Nivaria (pronounced nih-VAR-ee-ah) is a large island between the Chaska Sea and the Sea of Khoros. The island is currently primarily under the control of the Tirionite colony of Briathone.
Geography and climate
Most of the coastline of Nivaria consists of either sandy or rocky beaches, but some beaches along the southern coast are instead made of high quality salt. Many islanders tell tales of brine dragons that make their lairs on the shore in these parts, but if these dragons have not been seen in many years, if they ever existed at all.
The interior of Nivaria is primarily scrub forest, full of evergreen shrubs and small trees along with taller pines and cedars. Tar seeps dot the inland hills, far more common in Nivaria than in almost anywhere else in the world.
The eastern coast of the island is much calmer, weather-wise, than the western side, which is frequently battered by storms from the Sea of Khoros. Generally speaking, the climate of the island is relatively stable, with fairly low seasonality and warmer weather year-round.
Fauna
In addition to plentiful smaller animals, Nivaria is home to Nivarian sheep, moas, foxes, and more, in addition to many kinds of seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine life. There are few natural predators on the island.
Cauthooj, also known as puppet master birds, are large flightless birds native to Nivaria. These predators can use their hypnotic song to drive groups of their prey to attack each other in a frenzy, leaving their remains behind for the cauthooj to devour. Cauthooj have been a major problem in the past in Briathone, but as clockwork guards are unaffected by their cries, the birds have learned they can find easier meals outside of towns.
Cypress arboreals can be found in the southern reaches of Nivaria, and more rarely closer to the Briathonite settlements. The Nivarian Paradise Company generally attempts to destroy these creatures when they are rooted near the company towns, as the arboreals do not take kindly to the destruction of their forests.