The Shell Lands of Thrain occupy the eastern reaches of Marcia, a realm defined by marshes, mist, and sacred mountains. The northern territories are especially swamp-ridden, nourished by the sprawling wetlands that bleed across the borders of neighbouring lands. During the height of summer, the humidity becomes suffocating, clinging heavily to the air even when the sun remains hidden behind endless blankets of bleak grey cloud.

Rising through this haze are the towering Holy Mountains, which divide the Shell Lands from the imperial Damson Lands beyond. Upon their sacred peaks stands the Ardulaem, the spiritual heart of the Paolemern Empire’s faith and the holiest site of the Ardulai religion. Pilgrims from across Marcia journey through mountain passes and storm-lashed roads for a glimpse of the revered sanctuaries said to stand closest to the divine.

Along the eastern coastline, the weather grows colder and gloomier still, battered constantly by winds drifting from the vast Grey Sea. Yet when the clouds part and sunlight strikes the waters, the coast reveals moments of extraordinary beauty. On such rare golden days, sightings of the famed pink-skinned herliwhales breaching the waves are enough to leave even seasoned sailors speechless.

The Thrainish hold these creatures in deep reverence. To protect both the coastline and the whales themselves, they maintain a specialised military order known as the Pink Skins. Their duties extend beyond guarding against raiders and smugglers; they are also charged with rescuing stranded or beached herliwhales whenever they appear upon the shore.

Off the eastern coast lies the island jewel of Trivari, a place so picturesque it is often compared to a painted masterpiece. Beneath its beauty, however, lies immense wealth and political influence, for Trivari has become a favoured haven for merchants, nobles, and financiers seeking relief from imperial taxation.

Its bustling coastal town of Trilend is especially notorious throughout the Known World. There, wealthy Mernic Barons, Free Statesmen, and imperial elites mingle in lavish halls and crowded winehouses, where rumours, scandals, and political intrigues travel as swiftly as coin itself.