Zeyland
Originally thought to consist of two large islands, Zeyland actually consists of three major ones and several minor ones. It sits on the Zeylandia Plateau which, at it's narrowist point, is separated only by 100 miles by an abyssal trench from the Pasifikan Plateau. Zeyland itself is roughly 1200 miles south of Rangiwhero, ranging from latitude 30S to 44S. It's Pasifikan name is Ao-tea-roa, which roughly means 'Land of the Long White Cloud'. The name comes from the cloud that sits above the landmass which is actually a guardian air spirit. The cloud can change in shape and thin out, letting full sunlight in, but, at any one time, there is always some cloud over the islands, whether it be spread out and wispy or concentrated in one dense mass.
What was originally thought to be one island in the north is actually split into two parts separated by a narrow strait. At it's closest, the two parts are less than a mile apart and, at extreme low tides, it may be possible to travel from one part to the other although the journey would be through thick, sticky, mud. Because of the gap, the three islands are referred to as the 'Upper North Zeyland", Lower North Zeyland" and "South Zeyland".
Upper North Zeyland is covered in thick forest and is full of various types of birds. The only mammal on land is the bat. A few modern Pasifikans had settled near the top peninsula but, by Summer 12, they had been wiped out by the local natives, a culture similar to Pasifika but more ancient, indicating the possibility of settlement in earlier times. The local natives are more warlike and strongly territorial and live in villages that are surrounded by defensive walls.
Since there are no land mammals, the ecological niches are taken up by birds. Many are flightless, such as the nocturnal kiwi and the larger moas.
A collection of volcanos are clustered around the bottom of Upper North Zeyland and the top of Lower North Zeyland as well as the islands in the gap. Currently they are inactive and most are covered in vegetation.
Lower North Zeyland is also covered in thick forest and has the same types of life as Upper North Zeyland, i.e. flightless birds, bats, and dense bush. The center of the island is marked by a huge lake which has steam rising from the surface. The shores of this freshwater lake are covered in a white rock which floats on water.
Just north of that lake is an area where geysers, bubbling mud, and very hot pools can be found. South of the lake is a volcanic plateau where a group of three mountains sit, one of which occasionally spits out columns of ash and smoke. The area around the volcanos is sparsly covered on scrub an d grasslands where the larger species of moa roam. All of these volcanos are snow covered in winter.
Another lone volcano is located on the west coast, sometimes referred to as the 'Lonely Mountain'. It is usually cloud topped with a crater lake. Sometimes it looks like it's active but it's usually cloud. The lake does steam a bit at times. As with the central mountains, this one is also snow covered in winter. A chronomancer used to be found here but she has since moved to a warmer location.
North of the lone volcano, and halfway up the coast to the top of this island is a smaller, and more recent, volcano which is active. Lava pours down the western slopes and into the sea. Between the two is an area of limestone where several caves can be found. One of these is a Celestial Star Place of Power because of all the little glowing points of light caused by worm like creatures that glow.
The indigenous humans occupy much of the upper part of this island. They are a bit less warlike than their northern cousins although the tribes do raid each other on occasions. As well as the humans, the bottom part of the island and the upper section of the southern island are home to a species of elf that are only as tall as halflings and have more fey blood than the usual elf. Neither species use metals but they trade with the northern tribes with materials such as greenstone (found in the Southern island) and obsidian - a type of black glass found near volcanos.
The thermal areas are home to steam mephits who don't like intruders. The steam lakes contain a new species of algae.
The south island has grassy plains on the eastern side with a large mountain range containing glaciers on the western side. The area between the western coast and the mountains gets a lot of rainfall and is covered in more native bush. The south western coast is full of deep fiords bounded by steep cliffs. Valleys are surrounded by high mountains where creatures such as katapos, keas and other birds can be found. One of those valleys contains a large stone ring. The high mountain tops have ice mephits as well as other ice and air entities. The glacier caves contain cryophiles. The deep fjords in the south west corner contain species of red and black coral.
The mountains are also home to dwarves as well as a blue dragon who is not keen on seeing the mountain landscape destroyed by irresponsible mining. Gold, mithral, and other deposits are known to be in there. The elves are currently helping the dwarves negotiate a deal with the dragon.
The eastern part is basically one large grassy plain with trees and islands of bush scattered around. Here can be found more fae elves, a few humans, giant moa and kangaroos. A very large shield volcano lies just off the east coast, halfway down, which is currently active and full of fire spirits as well as some pyrophiles. Another shield volcano is joined to the southern coast by a flat outcropping of land and is dormant. A third, inactive, shield volcano is located on the eastern coast between the two and can be reached by foot at low tide.
References:
GM Notes: If any GM wishes to use it, think of New Zealand before the coming of the white man
