Green Pass Campaign: Places Of Note

A shorter guide to some of the notable locations of the world of Proxima. See the maps I posted last fall for an introduction!

Proxima

The world of Proxima is a fantastical counterpart to historical Earth, populated by refugees from the cataclysm's of Earth's own mytho-history: the lost civilizations of Atlantis, Hyperborea, Lemuria, and other fallen and lost cities of distant antiquity. It has a single mega-continent, surrounded by the vast expanse of the Panthalassic Ocean. The ocean waves are scoured by treacherous hurricane gales, so the ocean coasts are barren and inhospitable. Most habitable land is along inland seas and plains surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges that divide the world into isolated basins of protected lowland.

Occidental Basin

The westernmost basin of the world, comparable in size to both North and South America combined, is the Occidental Basin. At the north end, it terminates in a large bay called the Inland Channel, controlled by the Sea-Kingdom of Durnovar. Thousands of miles to the south, it bends through desert to the autocratic city-state of Fuegia, facing the tropical Meridi Sea in the very heart of the world. To the west, over the coastal mountains, lies the Panthallasic Ocean. To the east, over the Great Barrier Range, lies the dark and forbidding expanse of the Boreal Basin.

Boreal Basin

This totally landlocked region is arid and desolate, home to the fallen Hyperborean Empire and its ruined sand-swept cities of Thule and Nerigos. Powerful Thulian and Nerigolish sorcerors and warlords called the “Undying” vie for control of the region using unnatural armies of magically engineered beastmen: orcs, goblins, and other warped imitations of the natural races. Their constant infighting – and the geographical protection of the mountains – has allowed Durnovar to hold its tenuous position on the continental mainland despite numerical inferiority.

Chukchi

Population: 3,000,000

Market: Class I

This distant city-state lies far to the west, hundreds of miles past the lands of Cascadia, in the scattered archipelagos of Beringia. Directly to the south are the remnants of the sunken cities of Atlantis. Chukchi is home to a noble northern people, and has a culture comparable to the Sino-Russian regions of Earth. It is home to exotic arctic beasts like mammoths and saber-tooth cats, and features great temples and centers of peaceful learning.

Vinlend (Nation)

Population: 4,500,000 (human and halfling)

A large central island in the Inland Channel at the north end of the Occidental Basin, Vinlend is inhabited by fishing and farming communities with a culture comparable to medieval Scandanavia. Proximity to the sea helps to maintain a temperate climate. The northern end of the island features highlands fingered with bays and fjords, and the southern end is grassy and open. At the southern tip is the large city of Durnovar, imperial capital of all lawful northern realms.

Durnovar (City)

Population: 300,000 (mostly Vinlender human, some Atlantean nobles)

Market: Class I

The imperial capital of the Sea-Kingdom of Durnovar, centrally located on the Inland Channel seaboard. Durnovar itself occupies the lowest point of Vinlend, and is the largest city of the entire Occidental Basin. The king and archbishop of Durnovar exercise temporal and spiritual authority over all the human habitations on the seaboard, except for the pirate principalities far to the south. Despite naval superiority, its military influence doesn't extend far beyond the coastal lands.

Lockhaven (Port City)

Population: 12,000

Market: Class IV

The gateway to the western lands of Cascadia, Lockhaven is still a young port of rough-hewn buildings populated mostly by rugged wilderness explorers and adventurers. The wilderlands beyond are little known and fraught with unknown perils.

Elysion (Territory)

Population: 175,000 (human and elven)

Durnovar's most secure mainland holdings are in the woodlands of Elysion. The Great Barrier Range to the east provide a natural defense against invaders, and the Isigflod River allows for commerce and easy transportation into the heartlands.

Straddleport (City)

Population: 28,000 (human)

Market: Class II

Straddleport, located on both sides of the Isigflod's mouth, is Durnovar's foothold on the Elysion mainland. All commerce with Vinlend passes through this port. It is managed jointly by a council of Lords-Proprietor, generally consisting of high-ranking noblemen and clergymen loyal to Durnovar.

Green Pass (Region)

Population: 90,000 (human and halfling)

Following the Isigflod River to its source in the mountains, an explorer will reach the strategic chokepoint of Green Pass, a lowered and widened portion of the range which includes several natural points of passage between the Occidental and Boreal Basins. This region has only become settled in the last 70 years, since it was subdued and occupied by Durnovar. Its primary trade market is Centerpost, about 10 miles west of the mountains, which servers the militar outposts at Footman's Notch and further down into the Balewood.

Centerpost (Town)

Population: 3000

Market: Class III

Despite having a small population, the market town of Centerpost serves as a military depot for fortresses and towers in the region.

Footman's Notch (Fortress)

Population: 700

The only road leading between the Occidental and Boreal basins passes through the mountains at Footman's Notch, a high road with a deep ravine one one side and a sheer cliffwall on the other. Just around a tight bend, the great wall of Footman's Notch is built clear out over the ravine and sinks into the mountain walls on either side. The central double gates through the wall are guarded by many companies of elite soldiers, and stonework fortifications overlook the trail leading up to the gate along the rising trail to the east. Durnovar is determined to hold this passage at all costs.

Balewood Keep (Fortress)

Population: 300

Market: Class VI (but Class IV for military goods)

This frontier fortress lies just a few miles down the road from the ruined city of Umeskelion, site of the most recent defeat of Durnovar's expeditionary forces. Though sturdily built, all personnel defending the fortress have been on high alert due to the fear of either a direct attack or an infiltration by enemy agents.

Player-Controlled Realms (Region)

Population: Varies

Player realms are initially located midway between Straddleport and Centerpost, along the forested branches and arms of the Isigflod River. This region is lightly populated, but has good access to river traders and plenty of room for expansion. Elven realms are located deeper in the woods, and dwarven citadels can still be found in the mountain borders.