Adjustments to the Map of the Known Lands ----------------------------------------- (a bit deleted) ####A################# ####T################## ^^^^^^^ GREAT ####I###### ##### *GENERICA -Ceruputhon River--^^ HEATH ###LLES######### \ / ^^^^ ################ | Great Forest ^^^^ ############### ----------*Specifica/Furs a^x^b ##############"""""""" [] Portal to FR ^^^ ################>------Southern------Kirender R.--^^^^^ Specifica of Sugars*""""Marshes"""" ^^^^^^^^^ ####################""""""""" ####### *Satosi ########################""""""####################### ################################################### ############### * ############################# ### #### Pashar ######The Gulf############# # ### ################### ##### # #### RAMESHAN############ #### DARK ####.........################ ##### CONTI- ######.......*Orluccar### ######## NENT ######..Rezzian.....#### ####### ####.....Desert......# ##### Dennis, Above, the 'x' in the Mysty Mountains marks Bottleneck pass. 'a' is the town Verland and 'b' is the Barony of Stifer. I put the pass there because it was the narrowest representation in the Mysty Mt. range. Could you add this to the Map of the Known Lands if it isn't too intrusive? The descriptions are below. I also created a land to the distant (way far) southeast, called the Running Lands. They would be off the map ... Bottleneck Pass --------------- The pass is located toward the southern end of the range, through the narrowest point along the Mysty Mountains. It was excavated from the original path a few hundred years ago by a group of ambitious merchants. Open to any who chose to travel there, it is lightly patrolled by a volunteer army of civilians from Verland and its nearby smaller towns to the west and some of the militia of the Barony of Stifer to the east. It's only features are Broken Stone, a huge boulder with a reputation and the Ranger's Cabin, a small but sturdy wood and stone structure near the apex of the pass, on the east side of the Range. The cabin is lightly stocked with food and firewood for travellers who get caught in bad weather. Verland ------- The largest town to the west of Bottleneck pass is Verland. They are primarily a farming and herding community, but they are able to supply themselves with almost anything they need. The center of town consists of a few houses that used to belong to the merchants originally involved with the road, but are now a town hall, a multi-faith temple, and a number of pubs, boarding houses, and Inns for travellers. In the middle of these buildings is a plaza where the local market sets up once a week, selling foods, and a few homemade goods. The occasional passing tinker or craftsman may set up here as well, either on market day or during the week. It is common to find at least a few folks working a small bit of trade any given day. Verland's market is an excellent place to get cheap and fairly sturdy goods made by the various apprentices, journeymen, and, on rare occasions, a master. At the end of every month, folks from nearby towns come into Verland to buy and sell their wares, and the market turns into a something of a fairground. There is a small grassy field beyond the buildings where traveling entertainers set up shows. The Barony of Stifer -------------------- The nearest lands to the east of Bottleneck Pass belong to Baron Stifer. A fairly stable man, he boasts two sons. The elder is his man-at-arms, the younger will be his successor. His wife is an excellent cook and in past days, the Baron's favorite fencing partner. She remains excellent with a blade, while rictus and pain of the hands often keeps the Baron from wielding a fork, much less any sort of sword. The Baron is an unusual man in that he often despises tradition. His people perform a variety of tasks, from weaving to gardening to farming to smithing and the Barony is largely self-sufficient. But, rather than create a closed community, the Baron prefers to continue trading and accepting new ideas from the travellers he meets. Anyone who stops in his keep will be asked to dinner and undoubtably grilled by the Baron himself about various experiences and opinions. Unlike many of his neighbors on the Great Heath, he is a strong supporter of fostering. Since nearby Barons are resistant to the idea, he often fosters with Verland, and on rare occasions of great talent, with the Specificas or Generica. He is getting on in years, but everything seems to indicate his sons take after him and are loyal to his visions. His people are also very loyal, to both him and his sons. The Running Lands ----------------- The Running Lands is the Ano name for the hot, dry steppes in the distant southeast corner of the continent. These plains are inhabited mainly by the various tribes of the Ano, a race of generally peaceful cat-footed centaur-like beings. The deeper into the plains, the more native and unspoiled the Ano tribe. Closer to the border between the Running Lands and where two-leggers reside, the tribes are more aggressive and suspicious due to border disputes with the two-leggers (humans, if you haven't guessed already). The plains also support a variety of timid wildlife, including what resembles a sort of antelope, hunted by the Ano for food and materials. Farming is difficult, but not impossible. Currently, there is an uneasy truce on the border, recently negotiated by a two-legger who spoke fluent Ano. -*- Hope this isn't too much ... thank you! Kelly J. Cooper Tragically Hip Waif ...individual at large... kjc@cs.rutgers.edu