The ancient world of Hyerune is a land of great fantasy and enchantment. It is very similar to our Earth in terms of approximate size, shape and mass though only about one quarter of Hyerune is land mass while the rest is covered by the world's oceans. These landforms are found in a portion of the globe at the line of the equator and continuing from that location northward to the polar region.
There are three major continents on Hyerune and a great multitude of lesser landforms and islands. The three continents form a triangle of sorts with a large body of water known as the Midland Ocean in the center. The three continents are named Aldaria, Dawynia and Sahelia.
The Continent of Aldaria: Aldaria is by far the largest of the three major landforms and is the northernmost land mass stretching from the arctic region to just above the equatorial line. Aldaria enjoys a wide range of climates from steppe and subtropical moist in the south to subarctic and polar in the northern reaches. Warm waters in the Sunset Ocean off the western continental shelf help to produce good quantities of moisture making much of the continent fertile though the northwest quadrant is generally more dry than the remaining regions.
Aldaria is subdivided into various regions by six large mountain ranges. Starting at the top and working around the continent clockwise, these ranges are called Spineridge, Jotunheim, Cloudycrest, Rushwind, Ironhorn and Mystic. The mountainous areas help to protect much of the landmass from the harsh winds that tend to blow in from the north particularly during the winter months. The mountains tend to be far less populated than the lower elevations and are often home to more humanoid and monster creatures such as dwarves, gnomes, giants, ogres, aarakocra, orcs and trolls.
Aldaria is also characterized by a number of lakes but only five lakes are large enough to be take notice. All five are fresh water lakes and three of these form a major center of commerce and trade for the nations that surround them. Lake Brightwater is the largest inland lake on Hyerune and is located in the center of the continent. Lake Springwater is the second largest lake and is found northeast of the Brightwater. Lake Windesmere is the third largest lake and is completely contained within the Kingdom of Dunwyn. Lakes Glaislyn and Paratyr and two lesser lakes both of which are found in the far northern regions of the continent. Portions of these two northern lakes have been known to freeze during the colder months of the year.
The continent of Aldaria is the ancestral homeland for the human races known as the Aldari and the Filani. It is also believed to have been the birthplace of the hobgoblins, ogres, trolls and giants.
The Continent of Dawynia: Dawynia is the second largest continent and lies to the east of Aldaria. It is the ancestral home of the Jendi, Sundari and Huan humans as well as the lands claimed by the orcs, goblins and dragons. The heart of this continent is dominated by the massive Dragonspire Mountains, the largest and highest mountain range in all of Hyerune. As its name implies, the Dragonspires are the home to a multitude of draconic creatures. It is also the location of the "city" of Firestorm Forge, the home of Balmung, the oldest and wisest of all dragons.
Dawynia is also known for two lesser, though certainly still impressive, mountain ranges. The Ash Mountains lie just north of the Dragonspires and along with the those mountains form a great wall of rock that surrounds the barren wastes known as the Scorched Lands, a most inhospitable desert of desolation. Far to the north of this region are the smaller mountains known collectively as the Shadow Mountains. This range has long been avoided by humanity for its association with evil cults and dreadful creatures of all descriptions.
The climate of Dawynia can be roughly divided by the north and south. The northern portion is generally more barren with subtropical dry summer climates and steppe regions known for great changes in daily temperature except in coastal areas and little precipitation toward the central portions. The far northern portion is mostly continental moist with warm to cool summers and cold winters with moderate precipitation in all seasons. The southern portion is a great mix of variable climates with a great desert peninsula to the west, tropical wet and dry climates in the center and a range of tropical wet to subtropical moist along the far eastern portions.
The Continent of Sahelia: The long and narrow continent of Sahelia is the southernmost land mass that is subdivided by two major mountain ranges and join the two ends along a narrow isthmus. Along the west of the isthmus are the Ajanta Mountains while the rugged Sahelian Mountains lie to the east. A smaller mountain range known as the Dawnstar Mountains lies in the western edge of the continent. This range receives its name from its shape like that of a stylized star, but also because it was the site of a number of fallen meteorites many centuries ago.
The shape of this continent, along with the location of the mountain ranges and the prevailing ocean currents have divided the climate along the west and east. The western portion of Sahelia is mostly steppe, tropical wet/dry and tropical wet with the most precipitation falling the farther one goes from the central mountains. The western portion is also known for two large jungles. The eastern portion of Sahelia is almost entirely desert with some steppe-like environments just south of the Sahelian mountains. The only area that receives any adequate moisture lies along a small peninsula that emerges from the Basalt Hills at the far eastern end. This peninsula is dominated by a tropical wet climate. It is always hot, always wet and has heavy periods of precipitation throughout the year and is dominated by the verdant Dark Jungle, the home of many violent orc tribes.