The Palana Jungles are the warmest area in the Throne of IIo region. Its chief characteristic is a minor river extending from the Trikelas to the Estal Tablelands in the southwest. The river, known by the same name as the jungles, is fed by many underground reservoirs and has many branches across the Palana Jungles. The river's temperature is typically hotter than the air, and it is believed that the river is the source of the region's unnatural heat.
Ranines are the dominant species of the jungle, and their communities are found throughout it. They regularly police the areas in-between their homes, and so the Palana Jungles are typically safe to any friend of the ranines.
Most buildings follow the Ranian style--wood and grass huts either on the jungle floor or amidst the canopy. Areas of strategic value are reinforced and built up with other materials. Ranines are able to jump far distances, so in regions where defense is an issue, their canopy homes may not have stairways or ladders.
The Palana Jungles contain a wealth of resources, and the tunnels and mines belowground are similarly rich. Gems, spices, metal ores, and a variety of plant and animal life unique to the jungles can be found there.
The Palana Jungles do contain some tar pits, but these areas are usually cleared by the native ranines so they do not surprise travelers.
The southeast of the Palana Jungles borders the Marsh of Anosh, although relatively small, Ranian patrols and excursions are regularly launched into the marsh. The marsh is also the home of the dangerous lizardfolk, who rise up every couple of generations to wage war against the ranines.
The Trikelas mark the northeast border of the jungles, although they curve around the Marsh of Anosh in a hook to border the jungles on the southwest as well. The southwest mountains are usually inhabited with aviadins and lizardfolk, and so the ranines have a strong presence here as well. The northeast on the other hand, is home to small trading colonies of dwarves, who surface here to exchange goods and services.
Past the southwest mountains, the Palana Jungles extend to the Estal Tablelands, where the majority of the lizardfolk living in the jungles make their home. Ranine outposts are regularly overrun by the native lizardfolk here, and are constantly in need of reinforcements.
The northern border of the jungles are entirely composed of the Weald of Ealo. Although tensions are regularly high with the animalistic laorcs of that region, ranines maintain several outposts in the Weald of Ealo and are not openly hostile. Wild elves are the most common go-between for the races, as many live within the Palana Jungles, but most make their home in the weald.
Ranines are the dominant force in the region, and they respond to any threat against their people decisively. They have wasted a large amount of their forces in a seemingly fruitless struggle with an ancient evil lurking deep in the Marsh of Anosh, and so are weaker than they appear, but maintain their considerable defenses within the jungles.
Unwilling to be an aggressive party in their dealings with other races, the ranines have not been able to uproot the population of lizardfolk, and so the lizardfolk continue to be a thorn in their sides. Wild elves appear to be few and far between, and they have no strong presence in the region, although they are able to call on allies from the Weald of Ealo.
The ranines are highly civilized and regularly make trade with the peoples around the Throne of IIo, but most find the jungles too uncomfortable and dangerous to live there.
Cults worshipping the fallen paladin Anosh exist in the deepest parts of the jungle.
The ranines nearly always fight defensive battles, and so they have worked to make the natural features of the Palana Jungles even more dangerous to their enemies. Outposts are plentiful, and communication across the jungle is quick.
Because of trade, the level of technology in the jungle is consistent with the regions nearby. Ranines also are more than competent around a forge, and mine for their own materials.
The Palana River attracted many ranines when they first came to the Throne of IIo. Already warmer than the Sryfe River and the Sea of Trite, the Palana River was much more appealing. Over the centuries, the ranines mined the tunnels and caverns below the surface and the temperature of the river continued to increase. Over time, the region around the river changed to jungle.
There are many different theories on why the temperature of the Palana River continued to increase. Some of the common theories include: a captured fire primal, an ancient Saurian ceremony performed by the aviadins, natural geothermal activity, and a crazed hume elementalist. The most believed by the ranines is that their ancestors tied the waters of their honor pools to the river. When the magickally imbued water from an honor pool is returned to the Palana River, the magicks of the universe neutralize the magicks via long-term temperature increase. Although there are many adherents to this belief, this is not the natural order of things in other Ranian communities, and so many believe that the truth is a combination of the different tales.
An unhealthy amount of honorable ranines in the Palana Jungles have fallen from grace and worship Anosh, an ancient undead Ranian blackguard. These ranines have forsaken the natural belief that honor is the path to oneness with the universe, and instead follow the path of dishonor and chaos. They believe that by doing so, the great and terrible Anosh will allow them to exist independently from honor pools.
An uneasy peace exists between ranines, laorcs, wild elves, and lizardfolk. This unfortunately is shattered whenever an army of lizardfolk is ordered against one of their neighbors. Unlike other races, the ranines do not hold the lizardfolk accountable, and will meet with any of the folk that professes peace.
The Marsh of Anosh is the result of the waters of the Palana River intermingling with those waterways flowing from the Trikelas.