NERYALIN : LAND BENEATH THE AURORA.

The world takes inspiration from things like Tolkien, D&D, The Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more, so expect a mix of high fantasy, weird lore, ancient ruins, monsters, pirates, wars, gods, and way too many maps.

This blog is basically going to act as an archive for the project. I’ll be posting things like: • lore/codex entries • maps • kingdoms & factions • character info • religions & myths • species/races • history stuff • random worldbuilding rambles

A lot of the current focus is on the northern continent, known in the modern tongue as the “High Continent,” but eventually I’ll be posting stuff from all over the world.

Feel free to ask questions, give recommendations or yell about lore at me, I genuinely love talking about this kind of stuff.

Also, once the setting is a bit more developed, I might open things up for people to make characters within the world too.

Annual precipitation varies significantly depending on biome, elevation, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges, shaping ecosystems and human settlement patterns:

Biome / Region: Approx. Annual Precipitation. Notes

Glaciers: 500–1,000 mm / 20–39 in. Primarily snow accumulation; high-altitude regions.

Tundra: 200–400 mm / 8–16 in. Relatively low precipitation; mostly snow; cold and dry.

Taiga: 400–800 mm / 16–31 in. Moderate rainfall supporting dense coniferous forests.

Wetlands: 1,200–1,500 mm / 47–59 in. High rainfall; supports marshes, bogs, and seasonal floodplains.

Grasslands: 600–800 mm / 24–31 in. Seasonal rainfall suitable for crops and pasturelands.

Temperate Deciduous Forests: 800–1,000 mm / 31–39 in. Moderate rainfall; fertile soils in small southern patches.

The combination of temperature and precipitation patterns produces stark contrasts between the continent’s northern icefields and tundra, the central taiga, and the southern grasslands and wetlands. These climatic variations shape the distribution of biomes and human activity across the Northern Continent.

The Northern Continent exhibits a predominantly cold and temperate climate, with regional variations shaped by latitude, elevation, and proximity to oceans and mountain ranges. Climate strongly influences biome distribution, river systems, and human settlement patterns. The continent can be broadly divided into six climate zones:

Temperature Zones

Region / Biome: Approx. Temperature (°C / °F). Notes

Glaciers / Northern Icefields: -50 to 0 / -58 to 32. Ice-covered mountains, mostly central and northern peaks; extremely cold year-round.

Tundra: -30 to 10 / -22 to 50. Surrounds glaciers and high-altitude peaks; treeless alpine plains and permafrost zones.

Taiga: -10 to 20 / 14 to 68. Dense coniferous forests covering most of the continent; long winters and mild summers.

Wetlands: 0 to 25 / 32 to 77. Mostly in Aslan; marshes, bogs, and swamps; warmer than surrounding Taiga.

Grasslands: -5 to 30 / 23 to 86. Mostly in Tharna; open plains suitable for agriculture; mild summers.

The Northern Continent is predominantly covered by Taiga, but its landscapes also include tundra, glaciers, wetlands, grasslands, and temperate deciduous forests.

Taiga dominates the continent, covering nearly three-quarters of the land (~13,986,000 km²). It forms dense coniferous forests across the central and northern regions of most countries, including Aslan, Rylath, Hinrial Empire, Veita, and Dell, and supports the majority of the continent’s ecosystems and human settlements.

Tundra surrounds the continent’s glacial and high-altitude mountain regions, such as the Taival Mountains, Tobia Range, and Herta Peaks. These areas consist of treeless alpine plains, low hills, and permafrost zones, enduring long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

Wetlands are largely restricted to Aslan, forming marshes, bogs, and swampy terrain along rivers and coastal lowlands. These areas are vital for biodiversity and seasonal human settlements.

Glacial zones are found primarily in high-altitude peaks of the Taival and Tobia ranges within the Hinrial Empire and Tharna, covering approximately 702,000 km². These glaciers feed the continent’s major river systems and shape local climates.

Grasslands occur mainly in Tharna, forming open plains suitable for agriculture and pastures, with gently rolling terrain at low elevations.

Temperate deciduous forests appear as small, scattered patches along southern and coastal edges of Veita and Dell, where mild climates and fertile soils support seasonal vegetation.

The below summarizes the biomes’ area, percentage of the continent, and countries where they are found:

Taiga: 74.7%. Aslan, Rylath, Hinrial Empire, Veita, Dell

Tundra: 8.2%. Surrounds glaciers and mountain regions: Taival Mountains, Tobia Range, Herta Peaks

Wetlands: 6.5%. Aslan, Rylath, Hinrial

Glaciers: 3.7%. Taival Mountains, Tobia Range, Herta Peaks

Grasslands: 1.3%. Tharna, Dell

Temperate Deciduous Forest: 0.3%. Southern edges, Veita, Dell

The High Continent exhibits a highly varied terrain, ranging from towering mountain ranges to low-lying coastal plains.

The Taival Mountains, located in northern Aslan, form the continent’s tallest range at 8,203 ft (2,501 m). Deep inside this range, veins of cave systems and caverns host major dwarven settlements and cities, serving as both defensive strongholds and trade hubs.

To the east of Veita, the Herta Peaks rise to 7,248 ft (2,208 m), surrounded by the Federation of Dell to the north, west, and south. These peaks are sparsely populated and act as a natural barrier that channels river systems and moderates prevailing winds across neighboring regions.

The Tobia Range, within the Hinrial Empire, reaches 6,644 ft (2,024 m) and supports the northern Taiga and tundra biomes. Numerous rivers originate here, flowing southward and eastward into wetlands, coastal plains, and oceans.

Northern areas in the Hinrial Empire feature low hills and plateaus with elevations ranging from 100–500 ft (30–152 m) and extensive permafrost zones, forming a cold, treeless landscape. In contrast, the Grasslands of Tharna are gently rolling plains at 50–200 ft (15–61 m), characterized by fertile soils suitable for agriculture and seasonal human settlements.

Along the continent’s coasts, Coastal Lowlands drop as low as 13 ft (4 m) above sea level, providing ideal locations for wetlands, ports, and maritime settlements, particularly along the Verdant and Rials Oceans.

Significant glacial zones are concentrated in the Taival and Tobia ranges, covering approximately 702,000 km². These glaciers feed the continent’s major river systems, which flow outward to wetlands, plains, and surrounding oceans, creating fertile floodplains and supporting both natural ecosystems and human settlements.

Taival Mountains: 8,203 ft / 2,501 m. Northern Aslan. Tallest range; home to dwarven settlements and cities along natural passes.

Herta Peaks: 7,248 ft / 2,208 m. East of Veita; surrounded by Dell (N, W, S). Sparsely populated; natural barrier for rivers and winds.

Tobia Range: 6,644 ft / 2,024 m. Hinrial Empire. Supports northern Taiga and tundra; source of rivers.

Grasslands: 50–200 ft / 15–61 m. Tharna. Fertile agricultural plains.

Coastal Lowlands: 13 ft / 4 m. Across coasts. Sites of maritime ports, wetlands, and settlements.

The High Continent, also known as the Northern Continent, is the largest landmass in the Northern Hemisphere of Neryalin, covering approximately 18,735,000 km². The continent features diverse topography, including glacier-capped mountains, extensive forests, tundra, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal plains.

Borders

The continent is bordered by several oceans and straits, which influence climate and trade routes:

Kalt Ocean: North. Cold northern waters; influences glacier and tundra climates.

Hinver Ocean: East. Moderately cold, warming as you head south; facilitates trade for eastern nations (Dell, Veita).

Verdant Ocean: South. Warmer southern waters; major shipping routes and fisheries.

Rials Ocean: West. Provides access to western nations (Hinrial Empire, Tharna).

The Northern Continent is divided into six sovereign nations, each with distinct geographic, political, and cultural characteristics:

Aslan: Northeastern nation; primarily Taiga with extensive wetlands along rivers and coastlines. Northern Taiga forests, wetlands, and river systems; major dwarven settlements under the Taival Mountains.

Principality of Rylath: Northern central peninsula; smallest nation by land area. Dense Taiga forests; mountainous northern regions; strategic trade routes.

Hinrial Empire: Western continent; includes the Tobia Range and northern Taiga. Mountains, rivers, and highlands; strategic access to Rials Ocean.

Tharna: Southwestern territory; mostly southern Taiga, grasslands, and river valleys. Fertile southern plains and grasslands; access to Rials Ocean.

Kingdom of Veita: Central-eastern territory; Taiga and tundra. Flanked by Herta Peaks.

Federation of Dell Southeastern nation; mostly Taiga and coastal temperate zones. Surrounds three sides by Herta Peaks; southern coastal lowlands and forests; access to Verdant Ocean.

The continent also includes unclaimed high-altitude zones, particularly in the Herta Peaks, which are sparsely populated alpine regions.

Commonly referred to as the High Continent, is the largest landmass located entirely within the Northern Hemisphere of Neryalin. The continent features predominantly cold and temperate climates, with landscapes ranging from glacier-covered mountains to extensive taiga forests, tundra plains, wetlands, and scattered grasslands.

The continent is divided into six nations: Aslan, the Principality of Rylath, the Hinrial Empire, Tharna, the Kingdom of Veita, and the Federation of Dell, each with distinct political systems and cultural identities. The region’s diverse environments and climates have influenced settlement patterns, economic activities, and inter-nation relations throughout its history.