Dawnlands
The Dawnlands are the border region between the dark and light sides of Saylua. The sky in the Dawnlands is an eternal sunset, neither night nor day. Because of the moderate temperatures in the region, life thrives in the area. However, the Dawnlands are also very stormy because of the temperature difference in the two sides, causing extreme winds from one side to the other.
Very few humans inhabitat the Dawnlands because of its extreme weather and the dangerous creatures that live in the area. However, the Dawnland is a popular tourist location for travelers who enjoy visiting briefly to view the sunset sky. Humans who reside in the Dawnlands are called Dawnlanders.
Crossing the Dawnlands
Every year, thousands of travelers make the arduous journey across the dawnlands. The vast majority who do so travel in caravans with up to several hundred other people and companions for mutual support and protection. Traveling this way grants protection not only from the powerful creatures that may be encountered, but also ensures a wide variety of skills are present in the group. That way, in case of illness or accidents there will always be someone qualified to help.
Over the course of the several month long journey, most caravans develop a strong sense of community. Expeditions are usually given names for good luck, and sometimes even poetry or anthems dedicated to the journey. It is not unheard of for those who cross the dawnlands together to keep in touch for the rest of their lives, some meet up on the anniversaries of their journey to see how their fellow travelers have been fairing upon reaching the destination.
For most such a journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, although some have made careers out of leading, guarding, or supporting others as professional caravaners. Still, even the most enthusiastic pros rarely make more than ten or so journeys, if only because by that point they'll have made enough to comfortably retire almost anywhere on Saylua. A doctor, for example, can expect to make as much as twenty times their usual pay serving as a caravan medic. More menial jobs such as guards command smaller premiums, but even the simplest jobs on a caravan pay extremely well compared to life on either side.
This lucrative business commands such high salaries for one simple reason. Even the toughest and most well-run caravans have been known to vanish without a trace, likely victims of wild creatures or sudden storms. Flash floods are especially dangerous, as the thick foliage can conceal rising waters until the trail begins to wash out. There are rumors of dawnlanders or travelers gone native attacking caravans as well. Usually, either a caravan arrives with all safe and sound, or not at all.
Almost all trips across the dawnlands involve a stop in Estanya City, the former stopover turned metropolis. Most caravans bring goods to trade as a way to defray the cost of the journey, and the people of Estanya have developed quite the trading industry as a result. Some merchants only make half the journey, traveling to Estanya City and back from their respective homes and bringing with them local goods to sell. This is an extremely lucrative if risky way to make a living, so most of the high margins to be made end up going towards hiring extra guards and caring for companions.
Some daring adventurers have managed the journey alone, although doing so is still seen as nearly suicidal. Those traveling alone are able to move more quickly than the usual lumbering caravans, but one must eat and sleep with extreme caution, as there can be no one to keep watch.
Species
Creatures in the Dawnlands evolved to take advantage of the abundant resources and become extremely powerful in order to compete to survive. Thus, the creatures in the Dawnlands are some of the most potent magic users on the planet of Saylua. Pets found in the Dawnlands include:
