Zaitopia

(Non-Zaitopian territories are desaturated)

Zaitopia (pronounced "ZYE-topia") is one of Dimentiara's eleven nations. It is located in Dimentiara's eastern hemisphere, on its northeastern continent. It was founded in the aftermath of the Age of Unification. The citizens of Zaitopia are collectively known as Zaitopians.

Overview

(Pending)

Geographical Features

Cryptic Forest

A huge band of gnarly woodlands that stretches from east to west across the northern region of the continent, starting at West Horn and ending at the Sawtooth Mountains. The eastern and western tips consist of wet, cloudy, temperate rainforest, with a large band of alpine forest sandwiched inbetween them. The Feral Kreatures that infest it are the least of the horrors lurking in these woods. Cannibalistic cultists who performed ritualistic human sacrifice took up residence in these woods during the apocalypse which led to the Age of Unification. Generations later, the Cryptic Forest is said to still be haunted by these forgotten souls, who are rumoured to possess the Feral Kreatures of the forest, using them as tools of vengeance to attack intruders.

Chillveran Tundra

North of the Cryptic Forest is a desolate, snowy wasteland which is just as sparsely inhabited as the continent's interior. Its most notable feature are the Bitterine Seas, a twin pair of inland seas and the only ones found in Dimentiara's eastern hemisphere. The Bitterines were connected to the ocean in prehistoric times but were landlocked when the climate became cooler and drier; they are now inhabited by endemic aquatic Kreatures that have evolved to survive in their unique isolated habitat.

Sawtooth Mountains

A large mountain range on Zaitopia's east coast. The jagged, high-altitude peaks and sheer cliffs make it difficult for most of the larger feral kreatures from the badlands to climb or fly over them, so they cast a shadow of safety over most of the eastern side of the continent. For this reason, most of Zaitopia's major population centers cluster behind them. These mountains are fickle guardians, however. Feral Kreatures still lurk in its winding valleys and caves, and its peaks are littered with the frozen bodies of overly ambitious mountaineers.

Vara Lake

Zaitopia's largest lake, and also the largest body of freshwater in Dimentiara's eastern hemisphere, which is venerated by the locals. Shaped vaguely like a fish, it sits at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains and is fed by rivers that flow down from the nearby glaciers and mountain springs. Once the stronghold of the Vara Kingdom, it was seized by the incipient nation of Zaitopia in a bloody conflict during the Age of Unification. It subsequently became polluted and infested with Feral Kreatures, resulting in some of the lake's endemic Wild Kreatures becoming extinct. There is an ongoing effort by the government of Zaitopia to clean the lake as a goodwill gesture towards the Vara people.

Glimmer Lake

Zaitopia's second-largest lake. Since it is located beyond the protective barrier of the Sawtooth Mountains, it's not as heavily populated as Vara Lake and still supports a verdant freshwater ecosystem. Its name comes from the bioluminescent plankton that emerge from its depths at night to feed near the surface, their glimmering bodies twinkling like stars.

Tremek Islands

A small archipelago off Zaitopia's East cost, home to a province which shares the same name. The largest of these Islands, Tremek Island, is one of the safest places to live in Zaitopia, thanks to an aggressive eradication campaign that's largely rid the island of Feral Kreatures. As a result, real estate is in high demand and the cost of living is very high. The Tremeks are not volcanic in origin; they were once connected to the mainland but became isolated by rising sea levels.

Deskan Badlands

The interior of Zaitopia is very dry as a result of the Sawtooth Mountains blocking moist air coming in from the Vastatos Ocean. The Deskan Badlands are located south of the Cryptic Forest and consist of a large band of temperate grasslands which transition into rocky desert further south. It is an inhospitable region infested with Feral Kreatures which is burning hot during the day and freezing cold at night. Most of its population live with their backs crammed up against the Sawtooth Mountains, or on the arid Bouldaron Islands in the absolute southwestern corner of the region.

Keemok Swamplands

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Upper Sauna Rainforest

Located southwest of the swamplands on the narrow strip of land on the northern shores of the Sea of Fire. Perpetual fog and smoking volcanoes lend this place its name. Rich volcanic soil promotes the growth of thick, impenetrable vegetation that conceals a rogue's gallery of vicious Feral Kreatures.

Cities and Towns

Settlements are sorted provincially:

Eastern Zaitopia

Zaitopia's most densely populated province, located on a strip of land east of the Sawtooth Mountains.

• Zaito City
• Billaine Town
• Vara City
• Kaadkya City
• Zalg City
• Skeewa Village
• Bybeg City
• Solax City

Tremek Islands

• Luxor City
• Sull City
• Vetter City

Inner Zaitopia

• Deska City

Upper Zaitopia

• Chillvera City

West Horn Peninsulas

The province of West Horn encompasses two large, triangular peninsulas in the northwest which loosely resemble the cephalic and thoracic horns of some gigantic rhinoceros beetle, as well as Talford Island directly north. The winters are mild, the summers are cool and overall it is cloudy, wet and depressing. Despite this, West Horn is the most heavily populated area on the west cost of Zaitopia thanks to the natural barriers bestowed by the Ridgeback Mountains and its close proximity to the mediator nation of Trikos, which serves as an economic hub between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

• Vexar City

Tailtip Territory

Zaitopia's southernmost province, which borders the sister nation of Akatoria.

See Also

• Wildlife of Zaitopia