Medius is a large continent dominated by legends and the struggles to survive them. Most land is survivable but harsh and mostly unworked. Civilization can only group together and survive when either magical aid or luck is used. For this reason, most large structures and architecture usually use the natural land around it to its advantages. Most areas of populace never get over the size of a large town, however several stronghold and traveling tent cities exist. Humanity, however, exists more in a chain of small settlements or towns near each other in areas rather than building sprawling cities. Many ruins can be found that span miles that seem to contradict the current trend of living, but many see this evidence of failed attempts at conquering the lands. Up to 40% of humanoids live a nomadic life relying on hunting and gathering but enjoying the technology and trades of cities. Against all odds; several Large Cities and territories exists on the Continent of Medius;

• North Haven Consist of the Frozen Tundras and Wastes of Northern Medius. Notable areas include;

  • Raven’s Keep, a mysterious black castle that sits in the Blood Marshes. Some say that the Raven Queen lives there sewing and stitching the dead back to life with her threads of fate.

  • Ice Run, retrofitted ruins occupied by Goblin, Trolls, and anyone who wishes a new start away from the Southern Politics and free of the North’s Governance. Ice run gets its name-sake from the giant ice luges that were once part of a large forgotten engine that are set into the mountain sides.

  • The Ruins of DuSal and DeOx. Giant structures like tuning forks rise into the clouds out of these twin ancient ruins that span the DuSal Gulf. Not much is known about these structures other than the towers seem to capture vibrations such as sound and transmit them to each other. You can talk to between the two structures if you are standing in the right places.

  • The Buried Labyrinth of Frost Meere, an abandoned kingdom, long-lost and forgotten. It must have been mighty in its day; but it now lies frozen in deep tundra. Approximately 3% of the sprawling castle complex is accessible from the surface; the rest lies buried in the ice of 1000 storms. Some claim to have traversed deeper through thawed tunnels and cleared chambers.

  • Formerly Faelenduaf, the City of Worldspeak & The Kingdom of Northbourne. Northbourne functions as the capital of Medius, although its political reach may be more contested than they believe. Worldspeak is one of the largest Cities in Medius and houses the royal family of Northbourne and their clan. While the throne can be ascended, it is often earned; meaning that those that vie for its power congregate on the busy streets. Worldspeak is a castle city formed in the caldera of a dormant volcano. The majority of the defenses come from the natural sheer walls of the crater. Almost all of the keep utilizes the natural foundation of the area other than the throne room and royal quarters that lie across a land bridge out the back of the dwarven fortress. Worldspeak utilizes the natural geothermal heat below the crater to heat their water and it keeps the interior of the city a good bit warmer than outside the walls. The large walls help deflect the buffeting wind and blinding blizzards. The Main keep utilize the extremely volatile and harsh storms around the area to protect from Dragons; as not even some elder dragons risk flying in such conditions. While Worldspeak is not the largest city of Medius; it boasts the largest population in and around the area known as Northbourne.

• Farthurndern Consist of the Needle Mountains of Northwest Medius. Notable areas include;

  • Nesthill, because of the typography of the area; traditional means of travel is difficult and dangerous; just as you cannot traditionally traverse the landscape; settlements in the area have adapted to fit the landscape. The largest of these is a suspended city known as Nesthill. Nesthill is inhabited by the two native peoples of the land; Eaglefolk and White Elves. Huts made of lashed bone and dry rotted wood are suspended to the peaks of the mountain peaks. Larger mountains are carved into intricate temples and large structures like dream catchers dot the landscape. The mountains get their shape; The needle mountains. The mountains may only be several feet thick at their summit reaching into a sharp point; however in stark contrast, they may only stand several feet away from another while they plummet hundreds of feet shear down. Rope bridges and ziplines are the bustling highways of this peculiar settlement.

  • Glindót, a small settlement that gained notoriety after a young Moon Maiden by the name of Kyu and her friends prevented an age of darkness and helped form the Mythril Ring around Medius.

• The Vital Lands and the Aristocracy of Vitæ.

  • The Vital Lands are a mysterious area clad in fog most of the year. It has two major regions; the City of Vitæ and the Bloodlands, also known as the Vital Flood Plains. A great river spans through a forest making it the ideal area for life, however its great flow seeps into the surrounding area forming dark bogs and swamps. Seasons are mild here and indicate little change. People here are highly superstitious as great beasts are master hunters and may pluck you from your bed without even waking your family. The constant disappearance of people and strange wilderness seems to whisper of dark blood magics, yet no one seems to question the aura of danger.

  • Vitæ is one of the largest cities of Medius. It is dominated by a large black castle that obscures the city beneath. Like most structures in Medius, the size of the castle boggles the mind. For this reason, most believe the creation of such a place to be magical in creation, but it is unknown who or how such a feat is accomplished. The city that sprawls around the castle bustles with work and commerce; the city never seems to sleep. Vitae is also called the city of cobble as almost every inch of land is paved, making raw land and lawns a scarcity; but notable, such as the court of the Weeping Lovers. The castle boasts literally thousands of rooms and even houses several hundred households, industries, and shops. The higher of the aristocracy occupy the higher areas of the castle and are separated from the lower castle by massive lifts. This is where Duchess Vesai and her Court rules over the city. Sprawling dungeons and tunnels under the castle are said to be numerous and be the venue of dark blood rituals; but that could just be a rumor. Castle Vitae also contains the largest library known in all of Bios known as the Vita Sanguinis Libri, or the Library of the Life Blood. The two other biggest collections of books are private collections owned by the Hin-Mun Monastery and the Kenju the Enlightened Wurm.

• The Thundersalts and the City-State of Sansura. Notable areas include;

  • The Thundersalts got their name due to large number of storms that form overhead. Like the Thunder Plains of QuinnLaw the storms are caused by the great wall that bisects the lower half of Medius. The wall is so massive and tall that it has permanently changed weather patterns around Bios. Little is known about the wall and why it was erected and by whom. Clouds crash up against the wall and gather energy therefore causing almost unending storms for both areas. Despite the constant rumble and crackle of lightning and thunder the desert rarely sees rain or overcast. You may be hit by lightning on a sunny 100-degree day. No one seems to know why the storm clouds overhead are transparent and let the sun flow through. There are rumors of the oldest of all civilizations being nestled here in ruin and being protected by perverse primordial magics.

  • Sansura bustles with airships and steel machinations run by bottled electricity and other curious magics. Those who hail from this region are skilled engineers and free thinkers of magic and engineering alike. The rich, deep culture of this sprawling city sees goblins drinking with gnomes at bars owned by dragon-kin. In Sansura you are worth the weight of your ideas. Ingenuity is God among these. Sansura’s magic is almost indistinguishable from its technology and so it is the same with their culture and art. Sansura is the largest city of Medius and almost exclusively dominated trade via their airships. While Sansura is known to be docile at most points in Medius’ history; the Victuun have annexed the City-State turning the might of their Napali and Cannon Brigade on the whole of Medius. Many fight from within to restore Sansura to its independence.

• The Thunder Plains and the Territories of Quinn. Notable areas include;

  • QuinnLaw and QuinnRow are named as such after the great conqueror Quinn. He settled the southern forests of QuinnRow above the Thunder Plains and named it “Quinn’s Row” after establishing several towns and settlements in a line. Quinn staked claim to the southern desert despite it being almost entirely uninhabited at the time. When asked what he would call the other area since it could not be conquered, he joked saying that the land had stopped him to teach him that it may not be defeated. He claimed the land itself created this law. The joke was told many times until the area became known as “Quinn’s Law”, ironically and permanently attaching his name to the land. Unlike the Thunder Salts, the Thunder Plains are always overcast and always storming regardless of season. Over time people tried to conquer QuinnLaw slow migrations and military camps were set up here.

  • Runder was a Northbourne outpost that was saved and transformed into a beautiful city oasis by the gift of the Blue Chromatic King, The Everflowing Gem. Runder now stands as not only the biggest city among deserts but the richest of all cities in Bios. Its sprawling cathedral form its desert walls in a massive spoke-like wheel. The spokes of the wheel being flying buttresses that descend from the main cathedral and act as aqueducts delivering gravity-fed water to the rest of the city. Runder displays a great disparity of wealth within the city; where some less fortunate sleep-in shanty shacks leaned up against literal gold walls of some buildings. The City-State is overseen directly by the Ordov Hydroco, or the Order of the Water Dragon. It is a militarized church state that is headed by Hydroxis himself. Runder gains its riches from its robust trading market and tolls. If you want to survive the desert, you must enter the city, and that is good for business.

  • The traveling tent city of Carnivaile is a band of nomads that travel together in a small community. Originally merchants and performers that sought to leave the confines of normal society. The city has attracted all sorts and formed into a place for fun and entertainment to a debaucherous level. Now the city which moves to chase the changing tide, boasts thousands of residents that all haul their living with them; either by living lite out of tents or with the use of magic. Carnivaile is also the host of the infamous Games, that very in activity from year to year. The vague Games attract even more thrill-seekers, gamblers, and those seeking to make money from the event. A popular event in the Games is known as “pole-vaulting” where a contestant uses a pole glider to race in a high-speed, high-risk course. The Games are popular and lucrative enough for independent athletes to train and compete, but is not for the weak willed, as “murder is considered bad sportsmanship, but death readily occurs”.

  • The Hin Mun Monastery trains monks to accept the way of change. Using martial arts as a form of enlightenment the monks are seen as mostly peacekeepers and regional missionaries.

  • Trinity is a town modest in size that holds the location of the Triocese of 12th Covenant.