The Chasm of Chalon

The entire continent is within a Chasm on the planet it resides. The continent takes 3 weeks to cross on horseback. There is a medium level of technology present but it is all based within magic. Slightly steampunk but more runic. Halfway between Middle Earth and the world of Arcane. There is a high magic presence within the world. There is no gunpowder of alternatives, all ranged weaponry is projectile based like bows and catapults or are from the arcane.

The chasm is a rough circle, it is so deep that no being has ever scaled its walls but so wide that the walls cannot be seen from one side to the other. Due to the nature of the chasm there are no oceans but there are several large lakes and streams from waterfalls cascading over the edges. Because of how deep it is, the only part of the chasm that is truly lit is the centre; this is where the capital - Chalon - is located. The rest of the continent is set into 9 districts with an inner and outer region. The outer regions are all significantly darker than the inner. The 9 districts going clockwise from the north are Acathon, Ryvaald, Delphield, Xylynth, Prymold, Cathara, Tymidon, Witscilt, Lugalion. All the districts are roughly the same size. The northern districts are colder, the districts regions are wet and stormy, the southern districts are warmer and the western districts are dry. The meeting of the inner and outer regions of the districts sits along a mountain range known as the Spherpeak Ring or Spherpeaks. Each of the districts has a capital on the inner side of the Spherpeaks, this often leads to the outer regions being more lawless. There are four great lakes, Lake Orden in the north east, Lake Symtine in the south east, Lake Russaltia in the south west and Lake Perillian in the north west. None of the great lakes are claimed by the capital or any district and remain lawless.

The Chasm is home to humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, tiefling, orcs, merpeople and any manner of hybrids. Typically the orcs and goblins live in the outer regions. The merpeople live within and around the great lakes. The dwarves tend to live in the mountainous regions but are spread within populations too. Humans, elves and tiefling make up the majority of the capital and inner district population but can be found anywhere.

There is currently tension between the Witscilt and Cathara but no active war. There is the beginnings of a cold war. The capital is aware of this but has not yet intervened while Tymidon has an active alliance with both districts. Each of Witscilt and Cathara are currently trying to sabotage these alliances but have not yet been successful.

Both learned and natural magic occur in the world. Learned magic requires ingredients and incantations. Natural magic requires an affinity for elements and specific arm/hand motions to use. Lower level spells require shorter incantations or lesser hand movements while higher level spells require long incantations and rare materials or more complex movements involving both arms/hands. Around 5% of the population is attuned to one magic element, 2% of the population to 2 elements, 0.5% of the population to 3 elements and 0.1% to 4 elements or more. Elements of magic are air, earth, fire, water, light and dark. Ice magic falls under water attunedment, lightning under light, healing under earth, cloaking and necromancy under dark, manipulation under air and eldritch under fire. The capital and each district have their own magic academy and order. Each academy/order is named after a colour followed by an elemental artifact, eg. the order in the capital is the viridian bolt. These orders act as the security services for the district and are very secretive. The majority of the people in the chasm of chalon follow a religion similar to greek mythology however rather than watching from olympus, the gods watch from the edge of the chasm as if it were an arena.

No other planes interact with the world however occasionally the gods do bestow gifts or punishments upon those they deem worthy.

It is unknown when civilization in the chasm began, some think it was a punishment of a failed society to be cast down into the ground, others believe life could not exist outside the chasm, most have bigger problems to worry about.