Re: RP PUBLIC SAVAGE: The Kingdom of Apath
"We have no 'definite proof'," said Hale. "There is no such thing in the savagery of Apath. The Kaiyaash has the finest seers, so our magical efforts cannot even get the drop on him. Intelligence is thin - we've got some of Wyrn's people, but not many, and most have been posted to Karnala. As a general rule, I am against torture - not that it matters, as most of the Shage are impossible to capture. They'll die fighting.."
He rose suddenly, drew a large sheet of parchment from within his desk and rolled it out. It was a map.
"Apath," said Hale. "Bordered by the River of Kingdoms to the far east, the Nation of Karnala to the far west, and Adooridalu to the far north. To the south, the sea. But we're looking more locally, I'd imagine - I don't believe that international politics is what concerns you at this present stage." He pointed to a solid, curling glyph to the south of the map. "This is the city of Astura Ogur. This is us. We're south.. hunting in the jungle is difficult, and agriculture won't even be considered by the Shage, so seafaring is their main operation. Huge. There are occasional piracy problems, but the accords with Karnala state that the sea is a free place and that Apath might fish where it wants, so the main diet is seafood."
He pointed to the center of the map, where a similar glyph had been described in between the sketches of flora.
"This is the Palace of the Forever Rising Hjadash, hjadash being the native word for a circular plant which devours insects and children. They believe it to be made in the image of their sun. It's practically a city in itself. We can't get in - the sole palace of the Khaiyaash is walled off entirely. There, he trains his poisoners, his fanatic death-priests, the spies and the ceremonial warriors. It is the safest place in Apath for any who the Khaiyaash trusts."
He moved his finger to a few other areas.
"The east - we have mountains. They are sacred to many, but it is a much older tradition that takes root there - not the worship of the sun-deity. Some still live there, praying to their own gods. We have many warehouses there - as do, perhaps, hundreds of others - and the cliffs span for a thousand miles. One could hide in that place and never be found.
"The west.. and the north, completely unexplored jungle. That is where the witchstone rests, and much, much more before. It is the most horrible place on this world, Ruse, I assure you of that."