Jhasaris, The Frozen Wastes

North of the known world lies the lost continent of Jhasaris, a frozen wasteland with a troubled past and an even more disturbing present. A large landmass completely devoid of civilization, it is one of the few truly unexplored corners of Iskandria.

Most nearby countries have attempted settling this harsh place numerous times over the centuries, but it has always ended up in disaster. Chief among the reasons why nobody truly wants to settle there is the fact that the land itself is cursed: everyone seems completely unable to use any Aether-based abilities. According to the many scholars that have studied the phenomenon, something is blocking all Aether from entering anywhere near the continent, and even those that have attempted bringing Aether batteries there see them depleted after just a few hours, as if the air itself drains all magic from everything and everyone. The reasons are completely unknown, but most suspect it to be the result of some sort of cataclysm, the same one that wiped out the civilization that once stood there.

Indeed, according to ancient records, Jhasaris was once populated by an ancient civilization, one older even than the Vaelorian Ascendancy. All records from this unnamed civilization speak of a powerful, graceful people that helped the nascent nations around them. The Vaelorian themselves mention them in a positive light, something completely unheard of. Unfortunately, all that is left of this ancient culture nowadays are ancient ruins, twisted beyond recognition and populated by all sorts of horrors.

The lack of magic is a big problem for those wanting to explore Jhasaris, but not the only one: whatever cataclysm wiped out its original inhabitants, it left an unnatural, permanent frigid storm that covers the whole continent. It is clear Jhasaris was never a warm place, especially due to its latitude, but the terrible gales and constant snowstorms are far from natural. Furthermore, a terrible sickness assails many of those who step on its cursed shores: the Hollowing, a wasting sickness that turns flesh translucent, brittle, and cold.

This is a world of terrible beauty, where glaciers gleam like shattered stained glass and auroras flicker with unnatural colors, but one where the cold is always winning. Every fire dims, every ration dwindles, and every step could be your last. To make things worse, the ice preserves things that should have stayed forgotten: dead cities, frozen gods, and the remnants of whatever caused the sundering. When all this is taken into consideration, it is clear why most countries only use Jhasaris as a punishment against the most vile criminals, those who deserve a fate worse than death. Only the exiled and madmen arrive upon its shores.