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Innithel

2026-08-24T02:27:38Z

Aleph:

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 20px;"
|+'''The Principality of Innithel'''
|-
|'''Allegiance'''
|[[Ensor]] (officially)
|-
|'''Capital'''
|[[St. Loomis]]
|-
|'''Government'''
|
* Prince Regent: Demetrius Estevarre
* Countess: Eoforwynn Greyleigh
|-
|'''Demonym'''
|Innithaelian
|-
|'''Official Language'''
|Ilexi, Ruvic
|-
|'''Official Religion'''
|Kalentism
|-
|'''Currency'''
|wafer/dusky/albie
|-
|'''Native Heritages'''
|[[Ilexi]], [[Yehani]], [[Rhodish]]
|}

[[File:Innithel.jpg|thumb|600px|The Principality of Innithel in southwestern Ruvera]]

'''Innithel''' is a small principality located in what was until recently the southwestern corner of [[Ensor]]. It was established in 798 ND when an unprecedented incursion of Mist from the nearby [[Misty Reaches]] cut it off from the rest of the kingdom, leaving it completely isolated and without effective governance. It is made up largely of lands that were once part of Ensor's County Innithel, though the boundaries are not exact.

==People==

The population of Innithel, thin and scattered as it mostly is, is chiefly made up of people of [[Ilexi]] heritage. Pragmatic and resourceful, they make up the brunt of the farmers, shepherds, hunters, miners, lumberjacks, and other hardy outdoorfolk who are the bedrock of the land. Those who live in town and village also engage in a variety of trades, from smithing and carpentry to fulling and weaving. Numerous [[Yehani]] live along the coast, the descendants of those who sailed across the Adelantean long ago to establish new city-states in southwestern Ruvera. [[Rhodish]] ancestry is also not uncommon, and can be discerned in the striking height and fairness of some of the land's inhabitants.

The largest concentration of people is in the principality's single large port town and de facto capital, [[St. Loomis]], while most others reside in the small villages and hamlets that thinly dot the landscape. Few people live far distant from any one of these centers of civilization, as there is some safety from the Mist to be found within groups and defensible settlements. A few bands of [[Rovara]] have been known to roam the moors and forests, but it is said that they were becoming less frequently sighted and fewer in number even before Innithel was cut off from the rest of Ensor.

Although typically reserved around outsiders, the people of Innithel are often much more boisterous among themselves, with a reputation for rough good humor, puckish irreverence, and an eye for the potentially humorous in even the worst situations. They work just as hard as they need to, having as great a love for the leisure of saints' days as for the fruits of their labors. They do tend to have a somewhat fatalistic outlook which is perhaps natural to their difficult situation and surroundings, and while highly adaptable to change they do not tend to initiate it or to welcome it at first. They are rather skeptical of institutions and irreverent towards authority -- aside from the [[Mistwatch]] and the ancient noble line of the Greyleighs -- but their loyalty once earned runs deep, and their devotion to their homeland is boundless.

==Economy==

The vast majority of the people of Innithel belong to the peasantry who work the land, some of them as serfs laboring on holdings belonging to the noble Greyleigh family, others as free tenants with fewer obligations and correspondingly greater independence. In either case, their livelihood is sustained by a mixed agriculture growing grains such as barely and oats, root crops such as turnips and beets, and orchard fruits like lusks. Peasants supplement their cultivation with fishing and hunting, as a well as foraging for wild plants that supply both food and medicine. Besides working for their own subsistence, serfs produce food and goods for use by the Greyleighs and their various dependents, while free tenants often sell their surplus in their local village or at larger marketplaces and fairs.

In addition to farming, sheep raising is widespread throughout Innithel, in part because large areas of the principality are only poorly suited to cultivation. But the wild moorlands and verdant meadows are ideal for sheep, and this region has historically been second only to Courant itself in the production of fine wool and the prized couranty cloth into which it is made.

Innithel also has a long tradition of mining, with tin and lead the most common ores taken from veins scattered around the area. This has led to a small but thriving pewter industry, concentrated in Sterbith and St. Loomis, where a handful of master craftsmen turn out exquisite pewterware vessels, jewelry, fixtures, and more, while their journeymen produce dishware, utensils, and other day-to-day wares that are nevertheless finely crafted and quite beautiful. Local mines have also yielded up silver and copper of good quality. However, many of these mines have fallen into disuse and disrepair as a result of royal policy, which in recent years has favored the expansion of old mines and the opening of new ones closer to the capital.

In the capital of [[St. Loomis]], fishing is a major occupation and source of food, while shipbuilding and a whole host of trades associated with the port town's once-thriving commerce are hoped to see at least some small revival with the start of the trans-Adelantean trade with [[Omrazir]].

==Towns & Hamlets==

* '''[[St. Loomis]]''', the capital of Innithel, a port town renowned for its shipyards and home to the Cathedral of the Blessed Wayfarer.
* [[Doe]], a shepherding community where life revolves around the raising of the hardy Bentmoor Blackface sheep and the harvest of their wool.
* [[Lessaway Fair]], site of several lively seasonal fairs and market days that draw visitors from across Innithel.
* [[Marshowl]], a town formerly of the neighboring County Bent, whose quarriers and stonecutters are in as much demand as their bowyers and fletchers.
* [[Nytt]], a bounteous farming and dairy village that produces the best milk and cream in the land.
* [[Plew-on-Sea]], a stop for travelers along the Wayfare and home to the ferry that connects the Windhove Isles to the mainland.
* [[Redhen]], a small village known for its brewery and signature mead the Redhen Rusty, and also ancient home to a line of oracular chickens.
* [[Sleithdale]], a pleasant hamlet lying in the heart of the country's most fertile farmland.
* [[Sterbith]], a sturdy little town well known for its mines and smeltery as well as for fine metalwork.
* [[Tebbit's Cross]], a crossroads town where four roads meet, high on the lonely moors.
* [[Thynck]], a tough little town on the border of the Mist, eking out a living from sheep raising and its famous fine clay known as thynckelmarl.

[[Category:Political Units]]
[[Category:Geography]]

Companions of the Prophet

2026-08-20T18:25:44Z

Aleph: Created page with "While the community of people who embraced the teachings of the Sirdabi prophet Fadil al-Azad were collectively called the Redeemed, a smaller number among them were known to be especially devoted to the Prophet, either accompanying him faithfully upon his travels, or acting as local spiritual guides for the faith community in his absence. This number grew over time, and eventually came to serve as something like a council in helping to convert the principles of the..."

While the community of people who embraced the teachings of the [[Sirdabi]] prophet Fadil al-Azad were collectively called the Redeemed, a smaller number among them were known to be especially devoted to the Prophet, either accompanying him faithfully upon his travels, or acting as local spiritual guides for the faith community in his absence. This number grew over time, and eventually came to serve as something like a council in helping to convert the principles of the new faith into effective practices, and to loosely govern the affairs of the early [[Azadi]] community. Together, these individuals became known as the '''Companions''' of al-Azad, emphasizing their voluntary association with him as a man of virtue and wisdom, and their willing submission to his guidance as the messenger of the One True God.

==Al-Khamsa: The Five Chief Companions of the Prophet al-Azad==

Among all of these companions, there were five who stood apart as al-Azad's most trusted and cherished friends and advisors. Known as al-Khamsa, these five were rarely far from his side, tirelessly supported him in his mission, propagating and strengthening the young faith, and eventually recording the Prophet's words and deeds. After the death of al-Azad, they continued to play a leading part in developing the Azadi community.

===Adwa===
The Prophet's first wife, and the only woman among al-Khamsa. Her influence on the early Azadi faith and her steadfast support for al-Azad from the time of his very first visions were such that she was considered the first of all companions. After the Prophet's death she was instrumental in preventing the community of the Redeemed from hopelessly fracturing, and in ensuring the integrity of al-Azad's vision for a new society.

===Alaman bin Darush===
Aside from Adwa, the closest of the Prophet's companions. His people were those of the Banu Anshar'a in southern [[Rahoum]], and he was one of the very first to convert to Azadi. Though only ten years' al-Azad's senior, his wise and steady nature made him someone that both al-Azad and Adwa often relied upon for counsel and emotional support. Alaman was eventually chosen to be the leader of the Azadi community following the death of the Prophet. After several years of virtuous rule that established the Azadi ideal of good governance, this first caliph abdicated peacefully and became a wanderer in the desert, Seeking the Song along with his beloved nephew Hiroun al-Birabi.

===Tahmas Sardari al Jaami===
Tahmas was nothing more than a poor [[Irzali]] farmer from Enneskul, but he became a leader of the resistance that eventually grew into the Sparkling Rebellion that overthrew the shahanshah. It was he who first decided to approach al-Azad and ask for his help overthrowing the oppressors of [[Irzal]], and he remained a strong advocate for the Azadi faith and for cooperation and harmony between Sirdabi and Irzali. He was selected to become the second caliph after Alaman's abdication, and was especially conscientious in making sure that Azadi from all lands and backgrounds were accepted within the community on equal terms.

===Mandeb abu Dammar===
The fourth of the Companions, who belonged to the Banu Seghoura of western Rahoum. He was a great warrior and tactician who fought bravely against the pagan tribes of Rahoum and in the siege of Bargha, but he was also one of the first to give up the sword when al-Azad began to turn aside from battle and conquest to embrace a message of peace and seeking. Mandeb became a powerful voice for the Prophet's principles, and he later worked closely with his son Dammar and daughter-in-law Meze to codify these as laws for moral and ethical conduct.

===Photaros el-Bahaari===
The youngest and last of al-Khamsa, and originally a Kalentian. Photaros was born in [[Idiri]] but had sailed north on pilgrimage to the holy lands of [[Marzum]]. While there he heard of the divine messages and miracles associated with al-Azad and of this prophet's vision for a new and freer world, and sought him out in order to learn more. After several months of observing al-Azad's example and deep discussion of the Perfected Song he was converted, and for many years after the Prophet's death he sailed around the [[Sea of Sala'ah]] and beyond, Seeking the Song and telling others of Azadi.

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Lore]]

Marzite

2026-08-18T21:07:58Z

Aleph: /* Uses */

'''Marzite''' is a semiprecious stone within the chalcedony family of gems. It can be found in all shades of opaque reddish violet, from almost lilac to a dark plummy shade, but is most commonly somewhere in between. It has a slick, almost greasy lustre when polished, and a pleasantly smooth slick feel.

==Origin==

As the name suggests, marzite is most abundant in the [[Sirdabi Caliphate|Sirdabi]] province of [[Marzum]], as well as in the neighboring southernmost regions of [[Rahoum]]. Smaller deposits have also been found in [[Raziya]].

Although it can be mined or quarried, it is more common for marzite to be dug up and sieved from alluvial deposits. In Marzum, such deposits have built up from the weathering of the great old volcanic ranges over millennia of alternating monsoon rains and dry heat. Weathered stone and silt then washes down in great quantity via the many permanent and seasonal waterways that originate in the mountains.

Although most alluvia likely flows into the major rivers of Marzum and from there into the [[Sea of Sala'ah]], it is on the extremely dry northern side of the mountain ranges that the end result of this process is most striking, and where marzite is typically recovered. For it is only in these dry and landlocked regions that the weathered bones of the mountains are deposited accessibly on dry land, forming vast fans of gravelly debris that spill out into the surrounding desert.

==Uses==

Marzite is one of the most treasured stones for use in [[aqiq]] jewelry, due to its association with the [[Sirdabi]] prophet al-Azad. Thanks to its alluringly smooth and silky texture it is also prized as a worry stone.

Marzite is accredited with healing and protective properties, and has long been incorporated into amulets and lapidary healing practices. Its use as an antidote to numerous kind of poison has brought it still greater renown, and finely crushed marzumite powder has been considered indispensable by many a caliph and emperor.

[[Category:Rocks & Minerals]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Marzite

2026-08-18T21:07:03Z

Aleph: Created page with "'''Marzite''' is a semiprecious stone within the chalcedony family of gems. It can be found in all shades of opaque reddish violet, from almost lilac to a dark plummy shade, but is most commonly somewhere in between. It has a slick, almost greasy lustre when polished, and a pleasantly smooth slick feel. ==Origin== As the name suggests, marzite is most abundant in the Sirdabi province of Marzum, as well as in the neighboring southernmost region..."

'''Marzite''' is a semiprecious stone within the chalcedony family of gems. It can be found in all shades of opaque reddish violet, from almost lilac to a dark plummy shade, but is most commonly somewhere in between. It has a slick, almost greasy lustre when polished, and a pleasantly smooth slick feel.

==Origin==

As the name suggests, marzite is most abundant in the [[Sirdabi Caliphate|Sirdabi]] province of [[Marzum]], as well as in the neighboring southernmost regions of [[Rahoum]]. Smaller deposits have also been found in [[Raziya]].

Although it can be mined or quarried, it is more common for marzite to be dug up and sieved from alluvial deposits. In Marzum, such deposits have built up from the weathering of the great old volcanic ranges over millennia of alternating monsoon rains and dry heat. Weathered stone and silt then washes down in great quantity via the many permanent and seasonal waterways that originate in the mountains.

Although most alluvia likely flows into the major rivers of Marzum and from there into the [[Sea of Sala'ah]], it is on the extremely dry northern side of the mountain ranges that the end result of this process is most striking, and where marzite is typically recovered. For it is only in these dry and landlocked regions that the weathered bones of the mountains are deposited accessibly on dry land, forming vast fans of gravelly debris that spill out into the surrounding desert.

==Uses==

Marzite is one of the most treasured stones for use in [[aqiq]] jewelry, due to its association with the [[Sirdabi]] prophet al-Azad. Thanks to its alluringly smooth and silky texture it is also prized as a worry stone.

Marzite is also accredited with healing and protective properties, and has long been incorporated into amulets and lapidary healing practices. Its use as an antidote to numerous kind of poison has brought it still greater renown, and finely crushed marzumite powder has been considered indispensable by many a caliph and emperor.

[[Category:Rocks & Minerals]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Leopard Guard

2026-08-18T18:10:53Z

Aleph: categories

Unlike its counterpart the [[Lion Guard]], the '''Leopard Guard''' operates like the creatures for which it is named, in shadow and secrecy. Whereas the Lions provide a highly visible military and police force for the leaders of the [[Sirdabi Caliphate]], the Leopards furnish neither show nor strength of arms. What they offer instead is information -- as well as the occasional more subtle exertion of force and violence to secure the interests of caliph or bey.

Many Leopards have an official role as diplomats or trade negotiators, or even as lower-ranking staff within Sirdabi emissaries established in foreign lands. But at least as often they go completely unnoticed and unsuspected, working as everything from soldiers and scribes to tradesmen and cleaners. Most of their services are carried out covertly, and few besides the caliph or bey himself, and perhaps a handful of advisors, even know who counts among the Leopards' number.

==The Leopards in Omrazir==
As in most other parts of the caliphate, the Leopard Guard of [[Raziya]] operates as an intelligence service whose membership is largely unknown. The head of Leopards was formerly known to be a [[Tessouare]] man by the name of Filouz ibn Sereil, but since his death at sea in 796 their new leader has been unknown, even though it is presumed there is one.

==Location==
The Leopard Guard is most probably headquartered in [[Omrazir]] where Fuad Bey and his court are located, and presumably have some presence within the [[al-Tifriyya Palace]] and the [[Kasbah al-Jurf]]. With most else regarding the Leopards, however, this merely conjecture.

==Public Perception==
The Leopard Guard, when they happen to be thought of by the ordinary people of the caliphate, are generally an object of fear or at least uneasiness. While they have no reputation for persecuting the people of their own lands, their role as masters of spying, subterfuge, and sudden silent death guarantees that no one feels quite easy in their mind about them either. On the other hand, only the most paranoid (or guilty) suspect that the Leopard Guard could really have any interest in ''their'' particular affairs, and so for the most part the "spots," as they are often known, are the source more of idle gossip and speculation than genuine worry.

[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Leopard Guard

2026-08-18T18:09:58Z

Aleph: Created page with "Unlike its counterpart the Lion Guard, the '''Leopard Guard''' operates like the creatures for which it is named, in shadow and secrecy. Whereas the Lions provide a highly visible military and police force for the leaders of the Sirdabi Caliphate, the Leopards furnish neither show nor strength of arms. What they offer instead is information -- as well as the occasional more subtle exertion of force and violence to secure the interests of caliph or bey. Many Leop..."

Aqiq

2026-08-14T16:15:21Z

Aleph:

Aqiq

2026-08-14T16:00:37Z

Aleph:

Aqiq

2026-08-14T15:36:38Z

Aleph:

Aqiq

2026-08-14T14:57:04Z

Aleph: Created page with "'''Aqiq''' is the Sirdabi word for gemstones in the chalcedony family, especially but not limited to agate. Other stones referred to as aqiq include carnelian, sard, jasper, marzite, chrysoprase, bloodstone, and onyx. Although most varieties are not as rare as truly precious gems like emerald or ruby, aqiq stones are highly prized within Azadi culture for their association with the Prophet al-Azad and before him with such honored figures as Shamsar, the lege..."

'''Aqiq''' is the [[Sirdabi]] word for gemstones in the chalcedony family, especially but not limited to agate. Other stones referred to as aqiq include carnelian, sard, jasper, marzite, chrysoprase, bloodstone, and onyx.

Although most varieties are not as rare as truly precious gems like emerald or ruby, aqiq stones are highly prized within [[Azadi]] culture for their association with the Prophet al-Azad and before him with such honored figures as [[Shamsar]], the legendary ancient king of the Marzumite [[Yehani]]. Aqiq are often engraved with small symbols and calligraphic mottoes to make personal signet rings.

==The First Aqiq Ring==
The very first aqiq ring in the style of those worn by many Azadi today was that belonging to the Prophet al-Azad. His third wife [[Haleb]] had tried to bestow on him the marriage gift of an aqiq originally worn in the crown of her ancestor King Shamsar, a marzite engraved with the image of the sun-crowned fish eagle once used to symbolize Elu-Hani. When al-Azad turned this well-meant gift down due to its traditional Yehani imagery, Haleb grew upset and offended, her pride stung by this perceived slight to herself and her ancestry. Seeing this, the Prophet eventually relented -- but only on condition that the marzite should be engraved on its reverse side with the first line of the Surah of Oneness, and that it should be set within a ring with the original image turned to the ring's backing and out of view. Al-Azad told his bride-to-be that this would symbolize the overturning of the old ways and beliefs, while reaffirming the link between the first worshipers of the One God and those who now now knew It correctly as Annur, the illuminator of the now-Perfected Song. Haleb agreed to this request, having the stone worked and set as requested in a simple silver band, and so was the first aqiq ring devised.

Ilexi

2026-08-05T17:48:29Z

Aleph:

The '''Ilexi''' are the people of far western [[Ruvera]], native to the Kingdom of [[Ensor]] and the [[High Hinterlands]]. They also make up the better part of the population of the newly separate principality of [[Innithel]].

Ilexi tend to be both individualistic and clannish, particularly in the highland regions of north Ensor and in the High Hinterlands themselves. Most other peoples of Ruvera view them as brash, boorish, and generally unsophisticated, if not outright wild. The more cultured Ilexi of the south are continually embarrassed by this reputation, which spurs an extra bit of resentment between the residents of north and south Ensor.

==Appearance==
The Ilexi are a middling sort of people in build and appearance. Not as fair as the [[Rhodish]], they tend towards light to tanned skin and dark blond to brown hair. Truly black hair is rare, but dark brown is not uncommon, and various darker shades of red are also frequently mixed in. The color of their eyes runs the gamut of lighter tones from grey to deep brown, with blue and light brown being most typical.

[[Category:Heritage]]
[[Category:Character Information]]

Skeggit

2026-08-05T17:00:54Z

Aleph: headers

The '''skeggit''' is a large bovine similar to a musk ox. It can be found in the far northern reaches of [[Ruvera]], where it is well adapted to the long and bitter winters and brief summers.

==Appearance==

The skeggit is a very shaggy beast, with extremely long outer guard hairs and a dense woolly undercoat. More unusual than the coat itself, however, is the layer of moss that grows on top of it. This moss, nearly as long and shaggy as the skeggit's coat, adds a light but still warmer layer to the creature's defenses against the cold. Young skeggit start to be lightly splotched with this moss at an early age, and the oldest skeggit in a herd can easily be distinguished by their luxuriant green-grey trappings. The skeggit has a large head topped with pronged horns, which are longer and more heavily pronged in males than females. It lacks the bony head shield of its cousin the musk ox, and instead of fighting for dominance by head-butting one another, they instead seem to compete by attempting to intimidate other bulls with a head-swaying display that shows off the spread of their moss-festooned horns.

==Behavior==

Wild skeggit live together in herds of a dozen to two dozen animals, larger in the summer than the winter. The winter herds mix males and females together, but after the breeding season's battles for dominance among the bulls, the victor will drive the other bulls off from the herd and leave only the females. Calving occurs in the spring, but following the hardest winters conception does not occur in female skeggit and no young are born the following year. Skeggit typically wander with the seasons, following their seasonal food sources of willows, lichen, and other nutritious browse.

==Relationship with Humans==

Skeggit have been at least partially domesticated by the Qalqesh tribes of [[Angrosh]] that make the far north their home, and some of the [[Frekki]] have done the same. Although the tamed skeggit may be only lightly tended by these pastoralist peoples, they show a mysterious bond with their tenders which some say is due to some sort of sympathetic shamanistic magic. Skeggit herders will drive their animals to areas of better browse in the hardest months of the year to ensure better breeding outcomes for their herds, and in the summer the skeggit allow them to harvest the wool of their undercoats to be made into warm garments and blankets. The Qalqesh and Frekki also harvest the moss that grows on the skeggit's coats, as it is said to have both medicinal and nutritional value.

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]
[[Category:Lore]]

Bubal

2026-08-05T16:30:41Z

Aleph:

The '''bubal''' is a type of kongoni or hartebeest native to northern [[Idiri]]. Avoiding desert interiors and wooded areas, they can be found in small herds on coastal plain and in grassy scrub throughout the lands of the southern [[Adelantean Sea|Adelantean]]. In [[Raziya]], they are found chiefly on the [[Plain of Storms]] and in the [[Stormbreak Hills]], up to the lower levels of the [[Rassi Plateau]].

==Appearance==

The bubal is a large ungulate, standing up to three and a half feet at the shoulder and weighing between 220 and 400 pounds. It has a large powerful chest, and its back slopes down noticeably from the shoulders which have a small but noticeable hump. The bubal has a very svelte wedge-shaped head, with an elongated forehead and long flat-topped snout. Its dark ridged horns are equally unusual, looking U-shaped with viewed from the front but making a back-swept S when seen from the side. Its short and shiny coat is a plain and sandy color overall, except for long greyish patches on either side of its muzzle above the nostrils, and the black tuft on its short tail.

==Behavior==

Bubals are primarily grazers who consume the hardy grasses of the coastal plains and lower massifs of north Idiri. While they will roam extensively over their preferred environment of rocky, scrubby plains, they are non-migratory and maintain a rough territory within a given area. Sometimes they will stray up to the edges of oases to nibble on one of their favorite treats, fresh green orchardgrass.

Like other kongoni, bubals are social animals that are usually found in herds of a hundred or more individuals. Multiple generations live together in one herd, with smaller subgroups of territorial, non-territorial, and subadult males, and of females and calves. They are alert and intelligent creatures, and though the placement of their eyes high on their foreheads allows them to keep watch while grazing, usually a herd will have at least one animal on lookout as well, standing up on a rock or mound of dirt for the best view. Sometimes younger adult bubals will wander off to graze by themselves or in pairs, particularly in areas where their chief predator the [[Tessary lion]] is uncommon; this can make them vulnerable to human hunters. Although only lions will kill an adult bubal, calves may be preyed on by leopards and hyenas.

Bubals' eyesight is not all that sharp but their sense of hearing and smell are very keen and discriminating, so most of their communication comes in the form of vocalizations and scent marking with dung piles. They make quiet quacking and grunting sounds to one another, and produce a sharper quacking call when alarmed. Juveniles tend to be noiser than adults, and a group of calves will often be accompanied by a low gabble of their youthful voices.

==Relationship with Humans==

Bubals are not extensively hunted in most places where they live, as their meat is considered too oily for it to be preferred as a game animal. Its coat and hide, too, tend to be somewhat oily, which limits its desirability for clothing, rugs, or blankets. It is however sometimes used to produce rustic but weatherproof awnings and bags, particularly saddlebags.

Respected in ancient times by both the [[Yemelites]] (pagan precursors to the [[Yehani]]) and the [[Amunati]], bubals were once used as a sacrificial animal in their temples.

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Bubal

2026-08-05T15:31:42Z

Aleph:

Bubal

2026-08-05T15:20:58Z

Aleph: Created page with "The '''bubal''' is a type of kongoni or hartebeest native to northern Idiri. Avoiding desert interiors and wooded areas, they can be found in small herds on coastal plain and in grassy scrub throughout the lands of the southern Adelantean. ==Appearance== The bubal is a large ungulate, standing over three feet at the shoulder and weighing between 220 and 400 pounds. It has a large powerful chest, and its back slopes down noticeably from the should..."

Mongoose

2026-08-05T14:47:22Z

Aleph:

The '''mongoose''' is a small to medium-sized carnivore that can be found throughout most of [[Idiri]] and into [[Ruleska]] and [[Riendu]] as well, where it occupies a wide variety of environments. Although absent from most of the [[Great Hazari Desert|Great Hazari]] and other extreme deserts, mongooses can be found along the [[Adelantean Sea|Adelantean]] coast where it favors scrub, plains, and woodlands. They can also be found in urban areas, free-ranging, semi-feral, or even kept as cherished pets. Although they can sometimes prey on domestic fowl and their eggs, mongooses have a good reputation overall, being considered lucky and plucky, as well as good protection against snakes and scorpions. The two most common types of mongoose in [[Raziya]] are the Raziyan or '''great grey mongoose''' and the '''pepperspot moongoose'''.

==Great Grey Mongoose==
The great grey mongoose is of medium size, with a small-eared pointed head and a long, agile body with an almost equally long tail. While it is most commonly grey in color overall, it can also shade more rusty or yellowish, and even grey-pelted individuals also have flecks of yellow, brown, and rust amid the heavy ticking that accents their fur. Its coat is fairly long and coarse, and in colder seasons it can look a little as if it has draped a shabby marzuq around itself.

Adaptable and wide-ranging, great grey mongooses do not live in deeply arid or densely forested environments but can be found nearly anywhere else. In [[Amunat]] they are common all up and down the [[Tamarat River]] and its delta, while elsewhere they favor the scrubby coastal plain, the light montane forests and verdantcanyons of the desert massifs, and the submerged but still green course of the [[River Tamrasset|Tamrasset River]] in [[Raziya]]. The great grey is mostly diurnal, but can be found hunting at dawn and dusk as well and sometimes even into the night, especially when the moons are bright. The creatures live in small social groups, usually a single mating pair or a small unit of related individuals.

They have a very broad diet, consuming everything from lizards and frogs to insects and crayfish to birds and smaller mammals -- occasionally including their cousins the pepperspot mongoose. But great grey mongooses have earned their valiant reputation for their ability to do battle venomous snakes without sustaining harm, as well as for still less common feats. It is said, both among the [[Razmani]] and the [[Amunati]], that certain great grey mongooses are born with a destiny to be the true heroes of their kind, and to track down and slay crocodiles and even dragons. In Amunat it is said that this mongoose is the only creature that capable of hunting even the terrible [[Gargut-Ammat]], and with a well-placed bite to its throat can induce it to disgorge itself of all the things it has ever swallowed.

==Pepperspot Mongoose==
The pepperspot is a species of dwarf moongoose, which at about the size of a large kitten makes it one of the smaller of its kind. It has a round head with a pointed muzzle, and small rounded ears set close to the skull. Short-legged and low to the ground, it gets around with a scampering motion and can be surprisingly fast and agile. Its short soft coat comes in many different colors, from rusty peach to brown or dark russet. In place of the ticking seen on the pelts of its cousins, the pepperspot lives up to its name with a dense scattering of little dark spots across its shoulders and upper forelegs, which become steadily sparser further down its sides and back.

The pepperspot mongoose is almost strictly diurnal, and lives in groups of about a dozen or so animals. These are most often related, but sometimes a newcomer will be "adopted" into the group and will join the rest in lookout duty and helping to care for the young of the chief breeding pair. Pepperspots prefer scrub environments with ample clumped grass and woody shrubbery, and unlike other dwarf mongooses will also dwell within the more densely vegetated environment of spring- or river-fed oases. They can make themselves quite at home in cities too, particularly where there is plentiful cover from shrubs or junk.

Pepperspots take mostly smaller prey, from small lizards and frogs to their favorite meals of cicadas and scorpions. As their larger great grey relatives are valued for the role in keeping venomous snakes at bay, pepperspots are appreciated for reducing the number of scorpions available to go crawling about in one's house or shoes. Like the great grey, pepperspot mongooses can make good pets, though they do best with another mongoose or other small animal for additional companionship.

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Murder cicada

2026-08-05T14:46:36Z

Aleph:

The '''murder cicada''' is a type of cicada whose range spans north [[Idiri]] and [[Rahoum]]. These insects usually are found along wadis and other seasonal or subterranean water courses, where they perch on the trunks and branches of various shrubs and small trees. They are known to reside in similarly shrubby environments within cities such as [[:Omrazir]], where their rhythmic pulsing song fills the air on hot summer nights. They are a favored prey item for the [[silverstreak kite]] and [[Mongoose#Pepperspot_Mongoose|pepperspot mongoose]], both also common in [[Raziya]], and when fried in oil are a treat enjoyed by many [[Tessouare]] as well.

The murder cicada's name comes from the very loud grating shriek the creatures emit when disturbed, which not only sounds "like screaming bloody murder" but is also so intensely startling that it is claimed weak-hearted people have been frightened to death on hearing its cry. It is sometimes also just called the murderbug.

[[Category:Insects]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Mongoose

2026-08-05T14:44:11Z

Aleph: /* Pepperspot Mongoose */

The '''mongoose''' is a small to medium-sized carnivore that can be found throughout most of [[Idiri]] and into [[Ruleska]] and [[Riendu]] as well, where it occupies a wide variety of environments. Although absent from most of the [[Great Hazari Desert|Great Hazari]] and other extreme deserts, mongooses can be found along the [[Adelantean Sea|Adelantean]] coast where it favors scrub, plains, and woodlands. They can also be found in urban areas, free-ranging, semi-feral, or even kept as cherished pets. Although they can sometimes prey on domestic fowl and their eggs, mongooses have a good reputation overall, being considered lucky and plucky, as well as good protection against snakes and scorpions. The two most common types of mongoose in [[Raziya]] are the Raziyan or '''great grey mongoose''' and the '''pepperspot moongoose'''.

==Great Grey Mongoose==
The great grey mongoose is of medium size, with a small-eared pointed head and a long, agile body with an almost equally long tail. While it is most commonly grey in color overall, it can also shade more rusty or yellowish, and even grey-pelted individuals also have flecks of yellow, brown, and rust amid the heavy ticking that accents their fur. Its coat is fairly long and coarse, and in colder seasons it can look a little as if it has draped a shabby marzuq around itself.

Adaptable and wide-ranging, great grey mongooses do not live in deeply arid or densely forested environments but can be found nearly anywhere else. In [[Amunat]] they are common all up and down the [[Tamarat River]] and its delta, while elsewhere they favor the scrubby coastal plain, the light montane forests and verdantcanyons of the desert massifs, and the submerged but still green course of the [[Tamrasset|Tamrasset River]] in [[Raziya]]. The great grey is mostly diurnal, but can be found hunting at dawn and dusk as well and sometimes even into the night, especially when the moons are bright. The creatures live in small social groups, usually a single mating pair or a small unit of related individuals.

They have a very broad diet, consuming everything from lizards and frogs to insects and crayfish to birds and smaller mammals -- occasionally including their cousins the pepperspot mongoose. But great grey mongooses have earned their valiant reputation for their ability to do battle venomous snakes without sustaining harm, as well as for still less common feats. It is said, both among the [[Razmani]] and the [[Amunati]], that certain great grey mongooses are born with a destiny to be the true heroes of their kind, and to track down and slay crocodiles and even dragons. In Amunat it is said that this mongoose is the only creature that capable of hunting even the terrible [[Gargut-Ammat]], and with a well-placed bite to its throat can induce it to disgorge itself of all the things it has ever swallowed.

==Pepperspot Mongoose==
The pepperspot is a species of dwarf moongoose, which at about the size of a large kitten makes it one of the smaller of its kind. It has a round head with a pointed muzzle, and small rounded ears set close to the skull. Short-legged and low to the ground, it gets around with a scampering motion and can be surprisingly fast and agile. Its short soft coat comes in many different colors, from rusty peach to brown or dark russet. In place of the ticking seen on the pelts of its cousins, the pepperspot lives up to its name with a dense scattering of little dark spots across its shoulders and upper forelegs, which become steadily sparser further down its sides and back.

The pepperspot mongoose is almost strictly diurnal, and lives in groups of about a dozen or so animals. These are most often related, but sometimes a newcomer will be "adopted" into the group and will join the rest in lookout duty and helping to care for the young of the chief breeding pair. Pepperspots prefer scrub environments with ample clumped grass and woody shrubbery, and unlike other dwarf mongooses will also dwell within the more densely vegetated environment of spring- or river-fed oases. They can make themselves quite at home in cities too, particularly where there is plentiful cover from shrubs or junk.

Pepperspots take mostly smaller prey, from small lizards and frogs to their favorite meals of cicadas and scorpions. As their larger great grey relatives are valued for the role in keeping venomous snakes at bay, pepperspots are appreciated for reducing the number of scorpions available to go crawling about in one's house or shoes. Like the great grey, pepperspot mongooses can make good pets, though they do best with another mongoose or other small animal for additional companionship.

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Mongoose

2026-08-05T14:42:16Z

Aleph:

The '''mongoose''' is a small to medium-sized carnivore that can be found throughout most of [[Idiri]] and into [[Ruleska]] and [[Riendu]] as well, where it occupies a wide variety of environments. Although absent from most of the [[Great Hazari Desert|Great Hazari]] and other extreme deserts, mongooses can be found along the [[Adelantean Sea|Adelantean]] coast where it favors scrub, plains, and woodlands. They can also be found in urban areas, free-ranging, semi-feral, or even kept as cherished pets. Although they can sometimes prey on domestic fowl and their eggs, mongooses have a good reputation overall, being considered lucky and plucky, as well as good protection against snakes and scorpions. The two most common types of mongoose in [[Raziya]] are the Raziyan or '''great grey mongoose''' and the '''pepperspot moongoose'''.

==Great Grey Mongoose==
The great grey mongoose is of medium size, with a small-eared pointed head and a long, agile body with an almost equally long tail. While it is most commonly grey in color overall, it can also shade more rusty or yellowish, and even grey-pelted individuals also have flecks of yellow, brown, and rust amid the heavy ticking that accents their fur. Its coat is fairly long and coarse, and in colder seasons it can look a little as if it has draped a shabby marzuq around itself.

Adaptable and wide-ranging, great grey mongooses do not live in deeply arid or densely forested environments but can be found nearly anywhere else. In [[Amunat]] they are common all up and down the [[Tamarat River]] and its delta, while elsewhere they favor the scrubby coastal plain, the light montane forests and verdantcanyons of the desert massifs, and the submerged but still green course of the [[Tamrasset|Tamrasset River]] in [[Raziya]]. The great grey is mostly diurnal, but can be found hunting at dawn and dusk as well and sometimes even into the night, especially when the moons are bright. The creatures live in small social groups, usually a single mating pair or a small unit of related individuals.

They have a very broad diet, consuming everything from lizards and frogs to insects and crayfish to birds and smaller mammals -- occasionally including their cousins the pepperspot mongoose. But great grey mongooses have earned their valiant reputation for their ability to do battle venomous snakes without sustaining harm, as well as for still less common feats. It is said, both among the [[Razmani]] and the [[Amunati]], that certain great grey mongooses are born with a destiny to be the true heroes of their kind, and to track down and slay crocodiles and even dragons. In Amunat it is said that this mongoose is the only creature that capable of hunting even the terrible [[Gargut-Ammat]], and with a well-placed bite to its throat can induce it to disgorge itself of all the things it has ever swallowed.

==Pepperspot Mongoose==
The pepperspot is a species of dwarf moongoose, which at about the size of a large kitten makes it one of the smaller of its kind. It has a round head with a pointed muzzle, and small rounded ears set close to the skull. Short-legged and low to the ground, it gets around with a scampering motion and can be surprisingly fast and agile. Its short soft coat comes in many different colors, from rusty peach to brown or dark russet. In place of the ticking seen on the pelts of its cousins, the pepperspot lives up to its name with a dense scattering of little dark spots across its shoulders and upper forelegs, which become steadily sparser further down its sides and back.

The pepperspot mongoose is almost strictly diurnal, and lives in groups of about a dozen or so animals. These are most often related, but sometimes a newcomer will be "adopted" into the group and will join the rest in lookout duty and helping to care for the young of the chief breeding pair. Pepperspots prefer scrub environments with ample clumped grass and woody shrubbery, and unlike other dwarf mongooses also will dwell within the more densely vegetated environment of spring- or river-fed oases. They can make themselves quite at home in cities too, particularly where there is plentiful cover from shrubs or junk.

Pepperspots take mostly smaller prey, from small lizards and frogs to their favorite meals of cicadas and scorpions. As their larger great grey relatives are valued for the role in keeping venomous snakes at bay, pepperspots are appreciated for reducing the number of scorpions available to go crawling about in one's house or shoes. Like the great grey, pepperspot mongooses can make good pets, though they do best with another mongoose or other small animal for additional companionship.

[[Category:Mammals]]
[[Category:Fauna]]
[[Category:Natural History]]

Mongoose

2026-08-04T16:52:53Z

Aleph:

Mongoose

2026-08-04T16:51:55Z

Aleph:

Mongoose

2026-08-04T16:51:21Z

Aleph:

2026-07-23T18:30:10Z

St. Loomis

2026-07-23T14:53:20Z

Aleph: /* Background */

[[File:St. Loomis Bay_small.jpg|thumb|600px|St. Loomis Bay and vicinity, Kingdom of Ensor]]

'''St. Loomis''' is a small town in the southwest of [[Ensor]], lying near the hinterland of the [[Misty Reaches]]. Possessing good harborage and a long tradition of seafaring, it was once one of the kingdom's chief ports on the [[Adelantean Sea]], second only to [[Imbryck|Imbryck's]] own port of [[Mandermouth]]. After becoming separated from the rest of Ensor in 797 ND due to an incursion of the Mist, St. Loomis has since become the de facto capital of the new [[Innithel|Principality of Innithel]]. The town is named for Ensor's patron saint, whose burial place lies within the nearby monastery.

==Background==

St. Loomis had for quite some time occupied an unusual place in Ensor -- politically, culturally, and geographically. The town produced the finest ships and mariners in the kingdom, yet its own harbor possesses few natural advantages and lies distant from all major trade routes since the changes in navigation that came with the [[The Great Dark|Great Dark]]. Although the trade of St. Loomis linked it to far-flung locales up until very recent times, much of the prosperity of its trading ships was diverted to Imbryck instead of coming home, where the concentration of power and wealth in the capital siphoned off most of the richest cargoes of the ships originating in St. Loomis. By land it was more isolated still, lying perilously close to the Misty Reaches in Ensor's furthest southwest corner, and reached only by the storied but now decrepit [[Wayfare]] whose rutted track crosses leagues of isolated and difficult terrain before reaching the richer and more populated region of [[Southsward]].

St. Loomis is the town of Ensor's patron saint and home to [[Windhaven Monastery]], one of the oldest and greatest monasteries in the kingdom, but in recent times the increasingly powerful Ensorian nobility had come to dislike and distrust the ancient influence of the monks. The local nobility, the Greyleighs, have deep roots in the area but live too simply and bound by ancient tradition to receive much respect in the far more sophisticated and striving capital. Meanwhile, the archbiscop whose selection relies on the monks' preferences was little respected in royal circles. St. Loomis was also one of the chief bases of the exalted [[Mistwatch]] who were formed to safeguard the western border of the kingdom, but the Mistwatch itself is disliked and derided in Imbryck and in the eastern regions more generally, and the threat they guard against was considered to be greatly exaggerated. On the whole, while St. Loomis's seafaring resources remained vital and the town continued to possess a certain cultural cachet, it was increasingly seen as anachronistic and irrelevant to the kingdom's modern interests.

Within the last three years it has become more isolated still, as both its land and sea connections have been severed by the Mist that had long formed a barrier over the land to the west, but which has only recently expanded to block the Wayfare and the sea lanes to the northeast as well. Now its only connection to the outside world lies straight across the Adelantean via a route that was formerly considered far too perilous to even attempt, running straight past the [[Eye of God]] to eventually link up with the great city of [[Omrazir]] in the western [[Sirdabi Caliphate]]. The lands surrounding the town, likewise encircled by Mist and isolated, have been consolidated into the newly-founded Principality of Innithel by its equally newly-minted Prince Regent, Demetrius Estevarre, the youngest brother of Ensor's foreign-born Queen.

In the end, the combined geographical, cultural, and political isolation of the St. Loomis area has served to produce a people who feel a strong and ancient connection to the historic idea of Ensor, but only a tenuous loyalty to the modern capital and its government; a people independent minded, adventurous, fiercely self reliant, and strongly attached to their own local political and religious figures. This has allowed them to adapt well to their new circumstances, but exactly what future such independence will ultimately lead them to remains to be seen.

==Climate==

Despite its southerly location, St. Loomis endures a somewhat harsher climate than the rest of southeast Ensor, being frequently plagued by dense fogs and stormy weather. It is perhaps for this reason that the town's chief landmark is the immense St. Loomis lighthouse, whose beacon can be seen far out to sea, and which has doubtless saved the lives and vessels of countless sailors. Rain and gales are common in the winter and through much of the spring, and often begin as early as Sollemnis. Snow is generally confined to the winter months, but when it comes often arrives in large amounts of heavy wet snowfall. Summer and early fall are the pleasantest times of the year, seeing ample sunshine and mild to hot temperatures.

==Geography==

St. Loomis sits perched amidst the sea cliffs that form the southernmost coast of Ensor, taking advantage of a natural harbor that is sheltered from the worst of the Adelantean's storms. Overall this part of the coast is not only stormy but also treacherous, as hidden shoals and shifting tides make navigation to and from St. Loomis perilous for all but experienced navigators and locals familiar with the area's ever-changing seascape. Whatever this may have cost the town in easy access, its people have reaped an ample reward for their challenges by becoming the most skilled, knowledgeable, and daring of all Ensor's seafarers, highly sought after for their ability to safely navigate the longest and most dangerous sea journeys.

Besides the rugged coastline that is the heart of the community's identity, the St. Loomis area also boasts fine forests of pine and oak which furnish lumber and pitch for constructing the ships not just for local use but all of Ensor. The masts of the largest seafaring ships, however, are generally brought in from the pine forests of upper [[Aurindell]] and the [[Highmoor]]. The farmland around St. Loomis is not rich, the soils being sandy and somewhat stony and the headlands in particular exposed to strong winds off the sea. The ground is generally adequate to produce crops that meet most of the area's needs, but wheat in particular must sometimes be supplied by lands further inland. The barley crop, however, is usually good, and the area produces a very hardy and nutritious local variety of oats.

==People==

People of native [[Ilexi]] descent make up the majority of St. Loomis's population. [[Cateni]] and [[Rhodish]] bloodlines are sprinkled thinly throughout the population, and Rhodish traditions in particular have left a mark on the local culture. There is also a sizeable [[Yehani]] community, which unlike in many other towns and cities is dispersed throughout St. Loomis rather than being clustered in certain neighborhoods. Occasionally a few people with slightly darker skin tones may been seen around town, perhaps the remote descendent of one of [[St. Hollyberry|St. Hollyberry's]] entourage.

==Culture==

Despite St. Loomis being one of the kingdom's great ports and the relatively far-flung expeditions its sailors undertake, most of its residents have traditionally been only a little less insular in mindset than the rest of the Ensorian population. They are reserved with if not outright mistrustful of outsiders, though they tend simply to keep their mouths shut and avoid strangers rather than being blatantly hostile. They are generally more inclined to give fellow Mistmarchers the benefit of the doubt than those from the other regions of Ensor. They reserve their most particular disdain for Southswarders, whom they see as soft and as standing against their beloved Mistwatch, but also hold an age-old suspicion of the [[Courant|Couranti]]. While they have long cherished the stories of [[St. Hollyberry]] and her entourage from [[Idiri]] and are very partial to this particular saint, many St. Loomisites still struggled when the Elukoi freighter known as the Greenest Dolphin was shipwrecked in the bay, leaving a number of actual living breathing Idirians and Ruleskans stranded in their midst.

==Governance==

The village of St. Loomis originally grew up around the ancient holding of the Greyleighs, who have been the lords of this part of the kingdom for as long as anyone can remember. It is said that the original name of the village was in fact Grey Lea, and that it was only renamed at the behest of the Greyleighs themselves following the death of the saint whom their people esteemed so highly. The actual power of the Greyleighs is much diminished from what it once was, though they still command a great deal of respect among the local populace if not from other members of the nobility.

Most power in St. Loomis is now exercised by the Church, ostensibly through the archbiscop who handles much of the administration of the archdiocese to which St. Loomis belongs. It is an open secret, however, that the archbiscop owes his place to the abbot of the monastery and generally follows the instructions of that establishment. Most of the biscops that have been selected in this way are easygoing and liberal, content to enjoy the luxury and influence which their position gives them while leaving serious decisions up to the monks. The current archbiscop is Matthew Covenderry, a genial yet subtly shrewd man with a weakness for good food and wine, who is on friendly terms with the city council and the commander of the Mistwatch as well as the Prince Regent.

==Local Landmarks==

'''St. Loomis Lighthouse''' 
The great St. Loomis Lighthouse is perhaps the best-known landmark in the town, and is certainly the most visible. It perches high on a rocky bluff on the northeast side of town, replacing the original and still more renowned ancient lighthouse that was built by the Yehani on present-day Lookout Rocks in the 3rd century B.D. The beacon in the St. Loomis Lighthouse is capable of penetrating even the legendary fogs of the Greylea coast, guiding ships safely away from the hidden shoals that lurk treacherously on the north side of the harbor. Although its purpose is obviously to assist seafarers, it also provides a guiding light to those traveling through the wilds on the Wayfare.

'''Cathedral of the Blessed Wayfarer''' 
Gracing the west side of Main Street is the Cathedral of the Blessed Wayfarer, a venerable basilica church founded in St. Loomis's honor shortly after his death. Despite being the seat of an archbiscop and therefore technically a cathedral, the church is considerably less grand than its counterparts in places such as Imbryck or Wessey. From the outside the most striking aspect of the cathedral is its intricately patterned stonework belfrey, which houses a set of bells called the Hollyberry Carillon. These bells, with their fine bronze casting and superlatively sweet tones, are said to have been cast in the fabled kingdom of Blessed-Be, a gift of St. Loomis's cherished Idiri disciple St. Hollyberry. Inside the church, the structure's relative simplicity is offset by its exquisite stained-glass windows and the ever-changing patterns of light, shadow, and color that shine through both these and the delicately arched clerestory windows below the vault. A mix of murals and mosaics line the aisles, illustrating scenes from the life of St. Loomis and [[Kalen|Kalen Phoinikos]].

'''Greyleigh Manor''' 
Greyleigh Manor is the new house of the noble Greyleigh family, who relocated within the walls of St. Loomis when they bequeathed their hereditary home of Greywood Keep to the Mistwatch. The original version was largely destroyed in a fire in 742 N.D., so most of the manor is of recent construction in a modern style. A fragment of the ancient Greywood is also enclosed within the manor's grounds, a wild yet peaceful retreat from the bustling town.

==Food & Lodging==

'''Seaglass Inn''' 
Located on Market Street just south of the main intersection of St. Loomis, the Seaglass Inn offers travelers delicious fare and pleasant lodgings at reasonable rates. The proprietress, Donna, is as well known for her friendly hospitality as her excellent baking. Its advantages of location and quality make it one of the favored gathering spots for out-of-towners and locals alike.

'''Keely's Saloon''' 
This well-known pub is located in the dockyards on Warehouse Street, just across from the clinic. With its fine selection of beverages available in the common room, a gaming parlor, and even a fight ring in the back, Keely's is a favorite hangout not only for rowdy local workers but also for people of greater means and reputation looking for a more exciting time than can be found in the town's more genteel establishments. A few rooms are also to be had for rent.

[[Category:Cities & Towns]]
[[Category:Geography]]

St. Loomis

2026-07-23T14:45:01Z

Aleph:

[[File:St. Loomis Bay_small.jpg|thumb|600px|St. Loomis Bay and vicinity, Kingdom of Ensor]]

'''St. Loomis''' is a small town in the southwest of [[Ensor]], lying near the hinterland of the [[Misty Reaches]]. Possessing good harborage and a long tradition of seafaring, it was once one of the kingdom's chief ports on the [[Adelantean Sea]], second only to [[Imbryck|Imbryck's]] own port of [[Mandermouth]]. After becoming separated from the rest of Ensor in 797 ND due to an incursion of the Mist, St. Loomis has since become the de facto capital of the new [[Innithel|Principality of Innithel]]. The town is named for Ensor's patron saint, whose burial place lies within the nearby monastery.

==Background==

St. Loomis had for quite some time occupied an unusual place in Ensor -- politically, culturally, and geographically. The town produced the finest ships and mariners in the kingdom, yet its own harbor possesses few natural advantages and lies distant from all major trade routes since the changes in navigation that came with the [[The Great Dark|Great Dark]]. Although the trade of St. Loomis linked it to far-flung locales up until very recent times, much of the prosperity of its trading ships was diverted to Imbryck instead of coming home, where the concentration of power and wealth in the capital siphoned off most of the richest cargoes of the ships originating in St. Loomis. By land it was more isolated still, lying perilously close to the Misty Reaches in Ensor's furthest southwest corner, and reached only by the storied but now decrepit [[Wayfare]] whose rutted track crosses leagues of isolated and difficult terrain before reaching the richer and more populated region of [[Southsward]].

St. Loomis is the town of Ensor's patron saint and home to [[Windhaven Monastery]], one of the oldest and greatest monasteries in the kingdom, but in recent times the increasingly powerful Ensorian nobility had come to dislike and distrust the ancient influence of the monks. The local nobility, the Greyleighs, have deep roots in the area but live too simply and bound by ancient tradition to receive much respect in the far more sophisticated and striving capital. Meanwhile, the archbiscop whose selection relies on the monks' preferences was little respected in royal circles. St. Loomis was also one of the chief bases of the exalted [[Mistwatch]] who were formed to safeguard the western border of the kingdom, but the Mistwatch itself is disliked and derided in Imbryck and in the eastern regions more generally, and the threat they guard against was considered to be greatly exaggerated. On the whole, while St. Loomis's seafaring resources remained vital and the town continued to possess a certain cultural cachet, it was increasingly seen as anachronistic and irrelevant to the kingdom's modern interests.

Within the last three years it has become more isolated still, as both its land and sea connections have been severed by the Mist that had long formed a barrier over the land to the west, but which has only recently expanded to block the Wayfare and the sea lanes to the northeast as well. Now its only connection to the outside world lies straight across the Adelantean via a route that was formerly considered far too perilous to even attempt, running straight past the [[Eye of God]] to eventually link up with the great city of [[Omrazir]] in the western [[Sirdabi Caliphate]]. The lands surrounding the town, likewise encircled by Mist and isolated, have been consolidated into the newly-founded Principality of Innithel by its equally newly-minted Prince Regent, Demetrius Estevarre, the youngest brother of Ensor's Queen.

In the end, the combined geographical, cultural, and political isolation of the St. Loomis area has served to produce a people who feel a strong and ancient connection to the historic idea of Ensor, but only a tenuous loyalty to the modern capital and its government; a people independent minded, adventurous, fiercely self reliant, and strongly attached to their own local political and religious figures. This has allowed them to adapt well to their new circumstances, but exactly what future such independence will ultimately lead them to remains to be seen.

==Climate==

Despite its southerly location, St. Loomis endures a somewhat harsher climate than the rest of southeast Ensor, being frequently plagued by dense fogs and stormy weather. It is perhaps for this reason that the town's chief landmark is the immense St. Loomis lighthouse, whose beacon can be seen far out to sea, and which has doubtless saved the lives and vessels of countless sailors. Rain and gales are common in the winter and through much of the spring, and often begin as early as Sollemnis. Snow is generally confined to the winter months, but when it comes often arrives in large amounts of heavy wet snowfall. Summer and early fall are the pleasantest times of the year, seeing ample sunshine and mild to hot temperatures.

==Geography==

St. Loomis sits perched amidst the sea cliffs that form the southernmost coast of Ensor, taking advantage of a natural harbor that is sheltered from the worst of the Adelantean's storms. Overall this part of the coast is not only stormy but also treacherous, as hidden shoals and shifting tides make navigation to and from St. Loomis perilous for all but experienced navigators and locals familiar with the area's ever-changing seascape. Whatever this may have cost the town in easy access, its people have reaped an ample reward for their challenges by becoming the most skilled, knowledgeable, and daring of all Ensor's seafarers, highly sought after for their ability to safely navigate the longest and most dangerous sea journeys.

Besides the rugged coastline that is the heart of the community's identity, the St. Loomis area also boasts fine forests of pine and oak which furnish lumber and pitch for constructing the ships not just for local use but all of Ensor. The masts of the largest seafaring ships, however, are generally brought in from the pine forests of upper [[Aurindell]] and the [[Highmoor]]. The farmland around St. Loomis is not rich, the soils being sandy and somewhat stony and the headlands in particular exposed to strong winds off the sea. The ground is generally adequate to produce crops that meet most of the area's needs, but wheat in particular must sometimes be supplied by lands further inland. The barley crop, however, is usually good, and the area produces a very hardy and nutritious local variety of oats.

==People==

People of native [[Ilexi]] descent make up the majority of St. Loomis's population. [[Cateni]] and [[Rhodish]] bloodlines are sprinkled thinly throughout the population, and Rhodish traditions in particular have left a mark on the local culture. There is also a sizeable [[Yehani]] community, which unlike in many other towns and cities is dispersed throughout St. Loomis rather than being clustered in certain neighborhoods. Occasionally a few people with slightly darker skin tones may been seen around town, perhaps the remote descendent of one of [[St. Hollyberry|St. Hollyberry's]] entourage.

==Culture==

Despite St. Loomis being one of the kingdom's great ports and the relatively far-flung expeditions its sailors undertake, most of its residents have traditionally been only a little less insular in mindset than the rest of the Ensorian population. They are reserved with if not outright mistrustful of outsiders, though they tend simply to keep their mouths shut and avoid strangers rather than being blatantly hostile. They are generally more inclined to give fellow Mistmarchers the benefit of the doubt than those from the other regions of Ensor. They reserve their most particular disdain for Southswarders, whom they see as soft and as standing against their beloved Mistwatch, but also hold an age-old suspicion of the [[Courant|Couranti]]. While they have long cherished the stories of [[St. Hollyberry]] and her entourage from [[Idiri]] and are very partial to this particular saint, many St. Loomisites still struggled when the Elukoi freighter known as the Greenest Dolphin was shipwrecked in the bay, leaving a number of actual living breathing Idirians and Ruleskans stranded in their midst.

==Governance==

The village of St. Loomis originally grew up around the ancient holding of the Greyleighs, who have been the lords of this part of the kingdom for as long as anyone can remember. It is said that the original name of the village was in fact Grey Lea, and that it was only renamed at the behest of the Greyleighs themselves following the death of the saint whom their people esteemed so highly. The actual power of the Greyleighs is much diminished from what it once was, though they still command a great deal of respect among the local populace if not from other members of the nobility.

Most power in St. Loomis is now exercised by the Church, ostensibly through the archbiscop who handles much of the administration of the archdiocese to which St. Loomis belongs. It is an open secret, however, that the archbiscop owes his place to the abbot of the monastery and generally follows the instructions of that establishment. Most of the biscops that have been selected in this way are easygoing and liberal, content to enjoy the luxury and influence which their position gives them while leaving serious decisions up to the monks. The current archbiscop is Matthew Covenderry, a genial yet subtly shrewd man with a weakness for good food and wine, who is on friendly terms with the city council and the commander of the Mistwatch as well as the Prince Regent.

==Local Landmarks==

'''St. Loomis Lighthouse''' 
The great St. Loomis Lighthouse is perhaps the best-known landmark in the town, and is certainly the most visible. It perches high on a rocky bluff on the northeast side of town, replacing the original and still more renowned ancient lighthouse that was built by the Yehani on present-day Lookout Rocks in the 3rd century B.D. The beacon in the St. Loomis Lighthouse is capable of penetrating even the legendary fogs of the Greylea coast, guiding ships safely away from the hidden shoals that lurk treacherously on the north side of the harbor. Although its purpose is obviously to assist seafarers, it also provides a guiding light to those traveling through the wilds on the Wayfare.

'''Cathedral of the Blessed Wayfarer''' 
Gracing the west side of Main Street is the Cathedral of the Blessed Wayfarer, a venerable basilica church founded in St. Loomis's honor shortly after his death. Despite being the seat of an archbiscop and therefore technically a cathedral, the church is considerably less grand than its counterparts in places such as Imbryck or Wessey. From the outside the most striking aspect of the cathedral is its intricately patterned stonework belfrey, which houses a set of bells called the Hollyberry Carillon. These bells, with their fine bronze casting and superlatively sweet tones, are said to have been cast in the fabled kingdom of Blessed-Be, a gift of St. Loomis's cherished Idiri disciple St. Hollyberry. Inside the church, the structure's relative simplicity is offset by its exquisite stained-glass windows and the ever-changing patterns of light, shadow, and color that shine through both these and the delicately arched clerestory windows below the vault. A mix of murals and mosaics line the aisles, illustrating scenes from the life of St. Loomis and [[Kalen|Kalen Phoinikos]].

'''Greyleigh Manor''' 
Greyleigh Manor is the new house of the noble Greyleigh family, who relocated within the walls of St. Loomis when they bequeathed their hereditary home of Greywood Keep to the Mistwatch. The original version was largely destroyed in a fire in 742 N.D., so most of the manor is of recent construction in a modern style. A fragment of the ancient Greywood is also enclosed within the manor's grounds, a wild yet peaceful retreat from the bustling town.

==Food & Lodging==

'''Seaglass Inn''' 
Located on Market Street just south of the main intersection of St. Loomis, the Seaglass Inn offers travelers delicious fare and pleasant lodgings at reasonable rates. The proprietress, Donna, is as well known for her friendly hospitality as her excellent baking. Its advantages of location and quality make it one of the favored gathering spots for out-of-towners and locals alike.

'''Keely's Saloon''' 
This well-known pub is located in the dockyards on Warehouse Street, just across from the clinic. With its fine selection of beverages available in the common room, a gaming parlor, and even a fight ring in the back, Keely's is a favorite hangout not only for rowdy local workers but also for people of greater means and reputation looking for a more exciting time than can be found in the town's more genteel establishments. A few rooms are also to be had for rent.

[[Category:Cities & Towns]]
[[Category:Geography]]