Welcome to Lathen…
Lathen is a large island continent, isolated from the outside world. In fact, it is unknown what exists beyond the surrounding ocean. From the tallest peaks of the island—the twin mountains that house Dok Morren and Dok Syne—distant lands can be glimpsed on the horizon, but no one has ever discerned signs of civilization.
Many have attempted to sail the Green Sea that encircles Lathen, but all have failed, thwarted by the Ratlas Leviathan—a serpent of immeasurable size. The Leviathan has dominated the sea for almost as long as Lathen’s recorded history. Its hide secretes an acidic ooze that sizzles upon contact with the ocean, sending plumes of noxious fumes into the air as it passes. Every seven days, the Leviathan completes a full circle around the island, generating massive, warm waves known to the people of Lathen as the Leviathan Tide.
Due to the dangers lurking in the waters, the people of Lathen do very little fishing, relying mainly on the shallows of the Western Shore and Blythe Bay for occasional bounties of shark and crab meat, along with the usual hauls of Green Sea trout and herring.
The island is divided into three main regions, with some notable outliers that remain isolated by necessity or choice.
Viet, independent state of the west
The War of Western Independence forced Meleth to relinquish this land around 240 years ago, leading to the establishment of the independent state centered around the city of Noffren. In honor of the Sha’ard, the original inhabitants of this land, Noffren and its neighboring towns adopted names from the Sha’ard language. Noffren was renamed Al’Vie A’Viet, which roughly translates to ‘the lost and remembered,’ and it grew into a capital in its own right. Although the region strongly opposed the Meletians’ reckless use of magic, it continued to utilize the relatively benign school of Enchantment, which is also rooted in the ancient Sha’ard dialect.
Seeking to distance itself from the dominance experienced under monarchical rule, Viet established an election-based system for appointing leadership. A family would be elected as a unit, with each member taking on appropriate roles throughout the city. If one member fails in their elected responsibilities, the entire family is deemed unfit to continue their rule, and a new family is appointed.
While this system has worked flawlessly, leading to the city-state’s growth in both wealth and morality, it has also resulted in a subtle division between families, each of whom politely competes for reputation and influence.
Places of interest
Dok Morren, home of the hunt
If you believe the tales told by the Ratlas Hunters of Dok Morren, the small hub on Morren Mountain was established more than 1,200 years ago. According to the story passed down through generations, two Leviathans once roamed the Green Sea, mercilessly butchering their young in the deep waters. The bodies of these slain serpents—smaller, but still imposing—began washing ashore and were quickly studied. It didn’t take long to determine that they were a matured version of the Ratlas, which had been allowed to run rampant in the mountains. This revelation led to the formation of the Ratlas Hunters, who began culling the snakes before they could grow old enough to migrate to the ocean.
The original aim was to eradicate the Ratlas entirely, but this has proven impossible for several reasons. How or where the Ratlas nest has never been discovered, and their numbers are beyond comprehension. Even the most gifted hunters have rarely been able to slay more than five in a single day, and many die each year due to the unpredictability of the Ratlas' movements and attacks. These creatures have thick hides, excrete poison from their pores, and can grow up to 15 feet in length, towering over humans and cattle alike.
Over the generations, the hunters have adopted several tactics to improve their odds. Upon discovering that Ratlas blood offers protection against the acidic juices they excrete, hunters began to douse themselves in the blood before each hunt. Over time, this practice strips the color from their hair, leaving each hunter with a distinct pale blue tinge. Additionally, the hunters found that a specific type of moss petrifies when exposed to Ratlas acid, leading to the creation of the Moss Blade—a large sword, taller and wider than its user, with the flat of the blade coated in this petrified moss. Due to the Ratlas’ poor eyesight, hunters hide beneath the flat of their Moss Blades, waiting for the serpent to approach. Once close enough, the hunter can often cleave into the snake with a single, powerful strike.
Meleth, country of Kings and Conjuration
Meleth is the oldest realm within Lathen, once holding dominion over the entire island. Situated on the eastern half of the continent, Meleth is known for two things: its monarchy, whose lineage traces back to the island's original founders, and its controversial stance on magic. It was this stance that led to the division of the continent, as the western regions revolted against Meleth’s ideals of using magic freely and without restraint.
When the War of Western Independence did not unfold as Meleth had planned, a peace agreement was forged, severing the island into two halves. Although Meleth lost control of the west, it continued to prosper through the pursuit of both technological and magical advancements.
The Meletian capital, Highrise, stands as a testament to these advancements, housing the Teaching Towers of magical academia and bustling with engineering workshops that line the countless alleys and streets.
Atop the highest plateau of the capital lies the Regal Belt—a district reserved solely for those of royal ancestry. At the heart of this district rests the Royal Palace, where King Murdoc IV reigns. His rule has been marred by public controversy and political unrest, with rumors circulating about his alleged addiction to ashes that he constantly burns in an ancient Mor’Masani vase.
Places of interest
Dok Syne, the new hunting grounds
Dok Syne was hastily founded 23 years ago to mirror the efforts of Dok Morren in the west when it was discovered that the Ratlas had begun to spawn within these eastern mountains. The reason for this sudden occurrence remains unknown, but the island continent unified in response to the alarming discovery. Dok Morren sent some of its best hunters to the east to train and lead new Ratlas Hunters, while the Western Shores provided miners to assist in extracting ore from the mines of Blythe Bay. This combined effort led to the creation of the new Dok—a small hunting town on Mount Syne dedicated to culling the emerging Ratlas population before they reach maturity.
Many of the hunters who migrated from Dok Morren have observed that the Ratlas in this region are a new variant. Although their hides are not as thick as those in the west, the acidic juices they excrete appear to be much more potent.
Shoreporch, archaeological dig site
Almost directly south of the capital lies Shoreporch, a location found to contain ruined structures that some believe date back to a time long before recorded history. The largest of these is a colossal gate that stands on the shore, overlooking the Green Sea. Scholars from the Teaching Towers speculate that this gate was once magical in nature. Many are unsettled by the fact that it faces northwest, toward a desert-like land observed from the peaks of Dok Syne.
New dig sites appear each month as ancient artifacts and tools are frequently unearthed. One such artifact was claimed directly by King Murdoc IV—the Mor’Masani vase—once its apparent purpose was discovered. It is said that burning a person’s ashes within the vase and inhaling the smoke allows the user to experience the deceased’s last moments. Murdoc has begun using this recklessly, having ‘traitors’ and ‘spies’ tortured to death before burning them in the vase to experience the rush of their final moments.
Nidian Fort, magically constructed prison
The earliest records of Lathen’s history reveal a dark era of slavery, dominance, and persecution. Many of these records describe Nidian Fort, constructed by the newly founded Copulous Church. According to these documents, long before humans settled upon Lathen, the land was inhabited by the Sha’ard, a native people who were indelicately referred to as ‘Sky Skins’ due to the blue hue of their skin. The rise of the Copulous Church marked the beginning of the Sha’ard's persecution, leading to the construction of Nidian Fort as a place to imprison those deemed too dangerous to remain free.
Over many decades, a deep underwater cavern was enchanted, creating a perpetual whirlpool of immense size that circles the area and grants access to the cavern's depths. Within this cavern, a prison was built, descending into the darkness. The whirlpool acts as a deadly barrier, ensuring that any who attempt to escape face certain death.
When this magical construct was rediscovered, and the ancient Meletian dialect within its records deciphered, Queen Sestis II repurposed the prison. It now houses common criminals, as well as those deemed traitors by the 'Addict King,' Murdoc IV.