Solarean Adventures LARP Lore
U'Nafara
U'Nafara is the oldest and largest country of Reshis and is home to the largest city in the world, Lunaris. It is the only country to border every other country on the continental mainland. U'Nafara means fountain, and those who pride themselves on being from there strongly believe U'Nafara is the backbone of Reshis and the source of its prosperity.
Table of Contents
General Information
Geography:
U'Nafara is the largest region of Reshis and is made up of a diverse landscape, including mountainous regions in the north, large forests around the edges of its borders, the Desolation of Nozomi in the south, and a wide, lush landscape of grasslands and scrublands throughout the center. U'Nafara's landscape is unique as it contains a large number of Ruptures scattered about the plains that mixed with magical leylines to create what is known as the Riftways of U'Nafara. Utilizing these Riftways can speed up the travel time when crossing the plains, assuming you are with an experienced navigator, otherwise it is not uncommon for unprepared travelers to become hopelessly lost.
The majority of the Nafarian population lives in or around the city of Lunaris, the oldest and largest city in the world. However, some communities choose a more nomadic life roaming the plains, and there are plenty of towns and villages in the forests and mountains.
Capital and Government:
The capital of U'Nafara is Lunaris. The government of U'Nafara is a scholar-bureaucracy lead by Sultana Sahar the Wise and her 10-member High Council. High Council and other political positions are most often gained through the passing of rigorous exams and earning nomination from other council members or the Sultana herself. Scholar-nobles appointed by High Councilors tend to local affairs for the smaller municipalities, but may request resources or input from higher government officials as needed.
Iconography:
Crescent Moon
Important People:
Sultana Sahar the Wise and 10-member High Council
Major landmarks and cities:
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Desolation of Nozomi
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Freeharbor
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Lunaris, the capital
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Mount Tansha
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The Riftways
Cultural Inspiration:
Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th century Arabia and Persia)
Landmarks
Desolation of Nozomi
The crash of Nozomi during The Descent caused the land itself to change in the southern parts of U'Nafara. Mountains violently formed out of the ground almost as if to protect the crash site. What was once a thick lush forest is now barren, rocky mountains. The persistent red fog from the mountains is so thick that even the strongest spyglass cannot see through it from the coastline. Sailors and travelers alike know to avoid these shores and the desert that resulted further inland.
(Writing credit: Sahil Vaid)
Free Harbor
An Orcish port town on the northern coast of U'Nafara. In the not so distant past in the year 945, the Watchtower razed Freeharbor to the ground in the name of fundamentalist beliefs that all must follow The Twelve. Documented evidence of the massacre is hard to come by.
An excerpt from a book containing recorded atrocities of the Watchtower reads: “The order met its official end in the Year of the Accord 945, upon the atrocity called the Culling of Freeharbor. Largely orcish, Freeharbor had an active population which continued to worship a tribal Spiritborngod called Huvash. When the Watchtower discovered this, they descended upon the town with a large force, and slaughtered every soul they could find.”
Another passage exists from a book that contains lost and perhaps forgotten history. This excerpt describes the Culling of Freeharbor: “As their enemies descended upon them a brave few knew what their immediate future held. Still, they braced for what was to come and knew their goal was not their survival, but the survival of their people. They took arms against an overwhelming force and held them off while others escaped. ‘The freedom you feel when you choose to die to protect your kin is unlike anything else.’ Huvash died with his people, forgotten to time and a victim of zealotry. Even still, the Lawshield clan is remembered as one of the bravest; its kin fought back with fervor and saved countless lives in providing opportunity for escape, and offered great assistance in the rebuild.”
The tales of Freehardbor can be credited to the Ang Gijak, an orcish clan that can be traced back generations. Not only did they assist in saving people from the Watchtower during the Freeharbor Massacre, but they continue doing their duty of protecting people today, as a special unit within Lunaris and Helibrook's own city guard. Today they are known for being incredibly loyal and having very knowledgeable members, even though their processes are somewhat insular from the other City Guard units. The Ang Gijak are led by captain Slaugh Lawshield.
(Writing credit: Jayke Wells)
Lunaris
This city is known for many great accomplishments, both before, during, and after the fall of the Zanshian Empire. The city is an architectural wonder, home to the first university, first library, many museums, and the inventors of many disciplines within the field of mathematics, natural sciences, and magical theory. The city is a melting pot where people of every lineage, creed, culture, and trade can find a place. The city boasts well-run institutions and infrastructure, beautiful architecture, and widely available public services.
The city consists of 11 rings with each ring elevated over the previous one. These culminate at the top where Sultana Sahar the Wise lives inside the 11th ring, though she is still fond of her childhood home, the fifth ring of Lunaris. The other ten rings are not arranged by hierarchy or status, however. Each level has a unique culture in and of itself. All levels of Lunaris can be accessed from any other city ring via sky trams which travel along ropes suspended in the air between rail-gates. You cannot look up in Lunaris without spotting a sky tram. Each ring of Lunaris is an official who answers to Sultana Sahar. These 10 individuals make up the Lunaris High Council and are referred to by their title which are listed below:
English number = Title/Language translation (language)
One = Asel (Acoli)
Two = Uhar (Tiv)
Three = Oxe (Mayan)
Four = Sisamat (Kalaallisut)
Five = Panj (Persian)
Six = Zurgaa (Mongolian)
Seven = Syb (Danish)
Eight = Otto (Italian)
Nine = Ochuko (Luo)
Ten = Dez (Portuguese)
(Writing credit: Sahil Vaid)
In the city of Lunaris sits the famous Royal University of Excellence and the world famous Great Library of Lunaris. The Royal University is at the forefront of science, mathematics, and magical study while also boasting rigorous programs in the arts, philosophy, and social sciences as well. Many people likewise travel to Lunaris for their variety of prestigious trade programs and apprenticeships, which always produce artisans who are in the top of their fields. Meanwhile, the Great Library holds pieces of the entire world's history, including rumors of highly coveted items like original citadel blueprints, which may have been used by the resistance before the Descent. Not everything kept in the library is open for public view, after all.
Regardless, because of the diversity of its people, its quality of goods, and its reputation for higher end experiences, Lunaris continues to be a popular location for learning, trade, and tourism.
(Writing credit: Kaylah Crepps)
The Riftways
The plains of U'Nafara are a landscape infused with magic. While some nomadic groups live here, most of those who find themselves crossing the expansive grasslands are travelers. Large, organized caravans are the most popular (and safest) way to travel through this region and expereinced navigators and pilots are able to lead groups through the Nafarian Riftways. During the Great War, many battles took place throughout this region and scarred the landscape with Ruptures. When Nozomi fell, the internal magical leylines of the land carried extra wild magic from the Zanshian magitechnology and supercharged the area. Unlike The Verdance in Verania or the Desolation itself, this magic did not create mutated life or barren wasteland, but instead affected how space and time can be experienced. Those who can utilize the Riftways can cut days and weeks off their travel time by knowing exactly where to step, while unexperienced travelers may find themselves stuck going in circles for over a week. It is not unusual for a lone traveler to find themselves half a continent away from their desired destination on accident. Thus, Nafarian navigators are always in high demand, but may suffer strange side effects from wild magic exposure after years of travel through the plains.
(Writing credit: Kaylah Crepps)
Other Locations
Al-Wila
An old borderless farming community tucked into the river's fork. Once a rather traditional village, yielding up crops of medicinal herbs and sugars, Al-Wila sprung up during the fall of the Zanshian Empire as a means to help aid in the cause. And when the war was over, folks stayed. For years, a single house has ruled over the lordship not out of power, but rather their adept inclination for leadership. The community is known to have numerous festivals throughout the seasons. There's nearly one for every occasion.
In the last century, the ruling house has disappeared from the lands entirely and in its stead, the community has no true leaders. The natural conventions and routine of life continues as it always has.
(Writing credit: Alli Downing)
Forgehold
A formerly abandoned dwarven fortress. The fortress itself and the nearly closed off valley around it is where a group of refugees fled to after the Orcish town Freeharbor was razed by the Watchtower in 945. Farmland surrounds the fortress. The relatively young settlement is hoping to build and maintain a positive trading relationship with Lunaris.
(Writing credit: Jayke Wells)
Mount Tansha
Towering just outside of Lunaris sits Mount Tansha, a dormant volcano, which provides a steady flow of water for both Lunaris and Penolakan. Legends tell of the last eruption, well before the rise and fall of the Zanshian empire. It is said that Sultana Marji, a talented mage, and the High Councilors who were likewise students of magic, sealed the volcano with a great ritual to protect the rebuilding of Lunaris after parts of it had been destroyed. These days, it is unclear to the typical Nafarian if this is true or only a good story, but few fear the peaks of Mount Tansha and enjoy the produce of the fertile lands surrounding Lunaris.
(Writing credit: Kaylah Crepps and Sahil Vaid)