Due to the nature of Marcwith’s genetic history and rivaling cultures, modern history has seen years of change and upset among the continent. Generally, the land is divided into six countries. Marcwith is also home to all of the world's families.
A super-continent, its lands spread nearly from the northernmost point in the world to southernmost. Three major islands surround it, one in the northeast and two make up the lowest extremities of the land. It is a wide place as well as tall, with strangely shaped coastlines that ancient people once saw as howling dogs. The mainland is gradated like a split pod, the east and west sides have dramatic height while the center of the land is sunken. This depression through the continent is a massive desert, beginning in the northwest corner and heading serpentine to the south and east, widening until a massive pit of sand tears a hole between the eastern and western coasts, abruptly ending to allow a thick band of greenery that offers safe harbor to the southern islands. The shape and expansion of this depression led it to be called ‘The Creeping Desert’, and it is the largest such landscape in the world.
In the distant past of this place terrible violence gave rise to terrible rumors, resulting in the segregation of populations. In the north island the Hwoxin people grew massive horns on their heads and were said to be worshipers of blood. The northern coast of the mainland belonged to the Deerless; a historically condescending people with little thought toward empathy. Sharing their territory as second-class citizens were humans, who by rapid population growth and a sadistic love of savagery survived their burdens. Below humans in both class and territory were uembians, people thought of as primitives with a veritable rainbow of skin tones; rich charcoal in the southern mainland, jewel or pastel tones in the southern islands. For a time, their equally vibrant hair was prized by humans, Hwoxin, and Deerless alike. In gruesome displays of wealth, dried uembian scalps were sometimes displayed as art in the homes of wealthy landowners. Lowest of all were the bavas and the desert-dwelling ogres, but history has questioned the legitimacy of either beast, so one unfortunate enough to share lineage with such bipeds must be content to have a legend, or worse, a mere animal as their ancestor.
As with all conflict (save one, according to Githmund Exteiz and indeed many of the Echtoan faith), a victor emerged among the populace. In what may have been considered a pyrrhic victory to ancient peoples, humans bred all other species out of existence. Very little trace of the others can be openly seen in modern ages, save for stubborn uembian genetics.
Once a prominent politician from Vael was quoted as saying that “the blending of Marcwith has stolen the history of its people”, refering to how the savage landscape of the country pit all animals against one another, commanding bloodlines of violence that eventually destroyed the secrets and traditions of Marcwith. More than anything, the land is one that is constantly burning out and recreating itself. Nowhere is this more clear than the examination of the Mysterious West and in legends of the Warring Era.
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Vinumera
Though currently consisting of Vael and Numera, the north eastern side of the island is still considered to be the ancient homeland of the Deerless and named for their founding father who the Extiez family was said to descend from. This part of Marcwith still boasts the largest population of Deerless Coalescent peoples and contains some of the most famous cities, including the ancient trade-city of Houndsmouth, the old Extiez family capitol of Qubbhae, and the popular tourist city Vinerin hosting the largest collection of works from the famous scholar Githmund.
Hwox and Oarnoa
Currently linked, the cultures of these two remote places are quite dissimilar. While Hwox still has a large, fairly indigenous population, Oarnoa is an incredible diverse mix of genetics and cultures that defies most of the northern continent. Too remote to be a big draw for outside visitors, the city of Causeway (with its obvious Stormvice name) has retained an incredible amount of original architecture. The Tecuoth Shkm, better known as the Butterfly Castle, is the sight of a three-sided battle famously recalled by the Uembian poet Zindea.
Orom
Orom in the West has been a sore subject for the inhabitants of Marcwith as well as archeologists all over the world. Within this historically human-controlled territory lies the ancient ruins of the so-called ‘Mysterious West’, a place both heavily guarded and shamelessly monetized. Here the culture of the Westerners is left in ruins, an old civilization only known of through the works of Githmund Extiez and the short amount of time allotted to scholars each year during the Echtoan and Tamashp holidays.
FOI
Central Marcwith is home to another turbulent force, the Freestate of Ido, or FOI. Nestled in the only hospitable part of the Creeping Desert is a militant group of native people, mostly consisting of Bava, Hwox, and Deerless coalescent. Few venture past the natural fortress of that wasteland, and those that do find a state of living far below what most would consider poverty – the people instead scraping by in unforgiving and unyielding nature as their ancient ancestors would have.
Southern Marcwith
Southern Marcwith is the most diverse area in Marcwith and the only other country to claim a part of the Creeping Desert as a part of their own homeland. Few Bava or Hwoxin coalescent reside there but their Uembian population is massive. Much calmer than the north, a few cities in the south have recently gained some economic prominence in Marcwith, drawing young families from the north as well as from around the world.
The Islands
Far south are the islands of Ternomei and Dideh, home of the most traditional Uembians. A few tribes of Uembians still reside on Dideh living in much the same way as they did in ancient times, farmers and fishermen who practice a secretive form of Mageroa thought to be close to the religious practices of the Mysterious West. Dideh is also home to landmarks such as Mt. Galgara.