Stevie Lambert: (via JWB)

2026-05-20T13:23:43Z

(via JWB)

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{{Infobox Region
|Name = Caztoski Wooded Hills
|Other Names = Unknown
|Biome = Wooded Hills
|Size = Unknown
|Continent = Unknown
|Subcontinent = Unknown
}}

==History==
===Historical Overview===

The forested hills of Caztoski have never been a stranger to change. Years before Xerea Empire was even founded the region was the centre of a wealthy kingdom. The ruins that peek out of the ground are the only proof of the existence of the ancient civilisation. When the Xerea Empire happened upon the region they found the area populated random zu'aan tribes. They pushed these tribes into the neighbouring northern regions and built their own cities over the remnants of the old ones. They began altering the landscape to better suit their desires to continue the expansion of their empire.

But the greed of the Xerea Empire led to their downfall, as in the distant imperial capital they fashioned the very weapon of their destruction. News of the destruction of the imperial capital was too slow to reach this northern most of the central temperate regions and the zu'aan cities were unprepared for the kin'toni horde that swept through their territory and drove them out of their settlements. During all this, a band of zu'aan nomads from the displaced tribes came down from the north in search of shelter from the encroaching freeze.

They witnessed the savagery of the kin'toni clans and sought safety in a long abandoned sector of the region’s southern hills known as the [[Wegivart Alpine Tundra|Wegivart Alpine Tundra]. There they discovered the ruins of a vast ancient city. They worked to rebuild the city in secret to prevent having the kin'toni clans discover them until they were ready. While they were hard at work on their new home, they sent out scouts to monitor the kin'toni and gain a better understanding of the region. Once the new city was liveable they named it Christenson City and began fortifying its walls in preparation for any potential attack from the clans.

They then put all their preparations to use and let their presence be known. The kin'toni clans laid siege to the new city, but not before the city had gathered the other nearby zu'aan tribes within its walls. The battle for the city lasted for seven days of pure defensive strategies by the zu'aan. On the night of the seventh day the city finally attacked the diminished might of the combined clans. The sudden change in tactics allowed the zu'aan to push back the unprepared kin'toni. Using this as the catalyst for even more aggressive tactics.

The [[Christenson City Zu'Aan]] and their allies drove many of the surviving clan members out of the region and claimed it once again for the zu'aan. Now the city acts as the capital amongst the smaller settlements that were slowly established after the reclamation of the region. There is still the looming threat of the return of the larger kin'toni clans, and so the city has the borders patrolled and any kin'toni discovered in the region is killed as quickly as possible to avoid any weaknesses from getting into the hands of the enemy.

While they are enjoying the peace they currently have, everyone is aware that things will one day change.

===History by Age===

====Stone Age: Before 1E 0====

====Copper Age: 1E 1-1E 2200====

====Bronze Age: 1E 2200-1E 4400====

====Iron Age: 2E 0-2E 700====

====Ancient Age: 2E 700-2E 2200====

====Middle Ages: 3E 0-3E 2050====

====Early Modern Age: 3E 2050-3E 2600====

====Industrial Age: 3E 2600-3E 2700====

====Machine Age: 3E 2700-3E 2800====

====Atomic Age: 3E 2800-3E 2850====

====Space Age: 3E 2850-3E 2875====

====Information Age: 3E 2875-3E 2900====

====Genetic Age: 3E 2950-3E 3000====

====Awakening Age: 3E 3000-3E 3415====

====Twilight Age: 4E 0-4E 500====

==Geography==

The history of change was written into the very nature of the wooded hills of Caztoski. Several ruins dotted the landscape and hinted at what once was. The temperate climate allowed for there to be numerous varieties of vegetation that bloomed in the different seasons and thus changed the routes one wold take depending on the climate. Located at the northern most point of the temperate zone for the central portion of the continent, the forest gave way to the chilly tundra to the north. To the west lay a mountain range, while to the east the forest opened into fields surrounding a large river.

To the south there lay a vast grassland. During the era of the Xerea Empire, the region sprouted several small cities and towns. These settlers cut down sections of trees to make room for their expansion and to provide clear paths to the rest of the Empire. They also sought to destroy the old ruins in the hopes of clearing the way for even more settlements. However the forces of change were already set in motion for the landscape to drastically shift yet again. The Xerea Empire fell and in its wake came the vast expanding hordes of kin'toni.

The cities of the zu'aan fell under the incredible strength and hunger of the kin'toni clans. The settlements and all their buildings were all destroyed and nature began to reclaim the region once again as many of the trees began to grow back. The clans’ continuous hunts of the remnants of the Xerea Empire prevented the hunted from once again establishing permanent settlements. However in a long abandoned section in the southwestern part of the region called the Wegivart, a nomadic tribe of zu'aan was hard at work rebuilding one of the ancient ruined cities to protect themselves from the ravenous kin'toni.

They carefully took only what they had to from the surrounding hills and ruins to prevent from being discovered before they were fully ready. The city, named Christenson City upon its completion, was vast and had thick fortified walls to protect them in a siege. Once the city was finished the kin'toni clans in the region attempted to destroy it. However after over a week of intense fighting, the city remained standing and the zu'aan began to push the kin'toni out of the area. Once there was finally peace in the region, the zu'aan began settling the region once more.

The large city of Christenson became the capital of the region while smaller towns and villages dotted the landscape. Watch towers line the borders to keep an eye out for any invading kin'toni. Roads and trails connect the settlements to each other and to the rest of the world. However no path or watchtower guards the cold northern border because they don’t think anyone can survive the cold that grips the areas. While the forest was harvested to make room for the settlements, the zu'aan settlers have replenished much of what was taken in order to keep the natural cover of the trees.

==Plants==

The wooded hills of Caztoski is the home to a variety of vegetation that can survive on either the temperate or tundra climates. It’s covered by dense forest of trees, shrubs, bushes, moss, fungi, flowers, and grasses. When the Xerea Empire began settling in the region and building their cities and towns, they destroyed sections of the vegetation to make space for their settlements. Their greed would have destroyed the vegetation of the region if it had not caused their own destruction first. When the kin'toni arrived and tore down the cities and other permanent settlements.

It gave the land a chance to reclaim the vegetation that had been taken. Through the years the forest regained much of its former growth. When the city of Christenson was rebuilt and the kin'toni driven out of the region, the land saw a return of settlements. However, this did not lead to a mass of deforestation, but instead the new settlers redistributed the trees to allow for clearings to form. They also cultivated further growth of fruits and vegetables switching the boundaries of the settlements so they can each be self sufficient in times of crisis such as another invasion by the kin'toni.

One of the common trees within the forest is the varikir tree. This flowering tree is known for the frosty blue colour on the eight petals of its flowers. The trees are seasonal and often lose all their leaves and flowers right before the cold of winter hits. But once the ice thaws they are amongst the first to bud and bloom in the spring and summer. Their flowers are often used to help make dye lightening agents, and its sap is used as an ingredient in the binding sealant for containers and crates. Another common plant found in the region, especially during the winter.

Is the varkir or nather. This lovely crimson flower only blooms in the late autumn and lives through the winter before wilting in the spring. The odd growth pattern and season of this particularly delicate appearing flower has caused some to use it to inform them when winter is about to arrive. They are often kept in gardens along with spring blooming flowers to have a continuous shift of beauty depending on the time of year. The petals of the flower is often used as decoration for dishes. Another tree that is unique to the area is the caztoskinut tree.

This particular species of trees is known for its delicious shelled nut, and is the namesake for the entire region. The caztoskinut’s shell is tough and often takes great force to crack, which has led to the development of a children’s game of bouncing the shelled nuts against a wall in turn and whoever causes the shells to break gets the nuts. The nut itself is used in a variety of different foods and dishes.

==Animals==

The wildlife of the wooded hills of Caztoski were accustomed to the ever changing nature of the area. Many were capable of migration to avoid the climates that were at odds with their natural preference. This caused there to be as much of a shift in the wildlife as there was in the plants depending on the season. Some, like the local variations of wolves and deer, were capable of surviving in the area through the shifting seasons without the need to hibernate or migrate. While others would only ever be seen at a very specific time of year.

The arrival of the Xerea Empire and its cities had a serious impact on the wildlife population as the settlements displaced many who were then hunted down for sport as well as for necessity. Several species left the area never to return, while others were hunted to near extinction. Only the arrival of the kin'toni was enough to save many of the animals and give them the chance to repopulate and reclaim their original territories. And when Christenson City appeared and the kin'toni were driven out of the region, the wildlife were faced with a lesser displacement and adjustment by the presence of new settlements.

However, this time they did not face the overhunting that had plagued them with the settlements of the Xerea Empire. One of the common animals to call the region its home is the the ithridaar. These large carnivorous canines are distinguished for other daar by its larger frame and musculature as well as the wild mane of black fur that encompasses its neck. They were known for being capable of fighting off a okar one on one. They preferred hunting larger animals and attempting to take it down one at a time before involving the whole pack.

The Xerea Empire settlers had attempted to hunt the daar to extinction, but discovered it was safer to just leave the massive canines alone. When the kin'toni arrived they tamed a few of the daar and used them to aid in hunting the remnants of the zu'aan in the area.after the kin'toni were driven out, the daar were driven out with them as a precaution. Now the very sight of one of the massive creatures is synonymous with the appearance of a kin'toni scout and dealt with in the same manner. Another common mammal that resides in Caztoski is the aaku'ak or tooris'ak.

These browsing herbivores are known for their large size, light brown fur, and in the case of the male of the species, large twisted antlers. They are a common source of meat for the larger carnivorous animals in the region, but are often capable of killing several of their attackers before falling. Thus for the people who try to hunt them it is considered best left to those skilled in ranged combat or in crafting and setting traps for the deer to ensnare themselves.

{{Template:Controllers
|Stone Age = Unknown
|Copper Age = Unknown
|Bronze Age = Unknown
|Iron Age = Unknown
|Ancient Age = Unknown
|Middle Age = Unknown
|Early Modern Age = Unknown
|Industrial Age = Unknown
|Machine Age = Unknown
|Atomic Age = Unknown
|Space Age = Unknown
|Information Age = Unknown
|Genetic Age = Unknown
|Awakening Age = Unknown
|Twilight Age = [[Christenson City Zu'Aan]]
}}

{{NeartoDesktop
| Centre = {{PAGENAME}}
| North = Unknown
| Northeast = Unknown
| East = Unknown
| Southeast = Unknown
| South = Unknown
| Southwest = Unknown
| West = Unknown
| Northwest = Unknown
}}

{{CrossSiteAttribution
| User = [https://www.fiverr.com/xoishtar Xoishtar]
| Holder = Xoishtar
}}

[[Category: Places]]
[[Category:xoishtar's contributions]]

Caztoski Wooded Hills - Revision history

Stevie Lambert: (via JWB)