Help:Settlement Guidelines

The following guide provides standardized expectations for the distribution, density, and classification of settlements across the realms of Adaris. These estimates follow an ancient-world model, emphasizing spiritual geography, environmental constraints, and culturally influenced expansion.

Settlement Types

• City – A cultural, spiritual, or economic hub. Rare and often tied to major geographic or mystical features.
• Town – Centers of regional trade, craft, or governance; usually spaced 50–100 miles apart in settled regions.
• Village – Small, local communities, often supporting a larger town or city; appear every 10–20 miles in fertile or hospitable regions.
• Outpost – Isolated locations of military, spiritual, or exploratory significance; common in frontier or hazardous zones.

Settlement Distribution by Realm

Realm	Terrain Type	Approx. Size (mi²)	Est. Settlement Density	Cities (≥10k)	Towns (1k–10k)	Villages (<1k)	Outposts / Minor Sites	Notes
Delmora	Riverine, Wetlands	~780,000	High	6-8	30-50	80-120	40-60: Dense along rivers and canals; trade-focused
Terasil	Mountainous, Subterranean	~1,278,911	Moderate-Low	10	60	300	50 in Hidden roads and enclaves
Zanarak	Desert, Shifting City	~850,000	Low	1 (Mirajhar)	5–10	20–30	Mobile camps, ruins	Extremely centralized around Mirajhar
Orrakar	Canyonlands, Plateaus	~700,000	Moderate	3–5	20–30	40–60	Airborne and cliffside sites	Includes both Kutharen and Drahari styles
Celyndor	Deep Forest	~950,000	Low	2–3	10–20	20–40	Sacred groves, hidden circles	Mostly small enclaves; few permanent cities
Tahr’Zul	Volcanic Wasteland	~500,000	Sparse	1–2	5–8	10–20	Lava tubes, survival enclaves	Heat dictates habitability
Baelmarsh	Swamps, Wetlands	~562,500	Moderate	2–3	15–20	40–60		Elevated structures; settlements on natural levees; reliance on waterways for transportation
Fendralis	Archipelago / Submerged	~300,000	Moderate	3–4	15–25	30–50	Reef-camps, abyssal sanctuaries	Split between underwater and above-water zones
Vaelthar	Grasslands, Wind Plains	~900,000	Moderate	4–6	30–40	60–90	Seasonal camps, wind shrines	Divided between Torinok (fixed) and Vey'Lora (nomadic)
Itharalis	Glacier, Ice Rift	~1,200,000	Sparse	2–3	8–12	15–25	Subglacial enclaves	Mostly subterranean (Nykrathi) or isolationist (Sarnathi)
Pelagia	Oceanic Realm	N/A (non-terrestrial)	N/A	Variable	Variable	Variable	Coral hives, reef clusters	Settlement defined by migratory patterns and depth

Placement Considerations

• Settlements are influenced by spiritual geography, terrain difficulty, access to natural resources, and cultural philosophy.
• Settlements may cluster in sacred regions, along trade routes, or near ancient structures, even if geographically remote.
• Towns and villages may rise and fall cyclically, particularly in nomadic or unstable regions.

See Also

   Help:Cartography
   Help:Realm Design
   Help:Cultural Planning