Board Description Contest

[Kender Bard]

The contest is simple. Rewrite a description for each nation's board.

For example:

Ronduin - The Great River is actually a thin, long lake that separates the rest of the continent from a narrow strip of land, and then the ocean. Ronduin is the homeland of the Water elementals, who live in a kingdom situated on top of the water in the middle of the lake.

This could be modified to make mention that it is actually on a very crowded island and note the strip of land off to the side of the River that is also owned by Ronduin.

Primarily, this is an effort to update board descriptions to be more accurate and informative. Judging will be done by peers, so please submit anonymously via IM or PM.

Entrants have one week (7/26) to submit as many modified descriptions as they like. Every winning entry will award a brownie point prize.

Edit: Try to keep descriptions near 70 words or so.

[Kender Bard]

Entries are now closed. Only one person submitted so it will be Dara's vs the old ones for voting. Please PM/IM me votes. Voting ends 8/2.

[Kender Bard]

Kingdom Caelium: Talen’sul

1) The homeland of the Wind elementals, this place is situated high in the northern mountain ranges to the west of Khelek. This was once the home of the ruling Lady of Winds, but is now a large “province” in the kingdom, presided over by a resident liege lord.

2) The homeland of the Wind elementals, this place is situated high in the northern mountain ranges. This formerly was the home of the Lady of Winds, but is now just a very big city in the kingdom.

New Anarlina

1) This kingdom serves as both the Force Home of Love and a mixed-elemental nation. Located between Talen’sul and Maelstrom, it was built on land ceded by those two nations after the sinking of the continent of Contrasta. It splits Kingdom Caelium in half, serving as a friendly buffer between the two former enemies. Founded: Year 1005

2) The Kingdom of Love, New Anarlina is nestled between Talen'sul and Maelstrom. Though it splits Kingdom Caelium in half, it also serves as a friendly buffer between the two elements. Founded Year 1005

Khelek Crystalands

1) Located in the inhospitable frozen wastes east of Talen’sul and north of Mentis, the kingdom of Khelek is home to the Ice elementals. Surrounded by freezing seas and ice floes to the east and north, treacherous passes to the west, and dotted with caves and underground paths covered in ice and snow most of the year, the land is as much a part of its defense as its populace.

2) Eastern, beyond the mountains of Talen'sul, and north of the Great River is a barren wasteland of ice and snow, dotted by the many caves and underground paths. Although a harsh place to live, most Ice elementals call this place home.

Ekaitz

1) Located on the southern end of Naruta at the end of the Great River and east of Clan Seere’s Beastland territory, Ekaitz is a small city-nation of Storms who broke away from Maelstrom to continue their tradition of slavery, and was later made a Morilantan territory. Though Winds and Waters are the most common of slaves, any non-Storm elemental may be found as a slave here. Founded: Year 1004

2) A small village of Storm slavers who've broken off from the rule of Maelstorm. The slavery of Winds and Waters is a continued practice here. Founded in Year 1004

New Morilanta

1) Erected on land seized along the eastern seaboard after Contrasta’s sinking, this mixed-elemental nation is located between the Force Homes of Mentis and Acoia, and doubles as the Force Home of Evil. Slavery, human sacrifice, and other such unsavoury practices are commonplace here. Founded: Year 1005

2) The Kingdom of the Damned, homeland of Evil's Worshippers, Morilanta has been rebuilt on the soil of Naruta. The foreboding kingdom is much smaller than they were on their original continent, but no less fearsome, powerful, or corrupt. Founded Year 1005

Ronduin

1) Located in and along the Great River—a long, thin lake that separates most of Naruta from its coastal nations—is the homeland of the Water elementals. The bulk of Ronduin’s people live on a densely populated island in the middle of the Great River between the shores of Sensatia and Mentis, though its territory also includes some of the land along the lake’s coast.

2) The Great River is actually a thin, long lake that separates the rest of the continent from a narrow strip of land, and then the ocean. Ronduin is the homeland of the Water elementals, who live in a kingdom situated on top of the water in the middle of the lake.

Sensatia

1) Built on the site of the ruined Clear nation of Lacuna, Sensatia can be found south of Talen’sul and between Reave and the western coast of the Great River. Formerly scattered in secretive communities hidden across Naruta, most Minds now live behind the heavy walls of this nation’s capitol. Other elementals are welcome to visit and partake of Sensatia’s many amenities, but Clears are forbidden. Founded: Year 1002

2) This is the nation of the secretive Minds. Their home, while open to all of their own kind, is a veritable fortress to any who are not invited. Founded Year 1002

Mount Humontis

1) Located south of Ilyamen and between the Seere and Poldora clans of the Beastlands, this large mountain is the home of the Earth elementals. Earths with a strong affinity for stone and soil live within the mountain in great, underground cities accessible though tunnels, while Earths with an affinity for plants make their homes along the slopes and surrounding fields.

2) One of the largest mountains in the world, in length rather than height (though it's still very tall!), this is the homeland of the Earth elementals. Those that prefer the path of stone and dirt live in the great underground cities that can be reached through tunnels under the mountain, while the lush and fertile lands outside the slopes provide homes for the plant path Earth types.

Beastlands

1) This large, diverse sprawl of land is the home of the Beast elementals, who live in divided into clans. Grassland gives way to jungle, which in turn yields to a dense forest that mingles with the border of Humontis. It borders Naurorod and Ilyamen to the north, Ekaitz and part of the Great River to the east, and is surrounded on its southern and western sides by ocean.

2) A large stretch of flat grasslands that surrounds Mount Humontis, this is the home of the majority of Beast elementals, separated by their various clans. The grasslands give way to a strange strip of jungle, which in turn yields to a dense forest that mingles with the border of Humontis.

Naurorod

1) This coastal desert is found between Maelstrom and Clan Beleg’s Beastland territory, and shares most of its eastern border with Reave. It’s named for its most impressive landmark: an active volcano, also known as the Peak of Flames. Due to the constant lava flow, the area around the volcano is uninhabitable, but the more distant lands surrounding it have become the home of the nomadic Fire elemental clans.

2) Also known as the Peak of Flames, this is a great, active volcano. Though no one is able to live along its slope, due to the constant flow of lava, the distant lands surrounding the volcano have actually been able to thrive in the climate and conditions, and has become the land of the Fire elementals.

Maelstrom

1) Located north of Naurorod and west of New Anarlina, this lightning-prone nation is built on a series of small mountain ranges that stretch eastward to Talen’sul. Maelstrom is the homeland of the Storm elementals and serves as Caelium’s seat of power from which the King and Queen rule.

2) The smaller mountain ranges that extend from Naurorod to Talen'sul are known as Maelstrom. The prime living spot for most Storm elementals, this place naturally attracts lots of lightning. The King and Queen of Caelium rule from here.

Reave

1) Sprung up from a tent town of refugees after the destruction of the Clear homeland of Lacuna, the Clear nation has come a long way. A touch of Fire craftsmanship can be seen in the oldest parts of the capitol. Elementals can be found here as well, though as free-willed residents rather than ensnared thralls.
Founded: Year 1001

2) Sprung up from a tent town of refugees, this Clear city has come a ways from then. Though still crude by comparison to some of the other cities, there's established dwellings and defenses now. Though it's easy to see the hand of Fire craftmanship all over the town.
Founded in Year 1001.

Ilyamen

1) Prior to the founding of New Anarlina and New Morilanta, this was the only mixed nation on Naruta, containing a variety of elementals. Even now, it is still the largest mixed nation. Located in the heart of Naruta west of the Great River, Ilyamen is a bustling trade center, boasting goods from all across the continent.

2) The largest mixed Elements city there is. There's at least a few of every single other element present here.

Acoia

1) This is the Force Home of Efil, a calm, peaceful temple-village of white marble, flowing streams, and pruned plants. Located between Ekaitz and New Morilanta, this is where the Shrine of Life may be found.

2) Acoia is the Home of Efil, where the Shrine of Life can be found.

Athrug

1) The Home of Taed rests on a lifeless, shadowed corner of desert found in southeastern Naurorod. Little else can be seen here other than the Shrine of Death, as the barren landscape cannot support a full village.

2) The home of Taed, and location for most 'official' wars and battles, also the location of the Shrine of Death.

Autus

1) Located deep within Clan Beleg’s territory in the Beastlands, this is the Home of Worg and the Garden City. The Shrine of Growth is found here, in an area that boasts a wide variety plantlife that flourishes nowhere else.

2) The Home of Worg, also the Garden City, and location for the Shrine of Growth.

Mentis

1) Located between Khelek and New Morilanta, the Great Hall of Thuoth is a sprawling temple complex that holds the land's largest libraries and the Shrine of Thoughts. It is a favored destination for scholars and academics and has a small village to accommodate the needs of its frequent pilgrims.

2) The Great Hall of Thuoth, Mentis, is here, location of the largest libraries and the Shrine of Thoughts.

Flux

1) Found at the base of Talen’sul’s mountains, this is the Home of Soahc. The Shrine of Chaos is located here, somewhere within the shifting, fog-shrouded Entrapping City. Only priests of Soahc can navigate the twisting paths through the city to reach the temple; anyone else will find themselves instantly and hopelessly lost without a priest escort.

2) Home of Soahc, the Entrapping City, the Temple of Chaos can be found here.

The Firegem Islands

1) A month's voyage from Naruta, Firegem is a group of five island nations that were rediscovered by people of the Narutan continent in Year 1009.

2) A chain of five large islands are located here, disassociated from Naruta.

Celentia

1) This island is northmost and closest to Naruta. It is a heavily-wooded area populated primarily by Beasts, Minds, and Winds. Though it resembles the Narutan Beastlands at first glance, there is a center of civilization nestled within the wilderness. They serve as the main military force of Firegem.

2) This island is northmost and closest to Naruta. It is a heavily wooded area and populated mostly by Beasts, Minds, Winds, and mixes thereof. Though they seem as 'barbaric' as the typical Beastlander, there is a center of civilization nestled within all the wilderness.

Grandisle

1) This western island was once home to the rich, aristocratic, and those of old, noble lineage. Overwhelmed by a quick, bloody attack by Fireteeth and New Morilanta in the fall of Year 1014, this island is now a Morilantan territory. Most old families have been killed or pressed into slavery, and those remaining are those that have sworn fealty to the new regime.

2) This island is home to most of the rich, the aristocratic, and those of old, noble lineage. It is an expensive place to live or visit, but caters to the wide variety of eccentricities that the inhabitants feel inclined to waste their money on; from the arts, to militaristic pursuits, to crackpot inventions and schemes. Despite this, it manages to retain an air of majesty and prestige, and houses the Grand Court.

Second Hope

1) This eastern island was the isle of spare heirs, a place where extra children or those seeking a new life went to make their own way in the world. After receiving word of impending attack in 1014, most native residents evacuated, abandoning the island to the Dread Pirate of Fireteeth.

2) This island is compromised primarily of 'spare' children; the second sons and daughters of the wealthier families. It is also populated by many who have lost their homes or desire to start anew. On this island, anyone has the opportunity to achieve their own recognition, apart from their family or history.

Fire and Spice

1) Also known as Firespice, this island was Firegem’s center of diplomacy and commerce. It is located in the center of the island group and features a string of small, active volcanoes on its southern coast. It was the second to fall in 1014 and is now held by the Thief Lady of Fireteeth.

2) This island rests central to all of the other islands. For this reason, it is a land of merchants, diplomats, and commerce. To the far south coast, what appears to be a mountain range is actually a string of small, active volcanoes.

Fireteeth

1) This island is the farthest south. Its rocky, mountainous terrain hosts the most active of the volcanoes. This island is considered highly dangerous - and not just for the occasional eruption. It is the only island not included in the Treaty of the Isles, and its feuding groups of thieves and pirates have banded together in an attempt to overtake the rest of Firegem.

2) This island is the farthest south. Its rocky, mountainous terrain hosts the most active of the volcanoes. This island is considered highly dangerous - and not just for the occasional eruption.

[Kender Bard]

Well, Dara was the only person to enter, and won all the descriptions with unanimous vote. Therefore, she wins 5 points per entry to a grand total of: 120 brownie points!

[Darastrix]

*dance of victory that bears suspicious resemblance to the Macarena*

[Northen Light36]

lol