The world of Sonder includes four known nations: Rionnach, Éireland, Ildhrune, and Da'Ira. Each nation has its own unique lands which are detailed in more depth below. For more information on the nations and the culture of each nation, please refer to our Nations and Culture pages.
Rionnach
Tir Na Nog
  Foggy, Tir Na Nog is often curtained by mist. Nestled within the Spéir Mountains, there is a pocket of trees and snow-covered stones. Moss blankets the paths and strange runes are engraved in the mountainsides. This is the land of the Fae—or so legend holds. It is rumored that few who visit the mountain ever return. Instead, they are baited by the Fae to spend eternity within the other realm... Within the mountains, one can find 7 slabs of stone immaculately forming a circle. Magical energy seems to thrum within the air and the winds whistle through the trees. They are the Standing Stones and only Highlanders may find them.
Perth
  A defensible and sturdy coniferous forest surrounded by pines and Douglas firs. Those that live there are wild and rugged. Multiple clans have laid claim to the forest and its crumbling castles. So many bloodlines have joined and separated over the years that no rightful owner is known. As such, small skirmishes are common. During festivals, however, all those that are natives to Perth rejoice as though nothing had ever divided them.
Inverness
  Twin cities cut through by a wide river that flows down from the northern mountains and into the far east. The dark and sapphire-blue waters are known throughout the land and most of life revolves around fishing and sunbathing. Feuding families and star-crossed lovers have stood on either side of the lazy River Ness, shouting at one another or professing their undying love. No matter the emotion, passions run strong here and there is never a dull moment. Inverness is the most "civilized" of the Highland cities and sees the most visitation from outsiders.
Aberdeen
  A seaside vista with the most breathtaking views, Aberdeen is a beautiful sight to behold. The weather is temperate, the breeze is cool, and the storms are frightening. For all of its stunning glory, it is a difficult place to live. Most who make a point to keep a toehold here are accomplished fishermen or gatherers unafraid to drift far afield in search of food. (Border Town: Southern Beach)
Fae Forest
  Thickly wooded and full of brambles, rose bushes, twisted wisterias, pines and cedars. It is a motley wood that is beautiful... but treacherous. Many a pup has gotten lost within the Fae Forest only to never return again. Here is where the nymphs dwell and sing songs that lure woodsmen to their deaths. Few live here for it is a disorienting labyrinth that shocks the senses of even the most astute travelers. (Border Town: Southern Forest)
Maiden's Braid
  A waterfall fed by the central mountains of Earrach. Small creeks spread out from falls and race over the sloping lands, feeding the lowlands and bringing about a rainbow of life. The braid itself is a wondrous place to find new creatures and plants for the wetlands are fertile and the sun shines there even in the coldest of months. Not well-settled due to spring and summer flooding, most Lowlanders venture elsewhere to set down roots. Nonetheless, there is the Wyrwood, a collection of mangrove trees that grow alongside the rivers on the eastern side of the mountain. These are a well-kept secret among Lowlanders and only they may venture there. (Border Town: Northern Mountain Pass)
Ayr
  Seemingly carved into the mountains, Ayr has a bird's eye view of Rionnach. Traversable by precarious trails, many a king's man has fallen here. Bones are not uncommon to find, mostly due to the ancient burial rituals from the Scottish kings of old. Of course, a wayward traveler has joined those hallowed halls here and there. Home to the Aerie, most all of Rionnach's corvids are trained here. Birds are immensely common and young wolves try to barter for a magpie or crow of their own.
Mirror Lake
  Lake within the mountains known for its perfectly reflective surface in the winter and fall. In spring and summer, the lake becomes completely transparent and you can see all the way down to the bottom. It is nestled within the other half of the Earrach Mountains and, surprisingly, is none too difficult to reach. It's only a couple day's journey through wide, sloping trails that wind up to the shining waters. There is little to no game here, however, so no cities ever sprung up.
Melrose
  A meadow of many flowers. In the heart of the realm and studded with oaks and stray wisterias, Melrose is the home to most all Lowlanders. It is plentiful even during the colder months and, most of all, it's quiet. Here lays the empty bones of the College of Eòlas that was once the Arboretum. The densely wooded grove of maples just on the edge of the Redwood has become overgrown and unwieldy in the aftermath of the war. (Border Town: North Campus of the old College)
Edinburgh
  Rolling hills and flat plains, Edinburgh boasts a handful of hardworking folk that live off of the land. Often paid hunters and gatherers for the bustling cities down south, these Lowlanders have had to make many compromises to their way of life. The first to come under occupation by the Mainlanders during the Unification era, most citizens have somewhat assimilated and lost their wild roots. Nonetheless, they keep the High Tradition and make mention of the Fae (though they put little stock in their actual existence. They're more like fairytales now).
Red Wood
  A forest eternally bathed in autumnal colors, the redwood is red no matter the season. There are rumors that the first seed had been planted a century ago when a clansman of the Mckellan had buried his young daughter there. She had died of a horrible cough that she had caught from a stray Englishman they'd met. Legend has it that the girl's fiery fur stained each seed until the wood was as red as she had been. There are stories that there is a sister forest out there in the world but none have ever found it.
Yorkshire
  An oak forest with large trunks, leaves as big as a wolf's face, and enough roots to twist an ankle. It is a fortress of a forest and many Mainlanders live and make homes there. Hunting is difficult with so many obstacles but those that dwell here are hardy and capable stock. Fox hunting is a common festivity among the denizens but one must keep in mind that not just anyone can take part. Closed off and wary, the wolves here are unwilling to make friends with strangers... Go deep enough inside and you just might find some guards carefully keeping watch over the Imperial Barracks. From just outside, you can hear the din of soldiers training.
Glass Beach
  Named for the series of tide pools along the western shores, the Glass Beach reflects all those who wish to visit. It is a place for meditation and reflection. Each pool gives you a look at yourself from a different perspective: from the left or right if one is being literal. But, allow the imagination to wander and you can picture how your parents, your children, and your people view you. You can see the flaws and the sides that you've never noticed before... and you can find surprising comfort in all the ways that you are whole despite these many distortions.
Sussex
  Another seaside spot but one with black sand, more aggressive weather, and precarious cliffs down to the ocean's embrace. Those that live in Sussex get a taste for the salty air and a wealth of amusement when foreigners try to drink the ocean water. It's the hardest living in all of the Mainlands but those that live here are often humorous and joyous folk. They enjoy the stories that travelers bring from distant lands are known to be quite nosy gossips. The only wolves they avoid are those that frequent the Drunken Seagull. The Drunken Seagull is a tavern located within the caves within (and underneath) the cliffside. Only thieves and other sordid folk are allowed to set foot in there... unless a fool feels tempting fate of course.
Rionna
  An oak and maple metropolis that is heavily populated with wolves of all kinds and creeds. Many a family has settled here and all kinds of interesting new professions have sprung up. Most go for hunting and patrolling trades but a handful have started peddling books, flowers, feathers, fortunes, blessings, and all manner of knick-knack paddy wack. At the center of it all is Castle Stuart. Of all the rundown castles studding Rionnach, this one is the most robust. It has several turrets, some crumbling towers, and stone pathways that lead through rooms and balconies and offices. Here the royal family resides. Surrounding the castle is Rionna, the major town in Rionnach. Within it live nobles and merchants of all kinds, as well as some of the nation's poorest wolves. In the town center is Eleanor Square where leftover cobblestones and ancient fountains make for a lovely festival grounds. Only Mainlanders know that you must scale the old western staircases, all set into the hills, in order to reach it. The Arboretum has relocated here and is within a stately manor taken from an old member of parliament. There are many gardens with mossy statues for the students to read by and the library is robust and full of books. This is Rionnach's Capital.
Éireland
Dawntide
  Upon the eastern side of the nation lies the coastal town of Dawntide. Stunning ocean views of rich blue and green can be viewed from a small cluster of seaside homes that dapple the rocky beachfront. Only a hop, skip and jump away is The Harbor, a modest but bustling marketplace that welcomes unique wares, household goods, charms, and trinkets. Moving deeper into the heart of this town will reveal its prized jewel, the remnants of a medieval castle that has survived the tests of time known as The Emerald Keep, and the vast swath of grounds it occupies. Beyond the Keep, which lords over Dawntide on a great hill, there are smaller commonwealth villages that dot the landscape.
Ancient Grove
  No matter the time of day these lands are bathed in inviting hues, cascading light constantly filtering through breaks in veiling vegetation to dapple the floor of a twisting grove. These woods eagerly offer shelter to all who may traverse stone laden paths and delve deeper into its embrace. A silent lure beckoning beasts to discover the secrets held within, for slumbering at the heart of these whispering woods lie sentinels of a forgotten past. A large creek cuts a slash through the foliage, and at the Grove's furthest reaches rests the Mushroom Hollow, a thicket of brambles enshrouding an array of mushrooms. What tales lie beneath the trees?
Serenity Falls
  Soothing symphony of cascading water sings out over the landscape, a siren’s call to lure all toward tranquility for beneath these thundering falls lies serenity. Pools so crisp and clear one can see every detail nestled underfoot: the smooth rocks and gently weaving sea grass, the fish which scatter from their touch, the treasures given back to nature in silent thanks. These crystalline waters are rumored to possess healing properties, a cure-all for whatever ails the body and soul. One only need to bathe within its embrace or indulge in a simple drink. Tales attract the weary and desperate of the citizens, and even healers from foreign lands... Yet all seek the very same thing: rejuvenation and hope to mend where other remedies have failed.
Pog A Bog
  An eerie stillness clings to the mire as shadowed wood sinks beneath the surface. Each step upon sodden earth a risk for traipsing with reckless abandon will no doubt spell one’s demise. Many have ventured here, just as many have been lost: swallowed whole by the bog to leave nary a trace of them. While any may attempt to traverse these lands, natives know best how to navigate the marsh. Nestled within is the Ritual Grounds, which is known for its mystique. Remnants litter the ground, those of the fallen resting alongside scattered trinkets beneath stones painted in a mixture of vibrant dyes and blood. These are the sacrificial offerings made in hopes to satiate the hunger of the Fae, and of those who dwell in shadows, an ever-looming threat to lace the tongues of natives as they issue warning to interlopers and kin alike. Never go alone. Should one hear the banshee’s call, it’s already too late.
The Strid
  Encircled by lush mountains, there’s only one way in, and out, of the Strid. Travelers suggest leaving before high noon, when the rising sun still shines through the ravine to illuminate its dark, sheltered heart – because as the days grow longer, so too do the shadows. What starts as a stroll through an idyllic hawthorn tunnel quickly devolves into a slow prowl through pitch darkness. The lucky ones that brave the black wilderness will find a stone altar, bathed in bioluminescent ambience, in the very center – and the unlucky find themselves lying across it.
Ildhrune and Da'Ira
The Father's Throne
  Here the Father sits, eyes reflecting the blaze of distant stars. The air is thick with sulfur. The Father does not smile as he passes judgment upon Ildhrune. Seated at the highest point in the nation, these volcanic lands are edged by snow-tipped pines. Soft grass turns to snow and ice as one moves towards the volcano's side. Harsh is the wind as it howls through the mountain passes. Distant are the wastes, the scar a warning to the mortals of a god's wrath. Treacherous trails wind along the volcano's side and those that find a foothold might draw near the top. However as the mountain narrows, the snow begins to melt. Heat creates a mirage and plays upon the fevered mind. This is a holy place to many in Ildhrune. At the top, where the heat is almost unbearable, lies the Temple, a crumbling but not forgotten holy ground whose bricks are blackened with soot. At the summit, the volcano’s underground magma has heated the earth’s surface into the Hot Springs. Wherever you venture, however, be warned: the Father watches, and his verdict is law.
Calais
  Known primarily for its ebony sands and unforgiving environment, Calais is a small city located along the sea. The Father’s Throne casts a formidable shadow upon those who called Calais home - so, typically, very few do. This land is not kind. Wildfires easily spark from dry grasses and careen toward the mountain forests. Lava rock clicks beneath the nails of wolves as they walk past. A brief swath of red colors the otherwise formidable onyx landscape in the form of the Poppy Meadows. However, the region is more well-known for its Coliseum, a large, ruinous expanse of stone with dilapidated stands and a central sparring area utilized as the home of the Praetorian Guard.
Val de Loire
  Shielded from the ire of the volcanic region, Val de Loire provides a small but well-loved respite for the weary traveler. Farmlands and flower fields dot the landscape. Modest hamlets of tidy homes crop up occasionally along the neat earthen roads. Small shrines to various gods are scattered haphazardly amongst the greenery, each lovingly tended. On occasion, a poppy will appear, its seed drifting from southern meadows. In the north one can see the Father’s Throne, but cannot taste the ash in the air.
Avignon
  Avignon, the capital city of Ildhrune, is a bustling lakeside metropolis, protected by looming mountainsides and seemingly endless evergreen forests. A clear blue lake reflects the holy light of the stars each night and is a site of prayer and reflection. Cobblestone streets wend between large, mature trees, and taverns and shops cluster close, offering food and wares and ales aplenty. At Avignon’s center, the Holy See is the heart of worship in the nation and the home of the Scolaire, its meticulously-tended ruins offering daily services and providing the mandated religious education to citizens. Lording over Avignon is Toulon Palace, the seat of the Polaris. This is Ildhrune's Capital.
Heaven's Tears
  A wilder and untamed region, Heaven’s Tears comprises a collection of weeping waterfalls. From as far as a half-mile away, the sound of water rushing over rock drowns out nearly all else. Heaven’s Tears is nestled in a tightly-packed forest, but the falls themselves are open to the heavens. On clear nights, many make the pilgrimage here to see the majesty of the stars uninterrupted by the bustle of city life and occasionally, the Scolaire will hold religious classes on the banks of the small lake at the base of the waterfalls. Surrounding the falls is a dense forest. Moss, creeping vines, and ferns provide a soft path underfoot, but the shadowy trees are said to conceal godless brigands who lurk in the dark to prey on the faithful.
Floodplains
  Here the tides pull strongly against the earth, leaving behind soft, fertile soil. The grass is lush, bending pliably beneath the press of a paw. It is a valley pure and beautiful, the vegetation lush and the prey bountiful. The perfection of the floodplains is wholesome. Unfortunately, however, this area becomes treacherous during the late autumn, when the rain falls steadily and the slow-moving valley streams burst along the banks. The grasses and plains eventually die, and in their place mud rises and swamplands flourish. Even so, the floodplains hold potential to be one of the lovelier places in Da'Ira. Generally utilized as communal farmland, the plains also boast plentiful hunting for most of the year, drawing in wolves of various skillsets.
Halmstad
  Mountains rise high into the air, providing a natural barrier between the capital city of Osthammar and the wilds of the forest. Despite the severity of the altitude, the weather tends to be mild and rainy, leading to verdant pockets of plush greenery intermixed with smooth, worn stone. Well-worn paths are carved up the face of the mountains, and there are frequent areas dedicated to rest and the beauty of the natural world. Within the mountains, the Vault houses a vast communal living area. The Market Grotto can be found in a hollowed-out cavern and provides a bustling marketplace famed throughout Da’Ira for its wide variety of goods and wares.
Osthammar
  Nails tip-tap against ancient stone, paw pads wearing away at a passage worn smooth. The caves and cliffsides lead to a place bustling with life, the well worn mountainous paths opening up into a grassy plateau that shines bright and bustling under the open sky. The city is bursting with light and life and laughter, cooled by the clean mountain winds. Permanent stone structures, though somewhat dilapidated, are scattered here and there, and are shared communally amongst the populace. Here is where the students who attend the University of Da’Ira tend to make their homes, and where the leaders of the Cabinet hold council at the Skovde. This is Da'Ira's Capital.
Pinecrest
  The heavy scent of pine and evergreen perfumes the air of this spacious coniferous forest. Dry needles blanket the ground, and all tends to be quiet and muffled. Wolves will wander here for introspection, and sometimes for melancholy. Prey tends to be scarce, and there is a general air of reverence in this area that is uncommon to the largely atheistic populace of Da’Ira. Words tend to be spoken in hushed tones, and the cry of eagles and the bubble of the occasional stream are often the only sounds heard by the weary traveler here. Pinecrest surrounds Lake Immeln, a hidden gem within an otherwise endless sea of green.
Trosa
  Several years ago, lightning struck the golden plains of Trosa. Fire spread, burning civilian homes and reducing a once charming little town to a blackened skeleton of its former self. Now, the charred remains of wooden structures dot an otherwise ashen landscape, nestled in amongst cracked earth and ruined farmland. But not all hope is lost; in typical Da’Iran fashion, the site is now regarded as a symbol of perseverance and hope, as volunteers and former residents make time to work through the wreckage trying to put the town to rights. Though there is still quite a bit of work to be done, the Abandoned Barracks, former home of the Da’Iran militia, manages to stand tall at the heart of Trosa.