Delmora: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:35, 27 December 2025

Delmora
Image
Spirit	Naithis
Native Races	Ruvin • Odrak

Introduction

Delmora is a realm defined by its rivers, where flowing water carves through fertile plains. It is a land shaped by renewal, in which seasonal floods restore the soil, and the rhythms of water dictate patterns of trade, agriculture, and settlement.

History

The history of Delmora is inseparable from its rivers. Early civilizations emerged along their banks, where fertile floodplains enabled agriculture and sustained the first permanent settlements. Over time, rivers became trade routes, linking communities across the realm and facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge, and traditions.

The Ruvin were among the earliest engineers of Delmora, transforming the waterways into structured networks of canals, levees, and irrigation systems. In contrast, the Odrak developed a more reserved and enduring culture along the Great Lake, building stone cities that withstood both flood and time.

Archaeological evidence and submerged ruins suggest the existence of older, possibly pre-Ruvin cultures now lost beneath the lake and river deltas. Whether these civilizations were destroyed by floods or gradually absorbed into later societies remains the subject of both scholarship and myth.

Geography

Delmora is a land defined by water, where rivers and lakes shape not only the terrain but the lives of its inhabitants. The region’s most prominent geographic feature is its twin river systems, which converge near the realm’s center before flowing eastward into the Great Lake. These waterways form the foundation of Delmora’s economy, ecology, and settlement patterns.

Major Geographic Features

The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern White Mountains, intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.

The Great Lake – A vast inland freshwater body, bordered by Odrak settlements. Its fog-covered surface conceals submerged cities and spiritual monuments. The lake serves as a cultural and spiritual counterbalance to the rivers, emphasizing stillness and depth over motion.

Climate

Delmora experiences a temperate and river-driven climate, shaped less by temperature fluctuations and more by seasonal changes in water flow. Its weather patterns are closely tied to the rhythms of the rivers and the influence of the Great Lake, resulting in a cycle of flood, drought, and mist that defines life across the realm.

Flora and fauna

Delmora’s fertile plains, floodplains, and inland lake support a diverse and adaptive ecosystem. Life here is shaped by the movement of water—plants must endure submersion or drought, and animals follow migratory paths guided by seasonal flow.

Notable settlements

Delmora’s major cities are strategically positioned along its river systems and the Great Lake, serving as centers of trade, governance, and spiritual practice. These cities are built to endure the cycles of flood and drought, shaped by a deep understanding of the land’s hydrology.

Kelmarin – The capital of the Ruvin, situated at the confluence of the Twin Rivers. It is the largest and most economically influential city in Delmora, renowned for its guildhalls, waterworks, and role as the realm’s political center.
Braskir’s Hold – A fortified dam-city overseeing the outflow into the Great Lake. It functions as both a hydraulic control point and a military stronghold, balancing flood regulation with regional defense.
Zelmari Wharf – A bustling river city famous for its shipyards and floating markets. It serves as a cultural crossroads between Ruvin engineers and traders from surrounding realms.
Varul’Kai – The capital of the Ulshari, a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.
Kel’Ruun – A nomadic raft-city of the Ulshari that drifts across the lake with the seasons. It embodies the values of mobility, reflection, and adaptation, hosting trade delegations and spiritual ceremonies.
Mara’s Reach - Mara’s Reach is Delmora’s southernmost city and its primary seaport, where the inland riverways meet the ocean. Mara’s Reach is a fortified delta-city, resting on an artificial foundation of sunken stone platforms and canal locks. It operates as Delmora’s maritime gateway, funneling riverborne goods into international trade routes.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Realm Infobox
+{{Realms of Orethil Infobox
+|Image=[[File:Delmora.jpg|center|frameless]]
+|Spirit=Naithis
+|Inhabitants=[[Ruvin]], [[Odrak]]
 |Realm Name=Delmora
-|Image=[[File:Delmora 2.jpg|center|frameless]]
-|Spirit=Naithis
-|Inhabitants=[[Ruvin]], Ulshari
-|Significance=A land of renewal and prosperity, where rivers carve the destiny of nations.
 }}
-{{Realm Sections
+{{Realms of Orethil Sections
-|Introduction='''Delmora''' is a realm where mighty rivers shape the land, carving their paths through fertile plains and ancient valleys. Unlike more stagnant lands, Delmora is a place of constant renewal, where the rivers dictate the rhythm of life. Floods nourish the soil, trade follows the currents, and civilizations rise and fall along the ever-changing banks.
+|Introduction='''Delmora''' is a realm defined by its rivers, where flowing water carves through fertile plains. It is a land shaped by renewal, in which seasonal floods restore the soil, and the rhythms of water dictate patterns of trade, agriculture, and settlement.
+|History=The history of Delmora is inseparable from its rivers. Early civilizations emerged along their banks, where fertile floodplains enabled agriculture and sustained the first permanent settlements. Over time, rivers became trade routes, linking communities across the realm and facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge, and traditions.
-To live in Delmora is to embrace the river’s will, to adapt, to move, and to understand that prosperity belongs to those who flow with the current, not against it.
-|History=Delmora’s past is inseparable from its rivers. The first settlements emerged along their banks, where seasonal floods enriched the land and made early agriculture thrive. As trade expanded, rivers became the roads of civilization, connecting distant towns and fostering cultural exchange.
-Some ancient ruins suggest that before the current age, a forgotten people lived within the Great Lake, their cities now swallowed beneath the waves. Whether they were wiped out by a catastrophe or simply abandoned their flooded lands remains a mystery.
-|Geography=Delmora is a land where rivers dominate the landscape, creating a vast network of waterways, fertile floodplains, and interconnected settlements.
-The heart of the realm is defined by two great river systems, fed by mountain ranges to the west and north. These rivers do not simply shape the land; they dictate the movement of people, trade, and culture.
-=== Major Geographic Features ===
-*The Twin Rivers – Two massive rivers, one flowing from the [[Anvil Range]] (west) and the other from the Northern Highlands, meet at the heart of Delmora, forming the lifeblood of its civilization.
-*The Anvil Range (Western Border) – Towering peaks that channel meltwater into Delmora’s great rivers, ensuring year-round fertility.
-*The Northern Highlands – A rugged, forested region where the second great river begins, less tamed than the lands below.
-*The Southern Spur – A mountainous borderland that isolates Delmora from the harsher lands beyond, making the region more self-sustaining.
-*The Great Lake of the East – A vast inland body of water with a distinct maritime culture, acting as both a trade hub and a cultural divide between Delmora’s river-folk and lake-dwellers.
-|Climate=Delmora’s climate is gentle yet dynamic, shaped by the rise and fall of its rivers.
-Seasons are marked not by temperature shifts alone, but by the flow of water, determining planting cycles, trade routes, and even conflicts.
-*Spring Floods – The rivers swell with meltwater from the mountains, enriching the soil but also reshaping farmland and settlements.
-*The Dry Season (Late Summer–Autumn) – Water levels drop, exposing new lands for farming and opening long-forgotten ruins.
-*Mists of the Great Lake (Winter) – Dense fogs roll across the eastern lake, leading to strange tales and vanishings.
-|Flora and Fauna=Delmora’s rivers and fertile plains are home to an abundance of life.
-=== Flora ===
-*Rivergrass – A hardy crop that thrives in seasonal floods, used for both food and textiles.
-*Blooming Lotus – A mystical flower said to bloom only under the light of Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal.
-*Verdant Willow – These towering trees line the riverbanks, their roots preventing erosion while providing shelter to local wildlife.
-=== Fauna ===
-*Silverback Sturgeon – Massive river fish, some growing over three meters in length, revered as symbols of endurance.
-*Mist Herons – Elegant birds known to migrate with the river’s flow, considered sacred by the lake-dwellers.
-*Fen Serpents – Elusive creatures that lurk in the deep waters, rumored to be the remnants of an ancient, cursed species.
-|Inhabitants=The people of Delmora are river folk, traders, and farmers, thriving in a society that values adaptability, prosperity, and the wisdom of water.
-* [[Ruvin|The Ruvin ]]
-* The [[Ulshari]]
-|Notable Settlements=Most of Delmora’s cities and towns are built along the rivers, thriving on farming, trade, and spiritual reverence for the water.
-*Name of Capital City – The largest city, positioned at the confluence of the Twin Rivers, acting as the cultural and economic heart of Delmora. *The River-Towns – A series of interconnected settlements, each reliant on seasonal floods to sustain their crops. *The Lake-Cities – Independent-minded cities built along the eastern lake, blending river and maritime traditions.
-|Cultural Significance=The people of Delmora believe that water carries the memory of all who pass through it. Rivers are not merely sources of sustenance but living entities that shape destiny.
-*“The River Remembers” – A common Delmoran saying, reflecting their belief that water carries the memory of all who pass through it. Some even claim that spirits whisper in the currents.
-*Trade & Navigation – Cities are built along riverbanks, trade routes flow along the water, and boats are more common than horses.
-*Flood Priests & Water Seers – Religious figures and mystics interpret the rise and fall of the waters, believed to be the will of Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal.
-*Lakeborn of the East – The people of the Great Lake see themselves as separate from the river-dwellers, forming a semi-independent culture with maritime traditions.
-|Mythology and Legends=The people of Delmora do not simply use the river—they listen to it, fear it, and revere it. Many myths center on the power of water to carry memory, souls, and prophecy.
-*The Eternal Currents – Some say the rivers of Delmora do not truly flow into the sea but instead loop endlessly through the land, carrying the voices of past generations.
-*The Drowned Oracle – A legend tells of a prophet who vanished beneath the river but still speaks through the waters to those who listen.
-*The Sunken Cities – It is said that beneath the Great Lake lie the ruins of an ancient civilization, swallowed by the waters as punishment for defying the river’s will.
+The Ruvin were among the earliest engineers of Delmora, transforming the waterways into structured networks of canals, levees, and irrigation systems. In contrast, the [[Odrak]] developed a more reserved and enduring culture along the Great Lake, building stone cities that withstood both flood and time.
-|Flora and fauna=Delmora’s rivers and fertile plains are home to an abundance of life.
-=== Flora ===
+Archaeological evidence and submerged ruins suggest the existence of older, possibly pre-Ruvin cultures now lost beneath the lake and river deltas. Whether these civilizations were destroyed by floods or gradually absorbed into later societies remains the subject of both scholarship and myth.
-- Rivergrass – A hardy crop that thrives in seasonal floods, used for both food and textiles.
+|Geography=Delmora is a land defined by water, where rivers and lakes shape not only the terrain but the lives of its inhabitants. The region’s most prominent geographic feature is its twin river systems, which converge near the realm’s center before flowing eastward into the Great Lake. These waterways form the foundation of Delmora’s economy, ecology, and settlement patterns.
-- Blooming Lotus – A mystical flower said to bloom only under the light of Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal.
-- Verdant Willow – These towering trees line the riverbanks, their roots preventing erosion while providing shelter to local wildlife.
-=== Fauna ===
+==== Major Geographic Features ====
-- Silverback Sturgeon – Massive river fish, some growing over three meters in length, revered as symbols of endurance.
-- Mist Herons – Elegant birds known to migrate with the river’s flow, considered sacred by the lake-dwellers.
-- Fen Serpents – Elusive creatures that lurk in the deep waters, rumored to be the remnants of an ancient, cursed species.
-|Notable settlements=Most of Delmora’s cities and towns are built along the rivers, thriving on farming, trade, and spiritual reverence for the water.
-- [[Name of Capital City]] – The largest city, positioned at the confluence of the Twin Rivers, acting as the cultural and economic heart of Delmora.
+*The Twin Rivers – Two major rivers, one descending from the [[[Niseth Range]] in the west and the other from the Northern [[White Mountains]], intersect near the heart of Delmora. Their confluence is a hub of agriculture, trade, and governance, and is home to the Ruvin capital of Kelmarin.
-- The River-Towns – A series of interconnected settlements, each reliant on seasonal floods to sustain their crops.
-- The Lake-Cities – Independent-minded cities built along the eastern lake, blending river and maritime traditions.
-|Cultural significance=The people of Delmora believe that water carries the memory of all who pass through it. Rivers are not merely sources of sustenance but living entities that shape destiny.
-- “The River Remembers” – A common Delmoran saying, reflecting their belief that water carries the memory of all who pass through it. Some even claim that spirits whisper in the currents.
+*The Great Lake – A vast inland freshwater body, bordered by Odrak settlements. Its fog-covered surface conceals submerged cities and spiritual monuments. The lake serves as a cultural and spiritual counterbalance to the rivers, emphasizing stillness and depth over motion.
-- Trade & Navigation – Cities are built along riverbanks, trade routes flow along the water, and boats are more common than horses.
+|Climate=Delmora experiences a temperate and river-driven climate, shaped less by temperature fluctuations and more by seasonal changes in water flow. Its weather patterns are closely tied to the rhythms of the rivers and the influence of the Great Lake, resulting in a cycle of flood, drought, and mist that defines life across the realm.
-- Flood Priests & Water Seers – Religious figures and mystics interpret the rise and fall of the waters, believed to be the will of Naithis, the Spirit of Renewal.
+|Flora and Fauna=Delmora’s fertile plains, floodplains, and inland lake support a diverse and adaptive ecosystem. Life here is shaped by the movement of water—plants must endure submersion or drought, and animals follow migratory paths guided by seasonal flow.
-- Lakeborn of the East – The people of the Great Lake see themselves as separate from the river-dwellers, forming a semi-independent culture with maritime traditions.
+|Notable Settlements=<noautolinks>{{See also|Cities and Towns of Delmora}}</noautolinks>
-|Mythology and legends=The people of Delmora do not simply use the river—they listen to it, fear it, and revere it. Many myths center on the power of water to carry memory, souls, and prophecy.
+Delmora’s major cities are strategically positioned along its river systems and the Great Lake, serving as centers of trade, governance, and spiritual practice. These cities are built to endure the cycles of flood and drought, shaped by a deep understanding of the land’s hydrology.
-- The Eternal Currents – Some say the rivers of Delmora do not truly flow into the sea but instead loop endlessly through the land, carrying the voices of past generations.
+*Kelmarin – The capital of the Ruvin, situated at the confluence of the Twin Rivers. It is the largest and most economically influential city in Delmora, renowned for its guildhalls, waterworks, and role as the realm’s political center.
-- The Drowned Oracle – A legend tells of a prophet who vanished beneath the river but still speaks through the waters to those who listen.
+*Braskir’s Hold – A fortified dam-city overseeing the outflow into the Great Lake. It functions as both a hydraulic control point and a military stronghold, balancing flood regulation with regional defense.
-- The Sunken Cities – It is said that beneath the Great Lake lie the ruins of an ancient civilization, swallowed by the waters as punishment for defying the river’s will.
+*Zelmari Wharf – A bustling river city famous for its shipyards and floating markets. It serves as a cultural crossroads between Ruvin engineers and traders from surrounding realms.
+*Varul’Kai – The capital of the [[Ulshari]], a semi-submerged city built within the Great Lake. Known for its underwater halls, submerged temples, and the Sunken Archives, it is the spiritual heart of Ulshari civilization.
+*Kel’Ruun – A nomadic raft-city of the Ulshari that drifts across the lake with the seasons. It embodies the values of mobility, reflection, and adaptation, hosting trade delegations and spiritual ceremonies.
+*Mara’s Reach - Mara’s Reach is Delmora’s southernmost city and its primary seaport, where the inland riverways meet the ocean. Mara’s Reach is a fortified delta-city, resting on an artificial foundation of sunken stone platforms and canal locks. It operates as Delmora’s maritime gateway, funneling riverborne goods into international trade routes.
 }}
+[[Category:Delmora]]