Orrakar: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:58, 20 March 2025

Orrakar

Spirit	Varethor
Native Sophants	Kuthar
Notable Settlements	Kazvarak • Vurthan Shaft
Significance	A realm of endurance and erosion • where time etches its mark upon stone.

Orrakar is a vast land of deep chasms, labyrinthine valleys, and towering cliffs, shaped over millennia by the patient forces of wind, water, and time. A place of both endurance and transformation, Orrakar stands as a testament to the inevitability of erosion, proving that even the strongest stone will yield to the persistence of the elements.

Orrakar is a realm of slow yet inevitable transformation, where vast passages are carved through stone, and the echoes of time linger in weathered canyon walls. The realm is a domain of patience and change, ruled by the ascendant spirit of erosion, Varethor, whose presence is felt in every wind-sculpted ridge and every river-worn passage.

History

Orrakar is a realm shaped by the slow and relentless march of time and carved by wind and water, its deep canyons and towering cliffs standing as testaments to erosion’s quiet dominion.

Throughout history, nomadic peoples, wanderers, and exiles have passed through Orrakar, seeking refuge in its hidden valleys and winding ravines. Among those who made the land their home, the Kuthar claimed the windswept mesas. The Drahari, by contrast, carved homes into the sheer canyon walls, their settlements hidden in the depths where the wind howls but the stone offers shelter.

Yet even for them, nothing remains unchanged. Time wears away even the strongest foundations, and both the Kuthar and Drahari have learned that to endure in Orrakar is to move with the land, never against it. The ruins of past dwellers—long-eroded cliff dwellings and sunken pathways—serve as quiet reminders that nothing in this realm is permanent.

Geography

Orrakar is a land of deep canyons, sheer cliffs, and towering mesas, its terrain shaped by winds, rivers, and the slow march of erosion. The land is fractured and winding, with hidden valleys, labyrinthine passageways, and rock formations sculpted into impossible shapes.

Notable Features

The Endless Rift – A canyon so deep that its bottom is rarely touched by sunlight, with walls that bear the etched history of ages long past. Some believe it has no true end, as anything that falls into its depths is never seen again.

Zareth Cascade – A mighty waterfall fed by the highlands of Delmora, its torrents plunging into the depths of the Endless Rift. During the dry season, the cascade thins into mist, but in the storm season, it becomes a relentless force, carving the canyon deeper with every passing year. Some say its waters vanish into hidden underground lakes, while others whisper of a buried abyss where the river never truly ends.

The Pinnacles of Mourn – A collection of towering, needle-like rock formations rising from the canyon floor. Their bases erode over time, causing them to collapse one by one. Some of the spires bear faint, unreadable inscriptions, their origins long forgotten. The Kuthar use the highest peaks as wind-watching outposts, while the Drahari believe these formations are gravestones left by the land itself.

The Winding Sepulcher – A twisting maze of ravines and gorges that shift unpredictably due to rockfalls and flash floods. Paths that exist one season may be buried the next, making navigation treacherous. The Drahari claim that forgotten ruins and artifacts lie hidden within, but few dare to linger, fearing the canyon will entomb them.

The Drowned Steps – A vast series of terraced rock formations descending toward the eastern coast near Fendralis. During flood season, cascading water fills the steps, briefly transforming them into a shimmering descent toward the ocean. Some believe they once led to an ancient coastal city, now lost to time, swallowed by the shifting land and the encroaching tides.

Climate

Orrakar is a land of extreme conditions, where temperature, wind, and water work together to shape the ever-changing landscape.

Scorching Days & Frigid Nights – With little to no cloud cover, heat lingers in the canyons by day, only to vanish into bone-chilling cold by night.
Unpredictable Wind Currents – Strong, howling winds race through the ravines, reshaping rock faces and carving new formations over time.
Seasonal Rains & Flash Floods – While much of Orrakar is dry, sudden seasonal storms bring violent, short-lived rivers, scouring the canyon floors and shifting the terrain.

Survival in Orrakar demands adaptation, as the land is constantly being worn away, reshaped, and reformed.

Flora and fauna

Despite its harsh and shifting nature, Orrakar is home to a variety of resilient life. Flora such as the Kethra Thorn and Cinderplume Grass anchor themselves in the ever-eroding rock, while creatures like the Vorthak Cliffstrider and Krezul Hawk have mastered the winds and sheer cliffs. In Orrakar, survival is not about resisting change—it is about moving with it.

Native Sophants

Orrakar is home to those who have learned to live with its ever-changing nature, rather than resist it. The Kutharen, skilled gliders and cultivators, inhabit the windswept mesas, where they weave hanging gardens and build suspended settlements that shift with the land. In contrast, the Drahari carve their homes into the sheer canyon walls, scavenging the depths for what erosion reveals and preserving the remnants of the past.

Few outsiders settle in Orrakar, for survival demands constant adaptation. Those who endure do so by understanding that nothing in this realm remains unchanged forever.

Notable settlements

While few permanent settlements exist in a land that is always shifting and eroding, some strongholds and sanctuaries have been carved into the canyons over time.

Orrakar is not a realm meant for permanence, but those who learn to move with the land rather than against it may find sanctuary within its depths.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The canyons and mesas of [[Orrakar]] are home to two distinct peoples: the Drahari, who dwell in the sheer cliffs and scavenge the canyon floor, and the Kutharen, who inhabit the high mesas, cultivating windborne farms and insect colonies. Their settlements reflect their respective ways of life, built to endure the slow but relentless erosion that defines Orrakar.
+{{Realm Infobox
+|Realm Name=Orrakar
+|Image=[[File:Orrakar - General 01.jpg|center|frameless]]
+|Spirit=Varethor
+|Inhabitants=Kuthar
+|Notable Settlements=Kazvarak, Vurthan Shaft
+|Significance=A realm of endurance and erosion, where time etches its mark upon stone.
+}}
+{{Realm Sections
+|Introduction=Orrakar is a vast land of deep chasms, labyrinthine valleys, and towering cliffs, shaped over millennia by the patient forces of wind, water, and time. A place of both endurance and transformation, Orrakar stands as a testament to the inevitability of erosion, proving that even the strongest stone will yield to the persistence of the elements.
-=== Major Cities ===
+Orrakar is a realm of slow yet inevitable transformation, where vast passages are carved through stone, and the echoes of time linger in weathered canyon walls. The realm is a domain of patience and change, ruled by the [[ascendant spirit]] of erosion, Varethor, whose presence is felt in every wind-sculpted ridge and every river-worn passage.
+|History=<noautolinks>{{See also|History of Orrakar}}</noautolinks>
-==== Kazvarak ("The Vault of the Wind") ====
+Orrakar is a realm shaped by the slow and relentless march of time and carved by wind and water, its deep canyons and towering cliffs standing as testaments to erosion’s quiet dominion.
-*Location: Western arm of the north, built into the eastern cliff walls of the [[Scarspire Range]].*
-Kazvarak is the largest Drahari settlement, carved into the canyon walls and connected by rope bridges and pulleys. Wind tunnels amplify sound, allowing for long-distance communication through stone-drumming and echoes. It is the center of Drahari trade and home to the Echo Keepers, historians who record events using vibrational patterns etched into stone.
+Throughout history, nomadic peoples, wanderers, and exiles have passed through Orrakar, seeking refuge in its hidden valleys and winding ravines. Among those who made the land their home, the [[Kuthar]] claimed the windswept mesas. The Drahari, by contrast, carved homes into the sheer canyon walls, their settlements hidden in the depths where the wind howls but the stone offers shelter.
-==== Thravan ("The Woven Sky") ====
+Yet even for them, nothing remains unchanged. Time wears away even the strongest foundations, and both the Kuthar and Drahari have learned that to endure in Orrakar is to move with the land, never against it. The ruins of past dwellers—long-eroded cliff dwellings and sunken pathways—serve as quiet reminders that nothing in this realm is permanent.
-*Location: The massive mesa between Canyon A and Canyon B.*
+|Geography=[[File:Orrakar - General 02.jpg|thumb|The Endless Rift]]
+<noautolinks>{{See also|Geography of Orrakar}}</noautolinks>
-Thravan is the cultural and political heart of the Kutharen, a vast hanging city suspended between towering mesa spires. Wind-lattice towers redirect airflow for pollination and climate control. It serves as the primary agricultural hub and a neutral ground for trade between the Kutharen and Drahari.
+Orrakar is a land of deep canyons, sheer cliffs, and towering mesas, its terrain shaped by winds, rivers, and the slow march of erosion. The land is fractured and winding, with hidden valleys, labyrinthine passageways, and rock formations sculpted into impossible shapes.
-==== Vurthan Shaft ("The Crumbling Market") ====
+===Notable Features===
-*Location: Canyon B, deep within the canyon floor near the southern end of the great mesa.*
+*'''The Endless Rift''' – A canyon so deep that its bottom is rarely touched by sunlight, with walls that bear the etched history of ages long past. Some believe it has no true end, as anything that falls into its depths is never seen again.
-Vurthan Shaft is a shifting network of market tunnels, constantly collapsing and being rebuilt. It is a neutral trade ground specializing in salvaged artifacts and rare minerals, known for its "Whispered Markets," where negotiations occur through silent gestures and rhythmic tapping.
+*'''Zareth Cascade''' – A mighty waterfall fed by the highlands of [[Delmora]], its torrents plunging into the depths of the Endless Rift. During the dry season, the cascade thins into mist, but in the storm season, it becomes a relentless force, carving the canyon deeper with every passing year. Some say its waters vanish into hidden underground lakes, while others whisper of a buried abyss where the river never truly ends.
-==== Korrhavas ("The Unfinished City") ====
+*'''The Pinnacles of Mourn''' – A collection of towering, needle-like rock formations rising from the canyon floor. Their bases erode over time, causing them to collapse one by one. Some of the spires bear faint, unreadable inscriptions, their origins long forgotten. The Kuthar use the highest peaks as wind-watching outposts, while the Drahari believe these formations are gravestones left by the land itself.
-*Location: L-shaped northern canyon, perched on a crumbling sheer drop near the landbridge mesa.*
-Korrhavas is a city in constant collapse and renewal, where entire districts are abandoned as erosion takes its toll. It serves as a hub for scavengers and artifact seekers, with many believing an ancient buried city lies beneath its foundations.
+*'''The Winding Sepulcher''' – A twisting maze of ravines and gorges that shift unpredictably due to rockfalls and flash floods. Paths that exist one season may be buried the next, making navigation treacherous. The Drahari claim that forgotten ruins and artifacts lie hidden within, but few dare to linger, fearing the canyon will entomb them.
-=== Towns ===
+*'''The Drowned Steps''' – A vast series of terraced rock formations descending toward the eastern coast near [[Fendralis]]. During flood season, cascading water fills the steps, briefly transforming them into a shimmering descent toward the ocean. Some believe they once led to an ancient coastal city, now lost to time, swallowed by the shifting land and the encroaching tides.
+|Climate=Orrakar is a land of extreme conditions, where temperature, wind, and water work together to shape the ever-changing landscape.
-==== Vash’tul ("The Sky’s Maw") ====
+* Scorching Days & Frigid Nights – With little to no cloud cover, heat lingers in the canyons by day, only to vanish into bone-chilling cold by night.
-*Location: A narrow mesa ridgeline between Canyon B and Canyon C.*
+* Unpredictable Wind Currents – Strong, howling winds race through the ravines, reshaping rock faces and carving new formations over time.
+* Seasonal Rains & Flash Floods – While much of Orrakar is dry, sudden seasonal storms bring violent, short-lived rivers, scouring the canyon floors and shifting the terrain.
-Vash’tul is a precarious settlement, accessible only to skilled climbers and gliders. The settlement features "whisper gardens," where wind currents are manipulated to produce harmonic tones for storytelling and meditation. It serves as an eastern watchpoint and a center for Kutharen windlore.
+Survival in Orrakar demands adaptation, as the land is constantly being worn away, reshaped, and reformed.
+|Flora and Fauna=[[File:Orrakar - Zareth Cascade 01.jpg|thumb|The Zareth Cascade vanishes into the Endless Rift]]
+<noautolinks>{{See also|Flora and fauna of Orrakar}}</noautolinks>
+Despite its harsh and shifting nature, Orrakar is home to a variety of resilient life. Flora such as the Kethra Thorn and Cinderplume Grass anchor themselves in the ever-eroding rock, while creatures like the Vorthak Cliffstrider and Krezul Hawk have mastered the winds and sheer cliffs. In Orrakar, survival is not about resisting change—it is about moving with it.
+|Inhabitants=Orrakar is home to those who have learned to live with its ever-changing nature, rather than resist it. The [[Kuthar|Kutharen]], skilled gliders and cultivators, inhabit the windswept mesas, where they weave hanging gardens and build suspended settlements that shift with the land. In contrast, the [[Drahar|Drahari]] carve their homes into the sheer canyon walls, scavenging the depths for what erosion reveals and preserving the remnants of the past.
-==== Korvosk ("The Broken Perch") ====
+Few outsiders settle in Orrakar, for survival demands constant adaptation. Those who endure do so by understanding that nothing in this realm remains unchanged forever.
-*Location: A solitary mesa in the northern L-Canyon (Canyon C).*
+|Notable Settlements=<noautolinks>{{See also|Cities and towns of Orrakar}}</noautolinks>
-Korvosk is a half-abandoned settlement, where one side of the mesa has collapsed into the canyon below. It serves as a haven for exiles, producing fermented honey-wine used in Kutharen spirit-dreaming rituals.
+While few permanent settlements exist in a land that is always shifting and eroding, some strongholds and sanctuaries have been carved into the canyons over time.
-==== Sul-Vekkar ("The Edge of the Abyss") ====
+Orrakar is not a realm meant for permanence, but those who learn to move with the land rather than against it may find sanctuary within its depths.
-*Location: Eastern cliffs of the Endless Rift.*
+}}
-Sul-Vekkar is a Drahari town built along the unstable rim of the Endless Rift. Due to the shifting cliffs, buildings are constructed on platforms anchored into the rock. The settlement is a center for scavengers and deep-rift exploration.
-==== Dhul-Takar ("The Sunken Refuge") ====
-*Location: A secluded valley east of the main canyon system.*
-Dhul-Takar is one of the oldest Drahari settlements, built in a rare sheltered valley where seasonal rivers provide limited agriculture. Its isolation has led to a distinct dialect and cultural traditions different from other Drahari communities.
-==== Kyreth-Vaal ("The Wind-Harvesters") ====
-*Location: A mesa plateau southeast of Thravan.*
-Kyreth-Vaal is a Kutharen settlement specializing in wind harvesting, where massive nets and tunnels are used to capture insects, seeds, and fine dust from the air. It supplies essential resources to the mesa cities.
-=== Villages, Outposts, and Camps ===
-==== Drahari Villages/Outposts/Camps (13 total) ====
-* Zarakul Hollow – A cave-dwelling settlement deep within a canyon ravine, known for its subterranean fungus farms.
-* Murnak’s Watch – A cliffside outpost guarding a dangerous rockfall-prone passage.
-* Veskath’s Descent – A scavenger village near the Endless Rift, where deep exploration teams are based.
-* Harvek’s Roost – A canyon ledge outpost monitoring seasonal flash floods.
-* Rahl-Keth – A partially abandoned village where the canyon walls hum with wind-driven resonance.
-* Jurrakar Landing – A temporary camp used for ferrying goods between Kazvarak and Sul-Vekkar.
-* Tollak’s Steps – A settlement built along natural rock terraces leading into a floodplain.
-* Yulthak Shade – A Drahari refuge hidden beneath an overhanging cliff, offering shade in the scorching heat.
-* Grathun’s Ledge – A precarious village built along a narrow canyon shelf.
-* Havok Spur – A seasonal waystation used by Drahari nomads traveling between trade routes.
-* Orru’s Respite – A deep-ravine outpost where canyon-dwelling fauna are tamed for transport.
-* Tirn-Vas – A historical excavation site turned into a small settlement, rumored to be built atop a lost city.
-* Kelzak’s Grave – A settlement believed to be haunted, built near an ancient collapsed structure.
-==== Kutharen Villages/Outposts/Camps (6 total) ====
-* Veyran’s Nest – A village built on a large, wind-carved mesa spire, accessible only by gliding.
-* Kaervok’s Loom – A settlement that produces fine canyon silk, suspended between two rock pillars.
-* Zul-Thaar – A seasonal Kutharen camp used for tending to pollination towers.
-* Orshak’s Breath – A wind-research outpost where Kutharen shamans study wind currents.
-* Shar-Velth – A cliffside gathering place used for Kutharen air-ceremonies.
-* Mirrak’s Rest – A nomadic village that follows seasonal nectar blooms across the mesas.