Eldagaire

Rising so high above sea level, Eldagaire escapes the desert that runs through much of Calclafique and Junos. Eldagaire is home to lush and verdant tropical jungles that are inhabited by all manner of strange creatures. In some places the jungle is so thick that light never penetrates as far as the ground, creating a bizarre overland underdark that is phenomenally dangerous for travellers. Parts of the jungles are rumoured to be ruled by illithids who can operate in the light of midday with impunity. The rakshasha are not as uncommon as one would like.

Most of Eldagaire's inhabitants are human, and many live the same sort of life as the peasants of Norandor or Salmaynak. However, because of the terrain many human villages and settlements have been without contact with the outside world for hundreds of seasons. Some are uncivilised barbarians living with a stone age degree of technology, others are far more advanced than the rest of the continent; but they all value their privacy.

The country of Eldagaire is named after a human of the same name. Eldagaire was the great druid of the Circle in the country many many years ago and, even after all the intervening years, it is the Circle of Druids who hold the greatest power in the land. Because of the topography, Eldagaire was never cleared of druids by the Hadradans as successfully as the rest of Urova. They went to ground here and bided their time. Now, they are the most organised and coherent force in the country - far more so than the druids in other lands. It is in Eldagaire that the Great Druid sits, and it is Eldagaire than many druids consider their spiritual home even if they have never been there.

Society outside the druids is scattered. Although many towns maintain links with each other, there is no one king or kingdom to look to in times of need. Like Kerikal, scores of small kingdoms sprout on a weekly basis, and scores more disappear; victims of vicious feuds and wars. These wars are of no concern to the druids unless they interfere with nature. If this is the case then they strike firmly and devastatingly against both sides. Druids will often work behind the scenes to maintain the balance of power between different states, thereby avoiding conflicts. Rulers do not trust the druids, but they are well respected by the populace at large. In Eldagaire at least, the old religion of Urova is as popular as the worship of the Moon Gods. Possibly more so.