Exodian Peninsula
History
In ancient times the Exodian Peninsula was almost entirely covered by the southernmost extant of the ancient forest. Dangerous beasts and aetherial spirits ruled the land, but all that would change after humanity discovered magic. The advent of magic led humanity on a path to rapid progress, and as their civilization expanded the local wildlife was annihilated and the forests were turned into massive tracts of farmland. In only a couple hundred years, all the forests had been cut down and humanity was forced to extract resources from the neighboring Raevelic Woodlands. During the height of the Exodian Era, most of the farmland was completely exhausted of it's life-giving qualities and the entire peninsula had become a barren wasteland.
The fall of Exodia was a significant moment in the history of not only the peninsula, but the entire continent. Twisted beasts and aetherial horrors which had been experimented on in captivity now roamed the land freely, posing a deadly threat to the survivors of the exodian apocalypse. Most survivors migrated north into the Raevelic Plains, which was originally a part of the ancient forest which had been deforested. The few survivors who stayed on the peninsula used all of their might to keep the horrors at bay while they attempted to secure a foothold in a barren land. The Exodian Sea was fortunately, still full of life, and seafood would go on to be the primary staple food of the Exodian Peninsula.
Given time, and countless losses at the hands of aetherial horrors, twisted beasts, and angered Fae'Naran elves, humanity managed to tame the land and attain a level of peace and security. Forests were replanted, and soil was revitalized with clever farming practices. After many centuries, the peninsula was no longer a barren wasteland, but it also would never again be a lush forest or harbor boundless plenitude. The survivors who had remained and healed the land formed the Kingdom of Thantis. The kingdom was not officially founded until 851 AE, the delayed formation being in part due to the inhabitants struggling just to survive for many centuries.
The kingdom was plagued from the start with rampant vampirism and corruption, and it significantly affected the nation's ability to defend themselves from the coming storm. The Kingdom of Rivera was significantly larger than the Kingdom of Thantis, and had a much larger military. The royal court in Thantis had already anticipated a war, but the king paid no mind to them, instead he focused on purging the royal court of vampiric influence. In the year 1346 AE, the Kingdom of Rivera invaded the Exodian Peninsula and cut a path straight to the capital city of Thantis. The city was quickly taken and the kingdom was annexed into the Kingdom of Rivera.
In recent times, the Exodian Peninsula has seen no major change. The Province of Thantis is still plagued by vampirism and corruption. The establishment of trade routes to the Jethian Islands and the Island of Ae'Tezan has boosted the overall prosperity of the region, but it still remains one of the poorest regions on the west coast.
Geography
The Exodian Peninsula marks the southwestern end of the Exodius Continent, and is possibly the nicest region in terms of climate. The peninsula has very mild temperatures all year, enabling excellent farming conditions. Unfortunately, even after many centuries of revitalization, much of the land is still not very fertile. The region is neither too humid nor dry, striking a perfect balance. The lakes of the region are particularly lush in freshwater fish species and provide a beautiful view. Lake Clearview in particular is known for it's surrounding grassy banks being populated by countless varieties of flowers, scenic woods, and mountain backdrop. Lake Synestra has a very different reputation, signalling the end of civilization and the start of the dangerous wilderness surrounding the Ruins of Exodia. North of the peninsula lies the Northern sea, the gateway into foreign lands such as Auchinben and the Island of Khaz'Merith. To the south is the Exodian Sea, where Dendrassil, the Jethian Islands, and the Island of Ae'Tezan is located.
Flora
The peninsula hosts a variety of temperate tree species, and is well known for having areas full of colorful wildflowers. Larger plants tend to be sparse, the land simply isn't lush enough to support dense forests and a wide variety of plants. All forests in the region were planted by humanity, the original forests having been cut down during the Exodian Era. Humanity has managed to keep a small portion of the region fertile, and it is this area where most farms are built.
Fauna
The sparse forests host a decent population of deer, rabbits, and foxes. There are also wolves, but they have declined in numbers over the past few centuries. Most of the wildlife in the area originated from the Raevelic Plains, having migrated to the peninsula after it was no longer a barren wasteland. The lakes are full of freshwater fish species, along with the alpine streams nearby. The plains are relatively barren when it comes to wildlife, deer being the main inhabitants.
Politics and Demographics
All settlements on the Exodian Peninsula are sovereign to the Province of Thantis, which is in turn sovereign to the Kingdom of Rivera. Corruption is rampant in the region, and has caused growth to come to a halt in most settlements. The town of Nora has managed to continue growing in spite of everything the upper nobility has done to tax settlements. The region acts as a liaison for trade with the Island of Ae'Tezan, keeping the area somewhat economically active.
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Exodian Peninsula Demographics
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Notable Locations
Thantis
Former capital of the Kingdom of Thantis and presently the seat of the Thantis Province. The city is full of old canals and structures that were built centuries ago. The corrupt government has caused progress in the region to stagnate, leaving much of the city in disrepair. Vampires roam the city by night, stalking anyone foolish enough to leave their home after dark. The market is full of foreign imports from Ae'Tezan, large caravans usually buy up the stock and head north to sell the merchandise in Rivera and surrounding cities. The harbor is decently populated, complete with a respectable shipyard. Overall the city is in decline, paralyzed by the corrupt government.
Nora
The town of Nora is much younger and more robust then Thantis, with more trade passing through it every year. The town has a reasonably sized harbor but lacks any kind of shipyard, instead it has a large marketplace directly adjacent to the harbor. Nora is faring better then the rest of the region in terms of prosperity, mainly due to the lack of political infrastructure in place in the town. Many merchants are beginning to use Nora's market instead of Thantis, due to less corruption and more reasonable prices.
Westrose
The prosperous town of Westrose lies on the border between the Rivera and Thantis Provinces. Westrose acts as a gateway into the royal province, all traffic between the Rivera and Thantis Provinces inevitably passes through this town. There are a multitude of inns, markets, and other such venues. Pretty much anything that a goods peddler could want is sold here, and several trade guilds are based out of the town. Growth has been minimal in recent times due to the stagnation of the economy in the Exodian Peninsula.
Ruins of Exodia
The Ruins of Exodia is full of dangers, but nevertheless attracts adventurers and scholars from all over Amestria. The ruins can be seen from a great distance, with towering piles of crumbled stone and metal. Some sections of the iconic elevated roadways are still suspended in the air by massive pillars of stone and iron. Murderous beasts and aetherial anomalies are frequently encountered in the ruins, many who dare to venture deep into the ruins never make it out. Caution is advised when venturing near this area.
The Dangerous Lands
The lands to the west of the Exodian Ruins are considered too dangerous for people to traverse. Many of the monsters created during the Exodian Era still wander the hilly landscape. Very little is known of this region due to it's inherent danger.