Aulstria

A harsh yet beautiful land, Aulstrià is populated by hardy people and fantastic locales. With locations ranging from craggy mountains and canyons to lush, tropical forests, travelers must always be on alert and careful of danger. With fewer settlements compared to other islands of the same size, self-reliance is important to the people who live here, with limited trade partners around the realm. The people of Aulstrià are renowned for not only for their resilience, but also for the creativity and ingenuity the land has forced upon them in their harsh environ. With a small number of aristocratic families, many of them excel in things like large event planning, musical arts, or high athleticism\fishing ability. A large portion of the nation's income comes from selling these services to other nations for often exorbitant prices. It is said that events planned by families, such as the Evalious line, are always a huge deal with guaranteed success and splendor and draw guests from all over the world. One of the most successful mercenary groups in the realm come from Aulstrià's Glasspire family, and the Torrentine line is known for their exceptional fishing ability in any conditions. The people here are oftentimes considered mystical yet flamboyant and whimsical due to the strange conditions they grow up in and natural resources they use to decorate their clothing and jewelry with. Despite the harsh living conditions of their land, the Aulstriàn people are widely considered extremely friendly and welcoming to all who visit their shores. A highly cultural people, the denizens here have deep roots in history, art, musical arts, tradition, are highly superstitious, and reverent of nature.

Geography

Aulstrià is a rugged, arid island continent defined by dramatic contrasts between its harsh interior and lush coastal fringes. The central highlands are dominated by jagged mountains and deep canyons carved by fast-moving rivers that surge violently during seasonal shifts. These rivers originate in the verdant northern region and carve through the rocky terrain, creating narrow gorges and steep ravines that shape the land’s geography and ecology.

The coastlines, especially in the north and east, are vibrant and green, with dense forests, mangrove-like wetlands, and turquoise shallows. These areas benefit from seasonal rains and cooler winds, supporting rich ecosystems and making them the most habitable zones. In contrast, the western and southern interiors are true deserts—vast dune fields, cracked earth, and rocky plateaus shaped by phenomena like Emberfall Winds and Glass Storm Season.

Geological features such as salt flats, fulgurite spires, and singing canyons add further complexity to Aulstrià’s terrain. The landscape is alive with seasonal transformations, from the Hundred-Heart Rain that floods dry basins to the Red Veil that blankets valleys in iron-rich dust. Together, these elements create a land of extremes—where survival, culture, and magic are deeply tied to the rhythms of the earth.

Ecosystem

Aulstrià's ecosystem is defined by extremes—a harsh, arid interior balanced by surprisingly lush coastal and northern biomes. The heart of the island is dominated by desert-adapted life: hardy shrubs, heat‑storing cacti, burrowing reptiles, and nocturnal predators that rely on the deep canyons and rare river oases for survival. Seasonal events like the Emberfall Winds and Glass Storm Season shape the flora and fauna, favoring species that can withstand intense heat, sudden floods, and long droughts.

In contrast, the northern region and coastlines support a much richer web of life. Dense forests, wetlands, and mangrove‑like river deltas host amphibians, migratory birds, large herbivores, and predators that follow the seasonal rains. The fast, dangerous rivers create narrow corridors of fertility—ribbons of green cutting through the desert—where unique plants, river eels, and canyon‑dwelling creatures thrive. These riparian zones act as the island’s arteries, sustaining both wildlife and any cultures that settle nearby.

Across the island, the ecosystem pulses with dramatic seasonal rhythms. The rare Hundred‑Heart Rain triggers explosive blooms, insect swarms, and mass migrations, while the Red Veil shifts animal behavior and visibility. Aulstrià’s lifeforms are resilient, opportunistic, and deeply tied to the land’s volatile cycles—creating an ecosystem that feels both harsh and vibrantly alive.

Localized Phenomena

• Emberfall Winds - Aulstrià’s desert heats in late Summer so intensely that dusk triggers a sudden collapse of hot air columns. This creates down‑gusts of superheated wind that sweep across the dunes, carrying glowing dust motes that look like drifting embers. These motes can ignite dry brush or cause mirages of ''burning dunes'' across the desert. - River-pulse Surges - In early Spring, the fast and dangerous rivers of Aulstria don’t rise gradually — they pulse. Underground channels periodically collapse or unblock, sending sudden surges of water roaring downstream. These surges can cause entire riverbeds to rise up to 10 feet within minutes and create temporary oases that vanish in hours.- Singing Canyon Resonance - Happens year-round, but strongest in Sprin months. The fast rivers carve narrow canyons with natural stone ''flutes''. When strong winds blow through at the right angles, the canyons emit haunting harmonic tones. Native travelers can use the pitch of these ''songs'' to navigate, and many bards seek the canyons out to attune magical instruments. - Hundred-Heart Rain - A rare type of storm which occurs roughly every 5 -12 years. A stalled storm system dumps torrential rain over the desert, filling every dry channel at once. The rivers become a network of roaring arteries. These rare storms cause the entire island to bloom for a few weeks, uncover buried ruins from the sand, and cause migratory beasts to return and breed in temporary wetlands. - The Red Veil - Occurs during Autumnal months. As temperatures begin to cool, fine iron-rich dust lifts into the air and forms a blood-red haze that can blanket entire valleys. This phenomenon creates dazzling red sunsets which last for hours and causes many animals to become restless. Several predators use the low visibility of these occurrences to hunt.- Glass Storm season - In the mid-summer weeks, lightning storms strike the sands, fusing them into thin sheets of desert glass. Strong winds then shatter these sheets into glittering shards which blow across the flats. It is heavily advised to wear thick, layered clothing if travelling during this time to avoid being cut to ribbons. After the storms pass, dunes sparkle like starlight across the island.

Climate

Aulstrià has one of the most diverse climates across the realm, with seasons inverse to the rest of the world. Summer months are Turnshade through Morningtide, Autumn is Midvale to Eventide, Winter is Twilightisle to Solvail, and Spring is Harvestreach to Shadefall.

Much of the interior is arid or semi-arid, while the coasts are more temperate. There are pockets of alpine and tropical environments as well.

The tropical northern parts of the island do not use the traditional season model, instead observing the Wet Season and its heavy rains, monsoons, and high humidity from Duskwatch to Moonshade, and the Dry Season with its clear skies, warm days, and cooler nights from Eventide to Harvestreach.

Fauna & Flora

• Riverlace Vines - Thin, silver-blue vines that cling to riverbanks and shimmer like wet silk. The vines anchor themselves deep into the riverbed and make for incredibly strong ropes when harvested and dried. - Nightbloom Shards - Jet-black, crystalline flowers that open only at sunset. These unique flowers absorb moonlight to grow quickly during the evening hours. The petals can be used to create a faint bioluminescent powder when crushed, and the roots are sharp enough to pierce boots if stepped on. - Sandglass Scorpions - These scorpions have a transparent exoskeleton filled with a swirling golden dust, giving them the appearance of an hourglass. These scorpions possess a powerful paralytic sting which can cause intense dehydration. - Torrent Razorbills - Sleek, dark-feathered birds with metallic-blue wings that dive into the roaring rivers, using their wings like blades to cut through the rushing water. Their feathers can be used to make wind-resistant arrows. - Riverback Striders - Long-legged cousins of the antelope with wide, webbed hooves which allows them to run across shallow rapids. Can be domesticated to serve as mounts for navigating the river canyons. - Bloodglass Wraith Owls - During the Red Veil, these normally blind and docile creatures hunt from above, using the Veil's distortion to mask their descent. They can see heat signatures to see through the haze and can shatter their outer glass-like feathers to create a rain of razor-sharp shards. - Pulse Reavers - Panther-sized reptiles with translucent skin and a glowing, rhythmic internal organ. They become impossible to be detected by vibration-sensing prey. They can appear to teleport short distances in the Hundred-Heart Rain, and their bite can cause disorientation and collapse by disrupting the victim's heartbeat.

Natural Resources

• Emberfall Dust - superheated dust carried by Emberfall Winds which can be used as fire-enhancing spell components or incendiary powders. The dust must be collected with a special cloth before it cools to retain its usefulness. - River Eel Oil - Eels that thrive in the raging rivers of Aulstrià produce a thick, heat-resistant oil which is highly useful as lantern fuel or waterproofing. - Frostline Moss - An uncommon moss which thrives on the cold ground frost created by nighttime temperature drops, used in cooling poultices, preservation wraps, and alchemical stabilizers. - Emberthorn Cactus - a rare breed of cactus which stores heat as well as water. Its sap can be used as a warming salve, and the spines are capable of being used as fire starting tools. - Sunshard Ore - A copper-gold alloy that forms only under extreme heat which can be found within Aulstrià's bedrock. An iridescent orange metal that glitters like embers which is heat-resistant and used for tools, weapons, and ceremonial helms.

Type

Island