Maretra
Maretra (
listen) is a highland region of Swastrey, located in the northern reaches, around the old Kingdom of Dul. The area is sparsely populated, owing to its harsh climate, with scorching summers and frigid winters.
Geography
The Caves of the Issivsi are a feature of the region, known since ancient times. Their full extent was only discovered following excavations in the 1980s and lidar-assisted surveys in the 21st century, which revealed a massive cave network underneath the province, with artifacts of ancient civilizations entombed below.
History
Maretra was the site of a battle in late 1916 and early 1917, during the Three Years' War, between the Swastrian 3rd Army, reinforced by Eicon regiments, and a Bataignen invasion force. The result was a victory for the defenders.
Mythology
Local legend has it that the caverns below Maretra are inhabited by terrible creatures such as the basilisk. Such stories intensified during the Great Wars, when soldiers taking shelter underground reported hearing strange noises coming from deep below the earth. One soldier claimed to have personally witnessed the basilisk while stationed in Maretra in 1917:
As I rounded the next bend, I quite nearly stumbled into the source of all the noise: a great hulking monster, gorging itself on the body of my comrade. By its dark, leathery skin and serpentine form, I knew it was none other than the basilisk of legend. The pale light of my torch caused the beast to recoil, whereupon it emitted the most frightful, sorrowful shriek, which pained my bones like a hunger. I turned and scrabbled out, summoning a speed I never matched since, my trembling hand lighting the way to the surface....