Tulosz

 

Tulosz is the second largest contintent on Tear by area, stretching over 8800km from Vehira on the Sea of Tears to the northeast at 33N x 140E, to Bulemnasi on the Strait of Povescia to the southwest at 23S x 70E. With the exception of an island group in the Whirling Sea region considered to be part of the continent, all of Tulosz is a single, contiguous mass.

East of the 80th meridian, Vehira is always visible in the sky to the east, while west of this line, Vehira is never visible. In the city of Longdawn at 4N x 100E, Vehira seems to balance exactly on the horizon and as Azane rises each morning there is a spectacular flare of light that lasts about 4 minutes before Azane is fully eclipsed behind Vehira for another 80 minutes. This is called Momentul Efemer, the Fleeting Moment in Comerta, and is said to represent the ephemerality of existence. Pilgrims travel from far and wide to witness this event and reflect on it.

Along with Jumira, Tulosz is only one of two continents where large populations of Vehirists and Azanists have had to reconcile their religious differences in face of astronomical reality. Consequently, Tulosz has a culture of religious tolerance in the west, where generally speaking Azanists and Vehirists will accept one another's differences. In the east, this 'religious tolerance' is generally manifested as more of an intolerance to religious intolerance. Azanists are welcome, but radical declarations that Vehira does not exist even as it is plainly visible in the sky will be met with aggression. Similarly, Vehirists ridiculing moderate Azanists or mocking radical positions that they may not actively espouse will also be shouted down.

The city of Desdiima, which stands at the head of the Bay of Briunida at 14X x 61E is the largest city on the continent, and is the captial of the Domain of Tulosz. Formerly named Cogovahe, the city was made the capital of the Kingdom of Tulosz follwing the destruction of the former capital at Briunida at the end of the orcish conquests. Cogovahe was renamed by King Szoliu in 471 to honour his mother,the Princess Desdiima, who had first united Tuloszian forces to fight back against the orcs.

The climate of Tulosz varies from subtropical rainforests in the northwest, to dry grasslands and arid badlands through the central part of the continent, to temperate grasslands and woodlands and forests in the northeast. While some parts of the badlands of central Tulosz can be dangerously hot and dry, most people say Tulosz has only two seasons; the hot season and the wet season. In the hot season, from 1 Bee to 40 Basket, temperatures generally hover in the low-to-mid thirties for three months, with little rainfall. In the wet season, from 1 Ember to 40 Bucket it rains every day for three months, with temperatures remaining in the high teens and low twenties. Between these seasons it is generally a smooth transition from one weather pattern to the other. Coastal areas everywhere do not follow these norm exactly, with the Saddleback Coast being cooler and stormier year round, and the tropical coasts surrounding the southern seas being hot and humid in the summers and prone to monsoons and hurricanes between seasons.

Given its enormous size and relatively open terrain, Tulosz is largely a self-sufficient continent with access to all the resources needed to sustain the growth and development of its cities and populations. That said, due to significant sea trade that supports Senecia, the southern coastal areas of Tulosz export surpluses of grain, wood, stone, and many other raw materials. Imports from Senecia include rare metals, gems, and many exotic goods including dyes, spices, fish, and fish oils.

Bay of Briunida

The Bay of Briunida is a large bay stretching some 1000km the northern limits of the King's Sea, inland to the principal city of Desdiima, which is the capital of the Domain of Tulosz. The bay is named after the Matriarch Briuni I, who was elected in 309 BCB to govern the city state of Turloz (later renamed Briunida after the same ruler). The Bay of Briunida was the economic center of the world for perhaps five centuries until it began to wane in power following the Ice Spring of 198, and after Briunida was sacked during the orcish conquests in 338, the entire region would be pillaged and laid waste and not signficantly rebuilt until after orcish conquests were ended and the Kingdom of Tulosz was formed in 471.

The Fender

The Fender is the region of south central Tulosz centered on the 90E meridian, beneath the equator. The region is so named in reference to the lower side flap of a saddle beneath the seat from which the stirrups hang. The name extends the geographic metaphor that sees Tulosz as being shaped like a horse. The Fender is the wettest and most tropical region of Tulosz. Its central highlands are rainforests that receive monsoons and hurricanes from the Sea of Pearls and the Widows Sea, which swell the many river systems and flood the coastal lowlands, which are lush and fertile.

Northwestern Tulosz

Northwestern Tulosz is the region north of the Bay of Briunida, wrapping the coast from Resounding on the far western tip of the continent to the mouth of the Derniu River. This is largely a region of temperate forests and rolling hills. This region was often referred to as the Rump of Tulosz, in an extension of the metaphor that sees Tulosz as being shaped like a horse, but this nomenclature fell into disfavour after the collapse of the Kingdom of Tulosz and the formation of the Domain of Tulosz which is the 'rump state' of the former Kingdom.

Plains of Bulostioi

The Plains of Bulostioi is a large geographic region in northeastern Tulosz that makes up most of the political region of Free States of Bulostioi. The Plains of Bulostioi stretch over 4000 km from central Tulosz to the eastern tip of the continent at Vehira at 33N x 140E. Fort Stalwart at 18N x 108E stands watch over a pass cutting through the highlands of central Tulosz marking the southwestern extent of the region, and the Zgesi and Hinic Rivers separate it from the coastal regions surrounding the Whirling Sea to the south. The largest cities in the region are Vehira, Gadic, Oveszb and Bulostioi itself. Continuing the geographic metaphor that sees Tulosz as being shaped like a horse, the northern coast of this region, between Oveszb and Albatross is sometimes referred to as the Mane of Tulosz.

The region is a massive temperate prairie grassland, with rolling hills, green pastures, and expansive forests in all directions. This is the breadbasket of eastern Tulosz, and the stable and bountiful food supply has afforded continual growth, development and relative peace for generations. The towns and villages here produce grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, and a range of hardwoods and softwoods. Iron, copper, silver, sulphur, and coal are mined here, and there are a few diamond and emerald mines in some of the more remote areas as well.

Vehira is visible low over the horizon to the east in every part of this region. Culturally, in most cities, towns and villages, this means people are up and working sometime between twilight and dawn, and breakfast is taken as a long meal once Azane disappears behind Vehira in early-to-mid morning. The second dawn here has the effect of allowing the plains to cool a bit, often bringing a mid-morning shower even in the dry seasons, creating ideal conditions for farming, and also for farm work, by delaying peak temperatures (which can reach the high 30's in summer) until late afternoon. Ideal conditions are also created for another popular activity, and the second dawn here is referred to as the Ora Concepci (the Conception Hour, in Comerta).

Saddleback Coast

The Saddleback Coast is the region of northern, central Tulosz between Derniu in the west and Oveszb in the east. It is so named due to its geographical resemblance to a saddle on the back of a horse, and this metaphor is applied to formal and colloquial names of many other regions of the continent. Despite being situated on the Northern Ocean, the coast here does not get a lot of rain even in the wet season. Prevailing winds push the weather systems into Northwestern Tulosz or into the Mane of Tulosz subregion of the Plains of Bulostioi. This is one of the poorest and least developed areas of the continent and the rocky coastline here quickly gives way to arid badlands that descend 500km south before there is enough moisture to support grasslands and light woodlands.

Sea of Pearls

The Sea of Pearls is a warm, tropical sea located between the Fender of Tulosz and Southwestern Tulosz. The Sea of Pearls region rings this sea, and is defined by lush rainforests and constant climate - the temperature is always in the low thirties and it rains every day in the late afternoon. Beyond the fifty to one hundred kilometer band that surrounds the sea in every direction, the climate and terrain give way rapidly to the dominant climates and terrains of the different neighouring regions.

Following the collapse of the Kingdom of Tulosz and the end of the Imperial Era, the Sea of Pearls has become a critical economic center, centered around the city of Boznel at 6S x 70E. With the Tuloszian Republic, the Domain of Tulosz, the city states of Free Tulosz all sharing a coast, and with Imperial Senecia and the the city states of Free Senecia nearby, international trade and commerce have exploded.

Southwestern Tulosz

Historically, Southwestern Tulosz has been considered to be the region west of the Sea of Pearls and south of the equator, though since the collapse of the Kingdom of Tulosz, the geographic region is generally considered to correspond with 1:1 with the borders of the Tuloszian Republic. This is the most mountainous part of Tulosz, with a small range in the center of it sometimes called the Fetlock Range, continuing the metaphor that sees Tulosz as being shaped like a horse, though this seems not be an official name, and is only used colloquially.

Whirling Sea

The Whirling Sea is a small sea separated from the Widow's Sea by an island group that is considered part of continental Tulosz and not part of the Senecian Isles. The region is entirely part of the Free States of Bulostioi political region and includes the lands east of the Cenuc River and south of the Ovescu River, the coastline between Ovescu and Zgesi, and the mass of land south and east of the Zgesi and Hinic Rivers. It also includes the Whorl Islands. The region is dominated by old growth rainforests and many unique and valuable hardwoods are unique to this region.