Geography

 

The Ilk is a large land mass located on the northern edge of a constantly shifting continent. Tectonic activity is frequent in this land, making earthquakes and eruptions common place. The Ilks northern borders are defined by a treacherous mountain range known as the Infernal Peaks. Beyond the peaks lies an impassable nightmare realm where lava lakes churn ceaselessly, and volcanoes of epic proportion loom like gods in to the sky. Few have ever ventured into this land of fire, and if any have returned there has been little word of their journey.

To the east and west of the Ilk lie rocky coastlines, beyond which stretch vast unchartered seas. To the south the Ilk is separated from the southern wastes by yet another volcanic mountain range, smaller in scale than the Infernal Peaks, but still hazardous to all but the most experienced of adventurers. A desolate landscape similar in nature to the Ilk, the southern wastes are undeveloped and inhabited only by primitive barbarian tribes. Descendants of the same convicts who were first banished to the Ilk, the tribes were founded by those who opposed the regime of the north and set out to create new lives for themselves. However this idealism soon turned to anarchy, and factional disputes amongst the leaders led to bloodshed and centuries long vendettas that have long since ended any chance of unity.

 

Conflicts between the forces of the Ilk and the southern wastes are rare, however the expansion of military power and technology in the north threatens to escalate occasional skirmishes in to all out war.

 

The Dunes of Tamask

 

At the western edge of the mountains that separate the southern and northern domains of the  continent, lie the dunes of Tamask. Less infernal in nature than the Ilk, the dunes are a place of eerie stillness and terrifying silence. Upon entering these lands one is met immediately with an unshakable feeling of dread, and a fear that the peaks and troughs of this barren landscape will continue infinitely. It is said by the few that have dared to explore the dunes that the laws of time and distance are null and void here, and that one could easily lose their mind trying to solve this unanswerable riddle.

 

But despite this some still call the dunes their home, and it is here that the sand nomads dwell. Secretive and elusive, this clan of druids seeks to maintain a balance between the wilderness and the progress of civilisation. How the nomads survive in this never ending desert is a mystery that most of the Ilks inhabitants dare not question. But it is rumoured that they possess a supernatural connection with the dunes, and that the two forces work together in unison. Legend speaks of great armies that have been lost to a man in the tumultuous sandstorms of the dunes, and that those who control the ancient monoliths that dot the desert, control the fate of the this dark red land.

Reviews

[James Watts]

This is good, but there is a lot of telling and no showing. The infamous "info dump".
While it is good to have descriptive skills, which you have, try not giving so much at once. Between the introduction and this first chapter there is a lot of telling. Try spacing out your descriptions a little. You have talent but so far all we as readers have not been able to form a connection with the story. I would also expand a little as for a first chapter is rather short. Don't let this review hinder your work. As I said, you have talent.

[ATG]

This is very interesting and seems very well thought out. My complaints are mainly about the format. You should seperate these different places a little better like you did with the Dunes of Tamask.

I have a question though. If earthquakes are common, how do you have structures on the Ilk? Do the people live in buildings or caves inside the ground and mountains? Just questions for you to think about.

[Yaooooooo]

Very well written.
Feel free to send me a request when ever you like...
Thanks for sharing...
One!