The (known) world is made of up of three large landmasses, one smaller one, and several “islands,” all suspended in midair by ancient magics. They are surrounded by dense clouds, called “The Vapor,” which are believed to be a byproduct of the magic that holds the land in the sky.
The largest landmass, called Ahara, is roughly the size of Canada. It is the most northerly, and has the most varied geography. The second largest, Cohno, is about two-thirds as large as Ahara, and is located southeast of it. The final landmass, Soraf, is the smallest and the most southerly of the three. Also of note is Gascar, a landmass 800 miles long and 400 miles wide, located East of Soraf and Cohno.
Ahara
Ahara is the largest of the continents, and easily the most diverse. It is mountainous in the northwest and in the southeast, with high plateaus spread throughout.
In the east, the Ilan river flows north from lakes in the southeastern mountains all the way to the northern edge of the continent, where it cuts myriad deep channels and plunges over the edge in a spectacular display. The capital city of Ilan (named for the river) is built on bridges over the channels. The country of Ilan itself is split into country and city folk, with the former being largely farmers and herders, and the latter being mostly scholars. The great library at Ilan is considered one of the wonders of the world.
In the west, the land rises gradually as it goes north and west, but several rivers cut deep valleys and canyons in the tablelands, either flowing east towards the Ilan, or continuing west until they flow over the edge of the continent of their own power. The land is mostly fertile grasslands, with many farming villages on the plateaus. This region is largely feudal, with a capitol at Buktu in the central highlands, and it is seperated from the eastern kingdoms by a vast, arid desert. The King at Buktu can only control so much territory, so the western Edge is largely independent, made up of small alliances of villages.
The industrial nation of Rocco is on the northwestern edge, seperated from the rest of the continent by high, mineral rich mountains. Their capitol is the site of Arthage Shipyards, the biggest airship manufacturing facility in the world.
In the Southeastern Highlands is the reclusive country of Thiopa. It is a land of high mountains, deep canyons, and cold rivers. East of the highlands is a large, fertile plain, where most of Thiopa’s food is grown.
Finally, the South Central region of Ahara is the kingdom of Izara. Like Buktu, it is a feudal society with many farms. Izara and Buktu have a long-standing rivalry, mainly originating from the presence of two holy sites along their border: Lake Sihada and Mount Kilajara. At the moment, Izara lays claim to both, and has heavily garrisoned the border.
Cohno
If Ahara is the most civilized and orderly of the continents, then Cohno is the wildest and most untamed. It has only one major city of note: Cohno, at the mouth of the river of the same name. Cohno City (or just Cohno) serves as trading post, base camp, bazaar, and main point of entry for the rest of the continent. As a result, it has a seedy, frontier feel to it, even though it has a permanent population at least as large as any capitol on Ahara. The rulers of the city are trying to change this; they believe that since most of Ahara’s magitek is manufactured with Cohno magicite and then sold back to them at triple the price the magicite was sold for, that they should start manufacturing their own magitek. In order to accomplish this, Cohno has been trying to reinvent its image so as to draw more tinkers and engineers; rumors say that they’ve even tried to lure some away from Rocco and Ilan, but no one knows how successful they’ve been.
There is a second port, on the eastern Edge: Zanziza. It is a small port where adventurers, explorers, and prospectors can set out on expeditions into the eastern interior. The locals don’t really care how many of these people come back, but rumor says that at least a few do, and the tales they tell are hard to believe.
The continent itself is ringed by mountains, and is mostly one vast jungle, with the Cohno River forming a vast arc through the basin. Rumours abound of hidden monastaries, long-lost treasures, and even an entire nation hidden in the mountainous eastern portion of the continent. If not for the rich magicite mines on this continent, it is doubtful outsiders would ever visit.
Soraf
Soraf is made up mostly of vast, rolling plains, with a relatively high mountain range in the Southeast. There are no large cities or kingdoms, but there are many small city-states. The swiftest, strongest chocobos are raised here, and the chocobo trade is the largest in Soraf. Also of note are the number of mines on the continent. Soraf is mostly empty, and there are many places for people to find solitude, regardless of why they seek it.
Gascar
Gascar is a reclusive nation that takes up its whole landmass. Airships are only allowed to dock in one city, and only those with express invitation from the Summoner’s Enclave are allowed to leave the city. As a result, very few have seen the interior, but it is known that the Summoners rule the island without contest, and they have their own agendas to pursue elsewhere in the world. Gascar has envoys in the capitols of every other power, and they are frequently employed in conflicts around the world.
