Kashdush

 

Kashdush is the fifth largest continent on Tear in terms of its total land mass, stretching about 5000km from east to west and about 4300km from north to south. The continent is almost entirely situated between 30N and 60N. To the east of 80W, two thirds of the continent never sees Vehira in the sky, while for the remaining third Vehira sits on or slightly above the horizon to the west.

The city of Hashuin is the principal city on the continent, located at 42N x 75W. It sits in the southern foothills of the White Pine Mountains, on the Hashuin River which marks the border between the nation state of United Kashdush, and the free city states of Independent Kashdush. Hashuin is among the smallest of Tears principle cities, with a population barely exceeding 100,000, but it is the largest city in Kashdush by far, and it hosts an 'embassy' to the monarchy of United Kashdush, making it a central hub for the entire continent.

The climate of Kashdush varies significantly, with the lands below the White Pine Mountains being comprised largely of temperate forest and fertile grassland. The White Pine Mountains, running across the middle interior of the continent, are a comparatively modest range. Between these mountains and the Crown Mountains, which are significantly harsher, is an idyllic 'middle region' of temperate forest and grassland largely untouched and undeveloped, which would be considered 'wilderness' anywhere else on Tear, but which here is condsidered the lawful domain of the United Kashdush. Few have seen this land, and the Kashdushan Monarchy is quite isolationist and entrance into the regions is controlled.

In the north and northeast, above the Crown Mountains and in the Kashdushan Shield, the climate is difficult and inhospitable. Here, summer temperatures average 10 degrees, with occasional balmy days reaching 20. In winter, temperatures drop below -10 for months, with lows falling to -40.

Industrially, Kashdush is unusual. The southern portion of the continent produces and enormous and bountiful harvest - much of which is exported across the Sea of Odesh to Ayodesh, and more down south to the Kash-Odeshi City States. In the north, the fishing and whaling industries of maritime Kashdush produce enormous bounties of fish, shell, whale oil, whale meat, whale bone, salt and other valuables. But the economic output of central Kashdush, and of the territory of United Kashdush is very small. The Kingdom is hostile to industry and to business in general and how this region functions economically is not entirely clear, especially consider its enormous bounty of virtually untapped natural resources.

Bomang Bay

The city of Bomang at 46N x 100W sits at the southern extent of Bomang Bay, which is a large bay some 450km long and 250km wide in the western reaches of Kashdush. Bomang Bay and the region surrounding it is politically part of the Council States of Martime Kashdush, and the bay itself is critical to the fishing and whaling activities of north eastern Kashdush in that it is a major breeding and birthing ground for whales. The Bomang Midwives are a nautical ranger order who protect and patrol this bay and the seas surrounding it from whalers.

Blowhole Bay

Blowhole Bay is a collection of bays, inlets, harbours, river deltas, and estuaries in northern Kasdush where as much as 75% of all the whaling on Tear is conducted. While there are only a small number of large cities here, the number of small fishing and whaling communities along the shores of the bay cannot be counted, and Blowhole Bay rivals global population centers like the Azure Sea, the Sea of Palms, the Hidden Sea, the Bay of Bones and the Bay of Briunida in terms of population and economic activiity.

In the peak of whaling season it is said that the entire bay turns red with whale blood, the surface of the water has a rainbow sheen from a film of whale oil across the surface, and the foam of the surf is so thick with fat that the locals shovel it up to use as fuel for the next winter.

The Blowhole Bay region is entirely isolated from the rest of Kashdush by land due to the Crown Mountains, and is only connected to the rest of the continent, and the rest of Tear, by sea.

Central Kashdush

Central Kashdush is the geographic region located between the Crown Mountains to the north and the White Pine Mountains to the south. These twin ranges create a protective shield that moderates the climate of the Kashdushan interior, creating a temperate region of forests and grasslands that is moderate year-round. This region is isolated from the rest of Kashdush and the rest of Tear, both geographically by the twin ranges, and politically by the monarchy of United Kashdush. It is said that the itinerant court of the monarchy of United Kashdush traverses these lands annually.

Crown Mountains

The Crown Mountains are the smaller, but more extreme of the two major mountain ranges in Kashdush. These mountains largely separate the Blowhole Bay region from Central Kashdush.The Crown Mountains are wildly variable in height, with many jagged peaks jutting over 1000m up from the baseline, and giving the semi-circular range a 'crown-like' topology. These mountains are notoriously impassable, and while borders between the Council States of Maritime Kashdush and United Kasdush are defined on maps, the reality in the Crown Mountains is that the real borders are defined by where one can go. Absolutely zero trade is conducted across this range, and while people have crossed it, and there are even some roads and passes (which appear and disappear periodically), all meaningful connection between the isolated region of Blowhole Bay and the rest of Kashdush (and the world of tear) is by sea.

Kashdushan Shield

The Kasdushan Shield is a largely unpopulated region that is technically part of the monarachy of United Kashdush, but in practical terms is a frozen tundra, significantly different in climate, character and culture from the temperate regions of Central Kashdush. The only significant city here, Kreda's Rock, is totally isolated from the rest of Kashdush and while it is technically a part of the Kashdushan monarchy, it considers itself to be an autonomous city state.

Olmskirk Island

Olmskirk Island is, in fact, a pair of islands at thw western extent of the Sea of Odesh. Politically it is a part of the Council States of Maritime Kashdush, and the seas surrounding these islands are a critical part of the maritime Kashdushan whaling industry. The islands themselves are largely comprised of rugged, storm-tossed wilderness, and aside from coastal port cities, remain undeveloped and largely unexplored.

Sea of Odesh

The Sea of Odesh is a critical body of water that connects southern, Independent Kasdush to the northern shores of the Confederated States of Ayodesh. Given the relative strain on resources in Ayodesh due to its drier climate, and the dependencies of the Odeshi Wastes, trade from the bountious regions of Kashdush is invaluable.

Southern Kashdush

Southern Kashdush is the geographic region of Kashdush that is south of the White Pine Mountains. Largely this the political region of Independent Kashdush, though it includes the cities of Marashek and Moss which are technically part of the monarchy of United Kashdush. This unusual division means that in a practical sense, these two cities are significantly more engaged with trade and commerce than other cities north of the White Pine Mountains, and have become something of a curiousity for those seeking to understand the obscure politics of the Kashdushan monarchy.

White Pine Mountains

The White Pine Mountains are a low rolling range of temperate pine forests with no peaks reaching 2500m. Despite the relative accessability and passability of these mountains, the isolationism of the monarchy of United Kashdush means that there are no maintained roads through them with the exception of a single road that connects to Hashuin.