Continentbuilding VII
Prairiegrand
Downstream of the headwaters of Irimoidil and the castle Acaradan spreads wide, low, well-watered prairies peopled with a robust population, mostly like tall, stout halflings or dwarves but with subtly different features, rounded faces, furrier hair, something 5% hamster-like. They tend to use compound words in the common tongue to name things with naturalistic and agrarian or pastoral themes.
61. Webhedge
Travel: the Setenethel are the great traveling people, and one of their few stable outposts is Webhedge, a collection of wagons and pavilions that has been made permanent over centuries at the junction of eight mighty roads. No one is allowed to stay within Webhedge for more than a year and a day before they go back on the road, leading to an incredibly fluid settlement. The land is low with only lightly rolling hills, crisscrossed with gardens, hedges, and henges so that nature runs side-by-side with people.
What can be found or done here
Repairs to wagons or equipment, maps, magical means of conveyance.
62. Whitescarp
Today’s word is Turmoil. The land upstream of Webhedge is rocky and wild, the river rapid and chaotic, though not impossible to navigate. The color of the water has given rise to the name Whitescarp. The people here, in addition to their normal agrarian existence, make a living as expert pilots and navigators, assisting with portages and masters of building and traveling with small canoes.
What can be found or done here
Excellent boat design, which they are happy to share; cave paintings that mark ancient civilizations.
63. Bonecaves
Today’s word is Bones. One of the roads leading away from Webhedge goes into the Bonecaves, a two-tiered civilization of farmers and delvers (and delving farmers) who work together to create a thriving society that produces excellent trade goods and has remained free of the potential for tyranny and oppression that lurk closer to the coast.
What can be found or done here
Delve into the caves to find treasure, natural resources, or learn farming or meditation techniques; protect the Bonecaves from capitalistic and imperialistic scouts.
64. Shadowgrove
A word like Darkness has a lot of possibilities, especially in a magical land. The Shadowgrove is blanketed in darkness spirits that significantly mute the sunlight, which has lead to an entirely different ecosystem than the surrounding prairie. The Shadowgrove is dominated by a particular species of twisted oak trees that have evolved to thrive in low light while also partnering with other plant species including mosses, ivies, and mistletoes, along with the darkness spirits themselves. Some of these trees play host to sentient owls whose favorite pasttime is to pretend they are sentient trees to confuse wayward passersby.
What can be found or done here
Solve riddles posed by the owls, harvest or research magical plants, negotiate with the shadow spirits.
65. Merefall
Today’s word is Lake. Dozens of small lakes, ponds, and meres connected by little streams, rills, and waterfalls dot the hillier land known as the Merefall. In addition to the regular farmers, Merefall is inhabited by nonsentient, intelligent frogs of a variety of sizes, who have an affinity for both sentient creatures and for the water spirits.
What can be found or done here
Water spirits that love to be bottled and grant tiny wishes (which they occasionally mess with, but only in appropriately tiny ways).
66. Emeraldswath
The Emeraldswath is the part of Prairiegrand that is the most Green. The hills are covered in perfect, vibrant blades of grass, the dales are vast and alive, the animals are calm and friendly. The furry near-halflings are the most in-tune with the land here, striking the perfect balance between agriculture and wilderness. Only, is it a little too nice?
What can be found or done here
Figure out why the people are just so gosh-darned nice here? It cannot be real, can it?
67. Spireglass
Today’s word is Future. Spireglass is an ancient tower of glass with no doors emerging from the prairie. Looking into your reflection in the glass is said to tell your future, twisted or amplified through riddle and metaphor. Only the truly brave or wise can look into it and discern the truth of the future rather than the darkness to be found there.
What can be found or done here
Dare to look at your own reflection, of course.
68. Graygirdle
Today’s word is Forbidden. One of the roads leads through a rich vale, half of which is well populated, while the other half falls beyond a spirit-marked line of vegetation beyond which only the bravest dare venture. Rumor tells that the region beyond, Graygirdle, is a bridge to the underworld, but so few return that no one knows for sure.
What can be found or done here
Delve into the underworld.
69. Ringburg
Progress: one of the roads leads into a rockier area where the people are industrious and technological, always experimenting with new farming techniques and devices, including burrowing, underwater, and aerial machines. This land has become known as Ringburg after the continuous sounds of ringing and hammering as the people tinker.
What can be found or done here
Help discover new technology; discover who has been stealing or sabotaging the most advanced and dangerous discoveries.
70. Spiritarch
The word Uncanny can also go so many directions. Nothing is more Uncanny than the Spiritarch, a narrow arch bridge across a gorge as the river leaves Prairiegrand. Legend says that the earth spirits are all that hold the ancient rock together, for surely it should long ago have pitched into the deceptively calm waters below.
What can be found or done here
The earth spirits have been silent for centuries, leaving the region unsure of how stable the important bridge is.