Some Snippets from The World

[elemtilas]

First in a series of biographies of the most powerful women in The World is Yesseraê Willunnô, Empress of Auntimoany.



Yesseraê Willunnô, born 12th Summerhome by fortnight reckoning or of Wodamath by moon reckoning in the year of the Wicker Badger, which also hight 1984, is a princess of Morotuncaê, fifth surviving daughter (and thirteenth and last surviving child) of the line of Aro-aro the Wise (1953-1999), previous king of that land (r.1977-1999), Morotuncaê being a land in Alaria. Since 2002, she has been queen consort of Auntimoany and wife of emperor Handfast; since 2010, Empress Regent, made so by an Act of Parliament that made Handfast Emperor Coregent.

1. Early life
2. Marriage
3. Early reign
Crisis I: Constitutional struggle
4. Later Reign
Crises IJ & IIJ
5. Titles, styles and arms
6. Ancestry

Early Life -- Yesseraê was born in the seaside latifundium village of Torquanwe, along the western coasts of Morotuncaê. Her "left eye name", Yesseraê, is composed of syllables from her ancestors' names: Ayyessaê, Seriano, Rallano, Esserinaê; while the "right eye name", Willunnô, was given by her sisters and schoolmates and means something like "travels far". During her youth and school days, the name perhaps seemed romantic and wishful to her consoeurs and perhaps also seemed ironic for a girl who had never travelled any further than the neighbourhood of her native city, except undoubtedly in her dreams. And now in retrospect, it might perhaps better be seen as prophetic, for she has gone all the way across the ocean to become be a queen!

The lives of children of nobility in Morotuncaê is little different than the lives of those of lesser station. Early on, children of nobles, craftsmen, soldiers and burgesses alike are corralled into local schools where from the ages of six to twelve, they receive their primary education. This consists of lessons in letters, numbers, reading, arithmetic and writing. The reading and writing divisions are spent working on basic texts of geography, history and natural lore.

Once this early education is completed, children of craftsmen and soldiers will enter training for a trade while those of the nobles and burgesses may be prepared for more scholarly pursuits. They will study grammar, rhetoric, poetry, comportment and the nine lesser arts. Only the most brilliant pupils will take longer courses of study in the subtle arts.

Courtship and Marriage -- In the year of the Dissheveled Solstice, which is 2002, Yesseraê having completed her studies, was, shortly after her 18th birth anniversary, sent by her father on a great voyage across what is called in Morotuncaê the Narrow Ocean, which hight in the Eastlands, the Ocean of Sunrise. Coming hither with a delegation of scholars, poets, diplomats and merchants, it seems that the main hope of Aro-aro was simply to marry his youngest daughter off to a suitable foreign prince.

She met and courted with a young man who seemed the likely successor to the Throne of Auntimoany. Indeed, later that year, Handfast was elevated to the emperorship and the couple were duly married a year later upon which occasion Yesseraê was crowned queen consort.

Early Reign -- Yesseraê quickly became noted for her acuity in dealing with petitioners to the Throne and for her wisdom in handling both her husband and the various factions that sought his ear. Key Magisters took note how she clearly overshadowed Handfast in all matters of statecraft.

The First Crisis: Constitutional Tensions rose through the early 2000s as Magisterial supporters of Handfast clashed with supporters of Yesseraê. The latter, due in no small part to the confidence of both the Lord of Treasury and the Magister of the Exchequer, became ascendant by 2006 or 2007. Thereafter, with the tacit approval of the First Magister, Yesseraê assumed ever more critical and central roles.

Strife between the imperial couple began to grow only late. Handfast had long preferred the more ceremonial roles of emperorship and the excitement of court life. Much of his time was spent hunting or tramping with a favorite warband. He little realised how much power Yesseraê had been given (or, truth be told, had quietly seized) until too late.

In the year of the Incrusted Woodpecker, which hight 2010, a crisis in Parliament (the Knownothing Crisis, which centered itself upon the Constitutional roles of the Hall of Worthies and the Deanery of Arbitrators came to a head and stalled further action of the whole House. Emperor Handfast was out in the Hill Country traipsing with his warriors and could not be immediately located. Parliament became paralyzed and Yesseraê yet again demonstrated her wisdome, for she had long studied the roles of the Seven Houses and resolved the issue amicably.

It became clear that the Emperor was not as fit for the Throne as the Kingmakers had thought nearly a decade before; and an Act was passed making the queen consort the Empress Regent and the Emperor became the Emperor Coregent. Technically, the Act did not remove any powers from the Emperor, about which he seemed quite relieved. For example, Parliamentary Acts and Orders of Merit and Chivalry still required one of the various Seals of State. But also, technically, the Act duplicated all his powers within the person of the Empress who somehoe managed to gain access to the said Seals of State.

After this period of time, Handfast seems to admitted to the coup and came to terms with it by going on ever longer hunting expeditions and tramping through the wild Hill Country of the Arnals.

Later Reign -- Yesseraê's later reign, though marked generally by peace within the Seven Houses of Parliament and domestic tranquility within her home, nevertheless suffered its share of woes.

The Second Crisis: Assassination! During the year of the Broken Calendar (2012) alone, three separate plots against the Empress's life were foiled. Various noble factions were accused in the broadsheets; the Kingmakers were accused by many key parliamentarians; even the Emperor Coregent himself was not above suspicion. One plot, an old fashioned poisoning of the Empress's favourite fruit, a small kind of golden apple called Fruitbatty Sweets, at least came very close to implicating Handfast personally, but conflicting evidence, missing witnesses and the Emperor Coregent's absence from the City during the crisis served to shift blame away from his person. A close confidante of the Empress witnessed a "dark hooded figure" in the Rooftop Gardens of the imperial Palas, messing about in the fruit tree garden. The fruits of the suspected trees were ordered to be examined by the colleges of Alchemists, Thaumaturges and Potionmongers alike. No suspicious poison could be discovered, though a small cache of the apples was found in an alley several streets over from the Palas. It seems the bizarre case of the Poisoned Apples was a false alarm.

The second plot, a discharge of crossbow quarrel into the Empress's tram car, was no false alarm, and seems to have been an earnest attempt on Yesserê's life. Seemingly involving disaffected Mentolatian nobles, various agitators from Angera all but claimed responsibility. Again, unclear evidence seems to be the culprit in mudying the waters. Conflicting reports had come to the Empress's attention in the days before the attempt: one citing an attempt in the tram she was expected to take, another at an early morning speech to be delivered at Quay Royal to the newly admitted naval officers and a third at a luncheon in a local popina.

Determining that the most likely plan of attack would be in the tram, for she had delivered the speech already that morning the reports came in and the luncheon timing and place were off, she sent in stead an armoured knight to be veiled while riding in the tram. Although the shootist was never apprehended, it became clear that better security arrangements would have to be made!

The third plot, late in the year, was discovered early and foiled before it could be carried through. An agent was apprehended with a curious thaumic device but refused to give evidence or confession, even under torture. The agent, it is said by certain Palas insiders, was working for the Kingmakers. Publically, the Empress laid blame on "Tana Seperatists" and, rather than shake up the now settled Government any further, seems to have let the matter lie.

The Third Crisis: Racial Strife Yesseraê has long been suspicious of the Tana population of Auntimoany, though has refrained from making any direct statements to that effect in public speeches or executive Acts. While the various kindreds of Daine living within the Empire have long seemed content with their lives as they are, the underlying fear and unease regarding their usually taciturn presence has never left her heart at peace.

Fears turned to alarm as Handfast, who has long loved to hunt with the Tana nobles, assented to several apparently innocuous but key pieces of pro-Tana legislation. One, an Act in the year of the Brass Waterpot that granted electoral rights to "the several disadvantaged peoples of Our Empire" suddenly granted sufferage to nearly forty percent of the population who had never previously complained that they had no voice in the Government as constituted by the Men of Auntimoany. Shortly thereafter, a Tana girl by the name of Velendallay won a seat in the Freemen's Moot standing for Auntimoany City itself.

It turns out that some of these fears are shared by others in Parliament and the Magistracy as well. For example, a large number of seats in both the House of Nobles and the House of Divines were anciently allocated to Tana nobles and monks by tradition, though few ever sat in working sessions of Parliament. Occasionally, one or two will show up for a high ceremonial moot, such as the opening or prorogation of Parliament; several more tend to sit for the New Year Throne Speech. Possibly, even from the earliest times after the arrival of Men into the lands by the sea, the Tana felt it best to leave the government of the land to the rule of Men, while largely ignoring that same rule domestically deeming that it concerned them little enough.

Other Issues of State Yesseraê's main concerns are the great Daine realms to the north and west of Auntimoany: Withwandiê to the north and Harathalliê to the west, beyond Angera, and that land also hight Westmarche. The latter's powerful and standoffish Greatqueen being the greater of her two worries. It is thought by many in Auntimoany that the Greatqueen Serendârzhan is eagerly looking for any pretext to renew the ancient war between the two realms, and a war that she herself fought in in her youth.

Domestic issues (Hotay and Trolls amssing forces in the Hill Country; curious unknowns of domestic economy & trade; piracy on the seas) all seem to swirl around the Tana Question: what is to be done with a race of people who are only recently considered legal Persons, yet have shown no obvious interest in the affairs of Empire and also constitute a very large minority of the Empire's population?

A series of skirmishes and border throubles in the marchlands between Auntimoany and Harathalliê have prompted Yesseraê to strengthen the fortifications along the border in that region. Her great fear is an invasion from that direction, but she must not neglect to descry the hearts of her own Tana population. Her Magisters can give no firm answers one way or the other to her questions: will her Native Tana fight for Auntimoany in case of a war? Or will they side with their cousins in Westmarche? Or would they remain neutral?

Titles, Styles and Arms -- Until 1st Wodamath 2003: Princess Quint-Minor of the House of Brussom-Toncat Thereafter and until 14th Thrimmilco 2010: Queen Consort of Auntimoany Thereafter and until the present time: Empress Regent of Auntimoany; Archon of Angera

Her complete style is: Yesseraê Willunnô in Whom Resides the Commission of Heaven: Empress of Auntimoany, Archon of Angera, Empress of the Woodland Realm Oversea, Dread Lord of Justice and Defender of the Right.

Her symbol at arms is a ship sailing west bearing apples and flowers in its holds and a great broad leafed tree for its mast and sails. Her personal seal bears the device of an apple tree in blossom.

Ancestry -- The noble line of Yesseraê's father, Aro-aro the Wise, can be traced back first through the House of Brussom, whose founding lord was a princely ruler in Morotuncaê during the 17th century of the present age. Fourteen Houselords descend from Brussom to Aro-aro in paternal succession. Before the time of Brussom, who rose from the ranks of the warriors of the Toncat dynasty of eastern Alaria. That house is most ancient indeed and Brussom was the son of a noble who had engaged in a liaison with one of the Dynastic House's highest ranking Sisterwives of the Emperor. After which time, a period of uncertainty ensued, though it appears that Brussom and his captured lover fled south into Morotuncaê and settled there.

The noble line of Yesseraê's mother, Lammasut, can be traced back to the earliest & most noble Houses of the realm. Her earliest maternal ancestor was none other Ghershannayê, the founding Queen of Morotuncaê, who reigned in the ninth century of the present age.

[eldin raigmore]

Cool! beyond words!

[elemtilas]

Second in a series of biographies of the most powerful women in The World: Serendârzhan, Greatqueen of Harathalliê.



Serendârzhan is a Tana of the Sharundaine kindred and was born in the Springtide of the year of the Stunted Woodcock in the Daine ghettos in the southern quarter of the Old City of ancient Hoopelle. During the time of her youth, she lived with her mother, her mother-sister and their mate. Between them, seven children out of nineteen survived into adulthood, and of these, Serendârzhan was the eldest of four sisters and three brothers. Serendârzhan was chosen to sit upon the throne of Harathalliê in the year of the Twice Cooked Goose upon the 9th day of Flowertide by fortnight reckoning, which is also the 24the day of Thrimmilco.

Youth -- Serendârzhan was ever a bold and forthright girl. Even when she was quite young, she always sought to right wrongs and stand firm against any kind of evil. She had also in her young years a store of wisdom often deeper than that of her siblings. For while the urge to fight against evil was strong in the young Serendârzhan, still she would seek to turn the hearts of evil doers to the good before taking up arms and trouncing them!

How Serendârzhan Taught the Hraohrao Tree to Talk -- Some time in the late 1400s, some unthinking gardener planted a hraohrao tree in an unsuspecting corner of his noble employer's garden. At first, it seemed to be nothing more than a dead twig, yet suddenly, it sprouted into a hale sapling and seemed quite likely to develop a nasty, killer personality. The gardener was unaware of what kind of tree was growing in his master's garden, but scholars from the university identified it as one of the most terrifying of all trees: the Sifirean hraohrao. In their native habitat, hraohrao trees are fearsome hunters of the marchlands and guardians of the deeper Forest that is at the heart of Sifirea.

As the tree grew, its trunk broadened and became almost scaly. Odd looking pores began to open near the split where its two limbs branched off, reminding many folk of baleful eyes and horrible mouth. After a few years, various animals that inhabited the grounds turned up horrifically shredded at dawn, and suspicion immediately fell upon the hraohrao tree. The grounds keepers so feared it that a wall of stout stones was built around the tree's portion of the garden, with only a narrow, thick barred bronze gate to allow access.

In the spring of a certain year, the nobleman opened his urban estate and its gardens to all residents of the City. A wayward child discovered the old bronze gate, now hidden behind one of the gardeners' sheds, and slipped between the bars to explore the secret garden. The quiet festivities of the outside world were soon shattered by the terrified screeching of the child. For the hraohrao tree had grown in malice and strength during its seclusion, and here was a tasty morsel worthy of the hunt! The grounds keepers knew instantly what was afoot, for what else could so terrify a guest in this garden! But none dared enter the gate for fear of the stalking tree.

By chance, as it seemed, a young Tana girl was passing along the alley behind the high walls of an estate's gardens, looking for bits of this and that. A scrappy and dirty child, she seemed, and was certainly underfed; though there was a gleam of great intelligence and cunning in her eyes. As soon as she heard the commotion from the other side of the wall, Serendârzhan scampered up the high outer wall and straddled it, looking down upon the scene. She could hear the child screaming and see the Men milling about unsure what to do. Without further thought, Serendârzhan picked her way among the jagged stones that capped the wall and leapt down into the secret garden, landing upon a great soft hedge.

From there, she could see that the child had clambered up into an old disused fountain and was hiding behind the stone angel and its green bronze water pot. The tree itself was focused on its quarry and did not notice Serendârzhan's approach. But the Men peering the gate could see her fleet footed dance across the matted grass and weeds of the old garden.

Almost as if she had done it a hundred times before, Serendârzhan strode right up to the enraged tree and thumped it's engorged trunk and began to give it a very loud and authoritative remonstrance against its behaviour towards the poor scared child. Though not yet grown to her full height, Serendârzhan, drew herself up and stared straight through the hraohrao tree, as if daring it to approach any closer. To the amazement of all the Men waiting outside, the tree shivered and seemed to be cowed. It crept back slightly and made no move to hinder Serendârzhan as she extricated the frightened child from behind the fountain angel.

In gratitude for her bravery, the nobleman promised not the destroy the tree, for she had explained that it was only reacting in the only way it knew how, and that if he would consent, she could teach it be a very good tree indeed. For a long time thereafter she would climb up into the secret garden and talk to the hraohrao tree, and eventually she was even able to teach it to speak.

Such a bond grew between the tree and the girl that it never forgot its first teacher. It would not be for many many years later, when Serendârzhan came home again, that she would find the now ancient tree still guarding the tumbled ruins of the secret garden. She caused an opening to be made in the wall, through which the tree could leave, and ever after it has stoof guard outside the house of the Greatqueen, watching over Serendârzhan through all the long years of her reign.

The goodwill of the Men of old Hoopelle did not long last, however, and as Serendârzhan grew not much older and at last came of age, her troubles with the Fallen Race began in earnest.

Sufferings at the Hands of Men -- Serendârzhan had little education beyond that afforded by the streets when she was very young. Several tutors and craftsmasters, wise and learned as they might be given the low circumstances of all Daine living within the confines of the Empire of old Hoopelle, had taught her much and she showed an unquenchable thirst for learning. She took up an unusual opportunity to learn the Seven Arts, as Men construed them, in return for her service in the house of a Mannish nobleman, the prince Hamdrade of South Stitch. For several years, all was well and the old noble treated her well enough and kept his word towards her. As he aged and health began to fail, the lordship passed to the eldest son, Hargande, who was not so predisposed towards honouring a soulless Tana girl. He made her work all the harder for the knowledge she thirsted for.

Eventually Hargande came near her on a pretext and seized her in a collar and chain and made her his slave. Though she tried to escape, she was unable to break the chain and the young noble's guards easily overpowered her. At first, she was made to scrub floors and polish fixtures, but her beauty soon overcame Hargande's desire to humiliate the proud Tana girl. He made her dance for the entertainment of his house and serve his men at arms. Unable to break her spirit, he sold Serendârzhan to another nobleman who used her as his sex slave.

The humiliations she made to suffer are unworthy of repetition, yet it is a sure testament to the heart and spirit of Dainekind that Serendârzhan bore up and suffered her torment with equanimity. After a year or so in the houshold of the depraved lord, he sold Serendârzhan to the Imperial Museum as an art slave.

The Years of Rebellion -- As news of the Great War of the Alarian Invasion, which began during the year of the Grim Sunrise, filtered down through the streets of the Empire's mighty capital, even the long oppressed Daine of the City heard it and grew in renewed hope.

Serendârzhan's place as an art slave presented her a most curious opportunity. All she had to do was stand gracefully on the low pedestal to which she was bound with polished bronze chains, often holding some ancient artifact or small work of art in her hands. Sometimes she would be allowed to roam the galleries unfettered. No one could prevent her listening to the talk of the Men in the popular gallery, however, and she took to relaying the intelligences she gathered to other Daine more at liberty than herself. Little could she know at the time, but the years of her slavery in the Museum reaped intelligence that was collated with that gathered by other art slaves in the Museum and indeed in public & private libraries all across the City; had that mass of knowledge helped the Rebellion lay their plans for war and eventually for the freedom of their whole enslaved kind.

By the late 1670s, much of the eastern portion of Hoopelle's territories had been lost to the invading Alarians. Only the Kingdom of Hoopelle proper and its territories within and beyond the Holy Hills remained under imperial authority.

In the spring of the year of the Golden Kaleidoscope, on a day determined by the Rebel leadership, Serendârzhan was liberated. It was a day during the final stages of the Alarian War when the enemy had advanced far and had crossed the border and were marching swiftly on the capital itself. Those forces lay stalled in camp some leagues from the capital due to heavy rains all across the region. Inside the City, the Guard were busy trying to lock all the gates to the Daine ghettos in an effort to contain them in advance of what was sure to be a long siege.

The heavy storms, however, amplified by the spring meltwater rushing down the Crags of Caldul, caused flooding in the low lying districts where the Daine were forced to live, as water poured down the streets from the higher parts of the city and also rose up and overflowed from the banks of the Canasawaq River. Trapped, many drowned and perished. Their cries for help could be heard by many Men who refused to help, but also by many Daine who could do nothing to help. And they stood by, growing in rage until ways of escape could be found or contrived.

Serendârzhan led one of the first forrays of Daine into the lower districts in order to free anyone left alive. Her crew rescued thousands over the course of a several days, and by the time the rains passed away and the invaders could march again, the Rebels were ready to make their own move.

Leading a hundred freedom starved and enraged Daine is no easy task, yet Serendârzhan managed her troop well. Even as the warriors of the beseiged and evacuated City saw to the final preparations and as the approaching soldiers of the invaders approached the walls, the Rebels, under their queen, Enca by name, flooded the poorly watched streets, seizing key locations and slaying garrisons of City Watch and Army alike. Serendârzhan was assigned the task of taking the Gallows Gate, in the east of the City. She led her troop bravely and, along with four other troops, surprised the imperial garrison that was manning the walls on either side of the Gate.

This they took and manned in place of the Men they had slain.

When once the mostly empty City was in the hands of the Daine herzog, all the gates were ordered to be opened and the City was to emptied of every fighting Daine that could bear arms. As the Gallows Gate flew open, the surprised Invaders took this as a sign the Emperor was conceding defeat. But far from it! As thousands of Daine warriors poured from it and charged towards the invading army, Serendârzhan was at their head! Her Troops of the Gallows Gate ran headlong into an army of Daine mercenaries, brought over from Alaria simply because they loved the excitement of battle. But their herzog called for a truce and he spoke with Serendârzhan and her own herzogs.

Having been much moved by the sight of thousands of Daine corpses hanging from the brick gallows along the high way, the Daine warriors began to wonder of what kind of Men this Empire of Hoopelle might be to so abuse so many of their kindred. When Thurstanday, the mercenary herzog, learned a little of the history of the Empire and the recent coup, he determined to fight no longer with the Men of Alaria, but rather with the Daine of Hoopelle.

Taking Serendârzhan as their great herzog, they pushed eastward and beyond the end of the Gallows Wood, turned half to the north and half to the south in order to surround the invading armies. From that day, the war turned against the invading Alarians, for their Daine mercenaries turned more often than not against their paymasters and sided with the honourable Rebellion.

The whole of the Daine rebel army was divided into quarters, three pressing into the west, where the fleeing Emperor would no doubt be hiding in some hilltop stronghold or even in the countries beyond. They were allied by the warriors of Dar Irenalliê, which land was occupied though never truly conquered by the Hoopelleish imperium.

Serendârzhan was made herzog of ten troops of a hundred and along with many other valiant warriors, took the eastward road, thrusting the Alarian armies reluctant to give up their spoils and newly conquered lands before them.

Though there were still many Men in Hoopelle fighting to defend their homes or worry the invaders, the queen of the Sharrundaine, who hight Enca, who had drawn the support of all the Daine of old Hoopelle as well as allies from Darenallie and even the Whythywindles was acclaimed Great Queen of Hoopelle in 1680. Some of her staunchest allies were Sharrundaine who had heard of the troubles in Hoopelle, which land they had fled some ten thousand year before and now desired to return home again. They were welcommed and provided great help to the newly freed Sharrundaine who had laboured under long oppression.

Caught up in this war of righteous rebellion were many Men, cottagers, villages, serfs, tradesmen, farmers, monks and herders. All those who had been suffering the hells of the Alarian armys' boots on their necks, now had to suffer the red rage of the Daine armies. When so aroused, Daine will slay with little regard to who is in front of their weapons. And the thought of all their dead kin and the years of their abuse at the hands of Men put them in no mood to rein in that wrath. And so, those Men who were too old or too weak or too young to hoof it pell mell into the east and beyond the borders of Occupied Auntimoany were brutally slain.

During the springtime of the year of the Unruly Child, as the Daine armies swept southwards near the Angeran marches, the red rage was running high, and Men were fleeing for their lives along road and track, throwing all aside in order to lighten their burden. They left behind the sick and injured and not a few made the choice to leave behind their babes in arms if they became too weary to bear them up. All were slain.

At the last, Serendârzhan and her warriors were pursuing a rag-tag mob of soldiers and refugees in the vicinity of Sursio, in ancient times a Daine shrine, but anymore a farming village. The Men were fleeing along the road that led to the border, a league or more away, though many weary folk took refuge in a large farmstead. There, it is said for some years already, a small family of Daine had long been residence, trying to maintain themselves against the Alarian invaders. And now Mannish armies and refugees from the west were pressing them for succour.

There it was at the farmstead's garden well that Serendârzhan met with Anfarad who had been protecting a number of wayward Mannish refugee children and elders. It was through his efforts that the hosts of Daine warriors were at last calmed and Serendârzhan called for a truce with the armies of Men who she had been chasing and they went to those who were waiting now beyond the border. It was there also in the next year, that of the Winged Sword, that the Greatqueen Enca came out of the west to parlay with the ruler of Auntimoany, the military governor of the Alarian armies and the nobles among Men who had allied themselves with the invaders.

Thus ended the Great War that is known even now among the Daine of Westmarche as the Sorrow Laden Rebellion, though among Men it is known to this day as the War of Illshed Blood.

The Years of the Kin Strife -- For some years after the Great War, Enca returned to old Hoopelle to begin the work of ordering her realm and granting to every family and clan of her people places to inhabit and establishing good government everywhere. Yet peace was not to last long within her realm. For ancient resentments harboured by the Newcomers against those Native Sharrundaine that had green eyes flared up and violence turned to civil war.

Serendârzhan having lost all knowledge of her family had none to live with and took to wandering the wide world for a time. First she wandered into the west and lived for a time in Demariê, and there she fought with against the armies of the Warlords. During the years of the Strife, Serendârzhan was away, though even in Demariê folks heard the sorrowful news out of the east. The few Newcomers who had also wandered down into Demariê were outnumbered by other Sharrundaine, both green and blue eyed, and decided the wiser course would be to set aside any ill will they may have harboured against those of her kind.

Hunting the Hotay -- After several seasons of fighting against the Warlords, Serendârzhan felt the urge to wander again. She herself has never spoken much of the long years of her wandering, though many suspect she found herself taken captive and abused by the armies of the Warlords.

By the year of the Woesome Dwarrowring, Serendârzhan returned again to the East and took up hunting bands of evil Hotay in the hill country of the Wild Marches beyond Pozzûn and the Heptarchy and all the way up into Narnen and the Arnal Mountains of western Auntimoany.

Hotay are often brave warriors and vicious, especially when the chances of a quick victory and easy spoils seem likely. It has long been a happy pastime of Tana and Turghun warriors and hunters alike to chase these wily and evil-minded marauders up and down whatever lands they have chosen to harass.

The Lesser Pig Wars -- Some time during the back half of the century of the Red Dragonfly, the Hotay allied themselves with a hitherto unknown race of marauding savages, the similarly evil-minded Wereboars. These keen warriors and voracious scavengers are huge in comparison to their Hotay compatriots and also much stronger. By the year of the Golden Tusk, the queen of Lanera Maram, the easternmost of the Little Kingdoms that line the White River under the Bal Erruin west of Auntimoany, published a call for brave heroes and valiant knights of any race or nation to come to the aid of the Little Kingdoms in their fight against the warlike Wereboars and their Hotay allies.

Serendârzhan heard news of this call and went immediately to the thickest of the fighting. Again taking up her old role as herzog, she led her warriors into many hard battles over the next seven years as waves of Wereboars and Hotay broke themselves against the defenders of the Little Kingdoms. In late Dogsummer of the year of the Trampled Grass, the Wereboars and their Hotay allies disappeared into the Wild Marches and the hill country beyond, their retreat every bit as mysterious as their brash attacks of the years previous!

Though many brave warriors fell during the Lesser Pig Wars, the survivors enjoyed many years of peace that followed. And for a change, Serendârzhan, enjoyed some of that peace herself, for Yueriandac, the queen of Lanera Maram, offered her own younger brother, a fiery red haired fellow called Shuinfara, to Serendârzhan for her valour in battle and in particular for the stern offense she offered to the mighty Pigmen for trying to enter the country. This reward she accepted and settled for a time in the little queendom for a time. With him she bore two girls, twins, callen Sharyan and Yarathayan.

Return Home -- After the birth of her first girls, a great longing to go home at last overcame her and Serendârzhan took her toddlers and left the Little Kingdoms behind. This last trek was not long, for the westernmost of the Little Kingdoms, Markland, was but a short distance from the ancient South Tower along the border with Harathalliê. From South Tower, she went up again to Sursio where the Great War had ended, and many remembered her deeds of valiantry, and Anfarad was now the chief monk of the renewed shrine, and he welcomed the farwalking hero with good cheer.

In the year of the White Ships, Serendârzhan was elevated to the queenship of Sursio where she founded a school near the shrine, and there at the crossroads between the two great realms, scholars of Daine and Man kindreds could study and debate in peace. Her reign there was marked by peace within her realm and tranquility along the border with Auntimoany and in the year of the Squeaky Fiddle, Serendârzhan went home at last, to the Daine city of Hou-an-Polun, not far from the ruins of old Hoopelle where she lived out the years of her youth long ago. There she was summoned to serve for a time in the Great Queen's council. She also took up teaching in the schola there, where many benefitted from her wisdom.

Greatqueen Reranday, who had reigned since the year of the Inconsolable Dustbunny, sought retirement from the Queenship that year and the Council chose to elevate Serendârzhan and she sat upon the oak throne of Harathalliê at the end of Thrimmilco of the year of the Twice Cooked Goose. Since that time, she has reigned wisely and cunningly, for other lands may not be engaged in war with her realm, yet still they bear careful watching and unceasing vigilance.

Principal Events of Her Reign

The Great Pig Wars -- The years between the Stopped Horologion and the Cracked Nut served as Serendârzhan's first foray into action beyond the borders of her own realm. In like manner to the Lesser Pig Wars that Serendârzhan's herself fought in almost half a century before, the bloodthirsty race of Pigmen, half Man and half wild boar in nature, burst down out of the high hill country west of Auntimoany and Mentolatum. The Tana countries thereabouts fought bravely, but being few in number, they were hard pressed to take good advantage of their own valour.

A Tana warrior known as Mireh came down out of the higher hills and led several legions of warriors to good effect between the years of the Doomed Bottlecap and the Cracked Nut. It was to this valiant herzog that Serendârzhan sent some of her own warriors and Hotay hunters. Lads of the southern marches mostly, they knew well the tactics of wiley Hotay and were fearless in battle. But it was Mireh's warriors who were well versed in the ways and craftiness of the Wereboars, and with the Greatqueen's help she was able to land telling blows against their enemy's forces during those years of stiffest fighting. During which time the numbers of Wereboars were reduced to perhaps 60 percent of their former strength.

Late in the War, the old allies of the Wereboars, the Hotay, came out of hiding and allied themselves with their good friends. The melding of forces seemed to renew the vigour of the flagging Pigmen, but Mireh met in single combat the great chieftain of the Pigmen, known only as Susu. This mighty warrior was described as standing some eight or nine feet tall and weighing about 1500 pounds. Mireh, on the other hand, stood only about five feet tall. Her weapon of choice was called The Pocca; a round knob of smoothly carved hardwood with a long slender handle carved on one side. With this weapon in hand, Susu roared in laughter as the tiny Tana warrior approached. Her small size and agility allowed her to evade his swipes with his huge cudgel and his casts with his meteor hammer. Abandoning conventional weapons, he dropped to all fours and charged with his tusks. Susu opened his maw wide and roared at the last moment and Mireh rammed The Pocca down his throat, causing him to choke to death. Ever after, she was called Mireh Pigdoom and a great friendship arose between the Daine kindreds of the southern marches and of the high hill country and the folk of Harathalliê.

Regaining What Was Once Lost -- Serendârzhan continued Greatqueen Reranday's policy of regaining the lost knowledge of their Sharrundaine ancestors. To this end, she has often sent expeditions into the ruins of old Hoopelle to seek out the ancient libraries and treasuries that lay hidden under the deep layers of the ruins of Man's imperium in the land.

Under Reranday, the Seven Springs and their shrines were rediscovered and made accessible again; while under Serendârzhan, in the year of the Variegated Kejap-pot, several ancient libraries of the ancient Sharrundaine realm of Canash were unearthed. Much ancient wisdom and witcraft were recovered and the scholars of Harathalliê became ever busier interpreting the ancient documents.

Many rediscoveries of their folk's ancient past were illumined and all the realm was abuzz with wonder and pride about those ancient achievements. Yet it became clear to even the least schooled of her folk that not all those achievements could be wisely utilised without great cost. The knowledge of the history of the Great Wars was keen in the hearts of all, and none wished for the knowledge of the terrible weapons that had been uncovered to be lost to the wrong hands.

But Serendârzhan was wise, and perhaps wise beyond her years: she foresaw not only what fallen Men might do with these ancient weapons, but also what her own kind might do with them! It then fell to her and the wisest of her counsellors to determine which paths of ancient wisdom to follow and which to leave buried in the past.

Of those that passed muster, surely the rediscovery of the distillation of the spirits of Elektra City and the utilisation of flying gas to bear up beautiful airships ranks high! For even now, Hou-an-Polun is decorated with beautiful crystal globes of dimly and warmly glowing luciferescent orbs; and the utility of the homunculus engine in powering airships and automotivated ploughs is plain to all.

Certain of these wonders were deemed appropriate to share with the other Tana realms of the East, and the folk of Onutumun, which is the Tana name for Auntimoany, in turn taught the folk of Harathalliê many deep and subtle arts of dwimmery. Most notable of these was the art of dendrothaumology, the dwimmer art of growing trees and plants into beautiful and graceful structures. And even the Men of Auntimoany have benefited from this scholarship, for they too have learned to destil the spirits and their rather clunkier homunculus engines power the great brontoreeds of the caravanway.

The Long War with the Warlords -- During the year of the Nervous Voyager, new wars broke out far to the west, where the Warlords became active again. Though the Tana realm of Demariê has ever been the Warlords' chiefmost target, this time, they took especial aim at the Yttuun realms of Saraqûn and Wershqûn, to the west of Demariê.

Over the next several years, Harathalliê and Dar Irenalliê both sent many legions of warriors to the aid of their cousins and friends in the west and there they fought valiantly and earned much honour for their queens upon the Plains of Taram.

Though the wars lasted long, until the year of the Terminal Ecstasy, the fighting was not continuous. Sometimes a year or two would pass with nothing more than a skirmish, only to be followed by a year or perhaps three marked by unrelenting and violent warfare. By the year of the Infested Turtle, and for the remaining five years of the War, all the realms of the west from Ramavadion to Druun, from Endunion to Serelia and Ruadram became involved and at last pushed back the armies of the Warlords, who once again fled across the Desolation to their own homelands by the Sea of Wucar.

Tensions Between Harathalliê and Auntimoany -- In recent years, Serendârzhan has had to treat with an entirely different kind of adversary, one which all Daine of good will hope her great wisdom and intelligence can make amicable terms with. Namely, the Empress of Auntimoany herself, Yesseraê Willunnô.

Since her elevation to the Sun Throne in the year of the Incrusted Woodpecker, Yesseraê has harboured a great deal of quiet resentment and ill will towards the Tana of her own realm and also those of Serendârzhan's country. She has openly antagonised Serendârzhan by fortifying the border between the two realms and by placing strictures on travel and trade. Several skirmishes along the border have done little to calm the situation. Twice, once in the year of the Mended Scapula and once in the year of the Brass Waterpot, Serendârzhan has gone to Sursio seeking to meet with Yesseraê, but was declined on both occasions.

At no time is the future ever seen more clearly than through a wall of thick stone, and all the Wise know that even the past and the present are often seen as through a glass dimly and it is only through deep contemplation of the mysteries of history that one can ever hope to navigate through to a safe harbour. This Serendârzhan hopes to do, for she wishes to bring no kind of war against the Men of Auntimoany. For indeed she knows what the outcome must be: the destruction of Men in the Eastlands, for Yesseraê will call upon her vassals and allies, and so too will Serendârzhan call upon her friends and allies. No good can come of a war between two great powers, and though the blood of many Tana and Men alike would be spilled, Yesseraê is unlikely to survive the holocaust with her realm intact.

[elemtilas]

Elsewhere Dwimmery

Somewhere deep in the ancient Archives of the venerable city of Alexandria upon Pyaro lies a device. A strange thing of coloured metal and, and ... stone? No, not stone. It's too warm to the touch. And it's very light to the touch.

As a matter of fact, the Archives of the City contain several such devices, each jealously guarded by the priesthoods of its associated god. Even in this age of impending doom, scholars of the Empire seek ever and anon to figure out what these strange gifts of the gods are and what they do. Others wonder where they actually came from and how they came to rest upon the deep altars of the Archives.

A very few, philosophers mostly, ask questions like "if the things came from the gods, why don't they do anything?"

If the philosophers of the City spent a bit more time combing the arcane records of the Great Library, rather than just arguing with each other in its shady porticoes, perhaps they'd be able to piece together something approaching an answer. You see, an unusual occurence happened at an ancillary Gate some fourteen thousand years ago in the vicinity of western Phazzanea, where some dutiful though sadly long forgotten scribe made a record of the event.

Two armies of competing proto-Archaic Empires were in the region, one of which was almost certainly Atelantean, and were advancing on one another when of a sudden...

The powerful orange glow, like the Sun as he lowers upon the face of Gea, appeared in the space between the rapidly closing warriors.

The men were all brought up short by the shimmering, glittery light. From within the glowing light were heard subdued voices as of Men, though none knew what language they were speaking. At first no people of any sort could be seen, then in an instant, the voices became loud and many powerful gods appeared in the gleaming light bearing strange devices. One held aloft a brilliant and dazzling gem, glowing many colors from within a golden basket; another carried polished metal wands and a third bore a basket that issued forth a vapor like that of a mighty dragon.

The first called out mighty Words of command and a much brighter greenish light appeared before them, as if it were a Gate into one of their heavens. Without pausing so much as an instant, the lot of them tumbled through the Gate's green light. As the last one passed out of sight, their voices faded again; and then the two gateways of shimmering light faded and were gone.

Neither army moved and no man spoke. Every warrior was riveted to the spot, stunned and amazed by what they had witnessed. At last, the two leaders of the men approached one another at the place of the translocation of the gods. The men had already decided that no good could come of fighting on ground visited by the gods, and they began to disperse. The leaders had to accept the men's truce and parted ways.

One of the leaders, of the western faction, had seen a strange metallic object on the spot where the gods had passed through the world from one heaven to another and had the presence of mind to pick it up. It glinted in his hand as he returned to face the backs of his retreating men. He had no sense of what it could be or why it had been dropped. Was it an accident, or did the gods want for him to find it at that time? Who were these strange and talkative gods and what were they doing?

Atelis was the name of that leader of the western faction, and his star was just about to rise, though little he could comprehend what the strange glowing box was capable of. For indeed the shining object Atelis picked up was a device of great power, and it soon brought great power and prestige to its new owner, who through the help of his brothers, both wise and learned priests, he became able to read the texts displayed upon its face and he understood the tongue of the gods.

Atelis was an ambitious man, living in an age when the ancient empire of Atelante was in decline, and her colonies were rising to prominence. The land that would one time bear the name Chemia was home to Atelis and his family, and it was not long that his godly knowledge allowed him to seize control of the newly forming kingdom. He learned much of the arts of alchemy, metal working, medicine and many other arts beside. This first pharaoh of the Chemians became a great man, but his heir was weak. After Atelis's death, the heir was unable to maintain control of the Artifact, and it passed into the hands of the priesthood of Imhotep, the healer.

In time, Chemia became a technotheocracy; while the pharaoh continued to wield considerable authority in the land, real power was wielded by the college of chief priests, especially those of Thoth, the god of writing, Imhotep, the god of healing and Nefertem, the god of alchemy. For a very long while, the priests were able to study the texts displayed upon the face of the gods' device, and their understanding of the world increased in great strides. Armies of scribes spent weeks and months in the cool of a deep temple complex copying and expounding upon the arcane wisdom of the gods.

At last, the power of the device itself seemed to wane, as if the voice and wisdom of the gods were fading from the world. The scribes redoubled their efforts at copying and translating -- but the chief priests became anxious. What would happen when the device no longer spoke godly knowledge to them? How would their learning advance; and there were still very many gaps in their understanding of what they had already learned.

At last, the device's display became so dim as to be unreadable, and the high priest of Imhotep declared that the voice of the gods would no longer speak through the device unless Chemia undertook a renewed worship of the gods. Perhaps through the ceaseless prayers of the people and the intercession of pharaohs past, the gods would again speak. It did not take long for Chemian science, never too secure in its foundations and never thoroughly understanding of the alien texts displayed in the device, to devolve into a mish-mash of garbled myths and legends and magical mumbojumbo.

In time, those early priests of Atelante and Chemia became deified in the lore of the people and the ancient history was forgotten. The device itself, now long dark, is still revered as a cult object, jealously guarded by priests that no longer know what their ancestors had once done with it. It now rests hidden in a deep dark subterranean shrine, far, far away from the light of day that, ironically, would activate the photocells on the object's surface, thus recharging its power cells. Yet Chemia went forth into darkness darkened by their ignorance of the object that had given them much light.

None can now fathom what the future might hold for this device. Will some intrepid scholar wrest it from the clutches of an ignorant and benighted priesthood? Will its secret be at last revealed?

[eldin raigmore]

A great story! Sounds kinda familiar-ish, a bit?

[elemtilas]

A great story! Sounds kinda familiar-ish, a bit?

Indeed! Here we see the waning century of the once mighty Atelantean Empire in its death throes and its last grasping wars with its colonies of the Middle World. This event takes place in what is now called Phazzanea, along the southern coasts of the Midworld Sea, where two sparring colonial armies of proto-Chemians are squabbling over the carcass of their ancestral empire in the regions along the mighty Pyaro River. If you were thinking "ah, the pre-history of Kemeteia-Misser", then give yourself a tiger nut sweet for paying attention in lecture!

[eldin raigmore]

Actually on Conworlds.fun Science , on Tue Oct 06 2015 at 4:48am, you posted on the “what conditions would support a permanent human settlement?” Thread.
That post looks like the seed or embryo of this one.

[elemtilas]

Actually on Conworlds.fun Science , on Tue Oct 06 2015 at 4:48am, you posted on the “what conditions would support a permanent human settlement?” Thread.
That post looks like the seed or embryo of this one.

Ah, on that you are correct my friend!

[elemtilas]

The Curious Rights of Man

Citizens of Auntimoany, living in a house in a town or city, have the free right to lavanderment, the right to attach a clothesline to their neighbour's house or building, usually across a street or lane. Within reason, such folk are also free from the tax or fee of lavanderage, which is levied on households that have several attachments on their neighbor's house.

According to an Act of Parliament, The Right to Air (1743), "The Free Right of the householder (a free Citizen of the Empire) to keep, maintain and use a cord of rope for the purpose of airing the freshly laundered linens, naps, bedclothes, tunics, capes or other articles of outer clothing of that household without fee or let of the household to which the cord be attached shall not be infringed upon.

The privilege of double or treble lavanderment, whereby two or three stays are made fast to the other house, may be granted by the leave of the landlord of that house and the tenant thereof. The fee of lavanderage of one half daler each month shall be rendered upon the meridies (the 15th of the month) and payed equally to the landlord and the tenant thereof.

The penalty for withholding the rightful lavanderage due the landlord shall not exceed seven dalers. The penalty for assessing false lavanderage upon ones neighbor shall not exceed fourteen dalers."

So, in Auntimoany, you have the right to freshly air dried laundry, but apparently you can't air out your underwear in such a public manner!

[eldin raigmore]

That’s their version of the 2nd Amendment?

[elemtilas]

I put up a short story set in Auntimoany at Universe Factory.

(The illustration of the cambock was done by Implausible Dorito over on Reddit.)

That’s their version of the 2nd Amendment?

There is no "second amendment" in Auntimoany. People there are expected to keep and bear arms of some kind. Basically, if you're found dead in an alley and are not known to carry at least a knife or cudgel, and you're not a mendicant or turncheek monk, then your death will most likely be ruled suicide on account of stupidity.

[elemtilas]

Fair is Fair

There once was a fair stronghold overlooking the sea in the land of Ypsiy Dale and Maraz wan Mear also Thall was lord of that place. And many tales tell of his deeds in the wild mountains and dark forests beyond Ypsiy Dale and how he brought out of a far country his beloved, Nyssare, the youngest daughter of the queen.

And on that fair day in June, even on the Quarter Day, they were about to celebrate their marriage feast. All the signs were propitious: the sky was fair and clear, the sea breeze warm and gentle, the scent of flowers and fruits wafted through the place on a day of happiness and peace. All except the sea whose king and his rovers had been so boisterous as to deny the lord and his lady the one very necessary component of the wedding feast which of course was a fish worthy of their guests. And a very curious adventure awaited them all.

For on the very morning of the feast, the guests were assembled in the hall for music and dance when there came into the middle of that place a humble fisherman. He entered the hall and approached the high table, his net over his right shoulder and upon his left arm, in the manner of a brave warrior returning from the hunt, a shieldfish. The great fish was so large and so glistening that all the folk there gathered were sure it must have been created especially for this occasion.

Now, everyone was joyful that the King of the Sea had at last yielded up his portion for the feast and Lord Maraz said, in the presence of all his guests and of his lady: "Good sir fisherman! But name your price for this choice delicasy, whatever cost you think fit!, and it shall be paid to you instantly."

The fisherman presented the great fish to the chef's four porters, bearing a huge bronze frying pan between them. "Lashes, my Lord, one gross, to be put upon my bare back! That is the price of the great fish, and I shall not haggle or accept a lower charge for my labour this night last!" Such were the words of the bold fisherman, and he removed his shirt, awaiting his payment. Now, none of the guests were but little astonished by this bargain, but the wandering cheapman would not hear any word of protest or remonstrance, no matter how courteous or gentle.

And the Lord Maraz spoke up then, saying to the guard: "His price must be paid, for he has offered his wares to sell and we have accepted! But lay on lightly, and here in our presence, and count out each penny clearly, that he be not over paid!"

And the guard counted the tale of payment, each lash laid upon the naked back of the brave fisherman as lightly as he might. Until at last, he cried out: "Eleven and five dozen! and Six dozen! ..."

And as the half the payment had been counted out, the fisherman called: "Halt! Hold your weapon, good & faithful guard; my Lord, my half of the payment for your meat has been well and truly paid, for which I thank your kindness! But I have yet my associate in this business of fishing, and I would not wish for him to not receive his due!"

And now spoke the Lady Nyssare: "There are two such mad men in the Dale who charge such prices for their fish? It is indeed fitting that he should be paid and you do well to share the reward with him. But name him and he shall be brought up most swiftly!"

"Lady," said the fisherman, clasping his hands upon his breast; "You need not send to any far country! For, but seek the gateman's house in the wall of your fair stronghold! For it is your own gateman who would not admit me into the stronghold on this fair day, even to sell a poor fish, even to catch a glimpse of your beauty and happiness on this day!, unless I promissed him that he should receive half of whatever I asked for yon shieldfish I ween is even now being fileted in your kitchens!"

Smiling, the Lady Nyssare replied: "Indeed! You are perceptive and a cunning fellow!" To the guards, she said: "But bring the rogue here and let him recieve the moiety that is his due in this business of fishing!"

And so it was done: the gateman was sent for, and brought rather more swiftly and roughly that he should have liked! He was no doubt surprised to learn what was the price for the great fish and he greatly rued his bargain and his dabbling in the business of fishing when Lord Maraz commanded: "Let him bear his price fully: let the strokes be strong and mainful; and count out each penny clearly, that he be not under paid!"

And when the ceremony was finished, the young lord dismissed the false gateman and rewarded the humble fisherman.

[eldin raigmore]

Wow !
That’s creative!

[elemtilas]

Wow !
That’s creative!

Fun to write, but the underlying story itself is actually quite old. It is but a retelling in new clothing!

[eldin raigmore]

Wow !
That’s creative!

Fun to write, but the underlying story itself is actually quite old. It is but a retelling in new clothing!

I recognised a similarity in elements. I didn’t think it was completely like any one story I’d heard before.

[elemtilas]

Wow !
That’s creative!

Fun to write, but the underlying story itself is actually quite old. It is but a retelling in new clothing!

I recognised a similarity in elements. I didn’t think it was completely like any one story I’d heard before.

Well, I shouldn't be surprised! You are eldin after all!, and are well known to be great among the learned Wise. It may well be you read the same magazine I did to recognise elements of the story!

[elemtilas]

First Leap Into Geagraphy

A Catechism for the Young Scholar, be she Man or Daine or any other Kindred inhabiting our Empire. --- Since
1644, Sun-Wulf Peteqer's atlases, geographies, chorographies and travelogues have proven themselves among
scholars, historiographers and travelling merchants alike as the most reliable guides and as well the least prone
to unnecessary flights of fancy. Also available are a range of First Leap books for the young scholars
of our Empire.

LESSON I.

• Q. What is Cosmography?
  
  A. Cosmography is the description of the entire World, the Heavens, and all things above Gea and within the sky.
  
  Q. What is Geagraphy?
  
  A. Geagraphy is the description of Gea’s surface and all things upon it.
  
  Q. What is Chorography?
  
  A. Chorography is the description of some region of Gea’s surface and all things within that province.
  
  Q. Who is Gea?
  
  A. Gea, or Yeola, is the planet or heavenly body upon which we live.
  
  Q. What are the relations of Yeola?
  
  A. Camay or Didyma is Yeola’s twin, whose face we see in the sky; Varen is their mother, the Sun, who reigns over the day; Manael is their king around whom they dance and Halem is their first ancestor.
  
  Q. What are the names of the Planets and what are their natures?
  
  A. The planets are the moveable stars. They are: Rencuestero or Setilanus who is also known as Welkan; he is a dead rocky world. Tarianne or Turmo is another dead, rocky world. Dirarello or Estarea is a very wet, rainy and cloudy world; a sunny day there must be a rare treat and a wonder for all who experience it! Yeola & Camay her twin or Gea & Didyma: Gea is our world. Ashayere or Ares is a dying world; a world once green and blue but he is slowly reddening and drying out. Ceres is a small, shattered world. Marathandare or Mardouc is also known as Juppiter; a very large world, a star that never quite was. Nenurta is another huge world, its halo can be seen with a good telespeculon.
  
  Q. What is the shape of Gea?
  
  A. Round, like a ball.
  
  Q. What is the shape of Didyma?
  
  A. Round, like a ball.
  
  Q. Of what are Gea & Didyma composed?
  
  A. Gea and Didyma alike are composed of Earth & Water; Fire & Air; bound by the Worldspirit.

LESSON II.

• Q. What is a Landrealm?
  
  A. A Landrealm is the largest division of the land.
  
  
  Q. How many Landrealms are there?
  
  A. There are four Landrealms; Pangea, Alaria, Breasal and the Counterweight Lands.
  
  Q. Of what lesser Landrealms is Pangea composed?
  
  A. Pangea is composed of three lesser Landrealms: Eosphora, in the East; Wespera, in the West; Afareia in the South.
  
  Q. Upon which Landrealm do we live?
  
  A. We inhabit the Landrealm of Eosphora.
  
  Q. What are the divisions of the Eastern Landrealm that is Eosphora?
  
  A. The divisions of Eosphora are Narutanea in the East; Irinsurea in the South; Alanea in the West; & Sifirea in the North.
  
  Q. What are the divisions of the Western Landrealm that is Wespera?
  
  A. The divisions of Wespera are Demeteia in the East; Heropeia in the South; Atelante in the West; & Hercanea in the North.
  
  Q. What are the divisions of the Southern Landrealm that is Afareia?
  
  A. The divisions of Afareia are Phazzanea in the north; Vanda in the midlands; and Afareia proper in the south.
  
  Q. What is an Ocean?
  
  A. An Ocean is the largest region of the salt waters.
  
  
  Q. How many Oceans are there?
  
  A. There are eight Oceans: Panthalassê the Encircling Sea is the greatest; then the Ocean of Sunrise, the Ocean of Wine, the Ocean of Congealed Waters, the Ocean of Sunset, the Ocean of the Burning Waters, the Ocean of Farther Waters and the Ocean of Storms.

LESSON III.

• Q. Which is the largest Ocean?
  
  A. Pantalassê is the largest Ocean.
  
  
  Q. What is an Island?
  
  A. An island is a portion of land entirely surrounded by the waters.
  
  
  Q. What is a Peninsula?
  
  A. A peninsula is a portion of land almost entirely surrounded by the waters.
  
  Q. What is a Lake?
  
  A. A Lake is a body of sweet water entirely surrounded by land.
  
  Q. What is a Bay?
  
  A. A Bay is a body of sweet or salt water almost entirely surrounded by land.
  
  
  Q. What is a Nisthmus?
  
  A. A Nisthmus is a narrow neck of land joining two larger portions of land.
  
  
  Q. What is a Strait?
  
  A. A Strait narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water.

Edit: Some additional Questions, plus proper response forms!

[eldin raigmore]

I needed that intro to geography!
Question: Is 66 y/o young in the World?

[elemtilas]

Question: Is 66 y/o young in the World?

Well, that kind of depends!

If you're a Daine, you'd be about twenty to thirty years into your 'eternal youth'. After the age of about thirtyish, Daine cease changing in any appreciable physical way. If you look at, for example, the life of the Greatqueen of Westmarche, you'll see she was born in the year of the Stunted Woodcock, while the court painting was made most probably in the year of the Triumph of despair, making her around 514 years old at the time the picture was made. She could very easily look just the same four to six hundred years hence.

If you're a Man, say of the so called Folk of Light, you'd be just approaching the time when early middle age is just at the horizon. Many are the Folk that live to see twenty decades and many of these are hale until the fourteen or fifteenth. In contrast, the so called Folk of Shadows can expect to live into the eighth or ninth decade and find that middle age passed them long syne by their six and sixtieth year!

If you're a Dharg, on the other hand, a life 66 years is an impossible dream, for they rarely live past the age of thirty years.

If you're a Teyor, numbers of years lived are as meaningless to them as the number of hours or minutes lived are to us. But the long life of Teyor kind is completely alien to even the experience of the Daine who know them best. Their origins, their present dispositions, their ultimate fates: none of those things do they share in common with others of Gea.

[alynnidalar]

What are the divisions of the Southern Landrealm that is Afareia, or is it not divided, or is this considered unimportant to geagraphers? (or is it perhaps undiscovered as yet?)