The region in which the WTW Story takes place in. With no overarching government, the lands of Waywardia are defined by where Peter and Aspel's war had reached, many catfolk who had lived within the lands participating in one side or the other.
Aside from their war, Waywardia has become famous for being the place where magic technology was first invented. Overall, it's said that wild magic occupies this land more than anywhere else. Some believe that this was caused by all the historical events, while others believe that the land was widely settled in because of the amount of magic.
Characters may come from anywhere in Waywardia, or outside in their own, player-made locations. Read more about implementing locations here.
MT. STARFREE
A dormant volcano that's home to some of the biggest and most developed cities in Waywardia. Settled in Southern Waywardia by Aspel and his colony, the metropolis has divided itself into two sides, one of arts and culture and another of technology and science. Between the two cities are cable cars, making it easy to travel from one side to the other.
Freeheart
The arts and culture side of Starfree's city. The catfolk there live nestled in the mountainside or within the great mountain itself; many halls have been cleared within, decorated by depictions of the great, winged hero. Aspel was known for his relentless courage and ambition, and many try to embody these qualities.
All types of art are cherished; visual arts that recreate scenes of history, performance arts which depict stories both fictional and not, musical arts to communicate feelings and emotions… the list goes on.
New Star City
An ever growing city at the forefront of technological advancements, New Star City welcomes the most brilliant minds from across the world. With its industrial design and steam powered industries, its skyline is a sharp contrast against the wilderness of Waywardia. However, with great wealth comes great poverty, with destitution rife amongst the city's lower classes.
Despite what folks may assume, the artistic and scientific sides of the city don't seem to be in conflict at all. Much of the technology development assists Freeheart's creative development in many ways, while many from New Star City cross sides to kick back from a hard day's work. Of course, both cities have their own number of elitists and small minded cats, though they are hardly a problem.
War's End
Against the mountainside of Starfree lies Aspel and Peter's final resting place. Many theories and legends surround the site; some suggest the area is imbued by dark magic, and others say it is blessed, sacred. Regardless, it is greatly respected, and many catfolk choose to make the journey in the spirit of learning from the past.
SERPENTSPINE
A treacherous ridge of jagged mountains stretching behind Starfree. Blistering blizzards, frequent avalanches and the enormous glacier make the sheer mountain faces of Serpentspine impassable. For this reason, travellers avoid approaching Waywardia from the north at all costs, opting to extend their journey through the seaports in the south or falcon taxis in the east and west.
Lukewarm Springs
A hidden spot known only to those who were astute enough to listen to hushed conversations in the local taverns, Lukewarm Springs is a collection of pools in the northeast, heated by geothermal activity below. Its secrecy is due to the desire to protect its sacred properties; its healing waters. Despite their mountainous home being often coated in snow, the luminous pools have never once frozen over. A soak in the warm water is said to heal all kinds of ailments, from mange to colds. Those from local villages will leave offerings at the pools to appease their deities who they believe bless its waters.
Hot springs of similar properties have been found in the cities of Mt. Starfree, making many believe that there are passageways yet to be discovered in the lands.
Sweetfire River
The largest river in Waywardia, Sweetfire's source begins in the treacherous mountains of Serpentspine, cutting the land in half as it feeds into Sweetwater Lake. Carved into the earth by the ancient eruptions of Mt Starfree, Sweetfire River is deep and perilous to traverse. Bitterly cold and extremely fast flowing, the many hidden currents and weirs can suck in even the most experienced of swimmers, and it is advised to cross the river only at the designated bridges.
WINTERWAY
A huge expanse of tundra encompasses the base of Mt. Starfree. Known for its harsh but beautiful winters, it acts as the mountain's most stunning defense from travellers. Under the cool sun, the rocky landscape is painted with a blanket of colourful, arctic flowers.
Nonetheless, the onset of winter brings with it blizzards, deep snow drifts, and long nights. White wolves stalk through the mist like ghosts, preying on those caught unawares. But, when the clouds clear for the briefest of moments, the beauty is unveiled. The falling flakes cast dancing rainbows, illuminating the incredible ice formations that scatter the wilderness. For any artist or explorer wily enough to brave the cruel winter, a world of wonder awaits.
Phantom's Keep
Hidden in the coldest, deepest recesses of Winterway lies a central point for criminals and bandits. Phantom's Keep is home to the black market, filled with nefarious characters and questionable wares, and it is said they travel through an underground cave system. The identity of who truly leads them is unknown.
THUNDERFALLS
Inky purple clouds billow around a huge mountain, engulfed in a raging storm that never ceases. Explosive crashes of thunder echo across the mountain range, whilst blinding forks of lightning illuminate the valleys below. Even at a safe distance, your fur spikes from the electricity buzzing in the air, the raw power of the storm a constant reminder of the might of wild magic.
Alpine Outlook
The peak of a mountain within the Thunderfalls range. It is the only part that reaches above the constant storm, the jagged rock colonised by pines. The trees are twisted and battered, drained of life by the violent storm below.
SWEETWATER LAKE
A huge expanse of water lying at the centre of the land, Sweetwater Lake provides life to huge swathes of the population. The tumbling rivers that feed into it from the northern mountains provide it with its iconic sweet taste.
The lake is surrounded by cropland that reaches all the way to the horizon, with irrigation from the lake gifting farmers with bountiful harvests. Its bright blue waters support many strange and wonderful fish species, and a small fishing community has sprung up on the lake's shores. It also hosts some of the land's most stunning sunsets.
Ridgetown
Boasting a place beside Sweetwater Lake and a rushing river, Ridgetown is a large, industrious settlement that is built to provide succor to travelers, making it a popular place for merchants to start business. The waters bring many to their shops, taverns, and inns, and the wise adventurer stops here before setting out to the Scorchsands. Several boat services run out of Ridgetown as well, offering passage across Sweetwater Lake or across the river to Mistmeadow.
Although its population is ever-changing, the residents of Ridgetown are known for their hospitality and energetic natures. Any kind of cat can find work here, and businesses are often run well into the night due to the constant influx of travelers. Lanterns are strung throughout the streets to provide light at all hours.
MISTMEADOW
Composed of everblooming flower meadows and rolling green hills, Mistmeadow is hidden beneath an eternal rainbow mist. Ethereal in its beauty, the mist seems to follow you as you walk, wrapping you in its radiant embrace. Despite being unable to see past your whiskers, you feel warm and protected here. Flowers plucked from Mistmeadow's fields are said to have amplified potencies in both healing and poison, and is a site of special interest for doctors and botanists.
ALICORN WOODS
An ancient woodland that borders Sweetfire River, Alicorn woods is a popular tourist destination for cityfolk looking to escape to nature. Fertilised by the ash of ancient volcanic eruptions, the plant life here is dense and vibrant, filled with unique flower phenotypes and species adapted to withstand fire.
The woods are also home to a small herd of alicorns. Shy and elusive, many have spent their whole lives searching for them to no avail, and many may even resign themselves to the belief that they are fictional, before a strands of white hair or a single hoof print spurs a new frenzy of searches. Some say that an alicorn will only reveal itself to those who are pure of heart and intent, whilst others believe that a song now long lost to time was the only method of communicating with them. Whatever the truth, no one in modern times has laid eyes on the alicorns of the woods.
GRASSBEAST'S EXPANSE
A sprawling grassland and savanna. In here, it's more common to find hybrid or magic touched animals. It's been said that these creatures have been blessed by the Grassbeast, a type of magical animal who protects these lands.
Hunting for animals here has become a popular sport as of late. Folks are often looking to sell or use the magical properties found in the wildlife.
SCORCHSANDS
Cloudless skies and searing sunbeams have shaped Scorchsand into a landscape of towering sand dunes and deep canyons. Sandstorms are a common occurrence, and creatures of all kinds will retreat to the canyons for shelter. Carved by long lost rivers, the stunning rock formations within are stained with the colours of past eons. Some even claim that the deepest tunnels hum with an ancient, unknown magic.
Above ground, all life congregates around oases, which are rumoured to be fed by a legendary underground lake beneath Scorchsand. Farming villages and bustling market towns alike have rapidly developed around these springs, creating a melting pot of catfolk. Siestas are common, with many locals using the cool of the dawn and dusk to do business.
A warning for travellers...
Mirages can be the death of unprepared travellers. Guides are highly recommended for those unfamiliar with the area. Always trust your gut instincts.
Viper's Nest
Hidden in the canyons lies a city named the Viper's Nest, a nod to the shelter that the cliffs provide to catfolk and adders alike. Although many travelers camp nearby, inns are tucked into the canyons to welcome travelers, and some have made a business of helping catfolk get from Viper's Nest to Treehaven and Horizon's Bloom due to their familiarity with the Scorchsands.
Besides their service to travelers, however, Viper's Nest is a bustling city of its own. Many fishermen make their livelihood from the river roaring near the canyons, and it has become a popular hub for musicians. The canyons of the Viper's Nest grew popular for the way that sound echoes across them; bards and small bands often play concerts under the desert stars in the cool of night. Inspiration and growth are inevitable for musicians who make their home here. As of late, however, the haunting howls and screeches of Boundless have added to their chorus...
Treehaven
A refuge from the harsh nature of the desert. Treehaven is an above-ground cave which opens from the top. Inside is a gigantic tree, becoming a home to the many catfolk who have decided to stay. Treehouses, shops and all kinds of things are built inside the cave, while the outside has magically generated waterfalls and houses for the cats who work as protectors.
This tree was said to sprout naturally at first, magic's gift to the lost and weary. Cats would soon build to nurture it, and the magic would grow too. Strange mystical occurrences happen often, like how in some areas where the moonlight reaches the ground and the stalagmites reach the ceiling, fish float and swim in the air like water.
In recent times, the magic has begun to fade from the place. With the help of magic technology however, Treehaven is able to be maintained. Many residents use this as a contentious reason as to why magic technology is an important advancement.
Horizon's Bloom
A flourishing city bordered against a lake, Horizon's Bloom is a walled city that protects its residents and crops from sandstorms. Agriculture thrives thanks to an irrigation system from the westward river, and it boasts a catfolk-dug tunnel system to store their harvests in the cooler underground. Viper's Nest and Treehaven receive many of their resources from the farmers of Horizon's Bloom.
Horizon's Bloom hosts the acclaimed Horizon University, which is well-known for its brilliance in various liberal arts subjects. As a result, many writers, historians, philosophers, and more call Horizon's Bloom home. The city continues to expand steadily and has developed a resident-friendly growth plan as it stretches toward the river. Given a few more years, it will rival the size of New Star City.
MURKWATER BOG
A vast swampland, Murkwater Bog is drenched in legends of foreboding curses and terrible beasts. The thick canopy of branches chokes out the sunlight, leaving the swamp below in a constant shadowed murk.
To survive, the catfolk there construct wooden villages raised on stilts, or tree houses connected by a web of bridges, only ever venturing down to the floor to fish. Terrible beasts are said to stalk the swamp and hide beneath the dark depths, and many hunters have lost their lives in seeking to tame the creatures.
Notable settlements include Glendow, a community catering to hunters and travellers that call this place their home.
PELANGI DELTA
Formed by a huge network of rivers and streams draining from the south west of Murkwater Bog, the Pelangi Delta encompasses both the landform and the huge stretch of tropical rainforest that surrounds it.
The forest floor frequently floods, creating an underwater paradise for many aquatic and semi-aquatic creatures. High above, the thickly woven canopy is constantly in bloom, creating an eternal rainbow of bright and sweet smelling flowers. During heavy rainfall, water pooling on the top of the canopy can spill over, soaking the forest with waterfalls that seemingly fall from the sky.
The Pelangi Delta is the most biodiverse place in Waywardia, and the sounds of birds and insects calling is almost deafening at times. However, caution should be taken when journeying through the rainforest, as carnivorous plants can claim the lives of unsuspecting folk.
THE WHISPERING RUINS
To the west of Greendoze, the rolling hills of grassland and pasture give way to rock strewn moorland and escarpments. Heather and gorse is interwoven with patches of peat bog, with huge rock formations known as tors acting as waymarks for travellers.
The stretch of land is barren, with high winds and rain frequently lashing down. Most would have no reason to visit, if not for the ruins. The crumbled remnants of a community long lost are scattered across the landscape. From collapsed stone buildings to eroded walls, to relics buried beneath mud and runes etched into stones, the Whispering Ruins seem to almost hum with lost history. When the moon is at its fullest, you might just see the faintest of glows from the runes, and hear the whispers of ancient, wild magic.
RIVERWOODS
Bursting with thick trees, all types of woodland creatures make Riverwoods their home. The roar of the rivers that run through Riverwoods can be heard from every corner, which has been mistaken for the rumbling of a beast. This has led to many local superstitions. Despite its intimidating appearance, however, the course of the rivers make it easy to navigate through the forest; it is more difficult to get lost than it is to make it through the well-traveled forest paths. It is, after all, the direct course to get from Greendoze to Unity Ranch, or vice versa.
Many hunters traverse these woods, and for some, hunting your first game in Riverwoods is a rite of passage. It's common to find small camps scattered through the forest for groups on a hunting trip. Thieves and myriad other criminals find refuge here, too; in places where the sun barely touches the forest floor, wanted cats hide away. The river that leads to sea is considered a covert escape route for those on the run.
GREENDOZE
Click here for the Greendoze local map!
Nestled among the rolling green hills and forests in south-western Waywardia, Greendoze is a small collection of quiet villages within walking distance of each other. The communities, for the most part, are peaceful and friendly, and rarely do they venture outside of their safe haven.
Greendoze is a popular pitstop for travellers, many taking in the sights or the local magical features. They're famous for their Stone Forest, a naturally made labyrinth of stone that many explorers take up as a challenge to find the center. It's been a while since anybody has been successful, and various rumours speak of what could possibly be kept deep in those woods.
Due to recent appearances of the Boundless, hunters and warriors have found themselves staying in the towns. The locals have a mixed opinion, as these newcomers often disrupt the peace within their homes.
Notable towns: Rouroux, Cennen, Achmor
COMPANCTUARY FOREST
Within the eastern corners of Waywardia lies Companctuary Forest, a vast woodland composed of ancient oaks, ghostly birch and vibrant maple. Sun dappled dirt paths lined with flowers invite you in, the unbroken birdsong reassuring you that there's nothing to fear here. The animals that live here are unusually friendly, readily approaching those who wander in.
It is tradition for the inhabitants of Waywardia to bring their children to the forest when they are of age, where legend claims that they are destined to meet their lifelong companion.
Unity Ranch
Lying at the entrance of Companctuary Forest, the ranch sprung up to meet the demand of those in search of their animal friends. With paddocks and stables filled with all kinds of animals, cats can learn how to safely interact with both steeds and pets. Whether you need to brush up on your riding skills or discover how to best care for your new friend, there's a class for everyone here at Unity Ranch.
HIPPOGRIFF COAST
East of Farsail, towering cliffs collide with the sea. Turbulent waves and powerful windstorms lash the coastline often, leading to high rates of erosion at the base of the cliffs. Frequent cliff collapse and landslides with little warning have led to wooden signs posted along the coastline, warning travellers to stay far from the edge. However, if cats stay close to the well worn, sandy paths, they can safely enjoy beautiful views across the endless ocean, and a variety of colourful grasses and flowers that populate the cliff top.
The Great Gathering
During the early spring, uncountable numbers of hippogriffs migrate from distant lands to the coastline, remaining until the late summer to breed and raise their young. Although they prefer a diet of ocean fish, these huge creatures have been known to prey on cats that stray too close to their nesting sites. Wildlife enthusiasts are advised to watch from a safe distance.
SEAWORN CITY
The city resides on an oddly shaped landform in Southern Waywardia, settled by Peter and his colony. Much of their culture relies on both the generosity and danger of the sea, many jobs working with fishermen or sailors. Peter was known for his quick wits and tenacity, and many try to embody these qualities.
Since Peter's time, Seaworn has developed well into one of the biggest cities of Waywardia. Multi-story buildings made from rough brick and stone-paved roads fill the land, with Peter's old palace sitting at the center.
A common mode of transport is boat. Almost any resident will have a rowboat that can be used to travel down the canals.
The Dragon's Rest
An atoll not far off from Seaworn. Not much is known of the place, but old and worn down structures have been found on the island. The lagoon inside is deeper than it looks. Many mysteries have come from this strange place, but nobody is keen to explore it either. Sailors talk of the place being haunted or cursed by a dragon from the legends, which had used the island as its final resting place.