I drew my interpretation of the map of the world (well, mainly just the northern continent). Please tell me what you think!

In the ocean, there is a long cluster of islands that almost exactly mirror the constellations above. The islands are mountainous, and the people who inhabit them cut into the sides of the mountains to build their cities, which are made of carefully cut stone and dark steel framework.

The streets are made of brick, and the cities rise on terraces that climb towards the sky. The islands have a relatively cool climate, and the winters are long and cold. The ground is very fertile, and the harvest is able to sustain the populations throughout the winter. There are candles in every window to keep the light through the long nights, and brighten entire islands.

The people themselves have an almost Victorian sense of fashion, and are rather dramatic, but it is almost a joke everyone is in on and enjoys. The citizens are rather odd though, as they look like humans, whilst their forms blur around the edges, trailing into whisps of shadow. There is an abundance of spices and flavorings on the islands, as well as hundreds of species of birds that roost on rooftops. There are bridges that lie ten or so feet above the water, that connect all the cities, which are ruled by mysterious nobility. The nobility, despite their odd ways, are pretty generous and do their best to help out. Tea parties happen every Thursday, no matter what, and everbody has several collections of fancy clothing, tea sets, and sandwich recipies. Umbrellas are to be carried everywhere, at all times.

If the birds occasionally sing secrets, they are noted and kept. Betraying a secret is a faux pas of the highest level. The fish humans who live around these islands are on excellent terms with the inhabitants of the city. The trade of shipwrecks for light orbs and warm drinks happens all year round.

The islands are very isolated, and their name is unknown, and unfathomable for human ears.

At the western end of the Everon mountains, when the mountains begin to grow smaller, there is a hidden civilization. These slightly smaller mountains are hollowed out on the inside, forming an enormous cave system. Known as the Roich-Iri caverns, this network of caves is so large that it would a take a week for one to travel from one end to the other on foot. 

Much of Roich-Iri is encompassed by a vast subterranean forest. The forest itself is called Therfairen, which means ‘place of solace’ in old Saccorrin. The trees in Therfairen, unlike most trees, require little sunlight to survive. Instead, they absorb a gas that is native to the caves, which contains a chemical compound that substitutes the nutrients that they can’t get for lack of sunlight. Because of this, the trees’ trunks look metallic, almost like bronze or gold, and the leaves are very dark black-green. However, the cave’s inhabitants attribute this strange golden shine to some supernatural cause. 

The only sunlight in the caves comes from a place near the center of Roich-Iri where the cave’s ceiling has collapsed in several places, creating large skylights where shafts of sunlight can reach through to the otherwise dark world. The inhabitants, fascinated by and fond of sunlight, visit this place (dubbed the Sky Windows) regularly, though they never stay long as they are sensitive to the light. 

The cave’s inhabitants—known as Saccorrin—are humanoids. Their skin has a rather strange texture, and is always slightly moist—but never slimy. They have slightly larger eyes than usual, which they’ve adapted to be able to see better in the dark. They are very fast and they are thought to possess something akin to echolocation. They also only require a few hours of sleep, which they don’t always get at the same time like humans. Instead, they often take short naps at separate times whenever they feel fatigued. Apart from these things, they are essentially human. They are generally built small and compact, and have paper-pale skin, dark hair, and pale eyes from living in an environment with so little light. 

The Saccorrin live in small scattered groups throughout Roich-Iri. They have small ‘villages’ that consist of clusters of homes built close together. They like their homes tall and thin, often built along the cave walls and around large stalagmites. Outsiders would see these structures as rickety and ramshackle, but the Saccorrin have perfected the art of balancing things precariously, and they thrive in this lifestyle. The Saccorrin are restless creatures and often roam from village to village, traveling often. 

Accustomed to the darkness, the Saccorrin need little light. However, ironically, they hate complete darkness, and most of them are afraid of it. They craft special torches and lanterns from the sap of the trees in Therfairen which can burn for days. The Saccorrin also have an attraction to fire, perhaps because it creates light, and unlike sunlight, they are not sensitive to it. 

The Saccorrin live a minimal, less-is-more lifestyle. They wear minimal and plain clothing, crafted from a silky cotton-like material. They live with only the essentials to be comfortable, and are very organized and tidy. They would never dream of wasting, and they find cultures that waste regularly and have excess belongings repulsive. They are also rather superstitious and have an abundance of taboos, rituals, and mythology. They are restless and apt to wander, as mentioned before. 

However, they have to be cautious and clever to live this way in Roich-Iri. Because, of course, they aren’t the only ones who live here...

(More later because wow, that turned into a wall of text. Can you tell I like world building? XD)

More about the Sarie Albdyh

The Sarie Albdyh love splendor and beauty, but mostly, they love colors. Their clothing may be minimal, but it is always very colorful. (It looks like Gerudo clothing from the game Legend of Zelda) They are also skilled fighters. 

They aren't extremely religious, however, they do believe in a Great Goddess who blessed the desert with good things like farih cacti and oasises. They call this goddess Sayidat Alshams, or Lady of the Sun. 

There are many Sarie Albdyh merchants, who sell their wares at trading posts located on the Great Rihla Landbridge. They love to travel, and many famous explorers are Sarie Albdyhs. Many other countries and kingdoms depend on Sarie Albdyh merchants to bring them things like silk and jewelry.

They also love art, especially murals. Most buildings in a Pozharian town are covered in beautiful paintings and mosaics. 

The Erisians are a semi-nomadic species, and are divided into multiple tribes. Each tribe has its own village, made out of small, light huts. Each hut belongs to a family, and houses all their posessions. Professions are generally linked to specific families. Each tribe remains in a location for 3 months. Every 3 months, the tribe takes down its huts and heads to a new "island," decided by the tribe's leaders as having necessary materials (animals are not usually part of this decision; Erisians are herbavores). The Erisians count time in multiples of island changes. Every 20 island changes (5 years), all the tribes move to specific islands surrounding the Stone Garden, ancient stone ruins whose builders were unknown, as Erisians don't generally build stone structures. Those 3 months are a time for inter-tribal relations above the occasional trade or gathering party. It is a time for coming-of-age (described later), councils are formed to decide on inter-tribal matters, and religious cerimonies are conducted. After the 3 month time period, the tribes move away and the cycle begins again.

The Erisians worship a "Light Spirit" who was the creator of the world. They believe that the Light Spirit resides in the Stone Garden. Therefore, much of their religious ceremonies occur when the tribes are gathered there. Pieces of the Stone Garden were also used to forge religious objects used by the tribes when away from the Stone Garden.

Erisians are great herbalogists and doctors, able to use native plants to treat everything from minor colds to life-threatening injuries. They are also pretty good at astronomy and weather prediction. Despite their nomatic nature, Erisians have extensive written records of their history. Their script is compact and written on pressed leaves.

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And there's still more coming. I spent way too much time on this. 

Hey guys, let's talk about naming this world. I think we should let An empty world name itself, maybe after it's been developed?

Jingcai Swamp

Located on the northern part of the Southern Continent, the Jingcai Swamp is a massive swamp. It is home to alligators, herons, and many types of lizards. The  Zhaoze people have made this swamp their home. They are humanoid creatures, covered in scales. They have gills and can breathe underwater and above water. They have large, alligator like tails. They also have a mane of fur going all the way down their back. Normally, Zhaozes are green, brown, or yellow. They have four eyes and long, crocodilian snouts. They are great fishermen, and live in small villages. Their houses are usually cabins. They are ruled by a council, and council members are elected on by all Zhaozes who are sixteen or older.

The Zhaozes believe in spirits and the idea of an afterlife. However, they do not believe in a god or greater spirit. They are also accepting of other religions. They enjoy creating music , and there are many Zhaozan ceremonies that involve singing. 

They are very peaceful and dislike the idea of war and violence. Because of this, there are normally very few problems amongst Zhaozes.