Inik

 

Inik is the third smallest contintent on Tear by area, though is only very slightly smaller than its neighbour Sekhu. The Strait of Tzeb which separates Inik from Sekhu is only 90km across at its most narrow point, and the Strait of Addisc which separates Inik from Ayodesh to the north is even narrower at only 75km. The continent is about 5000km in length from its northeasternmost tip to its southwesternmost.

Inik does not have a city large enough or important enough to be considered a principal city, and the political capital of the Iniki Empire (Gul, at 157W x 16S) is not even one of the major cities of the continent. With the exception of Grove, on a high grassland at 166W x 28S and one of the only inland cities not completely surrounded by dense tropical jungle, the remaining major cities of Inik are all port cities. The larger ports of of Tzeb, Blue Harbour, Verdant and Addisc have all been granted special charter by the Iniki Empire to operate as free trade cities. This means they are effectively operated by foreign interests whose business is wealth extraction, paying a cut of their profits back to the Zuls. In these coastal free trade cities, population mixes are similar to most other places on Tear with the exception that lizari populations may reach almost 10%.

Inland, the cities of Liana, Gosa, Tangleroot, Meander, Gul and Grove are all Imperial cities. They are large enough that they play important roles in trade, and structured enough to provide a relief from the dangers and diseases of the jungle. Here populations remain mixed, but might be up to 40% lizari.

Outside of the cities, Inik is almost entirely covered by dense, dangerous, disease infested tropical jungle. Transport across the continent is almost exclusively by river, as roads grow over faster than they can be maintained or are washed away in regular monsoons.

Green Diamond Jungle

The Green Diamond Jungle essentially comprises the entire continent of Inik aside from a few sandy beaches, a clearcut radius around each city, and a few hundred square kilometers surrounding the city of Grove on the Grove Plateau. This is the world's most inhospitable and dangerous jungle wilderness. Millions of lizari live here as individuals and in scattered tribes and bands. Spriggan and goblins are also comparatively common. Most travel here is by riverboat, and roads are rare and poorly maintained. Bandits here are unheard of, and threats to travellers are much more fearsome than murderous thugs; giant snakes and centipedes are minor threats compared to swamp and jungle dragons.

Dangers aside, the Green Diamond Jungle is almost overflowing with wealth. Legends tell of streams whose waters are clogged with gemstones, and caves so rich with ore that miners discard silver by the ton to fill their sacks with only gold. Flowers, fungus and insect specimens of incredible rarity and value are everywhere... the riches are there for the taking - for those who survive.

Grove Plateau

The city of Grove is the largest Imperial city on Inik, and the only city that is not entirely surrounded by jungle. It stands on a relatively cool and comparatively dry volcanic plateau in the southwest portion of the continent. The plateau itself is a rolling, lightly forested grassland where standard agricultural practices on might expect to see elsewhere on Tear established to large scale. Here they grow corn and potatoes and onions and carrots and the small number of lizari who choose to call inland Inik their home can have a comfortable and not too alien existence. This is home to many wealthy and successful traders and merchants who made their fortunes in the free cities and decided to stay in Inik.

Perfume Sea

The Perfume Sea in southern Inik is so-called because of the sweet scent of fruit and flowers that blows off of souther Inik and across the waters. Sailors between Sritari in Sekhu and Mabeb, Dakka and Adirat in Inik claim to be able to navigate the sea by scent.

Sparkling Sea

The Sprakling Sea region, on the western coast of Inik, is one of the most remote regions in the world. Inik is inhopsitable, but the side of Inik that sits on the sprawling Sea of Tears is even more remote. Here, the light of Vehira shines down from almost directly above, making the waters glitter in the dim light of night.