Volaxia is the western half of what was once Etherea. When the Split tore the continent apart, Volaxia retained the western portion of Runeswick and the bulk of Etherea’s agricultural heartland. It is the smaller of the two continents but the more politically unified, governed by the Runeswick monarchy under the Keswick family.
The continent stretches from the frozen Iron Mountains in the north to the Jagged Coast in the south, with the Great Sea forming its eastern boundary. Its geography is diverse: alpine tundra gives way to boreal forest, which softens into the fertile heartland of Crownheart Vale, then descends through rolling farmland to coastal marshes and rocky shores. Two major trade routes—the Golden Road running north-south and the Silverway running east-west—form the skeleton of Volaxia’s economy, intersecting at the Gilded Crossroads south of Sapphire Locke.
This chapter describes Volaxia’s six regions from north to south, with key settlements, geographical features, and adventure hooks for each. Guildspire, the adventuring guild settlement in Crownheart Vale, receives a condensed overview here; a full gazetteer is available as a separate supplement.
| Region | Location | Climate | Key Settlements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frostbourne Wilds | North | Harsh, snowy | Kruul’Dar, Frostpine Village, Silverpeak, Borogrove, Frosthold, Icicle’s Reach, Goblin Glens |
| Shadowcross Junction | North-Central | Transitional | Border hamlets, guardian posts |
| Crownheart Vale | Central | Temperate, fertile | Runeswick (capital), Sapphire Locke, Duskfall, Stonebridge, Moonlake Village, Westhaven, Guildspire |
| The Verdant Expanse | South-Central | Temperate, lush | Harder’s Field, Shimmergrove, Greenflower |
| Mystshore Reach | South | Coastal, humid | Coastal towns (undeveloped), Dirty Tides inlet |
| Blistering Swamp | Southwest | Hot, swampy | No major settlements; Obsidian Brotherhood rumored |
The Arteries of Volaxia
Two trade routes define Volaxia’s geography as much as any mountain range or river. Every settlement of consequence exists because of its relationship to one or both of these roads.
The Golden Road runs north to south, connecting the Frostbourne Wilds through Shadowcross Junction, down through Crownheart Vale, and continuing to Mystshore Reach. It is Volaxia’s oldest maintained road, dating to the early Rebuilding. Ore, furs, and Frostpine timber flow south; grain, wine, and manufactured goods flow north.
The Silverway runs east to west, from the port district of Runeswick across the continent to the western coast at Westhaven. It is the primary overland route for goods moving to and from the Great Sea. Anything arriving by ship at Runeswick that needs to reach the interior travels the Silverway.
The Gilded Crossroads sits just south of Sapphire Locke, where the Golden Road and the Silverway intersect. What began as a muddy waystation during the Rekindling has grown into a thriving trade nexus—not a city in its own right, but a permanent market and caravan hub that never fully sleeps. Guildspire lies roughly twenty-five miles northeast of this crossroads, close enough to benefit from the traffic, far enough to remain its own settlement.