In the latest installment of the Continents of Alganon series, we get an insiders look at The Continent of Harraja.

Our friends over at Quest Online have give us the privilege to host their ongoing Continents of Alganon series that was previously seen over at RPG Vault. In the latest installment, we get an insiders look at The Continent of Harraja.

The Continent of Harraja

Harraja is home to the Kujix, a group of Talrok who consider themselves to be the chosen of the gods. When the God Vakgarr first created the Talrok, to spread the message of the gods to all of Alganon, they built their temples in the mountains of Xanjuis Plains. In 122 DE, when the first Kujix Emperor Xinjuk Rox united the most powerful Talrok under his command, they united under the banner of the Kujix, and their influence spread across the globe.

For a decade, however, a dark shadow has fallen over the continent. Ten years ago, the best and brightest of the Kujix locked themselves away in the great capital of Xanjuix Karr, to study and prepare for the War of Conversion. Without the presence of the ruling Kujix, much of Harraja has fallen into disarray. The Ogran tribes have lost their way, rebellious new empires of Talrok have begun to form, bandits and thieves have brought trade to a halt, and the mischievous nidgit have infested every corner of Harraja.

Xanjuix Karr - Capital of Harraja

The capital city and center of power of the Kujix, Xanjuix Karr is home to the royal family and numerous historic places and individuals. Xanjuix Karr is nestled high in the mountains of Xanjuis Plains, protected from any other areas currently at war. Surrounded by dessert and terrain largely impassable by those the Kujix want to keep out, this city also doubles as a formidable fortress during times of conflict.
In the ancient tongue, the "Xanjuis" means winds, and "Karr" means to unite or come together as one. While it is not to be taken literally, many elders still repeat the old idiom that all winds blow towards Xanjuix Karr - meaning that there is nothing that happens in Harraja that is not somehow affected by the priests of Xanjuix Karr.

Xanjuis Plains Domain

Home of the capital city of Xanjuix Karr, wide, open, grassy and wind-blown plains make up this domain. There are occasional farmsteads as well, but for the most part, Xanjuis Plains is the same through and through. A few interesting formations of rock and ruins can be found here, many of which were named by the simple-minded Ogran who call these lands home. Plains creatures such as lions and wild pig can be found living here, though these beasts are less exotic than the elemental creatures that call this land home. These beasts, made of living elements, can be found in remote corners of Xanjuis Plains.

Looming large mountains surround the southern and southwestern part of the plains, the location of the capital city, which is just high enough in elevation to be able to see out across the plains and nearly to the ocean.

Controlling Deity: Vakgarr

To the followers of Vakgarr, the word is a vile place in desperate need of change, and it is the Kujix, most especially the Talrok, who were chosen by the gods to make that change and transform Alganon into a perfect world. Vakgarr has provided the Talrok with a powerful tool for change, and that tool is Death. Without death, life becomes stagnant. Without the gift of the great cycle of Life and Death, nothing could be improved, nothing could be made better. The Talrok have been tasked by the gods to use the Great Cycle in order to make Harraja better for all who inhabit it.

Xanjuis Plains has two "Deity Rocks", the East Rock and the West Rock, located on either side of the river. These rocks are defended by a large number of creatures. When the creatures are defeated and the Rocks are held in unison over a period of time, a boon is given to all Kujix in the domain.

Areas of Xanjuis Plains

Grax Burs

Unforgiving wind-blown prairies and rolling hills fill this southernmost expanse. Home of the Bur Clasp strip mines, Grax Burs is often the last stop before adventurers enter Xanjuix Karr.

Whey Runs

A dusty collection of rolling hills spotted with the occasional small pond, fed by rainwater, Whey Runs is a very large area, home to numerous creatures, many of which can be dangerous to less experienced adventurers. Once the home of the largest wheat processing farms in Harraja, Whey Runs are now a ghostly echo of what they once were.

Cleft Rock Area

Known for its unique Rok population, Cleft Rock encompasses a large collection of rolling hills with large rocks that jut up from the earth. Nestled up against a mountain range, the northeastern part is the home of the infamous Rok creatures. The southern part has recently become infested with skitter.

Balam's Thumb

This huge black rock that juts up from the earth and extends into the sky, a monolith of a structure, strange and unusual in nature, has become a false idol to the Stone Hammer clan. They believe this stone, which they simply call "Rock," is the thumb of Balam, a massive Demon warrior of the past whose first punishment for rebellion was to have his thumbs removed so he could never again hold a sword. When he rebelled again, his second punishment was to be cut into a million pieces and scattered to the winds.

If Harraja is to be restored to glory, all the Ogran clans, including the Stone Hammer, must be brought back into the fold - by any means necessary.
 
Windy Plains

Aptly named for the harsh winds constantly blowing across the prairies, the Windy Plains is very large and very diverse. Home of the contested West Rock, it is located in the middle of the Thrash Buffer, a terrifying place of conflict between Nidget and Animal. Not a soul understands why there's a constant conflict between these two living groups, but it is ruthless nonetheless. Many speculate the West Rock is the source of the conflict, casting out strange magic to enrage those around it.

Xas Snag

A nasty part of the Xanjuix Plains, this area is a decaying collection of patchy diseased Whey fields.

Shallow Graves

The old burying places of the Whey Farmers, now desecrated by numerous scavengers, namely the Bonechewers.

Xyjar Shag

Xyjar Shag is currently under the control of the Broke Fist Tribe of Ogran. A decade ago, the Ogran of Xanjuis Plains were united under the Kujix banner and were on their way to becoming a civilized race, but then the Great Silence came. The Talrok have spent the last decade tending to their progress, and the Ogran have reverted to a primitive, almost feral state. They stopped farming. They stopped training the great beasts of the plains. They began to wage war amongst themselves and have split into five separate clans.
The Broke Fist Clan has holed up in Xyjar Shag - they have fortified the bottleneck between the Whey Runs and the Shag and are hiding from the other clans. Their once proud war lions have become feral and are beginning to use the Broke Fist as their primary food source. The area has become overrun with nidgit who are destroying the local temples and mines. Sensing the importance of the area, the Emperor has prepared to send his finest to deal with the problems here.

Teldis Domain

The once mighty cities of Teldis are under assault, but the weapons being used in the invasion are not made of steel or iron. They are weapons of flora and fauna. The Asharr goddess Triasha has sent wildlife and plant life to infest the once mighty cityscapes of Teldis in an attempt to spread her influence to the continent of Harraja.

Massive vines break through the crystalline platforms, and seem to be pulling at the crystalline skyscrapers, attempting to topple them. Mounds of grass and dirt seem to be spreading over the land, turning it back into rolling hills and thick jungles.

The forces of Xukiss have reinforced their position at Nazrun, where they are launching strikes at Triasha's forces by hurling massive crystals full of animated warriors across the seas towards Haggon Marsh. However, Xukiss's forces are losing the battle here. If this invasion continues, Teldis will be destroyed; the beautiful paved obsidian streets and glorious industrial factories will be destroyed, leaving nothing but weeds and soil.

Controlling Deity: Xukiss

Xukiss is the Seeker of Knowledge. The universe was a gift given to the gods - but even they do not comprehend its full potential.

While the other gods are content with the limitations imposed on them, Xukiss is not. His thirst for knowledge is unquenchable, and he seeks to understand what lies beyond. He has extended his knowledge beyond the Great Cycle of Life and Death, creating a new type of being known as The Animated. He is the God of Industry and Invention. Knowledge is power, and Xukiss is willing to share that power only with those who prove themselves worthy.

An Area of Conflict

Teldis is about the war between Triasha and Xukiss. Triasha's floral invaders hide behind their seemingly passive appearance. The same flower-bearing plants that grows through the city center soon reveals thorn-covered vines that topple homes and poison young children. Due to the war between Triasha and Xukiss, Teldis has become a place where beautiful means deadly.

Teldis has 3 "beacons" that are mechanical in nature. Each beacon has four settings, Red, Green, Yellow and Blue. When a beacon is "changed" its color shifts (randomly) and when this happens, creatures come out to defend the beacon. The beacon can only be shifted once all creatures are dead. When a beacon is moved, creatures will spawn at ALL beacons. All beacons must be aligned to the same color in order for the "elite" spawn to appear. Once all 3 elite spawns are defeated, the Domain bonus is granted.

Areas of Teldis

Aldonar

Located in the far North of Teldis, Aldonar is more of an outpost than a town. While it hosts a multitude of services to humans who have made their way to this domain, all who leave the walls of this small encampment are warned of the dangers that lay beyond; both in the form of hostile creatures and roaming Kujix patrols.
Aldonar is built from wood and nestled up against the mountain. It is surrounded by a tall wooden spiked fence and is well guarded, to ensure no hostiles can gain entry. Rumor has it the Kujix are planning a "cleansing" of Aldonar, but nothing more than rumor has surfaced. Regardless, the occupants of Aldonar have put their most talented warriors in the area on alert that they may be called on a moment's notice to defend the outpost.

Nazrun

The city of Nazrun was once considered to be Xukiss's masterpiece.

Massive black-crystal obelisks, with glowing neon runes carved into them, extended into the heavens like skyscrapers. The stone ground was cut perfectly flat, and paved with massive hexagonal stones. Nazrun was the center of industry for all of Harraja. The greatest discoveries ever made were made here, but Triasha, the goddess of Nature, saw this as an abomination. She blessed the plants of the area with the ability to quickly grow and overpower the city. Nazrun has been completely surrounded by thick plant life that threatens to destroy the city.

Thick vines, covered with beautiful flowers, are tearing the city apart. Although the center of the city is relatively untouched, the outskirts have returned to being thick forest, with the destroyed crystal towers being the only hint that a great obsidian city was once here. This overgrown area, now back to being rolling plains, is also the home of a large invasion force of Hogsnout that Triasha has sent across the ocean to defend the plant life of Teldis. Their encampment is made of plant life that Triasha has grown to create ramparts, defensive bunkers and other structures.

Skaxar Tredge

Skaxar Tredge, also known as North Teldis, is a combination of danger and worship. Consisting of rolling hills and flat green grasslands, it is here disciples can find the Temple of Xukiss, surrounded with Pyres - Massive Obsidian Obelisks with magical runes carved into them - dedicated to their deity Xukiss. The obsidian-obelisk Pyres here in Skaxar are still active.
Argamarax is home to numerous old and crumbling technical facilities, guarded by strange mechanical creatures and Felvakk is a favorite hunting ground for insect collectors. A number of old farmsteads can be found, now overrun with strange creations. Numerous patrolling mechanical creatures wander this realm, keeping any and all adventurers on their toes.

Xukaris Folds

A collection of rolling hills sparsely populated with brush, some flowers and the occasional tree, the Xukaris Folds or "Southern" section of Teldis is dominated by the warring Ogran. Three factions claim ownership of the majority of this region and are in constant combat with each other in the Gar Clash. The Ogran do not welcome those who trespass within their regions, reacting with deadly violence. Constant patrols wander the Ogran regions looking for intruders.

Reminders of Xukiss are placed throughout this region in the form of Pyres that reach a hundred feet into the sky, pulsating and emitting their foreign energy.