Rynvera
Rynvera, the Turning Tide, is a realm where coastlines are never permanent, and water dictates the shape of the land. Unlike the vast, unbroken ocean of Thalassor or the tranquil depths of Liravel, Rynvera is defined by motion and change, where each tide reveals and reclaims, shaping a world caught between two states.
It is a domain of impermanence and power, where those who dwell within must move with the tides or be left behind.
Geography
Rynvera’s landscape is constantly shifting, as the tides flood and recede, exposing landscapes that vanish within hours.
- The Flooded Valleys – Great rock-strewn canyons, dry and navigable at low tide, but completely submerged when the waters return. - The Tidal Steppes – Plains of sand and sediment, sculpted into rolling ridges by the ceaseless movement of the sea. - The Ever-Drowning Cliffs – Coastal cliffs worn smooth by the tide, their bases eroded daily by the relentless waves. - The Unveiled Paths – Hidden stone walkways, only walkable during the lowest tides, leading to forgotten ruins and submerged secrets. - The Maelstrom Straits – A chaotic channel of churning water, where the currents shift with the moon, pulling in anything unmoored.
Climate & Atmosphere
Rynvera’s climate is ever-changing, dictated by the rhythm of the tides and the winds that push them forward.
- Sky of Changing Hues – The sky in Rynvera is never constant, shifting between storm-wracked darkness and brilliant open light. - Tides That Command the Land – The landscape itself is reshaped daily, as the sea erodes cliffs, drowns valleys, and exposes new paths. - Winds That Pull and Push – The air is heavy with salt, carrying the whispers of the shifting tides far inland. - Echoes of the Past – Some say that voices from drowned places rise with the receding waters, their words lost when the tide swells again.
The Spirit of Rynvera
Marethis, known as the Swelling Waters, is the Ascended Spirit of Rynvera, embodying the ceaseless rise and fall of the tides, the balance of change, and the unseen forces that shape the world.
- Marethis does not create, nor does he destroy—he moves. The waters bend to his silent pull, yet he is never seen. - Some claim that he is the tide itself, his body existing in the surge of water that swallows the land. - It is said that those who listen carefully to the rush of the waves may hear his voice, calling them to follow the current or be swallowed by it.
Mythology & Legends
- The Vanishing Isles – Legends speak of islands that exist only at low tide, appearing for only a few hours before vanishing beneath the waves once more. - The Voice of the Currents – It is believed that the tides themselves carry messages, whispering prophecies in the rushing water. - The Moonbound Throne – A story claims that Marethis once walked the land, but was bound to the tides by the pull of the moon, cursed to move forever without rest.
Connection to Other Realms
Rynvera lies between the deep sea, the rivers, and the coastal cliffs, acting as a bridge between the ever-changing water and the land it shapes.
- To the Endless Ocean of Thalassor – The tides of Rynvera feed the seas, yet are forever drawn back, caught in the moon’s grasp. - To the Rivers of Delmora – Where tides meet freshwater, Rynvera’s currents shift, sending brackish surges inland before retreating once more. - To the Shores of Zanarak – Some say that Rynvera’s tides once reached even the deserts, carving the deep canyons before withdrawing forever.
Influence on Adaris
Rynvera is both feared and revered as a place of impermanence, of balance in motion, and of forces beyond mortal control.
- Coastal nomads and fishermen believe that Marethis’ favor grants safe passage, while his anger swallows ships whole. - Mystics and scholars study the tides to predict the future, believing that water’s rise and fall mirrors the fate of the world. - Ruins and temples are found at the lowest tide, their stone halls open for only hours before vanishing beneath the waves.
"The Tide Does Not Stop, Only You Do"
A saying among those who live by Rynvera’s waters, reminding all that change is inevitable—those who resist it will be left behind.