Adventurer's Academy

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====== Uushyi ======

===== Geography =====

Uushyi is an island off the southern coast of the large Daran region. Originally a peninsula, a long-past cataclysm caused it to drift to sea. This same cataclysm linked the land to the planar boundaries, resulting in a complex array of environments.

A mighty mountain range splits the island, snow-capped for much of the year, and is the primary source of water for much of the southern part of the island. [[earth|The Plane of Earth]] has deep connections to these mountains, though there's a colossal lake within an ancient caldera that resonates with the [[water|Plane of Water]]. Deep caverns beneath the mountains sometimes house dreary denizens of the [[Shadowfell]].

The south is blocked from rainfall by the mountains and contrary ocean currents, leaving it arid and inhospitable for all but the hardiest individuals. Energies from the [[fire|Plane of Fire]] leak through here, and invaders from the infernal and abyssal planes sometimes clash in these deserts.

To the north of the mountain range, rains from the mainland are contained by the elevation, leading to mighty rivers, lush forest, and boggy marsh near the sea. Spirits of the [[air|Plane of Air]] play through the mighty treetops, and the veil separating the [[Feywild]] is thin in some places.

===== Cultures =====

Travel to Uushyi is difficult due to northern marshes, southern currents, and dangerous locations for the unwary. However, the island is inhabited; survivors of the [[Cataclysmic Schism]], while few in number at first, they eventually flourished into three primary societies: the fey-worshiping [[Natarak]] shamans of the northern lands; the [[Golani]], pueblo-dwellers jealously guarding their few water sources on the south of the mountains; and the semi-nomadic mountain [[Sorus]] tribes who descend into the caverns and deserts to test their mettle against mighty creatures there.

The fourth, more recent group of people are settled from [[Daran]]. Recent advances in nautical technology and a newly unrestrained interest in sailing led to a small settlement's construction on the western edge of the island, the only easy spot to safely sail to and from the land. These settlers have focused on mining in the mountains and harvesting exotic lumber in carefully regulated quantities, to avoid upsetting the spirits that frequent the forests. Thus far, they've had relatively cordial relations with the native groups.

===== Governance =====

Rather than particularly strict forms of leadership, most folks stick to their own villages and groups. The Sorus have a more cohesive political system than the others, with each nomadic group sending representatives to a twice-yearly gathering to discuss important matters. The Natarak are mostly focused on pleasing their fickle fey lords, and the Golani see little reason to deal with anything that doesn't relate to their water sources. A few Golani settlements do send a [[Listener]] to the Sorus gatherings; though their attendance is mostly a formality, they serve as a primary source of information for all who live south of the mountains.

===== Trade and Economy =====

Trade has grown significantly in the years since the Daranian landfall. The Golani deal primarily in artisanal crafts and information regarding the ever-shifting desert. The Sorus have a constant supply of monstrous trophies. The Natarak trade little, but maintaining their goodwill to gather goods from the forests is a constant form of trade in and if itself. The Daran settlers do most of the trading, of course, seeking especially ores and woods to ship back home. They've been careful to avoid saturating the market with goods from the mainland, though such things are perhaps inevitable in time.

===== History =====

Ages ago, a primordial demon called Reave attempted to tear open a permanent hole between the planes, irrevocably creating chaos and destruction. It was stopped, but the location of its campaign into the Material Plane remains affected by the attempt even today. The island of Uushyi, a primordial term evoking thoughts of ambition and impossible futures. Despite being visible from towers on the mainland on a clear day, unpredictable weather, dangerous currents and rocks, and the unwelcoming land itself led to it being left alone for centuries. The loss of elven sea superiority has led to great strides in ocean-faring technology of other cultures, including the Daranian, and they have since begun exploration of the strange island off their coast.