The West is the land of Laus, The Great Goddess. It is a place of shifting light and shadow, of ever-changing colors.
In opposition to the bright, sometimes hard and linear East, the West is a fluid place. A place of mystery and magic, complex and enigmatic. It is a feminine place. Not soft but like the Mother, seducer, sorceress, lover, creator and destroyer.
It is a land where love, tolerance and compassion are valued. But it is also a land of secrets. Much goes on under the surface. A land where people know that a hug can suffocate. That the lips that kiss, cover teeth that bite, and a tongue that probes. Here the dark side of the natural world, as well as that of one's own nature, are recognized and respected. In some cases, even nurtured.
As universities dot the East, so temples and mystery schools hold positions of honor in the West. There are many mages here and most teach dedicated acolytes.
Shamans are born here and spend their youth learning their craft and honing the natural gifts before setting out to find their destinies.
Gifted children are often brought to the West to be raised in the Arts of healing, spirit work, and magic. But other arts are taught here too. This is where those who need to learn to work and move unnoticed come. Those who live invisible lives learn here. Master Thieves and Assassins have their own schools here.
In the thick woodlands, retired military personell have training camps for special squads. These trained troops, who make even Master Thieves seem clumbsy, are much in demand in other lands. A few of the Assassins are from these ranks. The Invisible Ones form a vast, secretive industry in the West. Considerate of that knowledge, people in the West are polite and respective of each other; anyone can be lethal.
The West is mountainous land of thick primal coniferous forests and hardwood mountainsides. Deep, fertile valleys support vast farmlands and ranches. The land is richly veined with rivers, streams and lakes. The rocky coastline is treacherous but has a few fine harbors. Fishing, farming, ranching, timber and woodcraft are the industries of most.
The harvesting of timber is done by many kinds; but the best woodcraft comes from the Wood Dwarves. Their skill at working with wood is unparalled and their products are costly.
Earth Elementals maintain and police the woodlands. They rarely interact with others unless one is offending the forests or her inhabitants.
There is one major city in the West. It is Jalouana, The Shining City. Seen from afar it has the appearance of a giant lotus floating in a huge, inland sea-sized lake. There are no bridges to the city. Consequently, a busy trade in ferries and barges flourishes along the shores of the lake. Villas, marinas, and small towns cluster along the sandy beaches. Many believe the city was built by magic in a time long forgotten.
A lily pad, faced entirely in green flourite tiles appears to float on the surface of the lake. In fact, it rises two stories above the surface. This building and the stem of the lotus cleverly and beautifully disguise the city's utilities and waste treatment pants. The city itself nestles at the base of each lotus pearl. Each pearl is faced on the outside with panels of rose quartz. On the inside, above the levels of the city, the pearls are faced with gold. This reflects sunlight which is gathered in solar panels for power and hot water. At the core of the lotus are the public buildings, schools, and temples. All are with gilt to maintain the illusion of the lotus.
At times of festivals, the city pumps are worked and through special pipes the whole city becomes a giant fountain; spewing streams of water from between each petal back into the lake.
As stated earlier, the West is a female land and the theme of shared sex subtly infuses everything. Temple Priestesses are raised to be consummate seductresses. Any citizen who wishes may live at a temple for a year and exchange services to the temple in order to be taught the arts of love and seduction. A few of the girls that may be born to the Priestesses are kept and raised in the services of The Great Goddess. The sons and many of the daughters are adopted out to families from all over who have lost a child, or who cannot conceive. To abuse these children (or any child) is punishable by death.