Otaria
Otaria is a continent in Dominaria’s southern hemisphere that did not figure into any tales until after the Phyrexian Invasion. It survived that war relatively unscathed and was one of the first areas to recover and grow powerful once more. As a result, many of the survivors from other regions of Dominaria sought refuge on the continent. Despite all of this, many of Otaria's cultures were warlike and barbaric, ruling by terror and arena combat.
A century after the Invasion the Mirari appeared there, initiating a destructive war that again devastated much of the world.
It is the primary location for the Odyssey and Onslaught blocks.
Inhabitants and Wildlife
At least four groups of humans called Otaria home, including the nomads of the Daru Plains, the Pardic barbarians, the Krosan druids, and the people of the Cabal.
Besides humans, Otaria was also home to many races, including dwarves, goblins, centaurs, giants, ogres, and gorgons, as well as several found nowhere else, such as nantuko, cephalids, and the various species of aven. After the Invasion, numerous other races migrated to the continent in search of new homes, among them elves and minotaurs.
Many of Otaria's people were mutated into bizarre forms by the Mirari's influence. It's unknown if all of these mutations bred true, though crookclaws at least survived into the Time Spiral era.
The continent also had an incredibly diverse (and spectacularly dangerous) range of wildlife. Dragons, wurms, firecats, anurids, griffins, lhurgoyfs, orggs, and a vast array of other beasts menaced Otaria's people. Zombies, vampires, specters, and other undead were disturbingly common thanks to the Cabal. Later in Otaria's history a plague of slivers was unleashed on the continent thanks to the Riptide Project. In addition to these monstrous creatures, normal animals (squirrels, bears, elephants, etcetera) were also common.
Locations
Cabal Holdings
The Cabal held most of the continent's eastern region. Most of Otaria's large cities were under its influence.
Aphetto
Aphetto was the second largest city of the Cabal.
Cabal City
Cabal City was the greatest city of the Cabal, most famous for its pit fights.
Daru Plains
The Daru Plains sprawl across the northern edge of the continent.
Krosa
Krosa is a large forest reaching from Balshan Bay on the east to the continent's western coast. The forest was inhabited by centaurs, nantuko, druidic humans, and a wide variety of beasts.
Mer Empire
A huge undersea power, the Mer Empire was a dominant force in Otaria. It was more sophisticated than the land-bound cultures, with considerable magic forces held by its primary occupants, the cephalids, and an advanced governing body of aristocrats holding power under the imperial office. Cephalids were also skilled merchants, and the Mer Empire held a wealth of treasures and fine craftsmanship, giving them considerable clout among inland cultures. The Empire ran along the eastern coasts of the continent.
Balshan Bay
Toward the northeastern reaches of Otaria lay the wide inlet of Balshan Bay. A breed of griffins is native to the area, as well as some aven and human communities noted for their wizards.
Southern Cephalid Palace
The capital of the Mer Empire and its throne were at the Southern Cephalid Palace, off of the continent's southeastern coast. Empress Llawan ruled here, her authority contested by Emperor Aboshan in the North.
Pardic Mountains
The Pardic Mountains stretch along the continent's western reaches from Krosa in the north to Wirewood in the south. The northern peaks were inhabited by dwarves and human barbarians, while the southern Skirk Ridge teemed with goblins.
Wirewood Forest
An open, airy birch wood, Wirewood Forest lay to the south of the Pardic range. Many elves immigrated to the forest from elsewhere on Dominaria after the Phyrexian Invasion.
Map of Otaria
