Heoda

Background
Heoda is a tropical continent bordering Nargonde and facing the sea. This mess of palm trees and vines is sparsely populated in comparison to places like Cahryst. However, there are rumored sites where a few thousand live at a time. This place is seldom visited except for trading missions with Nargonde. Few mercenary companies, such as the Burnt Breath Company, have attempted to set up villages on its coast to plunder these trade routes but their numbers have fallen low due to attacks by orc tribes. But, there have been legends spread of civiised citadels where the strongest and most intelligent orcs gather from across Tella`ndor. Bards have sung of gold empires and cities based around pyramids hidden amongst the tropical weather and lush vegetation but few notable figures have confirmed this.

Scholars are unsure why so many strong orcs gather here but some, like Brodert the Mad, speculate that it has connections to other realms and portals to other planes masked by the citadels. Long ago, however, dwarfs used to conquer this land until they were forced from their underground kingdoms by advancing orc legionnaires and the horrible weather, particularly the tsunami "Lennie" in 4E0783. The dwarves fled in hopes of reaching the famous Magmaforge. From folklore said around many a drunk campfire, comes the legend of the Crater. This is a massive canyon with sharp, jagged edges and pertruding rock mountains. This peculiar structure has 3 distinctive bowls close to each other and have perplexed many locals and cartographers. They wondered how a kilometre wide bowl engulfed by knife-like ridges and peaks was formed. Some assume that the gods made it but none see the reason for creation of such an ominous wonder. It is said that the heavens cried on that day and the gods took out their vengeance on Heoda.

Apart from travelling bards and scholars, some information of Heoda has come from paladins on crusading missions. All missions have failed however, due to various implications and hindrances. One such hindrance has been rumoured to be large beasts that are said to not bleed. Few have ever been slain on this continent and much less have even been seen. When body parts from their corpses were taken to doctors and clerics in famous churches they all cried that it was the devil's work. Their skin felt cold as ice and it was said that whoever touched it or knew about it was soon slain. The only full body ever taken was by an expedition from the Confederation of Norscan. But, somehow it disappeared on its way back to Vinevris.

The Gold Empires
Ipqu-Aya, the Eye of Gilgamesh

Gulkishar, the Jewel of Tiamat

Mupallidat, the Crown of Sin