The Central Heartland is the geographic and economic core of Osan—a broad expanse of fertile plains, busy trade routes, and the continent’s largest city. If the Ironbound North is Osan’s backbone and the Golden Shores are its sunlit face, the Central Heartland is its circulatory system: everything passes through here eventually.

Runewick

The largest city on Osan and the eastern half of what was once the great city at the heart of Etherea. Runewick mirrors Runeswick across the Great Sea—the two cities share architectural roots, cultural memory, and a name that differs by a single letter. Where Runeswick became the seat of a monarchy, Runewick became a city of commerce, culture, and political negotiation. The Council of Lords convenes here, and its diverse population reflects every region on the continent.

Runewick is a melting pot: merchants from the Golden Shores trade alongside dwarven smiths from Nin’Durahl, elven scholars from Zumora, and farmers from the Leafsong Meadows. Its markets are the largest on Osan, its arts scene is vibrant, and its political intrigues are labyrinthine. Ralik Noxx, the Elder Sage of Necromancy, hails from Runewick, where he studied at the city’s wizarding school before rising to the Council.

Crossroads Settlement

Less a city than a permanent state of commerce, Crossroads Settlement is Osan’s busiest trade hub. It sits at the convergence of the major north-south and east-west routes, and its character is defined by transience: tents and makeshift stalls alongside permanent structures, traveling markets that arrive and depart on unpredictable schedules, and a population that turns over constantly. Monthly bazaars showcase goods from every corner of Osan, and the settlement’s only permanent residents are the merchants and innkeepers who profit from the endless flow of travelers.

Geographical Features

The Rolling Plains. Vast stretches of fertile land that form the agricultural foundation of central Osan. Grain, livestock, and produce from the Rolling Plains feed much of the continent.

The Great Divide. A majestic canyon that cuts through the Central Heartland, with unique flora and fauna adapted to its sheltered microclimates. The canyon’s walls reveal geological layers stretching back to before the Split, and archaeological sites within it have yielded artifacts of unknown origin.

The Old Crossroads. An archaeological site near Crossroads Settlement, containing foundations and road surfaces that predate any known post-Split construction. Scholars believe it marks the location of a pre-Split trade hub, suggesting the Crossroads’ function is far older than the settlement itself.