LOCATION BIOS

LAND OF DREAMS

Boiling Point

The second tallest mountain in the Land of Dreams, Boiling Point is also a dormant volcano and the home of the dwarves. The dwarves use its veins of rich magma to stay warm and heat the metals and gems of their trade. A vast river of lava separates the dwarves’ ruling council, the Bedrock, from the rest of the clan. This ancient mountain towers over the Meadow of Time, one of the oldest places in the Land of Dreams where strange and pure magic runs deep. Corruption is beginning to spread across the meadow, proof that the Rankers are gaining significant power—enough to taint even the mighty magic of the Celestials.

Misty Pass

The home of the elves is a vast, temperate rainforest full of moss-covered trees, streams, and the great, roaring waterfalls that give it its name. An ancient place, filled with the magic of imagination and bursting with beauty, the forest is home to a variety of creatures. Among these beasts are dragons, fairies, and unicorns—as well as more mysterious and nefarious animals that prefer to roam in the dark of night. While the Misty Pass may bring welcome relief from the harsh heat of the neighboring desert, it has its own perils. Many a traveler has gone missing in this forest, never to be found—and there are an abundance of curious mysteries to be found here, such as crumbled ruins and the faint sound of beautiful singing at dawn. The Pass is one of a few paths that lead to the elf seat of power—situated within a vast tree—and the capital city beyond, where the griffin ruler presides. It is also among these conifers and maples where King Brody met his demise.

Pebble Embark

Also known as the Shore of Beginnings, Pebble Embark is where many heroes and legends of the dreamworld first arrive in the Land of Dreams to begin their journey. Pebble Embark is a tropical beach of golden sand and turquoise water. Hugged on one side by the ocean and by dense jungle on the other, it serves as a safe haven for travelers. Delicious fruits grow from the trees and bushes and gulls nest in the great red cliffside that arches over the beach and into the water at its eastern edge.

Plains of Season

The flowers that cover the grassy slopes of these plains change color according to the time of year—red in winter, white in summer, violet in autumn, and gold in spring. It is said that they also change color according to momentous events—hence the ambiguity of the name, “Plains of Season.” The gentle hills of the plains stretch for miles, framed on the north by the waters of a bay, on the south by a forest, on the east by a rocky cliffside, and on the west by great mountains and ravines and gullies. Just opposite these mountains rests the capital city, and a crumbling tower known as the Fortress of the Diligent Watch keeps ancient vigil over the hills of grass. It is on these fields where the final battle in the Ranker War will unfold…

Reekwood Swamp

This is a rather inhospitable place where wyverns, ghosts, and other such monstrous creatures make their home. Swamp gases and bubbling ooze create noxious fumes. Treacherous pools of sticky gunk, if deep enough, can trap the unwary. The swamp is a sheltering zone for nightmares. If you’ve ever had a terrifying dream of being chased by an unseen beast, you may very well have been dreaming about the Reekwood Swamp. The Melancholy Bog is the only known civilized portion of the swamp. Once a simple trading post, it has since grown to become a desolate village full of gloomy people.

Seat of Griffins

Also known simply as “the capital,” this is an ancient city built in tiers like a birthday cake. At its uppermost tier, nestled near the base of great, gray mountains, towers the palace from whence griffin kings and queens rule. A derelict courtyard stretches before the palace doors, filled with a strange, watchful kind of magic. The remaining tiers host a variety of homes and shops, all a bizarre mixture of architectural styles from various time periods in human history. Popular attractions are the Dodge Arena, where youths gather to play paintdarts or the griffin-hearted like to practice their aerial skills, and the tour huts, where one can pay to have a tour guide take you on an informative carriage ride through the city.

Tahtltiki Jungle

A realm of sky-scraping trees, roaring waterfalls, hot springs, and countless types of flowers, this is a gorgeous location in the Land of Dreams. The Tahtltiki tribe, whose territory encompasses much of the jungle, reside in a wooden city built high up on the boughs of the oldest trees and accessible only by rope ladder or flight. Fierce predators like jungle dogs and saurians stalk the jungle floor, but the tribe lives safely in tree huts connected by swaying bridges and boasting pavilions, pagodas, and even a bustling market. Though perhaps not the destination of choice for someone who is afraid of heights, the Tahtltiki are an incredibly friendly people who will gladly provide you with some coconut milk, show you your birth-flower, and let you have a ride on a giant chameleon. If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s a swing fifty feet off the ground, or an old man known as the “Master” may take you under his wing and teach you some self defense.

Tencina-Ahrroc

A busy and wealthy desert city, Tencina-Ahrroc is home to a secret society of people loyal to the griffin rulers. The royal pyramids tower in the desert dunes beyond the Pharaoh’s palace and glistening obelisks capped with gold and lapis lazuli record the city’s lengthy (and embellished) history at every intersection. Jonathan’s predecessor, King Brody, discovered that the Tencinian pharaoh prefers neutrality in the war against the Rankers, but Jonathan wonders if that has since changed for the worse… Native Tencinians worship various animal-headed deities, and foremost among them is Setmenrajda, the jackal-headed idol of violent death and triumph. Despite its rough reputation and suspicious alliances, Tencina-Ahrroc is the place to go if you want to shop for fine jewelry, exquisitely crafted tamarisk furniture, or delectable delicacies—if you have the coins, that is!