The purpose of this thread is determine locations that are important to all the Clans and perhaps the planet as a whole. The map below shows decided sites:
Some ideas:
The Sea of GhostsLocated in the crook of the Svia'vi (Green) territory between the island-based territory and the mainland, the Sea of Ghosts is a place where most Xen'vi would prefer not to sail. The purpose behind the naming is two-fold. First, on account of the inpenetrable and lethal fog that permanently blankets the sea, and second because thevast majority of those who attempt to sail through it never make it out. The waters are violent and the wind is harsh, with many ships and boats being torn apart or capsized; it is still considered lucky if you escape the Sea of Ghosts merely off-course.
The Xen'vi believe that all who die at the hands of the Sea end up haunting it, accounting for the mist and supposedly regular sightings of ghosts and apparitions over the churning waters. It is a common sight for shipwrecks to wash ashore, although most wrecks never reach the shore. For many, one is considered blessed if one manages to sail through the Sea of Ghosts unharmed; but they are also reminded not to try the patience of the Sea.
With modern Xen'vi technology, sailors and ships regularly cross the outer areas of the Sea, but it is still common for ships to be sunk and to go missing. However, even with advances in technology, it is still virtually impossible to make it through the Inner area of the Sea and survive; hence why most ships stick to the outer, far less dangerous areas.
ArtaeumA mythical island shrouded in the centre of the Sea of Ghosts, none have reached it and lived to tell the tale. Sometimes called the Island of the Hidden People, the Xen'vi believe it to be a place of the Gods. It is said that those who see the island and are not deemed worthy by the Gods are destroyed by the Sea; and those who are deemed worthy are only permitted a fleeting glimpse. As such, knowledge regarding the appearence of the island is limited to the two dozen or so glimpses that have been recorded.
From these, the island is thought to be small but surrounded by sheer cliffs and jagged rocks, on which rest dozens of shattered shipwrecks of those who were not deemed worthy to see Artaeum. One ship crew reported seeing a lagoon, also surrounded by sheer cliffs, and at the far end of the lagoon, a sandy beach. However, the fog moved to conceal the beach upon them seeing it, and a wind rose out of nothing to blow them away from the island. All the crews reported being tormented by the ghosts of those who were destroyed for seing the island, and also reported feeling this subconscious pull that made them want to head for island, and how it took an enormous effort of will power to resist being pulled into the rocks and to their deaths.
These descriptions and experienced confirmed to many Xen'vi that the island was not meant to be neared by anything, but a growing number of enthusiatic youths are beginning to try specifically to reach Artaeum. None have yet returned from their journeys, although this seems to have only have solidified the wish of many to try and reach the island. Supposedly, Jennin (Saint) Abacea, the first Xen'vi to circumnavigate Novusvita, ascended to heaven on Artaeum, being the only Xen'vi to ever land on the island.
The Strait of TrialsThe strait controlled by the Svia'vi that opens into the Sea of Ghosts. So named due to the difficultly of successfully navigating the deadly and misleading Sea of Ghosts. Many ship crews dread going through the Strait of Trials.
Pillars of SevariSo named after the Jennin (Saint) Sevari, who was supposedly the first Xen'vi to cross the Sea of Ghosts and survive. The Pillars represent a ship escaping the clutches of the Sea of Ghosts, and are a welcome sight to many.
Sea of AkavirA small sea at the northern tip of the Akavir Archipelago, the sea is a trading hotspot as well as being very rich in fish. The sea is always calm and has only the gentlest current, making the preferred location for ships and sailors. Many think of it as the calm before the storm that is the Sea of Ghosts, but the entertainment and things on offer at the ports that dot the coast bordering the Sea of Akavir are enough to make most forget about the Sea of Ghosts.
The Sacred GroveLocated at the centre of Akavir, the Sacred Grove is hidden from most, according to Xen'vi myth. Virtually impossible to find in the difficult terrain, the Sacred Grove is supposedly regularly visited by the Jaylen, and as such Xen'vi seek to find the Grove in times of desparate need in the hope that their prayers may be answered. It is said that you will only find the Grove if the Jaylen deem you to be in enough need. In reality, the Grove is easily found if you know where it is.
The Grove is also said to contain the Well of Souls, a supposed conduit to the Jaylen themselves, although this is just as much fact as it is myth. However, it would seem to be real and is believed to take the form of a large tree, although this has yet to be authenticated as the Sacred Grove is rarely visited at best. The Sacred Grove is connected to Lake Verity, which one has to visit and be blessed by the Jaylen that resides there in order to gain access to the Grove.
Ruins of Kij, Jin and BaalThese enigmatic stone cities, long abandoned by their inhabitants, are each built in a near identical trisymmetrical ring shape, with multitudes of buildings in the forms of perfect domes and triangular pyramids dotting it. At the very centres of each city is a gigantic, two hundred foot across, ten storey high triangular step pyramid, with a seemingly temple-like structure at the very top. The cities each have a network of roads (made out of perfectly flat interlocking stones) and what appears to have been canals. The architecture appears as a sort of futuristic Mayan style, reminiscent of the stereo-typical Atlantean architecture. Hundreds of spires, platforms and altars dot the cities.
Despite the grand architecture and incredible stone works, the cities are each in a terrible state of ruin. Scientists have dated the last time any of the cities have been inhabited at around 10 000 BHC (before human colonisation). The Xen'vi consider the cities to be sacred and atleast two of the cities are host to anual religious cerimories. Tresspassing upon the cities at any other time is considered a serious offence. The origins of the cities are still unknown, though legend has it they were built by the gods. most human scientists believe they were infact built by a vast precurser Xen'vi civilisation, though any other evidence for their existance has never been found.
The Three Lakes: Verity, Valour and AcuityThe Three Lakes of Novusvita represent different, and yet ideal, qualities in the eyes of the Xen'vi and the lakes themselves are considered sacred. It is believed that there is a connection between the Lakes and the ancient cities which lie on their shores, although any reason behind this has yet to be determined.
Lake Verity: 'Verity' meaning truth, this Lake represents truth and honour. It is said that these qualities' respective Jaylen deity resides within the Lake, at least according to Xen'vi myth. Lake Verity is connected with the Sacred Grove and the Well of Souls that lies within it.
Lake Acuity: 'Acuity' meaning 'keeness of though', this Lake represents intellect and knowledge. Like Lake Verity, according to Xen'vi myth, the Jaylen deity of these qualities is said to reside within the Lake. Lake Acuity is connected with the Lost Cathedral.
Lake Valour: This Lake respresents bravery and faith. As with the other Lakes, the respective Jaylen deity is said to reside in the depths of its waters. Lake Valour is connected with the Chamber of Fate, said to lie deep within the volcano Red Mountain.
VvardenfellLocated in the fork-like peninsula south of the Ruins of Kij, this desolate, life-less region is beleived by the Xen'vi to be the scar of some ancient punishment inflicted by the Jaylen. The terrain is rocky and desolate, making it difficult to naivgate, and there are great tears in the earth that are like gashes in the surface, along with large amounts of ridges and crags. Located somewhere within Vvardenfell is the Lost Cathedral, a cave filled with the greatest concentration of biolumiscent plants on Novusvita and in its depths supposedly lies another conduit to the Jaylen, although the interior of the Cathedral is more mythology than fact, although the cave does exist. Vvardenfell is said to be a reminder to the Xen'vi that they are not all-powerful and may easily be struck down by the Jaylen should they step out of line.
The Lost CathedralA large cave system that is well hidden within Vvardenfell, only a handful of Xen'vi have ever found the Cathedral and ventured inside. Within the cave supposedly exists the largest and most diverse ecosystem of bioluminescant plants on Novusvita, making it a gold mine for any astrobiologist. Furthermore, the Xen'vi believe that the Lost Cathedral is the second conduit to the Jaylen; the first being the Well of Souls in the Sacred Grove. However, the veracity of this has never been confirmed, and so is still classified as myth rather than fact. It is said to be connected to Lake Acuity, which has to be visited and the Jaylen that resides there communicated with before one can access the Lost Cathedral.
Red MountainA massive, continuously active volcano of unknown origin, Red Mountain is known as Ashier'na Zhill Xavara in the Xen'vi tongue. The volcano is said to have been created by the Jaylen eons ago in a long distant age. The volcano is known to have large amounts of caves within it, causing vulcanologists to conclude that it is not natural - at least according to current human tectonic knowledge. Within the depths of Red Mountain is said to be the Chamber of Fate, one of three conduits to the Jaylen.
The Chamber of FateThe Chamber of Fate is said to be located in the depths of Red Mountain, although due to the difficulty posed by its location, none have ever confirmed its existence. The final of the three conduits to the Jaylen, the other two being the Well of Souls and the Lost Cathedral, the Chamber of Fate is said to only let those who have found and been blessed by the other two conduits to enter, as well as having to have visited Lake Valour (to which the conduit is connected) and communicated with the Jaylen that resides there. It is also said that those deemed worthy to enter the Chamber must face its final test, but what this test is exactly is unknown.
Crater Falls A few thousand years ago, a huge meteor collided with the planet. An ice age followed, as did a small mass extinction, which the Xen'vi survived. A large lake, a few hundred meters below sea level, formed in the crater. Recently, only a few decades ago, a large earthquake hit the area and a small fisure opened up, connecting the below sea level crater with the sea. Today that fisure is a twenty meter wide gorge, at the end of which is a huge, fifty meter wide, sixty meter high waterfall of sea water, slowly filling up the crater. (Note: The crater is pretty epicly huge for an iceage-mass extinction period of only a few hundred to a thousand years, I think. You need to help me to explain that, if needed. I just want the crater to be young enough as to not have filled up to sea level yet.)
Ta'hil Canyon This incredible, sixty kilometer long gorge is a marvel of nature. Cutting at its most three hundred meters into the desert floor, it's hard to believe that, on average, the Canyon is only a mere twenty meters across. At some places, the cliff faces come together and create short tunnels. The golden-orange and maroon rock is riddled with caves and canyon branches and only a few paths to the surface exist. The canyon was formed by an underground river cutting out the rock. Later the river dried up and the resulting cavers caved in. Occasionally flash floods still wet the canyon floor. The capitol city of the Jay'vi is built in the canyon and into the canyon walls near the centre of the network, hidden from those who don't know where it is (which is basically everyone but the Jay'vi in the city and the cities surrounding it.
Gates of At'faryll Connecting the cliffy edges of the two great northern islands of Kalin and Pon'dich over a hundred meter wide straight is an amazing natural land bridge, also connecting the platues at the tops of either cliffs. At its thinnest, the bridge is onlt five meters across. Traveling through the Gate is the only way to get to Scene Bay via the sea, at the bay is cut off from the rest of the northern ocean by an Icecap.