Wild Territory

 Pelaria  No Responses »
Mar 162013
 

From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur:

When Man fell, the animals of Order and the animals of the Wild went their separate ways. The animals of Order founded Calix’s Cross and Sixtus to live together in harmony. The animals of the Wild went…elsewhere. Gradually, the animals of Order expanded their territory, founding new colonies in Sunnyvale, Bree, Appleglen and beyond. As the animals of Order expanded, many of the animals of the Wild moved outward still while others remained where they had always been. The animals of the Wild have been pushed to the outskirts of the continent. Because the animals of the Wild need to live SOMEWHERE, the animals of Order have agreed not to encroach any further on their territory. Honestly, considering how inhospitable the Wild Territory is, it wasn’t much a gift. Still, to the animals of the Wild, the land is home and they are fierce in protecting it.

Carja’s Notes:

Like it says in Ardebast’s journal entry, the Wild have to live somewhere. When I decided that there would be animals that were Awakened and others who remained wild, it made sense that some of these animals would not be able to live together in harmony. The Wild animals had to live somewhere so I left the outskirts of the continent to them. No matter how noble the animals of Order were, they would naturally settle in the prosperous territories. This would push the Wild to the less desirable places. There’s no nice way of hiding that so the Order doesn’t. They simply came to the conclusion that that’s the way it has to be. They do let some  wild animals live in their territory. Only the more dangerous animals are pushed towards the Wild territory.

The Constabulary

 Pelaria  No Responses »
Mar 022013
 

From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur:

Most of the cities and towns in Pelaria have a dedicated police force. Charged with overseeing their operations are the Constables. The Constables also act as liaisons between city governments and Sixtus. A Constable wields considerable power and it is a highly regarded position in Pelarian society. Only the finest and most exemplary furs are accepted into the Constabulary.

Constables are periodically reassigned from town to town throughout their careers. This prevents complacency and corruption. Assignments to the central towns are highly-coveted due to the proximity to Sixtus. Some Constables however, prefer the outlying territories where they can act more freely.

Carja’s Notes:

The concept of the Constabulary starts with Copley, the dog who still hasn’t rated an appearance in stories or strips. He was always going to be a straight-laced Constable. What specific role a Constable plays in Pelarian society however, I hadn’t given much thought to. This is a concept that most likely will be refined as I go along. Consider this a rough draft for now.

Seton

 Pelaria  No Responses »
Feb 232013
 

From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur:

Seton is about the sleepiest community you’ll ever wander into. I say this as a fur who comes from there. My fondest wish growing up in Seton was to move away from there. While I am now old enough to appreciate the tranquility, as a pup it was excruciatingly boring.

Many furs choose Seton as a place to settle down in their old age. And old furs have stories. One of the few things I found to do was listen to the stories these older folk had to share. One badger in particular, Krynn, was an accomplished storyteller. Listening to his stories and how well he told them inspired me to dedicate my life to acquiring stories and sharing them with as great aplomb. Sadly he passed away while I was away during my first great excursion into Pelaria so I never had the opportunity to share any of my stories with him. It is my greatest regret.

But back to Seton. It is the easternmost community in Pelaria. It lies to the south of the Crimson Coast. The water off the coast is shallow, with many sand drifts rising above the surface. Large boats are advised to avoid approach. The danger is so great that a large lighthouse has been constructed to warn approaching ships. A number of shallow barges are tasked with ferrying cargo to and from the docks on the eastern coast of Seton Isle.

Carja’s notes:

My main thought in developing the blurb for Seton was that I didn’t want another fishing community.And then I decided that Ardebast was born and raised there (he moved to Sixtus later in life).

When creating the map of Pelaria, I added the sand drifts off the coast for visual flair only. Now they’re part of Seton’s identity. I’m not even sure if sand drift is the correct term. It’s the only thing I could think of. If anybody knows what they’re really called. Let me know!

Vawsing

 Pelaria  No Responses »
Feb 162013
 

From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur:

Vawsing is a fishing community on the west coast of Pelaria. A fisherfur’s life is not for everybody. It’s wet work and you’re often on a boat for days at a time. One of the most miserable weeks of my life took place on a fishing boat. Let’s say that this dog wasn’t born for the sea and leave it at that.

My aversion for life on a boat aside, Vawsing is a fascinating community full of colourful characters. I think the periods of isolation make a fur more appreciative of good company. These are furs that appreciate a good yarn. As a result, my cup never runs empty when I visit.

Carja’s Notes:

No notes to share.

Winter in Pelaria

 Pelaria  No Responses »
Feb 022013
 

From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur:

Pelaria is at its most peaceful in the winter months. The farmers have completed the harvest and huddle in their homes to relax. Most fisherfurs dock their boats and do much the same. Heavy snowfalls can block the roads, keeping furs from travelling very far and making towns more isolated. The rangers narrow their patrol routes to keep closer to their station houses. The Mouse Wing is almost completely shut down as many of their bird steeds migrate south (Verdant is almost a ghost town for much the same reason).

This isolation means that towns must be self-sufficient. Emergencies arise however, forcing furs in one town to brave the elements to reach another town for much-needed supplies.

Even activity in the capital city of Sixtus is noticeably slower in the winter months. There are massive storehouses in the city to provide for any emergency. The Order maintains strict control over these stores for if they were to run out, it would be disastrous for the city, if not the entire continent. A town in need can ask Sixtus for help. Aid from the capital comes at a cost in the form of a special tax for the following year proportional to the amount of aid provided. The tax is calculated fairly, taking into consideration that town’s ability to pay.

The Coven also maintains storehouses for the lean months, although their aid is much more costly. Immediate payment is required.

I try to time my travels to be back in Sixtus before the first snowfall. The winter months provide me with time to rest my weary bones (much wearier now than during my younger years) and assemble the notes taken during my travels throughout the year. Great stories are not written in a day after all. In truth however, this is work that could be done anywhere. The reason I prefer to do so in Sixtus is to have easy access to the great library to research all the little questions I’ve also amassed during the year.

Carja’s Notes:

When you’re building a world, questions arise. I was thinking of creating a roleplaying scenario set during the winter months and naturally the question, “What happens to these furs in winter?” came up. It seemed to me that just travelling from one place to the other would prove difficult, so I’ve reformulated the scenario to start at the onset of winter instead. The results of the roleplaying session, when I finish it and my friends and I get to playing through it, will no doubt make for a story later.

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