Wonders
Armalia
Temanea
Ladarean Wall ~ 800BD
During the Black Wars with the Baturun people to the west, Gao Jhang of the Ladarean Kingdom constructed a great wall which cuts roughly north from the Blood Mountains to the Goldwater, and then east to the Bay of Teman. Despite several smaller walls existing in the past, this was the first one to completely cut off unauthorised access to the Teman area. Despite it taking decades to construct, the wall was so effective that it became the perfect front from which the Ladarean Kingdom could turn the tides of war and drive the Baturun out of the Yyele region, extending the Ladarean Kingdom's dominion and paving the way for new kingdoms further north.
The wall exists today, but sustained a lot of damage and repairs during the Thousand Wars period around 500BD, as well as during the conflict-laden end of the Suo Mi Empire around 100BD. In 200AL, the Dunian Empire began to invade again, could could still progress no further than the great Ladarean Wall, which was in enough of a good shape to still be useful. Despite this, the Dunian forces were so much larger and more intelligent than last time, and the conflict was a stalemate for centuries. Only the eruption of Dama Mang in 600AL shook the stalemate by being more detrimental to the Dunian side, as that was where most of the ash travelled. Launching themselves from behind the safety of the wall, the Temaneans started taking back their own land and forming new kingdoms along the way.
Chon Dae City ~ 550BD
The last king of the Ladarean Kingdom foresaw the coming of a great period of war, and rather than trying to defeat his opponents in battle, he wanted to immortalise himself, his family, his subjects, and his royal guards. He had a great underground complex carved out, complete with a smaller layout of the royal palace grounds, and had hundreds of statues made in the likeness of every person there. The statues are made of tengbahuo, a metal-like material with a low melting point and a rough, marbled, very slightly translucent, waxy, brown-maroon appearance once set. Rumour has it that Chon Dae actually had every person cast in tengbahuo while still alive, and that every statue contains the person within, but the material binds together with magical properties and the art of melting and casting it are lost. Additionally, it is doubted that much would remain, given that the bodies would be burned/crushed/dissolved by the setting process of the metal itself.
The tomb-city is located near modern-day Relai in Bandiao, but it is well-guarded against tomb robbers, as some of the statues have gone missing over time, and it is not uncommon to find chunks of what is supposed to be tengbahuo for sale in backstreet or black markets. The place is now regarded as being cursed, as official statue counts are inconsistent, occasionally showing that the statues somehow increase in number.
Byo Da's Tomb ~ 250BD - ???
In a style similar to King Chon Dae, King Bya Do of the very short-lived Bya Do Kingdom had an expansive underground tomb complex built for himself and his palace attendees. At this time he had just managed to break away from the huge Suo Mi Empire, but the Sradaji Plague was rapidly approaching his little kingdom. Fearing the worst, rather than having statues built, he ordered everyone to take their own lives within this tomb complex, himself included. They obeyed. It was then sealed by his most trusted remaining attendees. It is believed to have since collapsed and thus cannot be located, though there are also rumours that the palace already became infected with the plague, and Bya Do did this to prevent it from taking their lives by making them take their own lives.
Oolu
Gardens of Akefa ~ 1400BD - 550BD/0BD
The Gardens of Akefa are a legendary construction, a mighty garden-palace supposedly near the ancient city of Dhrewar. No concrete evidence of it ever existing has been found, though several potential ruined locations have been suggested as the site. Thought to have been destroyed during the Darkness at the very latest, though it could have also been destroyed by the Mintar Empire along with the Mausoleum of Esravan for the same reasons.
Mausoleum of Esravan ~ 750BD - 550BD
This towering tomb to Esravan, one of the most redeemed kings of the Kayen Kingdom at the time, was destroyed by the Minter Empire around 550BD, as they borrowed the fine stonework to create their own structures for their own religion, and didn't want such traces of the Kayen Kingdom around. The destruction of the mausoleum, and possibly the Gardens of Akefa as well, are one of the first catalysts of the those on opposite sides of the Bay of Lions despising one another. These feelings linger even today, where one side always tries to dominate the other side. Despite being unified under one empire, the culture in Oolu is still very much divided.
Statue of Xilia ~ 750BD
At the same time the Mausoleum of Esravan was created, those of the Mintar Kingdom decided instead to create an everlasting gift to their goddess, Xilia. According to Sarrayun beliefs, she is an immortal empress goddess, eternally bound to the emperor of their land, Guranda. Every time he dies, she revives him in a new body. Every ruler under Sarrayun beliefs is thought to be a reincarnation of the previous ruler. Being also a goddess of wrath, desire, and punishment, she wields a sword which is raised toward the sky in victory. Given that Pakorra beliefs do not even include Xilia, the statue is a lasting gesture to Pakorra followers.
Kablan ~ 200BD - 0BD
Kablan is an ancient city built by the Mintar Empire. It is situated in a valley through which a river used to run, and it consisted of hundreds of rock-carved homes in sandstone cliffs including temples, mausoleums, and forts. Some say the site is actually much older than this, and that people found it and expanded upon it, but there is no record of this happening. Unfortunately, it is another wonder to have fallen to the Darkness in the year 0. So extreme was the destruction that even if the city itself was not attacked, the landscape shifted and the river no longer went near the site, so it became unlivable regardless. Some of the most beautiful temples remain mostly in-tact, but the city is usually home to desert raiders today.
Qanyare Palace ~ 700AL
For three centuries, Qanyare Palace has been the home to the emperors of the Oolu Empire. It is found in Sakhratja, and has been expanded and improved upon over time. It boasts several unique features not seen anywhere else in Riiga, such as ceramic tiles with a brilliant unfading sea-green hue, wooden panelling that utilises a dozen rare types of wood carved into intricate details, gardens of flowers that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, or elaborate fountains made of a silvery stone that constantly spew clear water. The palace itself is a large complex, actually holding three smaller palaces within its grounds. It sits atop a small plateau overlooking Sakhratja.
Caraal ~ 800AL
Caraal is a very large palace-monastery complex. It is an unusual construction for the Oolu because it harkens to the days of the Derhnu and Kayen Priestdoms of old, acting as both a royal residence, and as a monastery for Sarrayun monks. This is unusual because it represents something the east and west sides of the empire actually have in common -- a priestdom in their past. The structure itself boasts many dozens of rooms, domed temples and halls, rich gardens and detailed courtyards, the largest library in Oolu, and many mausoleums beneath. It even has a facade which is a modern interpretation of what the Gardens of Akefa may have looked like.
Nal Medne ~ 1000AL
Nal Medne is, in the typical style of people in the area, an ellaborate mausoleum surrounded by vast gardens. White and sea-green in colour, it was completed very recently and commissioned by the current emperor of Oolu. It is allegedly for his family to be buried in when they die. He wanted them to rest in the most pristine, peaceful place in all of Riiga. It boasts no woodwork; every piece of fine tracery is made of carved stone.
Baracsa
Benevis
Moon Stones ~ 2400BD
The moon stones are the largest stone henges built by the ancient Umberians who at that time dwelt in Umbener. The site consists of dozens of 30 ton prismic stones in concentric rings. The central stone is twice as large as most of the others, and how the ancient Umberians carved, transported, and erected it is a mystery. The stones have carvings in their inner faces of animals known and unknown. Though their specific purpose is not known, it is believed that they held some significance to ancient followers of Leisatru, acting as some sort of astronomical measuring site, a ritual site, or a place of healing or worship. Indeed, the name "Moon Stones" is a modern guess; its original name is unknown.
White Temple of Leiyu ~ 900BD - 410BD
One of the few remnants of a people who held Leisatru beliefs, the White Temple of Leiyu in Goldstone was a monument to Sur Vastin architecture. It was similar to the Moon Stones in that it mainly constituted vertical stones in geometric shapes, but the White Temple was rectangular and its pillars were round. It also once had a roof atop the pillars, and several rooms within where high priests would store relics of their gods. Although the Vesdorians left the temple alone once they conquered the area, it was destroyed by the Xilou during the Burning Sea Wars in 410BD. Only ruins remain, as no significant number of followers of Leiyu remained to restore it.
Red Temple ~ 800BD
The Red Temple is the old heart of the religion named after this very building, that religion being the Red Temple. Its construction was ordered by King Arngos around 800BD and guided by the newly discovered god in Nor known as Nikina -- the primary god in the Temple religion -- and because of this it became the most advanced structure in the area built by these people for at least a thousand years. Once the temple was built and Nikina's religion spread rapidly throughout the Nor Vastin kingdom, Leisatru followers began to rapidly decline. The central feature of the Red Temple is the sacred Red Chamber, the only place where Nikina is known to physically appear to anyone before the second temple was built in the city of Lyte in the Margon Kingdom around 600AL, where Nikina also now appears, seemingly unrestricted by distance. The second temple is a larger but more stylistically reserved version of the original Red Temple, and is sometimes called the Red Hall instead.
Vesdor Castle ~ 600BD - 0BD
Vesdor Castle to some was the tallest manmade structure ever, but other scholars deny this as they deemed the Vesdorians to be hybrids rather than pure humans. So advanced was their architectural knowledge that the multi-tiered walls of Vesdor Castle towered over the surrounding land at an estimated whopping 350 meters (1150 feet). The castle, for some reason, had battlements atop these walls, leading many to speculate that the Vesdorians expected an aerial assault from some unknown force during their reign, but this never occurred. Others say that flying monsters were the true foes of the Vesdorians.
The castle was besieged and destroyed by the Xilou Hoqomer during the Burning Sea Wars around 390BD using Yrmbaro siege animals, heavy artillery, and sapping. A towering ruin remains to this day, sitting at only a fifth of its previous height.
Silver Hall ~ 600AL
Considered by many to be the highest achievement in human architecture, the Silver Hall of Duracia in the Vastin Kingdom is the product of 110 yeras of work under a master architect known as Oswin Preoland. So passionate was he about the palace's construction that he didn't die until 139 years of age, when the palace was declared to be complete. The palace also began the latest style in royal architecture, known as Silveric architecture after the palace itself. The palace's facade faces vast palace grounds, a lengthy stretch of pavers, fountains, and lawns. A red temple also sits on the palace grounds. The facade itself has nine doors, with a central door three times the size of the others. Above, there are large twin towers in the centre, and a pair of five-pointed towers at the corners. The palace extends backwards in a nave, much like a cathedral. An eastern wing extends out from the middle at this point, and there are large courtyard gardens between these two areas. A western wing extends in the opposite direction.
At the point where the wings meet the nave sits a large cylindrical upper chamber, heavily buttressed, with a spire reaching about 260 meters. The central chamber is a grand throne chamber, filled with ranks of statues that go up the walls all around the circular room. Portions of the walls are lined with silver, lending the palace its name. It is said that the silver here is enchanted to keep monsters away.
Eber
Mezil Pyramid ~ 1900BD
Though the ancient Esereu people built many pyramids, the largest was the Mezil Pyramid, built by Mezim of Eser, standing at around 150 meters (490 feet) just south of Xar Kzala. So immense is its scale that some think the ancient Esereu had help from another older race with higher technology. In its day it was covered in limestone casing stones. Rumour has it that the pyramid was built to cover a large monster pit with traps and a labyrinth in its bowels. They say if one was to find a secret entrance to the inner corridors, one would find monsters wandering the black halls, the likes of which have never been encountered before. Others say the pyramid is simply the largest tomb to an ancient unknown leader, much like the other pyramids are. The main reason people think the Mezil Pyramid is different to the others is that it has no known entrance, while the others have sealed stone doors that once led into the tombs within.
Pit of Euxafi ~ 200BD - 0BD
The Pit of Euxafi is a large stone arena built by the Xilou Hoqomer near Redpalm. After sustaining heavy damage during the Darkness, this grand arena was further damaged over time by earthquakes and people borrowing stones from it as it gradually lost relevance after the Vastins conquered the area. In the two hundred years it was used, the arena was home to thousands of grand events, many of which included pit fighters, slaves, and exotic animals, all fighting for entertainment. It could squeeze in almost 100,000 people and stood around 50 meters high. Many smaller versions exist all across Umbener, Simbener, Seleru, Jadar, and Had.
Zirer Library ~ 100BD - 0BD
The Zirer Library was the largest library of the ancient world. It was the place where paper was invented, and the site to hold the first codexes. The Xilou started work on translating the texts of the people of Nor, the Yvabirans, and the Mintars, but every record was lost during the Darkness. The building was completely levelled during the black storms and only the ruins of a foundation exist today. The destruction of this library set back the progression of the Xilou Empire, which lost its influence in Jadar and Had, and split into the West Xilou, East Xilou, and Qeyu Hoqomers soon after.
Hanjare
Usafi Giant ~ 300AL - 460AL
This gigantic statue made by the Forade from metals left over by the Xilou Hoqomer lasted only until 460AL, when the Shcholi salvaged the valuable materials, removing all physical evidence that it ever existed. It was allegedly a statue of a great warrior king called Usafi and stood about 30 meters (100 feet). Some say it was actually salvaged by Admiral Manci from the fleet of Emperor Tonsaio of the Hodasean Empire, as his people knew how to smelt it down and obtain the most pure resources from the process.
Raonare
Arikal Temple ~ 450AL
The Arikal Temple is the largest rock-hewn temple in Had. Built by priest of the Hade Kingdom near the city of Menzige, Arikal became the religious heart of surrounding peoples for centuries. Given the way the temple was constructed, it also served as a reservoir, granting people there a near-constant supply of water.
Suribia
Ngara
Itinga An ~ 200AL
Itinga An is the largest palace-temple in Inotisira and home to the tlars, god-kings of Ngara. It is a vast structure, much wider than it is high, constituting stepped pyramids upon stepped pyramids. Little is known about it, as there are very few reliable records of anyone going there and coming back alive; Ngarans are quite distrusting and sometimes hostile toward outsiders.
Morunwa
Nrilibasi City ~ 50BD - 30BD
This fortified garden city on a giant rock was destroyed by the Toogantato volcano only years after its completion. Nothing more is known about it as it is a perilous location to reach, deep in the Anwanyisis Mountains, and the Morunwans are very protective of the sacred site, despite it currently lying in ruin.
Eke Echli ~ 400AL
Eke Echli is a city upon a mountainside in the Angilun Highlands, built in a tiered formation with tiered farmland below and grand temples above. Complex waterways transport fresh water throughout the entire city. It is believed to be a sacred monastical city where Morunwan tlars are buried.
Progora
Eram Heads ~ 300AL - ???
The Eram Heads are mysterious giant stone heads on one of the Jade Islands in Progori. Its constructors have since abandoned them and their original meaning and purpose remain unknown. They are humanoid in appearance but some have vaguely animal features, such as different noses, eyes, and teeth. There are rumours that the heads are magically imbued or even living, given that some claim their positions and expressions sometimes shift. The Progorans say it is good luck to keep the land around the heads clear.
