Eth'leen

The western country of Vitaria is known as Eth'leen, a jungle full of hungry predators, dangerous wildlife, and survivors fighting each moment to stay alive. Life in Eth'leen is an eternal struggle, but those that call it home are some of the strongest people in the entire continent.

Dangerous Wilds
Eth'leen is almost wholly comprised of dense rainforests, and some of its trees are as tall as mountains. Here, common vines are often as thick as the width of wagon wheels. Temperatures in Eth'leenian forests are always sweltering and humid, no stranger to the harsh rainforests of this country. In the jungles of Eth'leen, nature herself is the deadliest enemy.

One long river, The Kuvuko, divides Eth'leen into two parts, known commonly as the Greater and Lesser Wilds. The Greater Wilds are where the forest is the most dense, and only gets more so the futher west you travel. The Lesser Wilds are considered more civilized, as only they are home to mankind's defiant cities.

All manner of fearsome beasts call the Wilds of Eth'leen home. Mosquitoes, the most popular of insects native to these forests, can grow to be as large as a dog, with huge wings that beat incessantly, creating a loud buzzing sound that can be maddening.

Dinosaurs, strong, powerful reptiles often as tall as a tower, call the wilds home as well. With a fearsome temper, a taste for red meat, and an inclination for destruction, running into one is considered the worst of luck. Fortunately, they do not favour water, and usually are never seen on the east side of the great river. When they are, only a small army can hope to defeat them.

The wilds are home to Naga, strange creatures with the bodies of snakes and the heads of men or women. These creatures have bright, purple eyes that glow, even in the darkest of nights, and all are said to be magically attuned to the Weave. Some witnesses say the Naga command the elements, calling down storms or boulders to reshape the forests, and others say the very plantlife bends to their will, moving as if they've given it a mind of its own. Lastly, people say that some incredibly powerful Naga are even able to dominate the minds of large groups of humans in order to keep them as thralls, often for multiple years.

The jungles of Eth'leen are also home to dangerous plant life, which have only evolved over time to be even deadlier. Chessah's Lure, named ironically after the Goddess of Nature, Herself, is a beautiful flower with long, grasping vines and a carnivorous appetite. Its signature scent is sweet, euphoric, and alluring, and sends its victims into a state of psychoactive bliss, rendering them helpless and unable to respond or defend themselves. The vines will then bind their victim and drag them into the plant's maw, where they will be devoured whole.

Giant Pirahnas, man-eating fish with teeth like jagged blades, should always be assumed to live in Eth'leenian lakes and rivers, and they can quickly end an unfortunate swimmer's life in an instant.

What Lies Beyond
It is often speculated that the lands of Eth'leen are actually islands atop a great unexplored ocean, since one has to cross the Gorennu River to even enter the country. The river spans the length of the entire country... at least the the length of it that has been recorded, since no one has truly explored all the way through the Greater Wilds. The river could actually be a front, in fact, hidden so well by the trees and foliage that its real status as an ocean is indecipherable. Scholars claim to have seen hints of ruins of distant civilization, both human and Eldyrian, just beneath the surface of the water, but the dangerous creatures that lurk within make study nigh impossible.

Civilization
The few cities brave enough to survive the Wilds are bastions of strength. The keepers of the cities, powerful Spirit Shamans, perform taxing rituals every few generations. The rituals create immense magical barriers that shield the various cities, which greatly slow the growth of the wilderness near them, as well as repel all manner of the jungle's vicious beasts. These Spirit Shamans are the wise rulers of the cities, and they have been trained in the ritualistic ways since childhood. Generations and generations of Shamans have existed, each fulfilling his or her destiny as set out for them from birth, as is their tradition. For the Shamans that haven't fully mastered the arts of the ancient magics, death is often the price for casting such an incredible spell, but for those that succeed and survive, they are known throughout Eth'leen as heroes; true saviours of their people.