranyel She/Her Othna Wood Elf Archdruid. For the last several centuries, Laranyel has been a staple of the Moon Shards. She is often considered the guardian of the island Othna, being its only constant inhabitant. She resembles an older human with the only distinction of her elven heritage being her pointed ears. Those who have visited her often say she speaks as if in riddles towards each person she meets.
Myheras Rye’Mornth He/Him Mu’Tarna Giantkin Tundrosta of the Drendonic Tribes. Born under the might of the Stormbringer, Myheras ascended to the title of Tundostra after completing the traditional pilgrimage from the city of Menta-Dharn through to the southern most tip of the Moon Shards. For the past 20 years, Myheras has acted as the most senior leadership within the Drendonic Tribes, being the only person that all Tribes defer to.
Ehlian Corelane He/They Ja’ne’thta God-Touched Land Walker of the Lantern Wanderers. Ehlian is descended from the first explorers that made up the Lantern Wanderers. When the nomadic people of the Wanderers split among the land and the sky in 594 AR, Ehlian’s father took charge of the Land faction of the Wanderers. After his passing in 649 AR, Ehlian took charge of the people, ensuring that the land of the Lantern Wanderer’s home island of Ja’ne’thta.
Tyranna Melthra She/Her Ja’ne’thta Fiendling Sky Warden of the Lantern Wanderers. Tyranna is the latest of a set of powerful spellcasters who is able to transfer the ability to fly to a mass of different people. She can also empower any other spellcasters to increase this ability to fly. Tyranna was chosen to lead the Sky faction of the Lantern Wanderers by its previous leader for her spellcasting potential.
Olterran They/Them Tralla-Korre Olterran is a powerful Giant who resides on the island of Tralla-Korre, They are stuck there seemingly trapped in a prison of chains that keeps them bound to the island’s nature. Olterran is often visited by those who worship the Old Paths of the Giants, most often he is visited due to his connection with the oracle sight that was given to followers of the Skyseer. Recent explorers have claimed that Olterran has been blinded and wears a blindfold over their two primary eyes, with only their third purple eye able to see.
Isaria She/They/It Qevarios Formerly a Dark Elven Druid, Isaria was changed by the power of the spores from the deep underdark of the lands. They found that over time, their form was changed by these spores, and their innate link with decay imbued a religious nature in his mind. Scholars consider Isaria a part of one of the greater heroes of their age, but they disappeared after many years due to their changing nature. By 755 AR, Isaria was found in Qevarios, one of the more hidden islands among the archipelago. Here they have become the center of a fungal hive mind.
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All work is copyright Owen Davies 2025, all rights reserved.
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Nonvyrox
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The Moon Shards in Locations
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oaster2000
Publication Date
15 Sep, 2025
Creation Date
11 Oct, 2025
Last Update Date
28 Oct, 2025
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