The Pau region to the east is one of the most prosperous and wealthy lands, aside from Machili. The leader of this land is Overseer Pawn, and this territory is home to the Ungulates, a Hybrid race of tall, slender humans with deer-like heads. The followers of Pau live in harmony with their rulers, with both races thriving in their own ways. The Ungulates are known for their caution and timidity, making them gentle rulers. Their land, the Great Plains, is rich with fertile soil, making it the ideal place for agriculture and farming. The hardworking people of Pau are skilled in agriculture, reaping the benefits of their vast open fields. The Order of the Keen is the second largest of all the kingdoms, with nearly one hundred Hybrids, the largest being the Order of the Serpent in Ain, whose numbers are in the hundreds. Along the far east coast of Pau lies the Eastern Sea, a vast body of water known for its deep blue color. This sea is abundant with a diverse range of sea creatures, making it an ideal location for fishing. The two kingdoms that border the Eastern Blue Sea are Pau in the northeast and Dekan in the southeast. Even though they both have access to some of the best fishing waters in Harrowgoth, the Ungulates only eat strict vegetarian diets. Pound for pound, the Dekans are Harrowgoth's master anglers. This region is unique because it holds one of the few first-hand accounts of a Merfolk encounter. The water changes from blue to nearly black as one goes further out from shore and reaches the edge of the blue water, the boundary of the Merfolk's territory. Any attempt to cross this boundary is met with dire consequences, as demonstrated by the fate of the aforementioned fishing vessel. Nobody has ever successfully communicated with the Merfolk, as they never come close enough to shore for anyone to try safely. The most common interactions with the Merfolk are brief glimpses from fishing vessels or the rare occurrence of smaller ships being attacked by water-dwelling creatures. The human from the Pau region witnessed this tragedy first-hand when he and his partner decided to go out past the blue water. The survivor of the attack watched in horror as the Merfolk ate his partner alive with teeth that grew longer right before they consumed his friend. The survivor later awoke on a plank, bobbing in the blue water. Despite the lack of direct communication, the Merfolk significantly impacted the world of Harrowgoth. Their presence continues to be shrouded in mystery and intrigue, even if they are generally hostile creatures. The Order of the Hoof and the Yulo people, who follow the Oxen Tribe, inhabit the first kingdom to the south of Kalloamin. The Oxen Tribe, known for its minotaur-like appearance, are renowned for their immense strength and unparalleled durability, which they use to construct massive structures from rock and wood. However, despite their ability to do the work themselves, they prefer to enslave many of their loyal followers to perform the labor; however, they don't feed on their slaves like the Werebears of Dekan. Beyond the first kingdom, the rest of Harrowgoth remains a mystery to many, with trade and commerce mainly taking place in the neutral lands around the border of each kingdom's territory. Not all members of the Yulo society are relegated to the status of the enslaved. Some individuals are employed in more conventional occupations such as cultivating crops, gathering resources, and hunting game. At the helm of the Oxen Tribe is the fearsome leader, Labrinthias, a towering beast that stands half as tall as a helephant. He wields a massive stone hammer and commands the respect and fear of both his followers and the rest of the Oxen Tribe. He rules with an iron fist and allows no one to hold any position of authority beneath him. The Yulo lands are diverse in their geography but lack any significant natural resources. To the north lies a series of small rocky outcroppings; the east is home to a shallow forest, and the dense, tall, tree-ridden Tracap Woodlands to the west. Their southern border touches the land of the Machili, the Order of Pride, ruled by the noble and lion-like King Motara. The Tracap Woodlands, located west of the Yulo lands, is a sight to behold. The towering tall trees grow to impressive heights and are home to the White Feathers, a reclusive society of owl-people. Their followers interpret their ruling Hybrids as gods despite them being no more or no less spectacular than the other ruling Hybrids. This is because the White Feathers elect not to get involved with their followers' everyday lives, rarely letting themselves be seen. From the Tracap people's perspective, they receive occasional gifts from winged owl-like creatures who live hundreds of feet up in the tall trees. The White Feathers don't live on the branches like less intelligent winged animals. Instead, they inhabit round wooden structures hanging like fruit from the trees. Despite their reclusive nature, the White Feathers provide for their people, regularly gifting them seeds, tools, and technologies to aid their advancement. However, the lack of interaction and trade with other kingdoms also means that the Tracap lands lack various essential resources. While they have a significant amount of wood, they suffer from shortages of ore, field crops, fresh water, and even lava, which is crucial for crafting metal tools. This has led to the Order of the Wise, as the followers of Tracap are known, to be more self-sufficient and innovative, relying on their own resources and ingenuity to thrive in the Woodlands. Descending further south from Pau, one arrives at the southeastern Kingdom of Dekan, ruled by the formidable Order of Brawn, known for their Werebear Hybrid form. They recognize Overlord Brutus as their Ruler, who is feared just as much as he is respected. On average, they stand twice as tall as any human and are just as wide from shoulder to shoulder as a man is tall. They are built like giant cave bears but possess the ability to walk regularly on two legs. Unlike other territories, the Werebears are notorious for their brutal and barbaric rule, where rumors of human sacrifice and cannibalism run rampant. However, despite these rumors, the Werebears hold a strong spiritual significance to their followers, who believe they will be blessed with a bountiful and prosperous season through the sacrifice of the elderly members of their community. Therefore, the Werebears follow strict laws and customs, with the sacrificing of elders being one of them. It is a practice that is considered a rite of passage, a symbol of strength, and a guarantee of prosperity for the people of Dekan. The kingdom of Dekan is rich in natural resources, with abundant forests and easy access to the Eastern Blue Sea, renowned for its deep blue waters and teeming with various marine life. In addition, the Dekans are renowned for their fishing industry, owning the best fishing vessels in all of Harrowgoth and extracting crude oil from the depths of the sea with their wooden oil rigs. Additionally, they are one of the two kingdoms with access to oil alongside Ain, the Kingdom of the Serpent. Overall, the Kingdom of Dekan may seem frightening and inhospitable. Still, to its followers, it represents a proud and spiritual community, living in harmony with its Hybrid rulers and abundant in its resources and prosperity. Deep within the heart of Ain's barren and mysterious land lies the Order of the Serpent, ruled by the fearsome Scaleskins. These pale, sickly-looking beings have managed to eke out a living in the harsh and unforgiving environment, surrounded by dark grey rocks and the strange, leafless trees that only grow in this land. The sky overhead is always a foreboding reddish-grey, except at night when it takes on a bloody-orange hue due to the Lava Fields that run through the territory. The Order of the Serpent, who resides underground, is shrouded in mystery. Emperor Zsazz is a Scaleskin of enormous size, rumored to be as long as 50 feet. His loyal advisor, Pliskin, has a reputation for being just as sinister as an intelligent snake would be. Despite being the first and only generation of Scaleskins to roam Harrowgoth, they hold a fearsome reputation, and their Zsazz is rarely seen outside his underground lair. The only interaction that most of the kingdoms have with the Order of the Serpent occurs at the northeast border of Ain, where they trade off lava and lava rock as their primary exports. The Scaleskins are the only ones who have mastered the technology required to encapsulate lava into giant egg-shaped containers made from their shed skins, allowing for safe transportation. This valuable resource is in high demand among the other kingdoms, making the Order of the Serpent a powerful force to be reckoned with despite their reclusive nature. The seventh and final kingdom belongs to the Order of Pride. The Lionhearts rule over the people of Machili with great discipline and fairness. Machili exists on a slightly elevated plateau that was struck by a massive meteor long before life began on Harrowgoth, and the unique thing about Machili is that it's the only kingdom to border almost every other realm. In fact, the only one it doesn't border is Kalloamin. King Motara stands around eight feet tall and has an impressively muscular physique. He dons a crown of pure gold, and his castle is constructed of rare crimson wood and alabaster marble. They are also the only kingdom to trade with every other empire, solidifying its position as a hub of commerce and trade. However, concerning politics and conflicts across Harrowgoth, the Lionhearts generally elect not to get involved unless their territory or people are directly threatened. The people of Machili look up to King Motara and the Lionhearts as just and fair rulers who work tirelessly to ensure their kingdom remains prosperous. The land of Harrowgoth is a complex and constantly evolving landscape, where much of its happenings remain shrouded in mystery. Despite the relative peace and stability among the seven kingdoms, tensions are rising as each realm works to secure its place in the world. Once every five solstice cycles, the grand gathering known as Helblot takes place. Held at the foot of Mount Omecha, nestled on the outskirts of the formidable Machili Crater, this unique event serves as a critical meeting ground for the rulers of the seven regions, along with a trusted advisor from each domain. It is during Helblot that the leaders converge to converse, discuss potential trade agreements, and negotiate matters of commerce, including exports and imports. Additionally, they address various diplomatic and business concerns. Terms of peace and alliances are also spoken of during this time. While most can do what they please within their own territory, special permissions are needed if any kingdom wants to branch out of their borders for any particular reason. While it is not uncommon for individuals from specific regions to visit others, some choose to remain within the boundaries of their homeland. Throughout the ages, peace has been steadfastly maintained among the Seven Orders, with only sporadic minor skirmishes breaking out. Remarkably, these conflicts often transpired as civil disputes rather than regional clashes, underlining the diplomacy and harmony among the Orders. With Helblot occurring at the Machili border, a long-standing tradition was upheld by the Order of the Pride. They maintained their practice of allowing only native Machilians or Lionhearts to partake in the gathering. This stringent rule was never perceived as an act of hostility but rather as a reflection of their deeply ingrained cultural values. While they aren't the most active when it comes to working with the other kingdoms, the Order of the Pride is about honor, which means the promise of peace between the seven nations means a lot to them, and for that reason alone, they opt to keep their presence firm during the Helblot. The most recent Helblot had taken place just a year ago, and for the first time in the event's storied history, the Order of the Hoof had notably abstained from attending. Their customary air of arrogance had been a topic of discussion among the regions for centuries, and their absence at the recent gathering did not perturb the other Orders. As for the enigmatic Scalekins, they remained largely reclusive, emerging primarily to trade their highly sought-after lava, seizing every opportunity to peddle their valuable commodity.