From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: ADMIN: Atlas of The Known Lands
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 21:40:16 GMT


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                           THE OFFICIAL

                     ATLAS OF THE KNOWN LANDS
			 
           AS USED BY THE CARTOGRAPHER'S GUILD OF GENERICA

        A GAZETTEER OF THE LANDS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF GENERICA

                    (not to be taken internally)

New this week:

   This section--again, for those who just want to know what's knew.
   And nothing else, right now.  Apart from the fact that this world is now
   officially called the Nexus, at least by extraplanar travelers...

   No, wait, there was an uprising of lizard men in the city of Generica of
   Sugars.


(Map still pending...)

Alasir:

Lying on the coast of the Great Blue between Generica and Ydoine, the land of
Alasir is expanding at the the expense of its neighbors in response to the
growing power of its rival, Ydoine.  Its most recent conquests include the
lands of Sanakin, Vascondy and Varande.  Some speculate that the next target of
the Alasyrians is Specifica of Cod, the northernmost of the Specifican Triad.

The capital of Alasir is Aragat, where three kings (respectively ruling
Alasir proper, the annexed provinces and the military) sit under a single
emperor, called the Grand Lord.

Camequeva:

A tropical island southwest of Generica, between it and the Dark Continent.
The people there, and on nearby islands, are similar racially to the
inhabitants of the Dark Continent.  They are mostly fishermen, and spend most
of their lives on the sea.  Many of the fishermen tattoo themselves intricately
in patterns denoting their family and personal accomplishments.  They speak a
dialect of Dark Common which I have chosen to render as somewhat like Jamaican
English.

The Dark Continent:

To the south and west of Generica's continent lies a large continent, largely
unexplored by white-skinned man.  Most of the inhabitants are dark-skinned. 
The central portion of the continent is covered with the Savannah, a wide
grassland which has until recently been roamed by the nomadic tribes of the
Aradneh.  Now priests of Ilmater have come to the tribes and taught them
agriculture, as well as the Common tongue and other Northern culture.  East of
the Savannah is a high mountain range, over which lies a deep bay, all that
remains of the once-great Aradneh civilization after it was destroyed by the
gods centuries ago.  To the west lie swamps, populated by lizard men and
similar creatures.  To the south lie great jungles, populated by pygmies and
wild beasts of all kinds.  To the north lies a great desert.  (Note: The
Savannah and the ruins of the Aradneh civilization are reserved by myself.)

There are several civilizations still extant on the Continent.  On the north
coast, a formerly great kingdom is now under the subjugation of the kingdom of
Ydoine from Generica's continent.  On the south coast are several warring
kingdoms that are somewhat Aztec in flavour.  The language of Dark Common is
spoken in trade across the continent.

The DiamondGate of North Glacier:

Over a thousand leagues north of Generica there lies a mountain range with a
big glacier in its center. On the top of a mountain surrounded by the North
Glacier lies the DiamondGate, a magical cristalline doorway to the world of
Titania. The other side of the gate is in the center of the city of
DiamondRise, last city of the Giants of Titania, still fighting a war against
the Hordes of the Demon Mother.

Etarus'ta:

An Oriental-type realm, mostly pending description by John Charles Fiala.
Known for its exotic cuisine, Etarus'ian food is available in many of the
more cosmopolitan cities in the Known Lands.

The Fist

Also known as The Fist of God and The Devil's Grip.  Located
at sea in a general Northwest direction from Generica.  It
never comes closer than within 200 miles of the City.  It
covers an area of ocean that is approximately 85 square miles.
It is filled with varying winds of hurricane force.  It is
very dark with clouds, and thunder and lightning are continuous.
Visibility is always less than a mile.  Seas usually run between
25 and 45 feet, depending on how deep into the tempest one is.
The Fist wanders a range of about 400 miles.  There are stories
that seem to suggest there may be some sort of intelligence in
the storm, however, no one has ever been able to determine whether
or not that is true.  Not with magic, neither pleas nor prayers.
Magic cannot affect the strength of the storm.  Magic may protect
travelers while passing through The Fist to some extent, though it
will be, at best, a miserable passage.  Some survivors of encounters
with the tempest report on a wild, rock-bound island glimpsed
through the darkness.  Apparently this island moves with the storm.
Earliest recorded history of the City references The Fist.  It
has been around a long, long time.  Persons wishing to use The
Fist are welcome to do so.  There are no immutable plans for its
future.  It would be nice to preserve some of its mystery for at
least a little while though.

Forgotten Realms:

Portal from the land of Generica to the Forgotten Realms lies to the southeast
and takes three days on horseback to reach.  The portal brings travellers to
the Great Desert, and this is two and a half weeks travel north of the nation
of Cormyr which is ruled by Queen Shana Tremor.

Generica and surroundings:

Generica is a generic fantasy city.  It is approximately Rennaisance-level.
Technology excludes gunpowder, but includes glass cutting, crossbows and
sundials.  
 
It is a city-state, run my Melwis the wise, a merchant.  It is a traders city,
on a very busy trade route by land, river and sea.  It is run by merchant
familes, and there are many guilds of various descriptions.  It is not
inherently corrupt, but money will get you far in this city, and there is not
much that you can't buy.  By day it is bustling with trade; by night there is
much action, festivities and so on.  In some areas, there is much evil.  It is
your average fantasy city.
 
Because of Genericans cosmopolitan status, at the center of trade routes on
this world and others, many religions are found, of any pantheon you can think
of, and they won't interfere (except tell that to the followers).  Magic is
active in many forms.  Many races also pass through. However, there are many of
the populace who are ignorant to the wider world, especially those in the
outlying farmlands.

Generica is on a west coast.  To the east lies the plains, (simply called
that), and then further on the Great forest, in which many fairy types live,
and beyond that are the Mysty Mountains, where many humanoids (orcs, trolls,
etc live.)  Think of the position something similar to where Italy is on the
Earth.  Warm summers and cold winters.  Across the sea to the west (The Great
Blue, as it is called), is the Great Western Isle, where magic is abound and
strange things happen.  (Note that The Great Western Isle is (tm) of the
founder of the group--Nightstalker.)

Rameshan:

A large country to the south of Generica, noted for the large Rezzian Desert. 
The capital of the country is called Pashar, and other cities include Orluccar
(the residence of the Great Oracle and the religious center of the country) and
Dansushar.  Rameshan lies next to the Great Blue and commands both a large
military navy and a fleet of merchant vessels.  Indeed, one of the sources of
Generica's economic success is Rameshan's trade through Generica's port to the
land of Alasir in the north.   Rameshander merchants specialize in dates,
hardwoods, goods from the tropics and the south, and slaves. The ruler of
Rameshan is known as the Shaheran, an immensely fat, cowardly man who speaks
through his palace eunuchs.  Much of the real power in the country is in the
hands of the merchants and the priests. People who want to write about Rameshan
are advised that the land is Arab/Persian/Egyptian in culture.  Students of the
Forgotten Realms might compare it to Mulhorand or Unther. 

The Southern Marshes:   

Surrounding the vast delta where the river meets the ocean 150 miles south of
Generica, these marshes were once the site of a prolonged conflict between
lizardpeople and Genericans.  Today an uneasy state of truce exists.  The
region is controlled by the united lizardman tribes but Genericans are
permitted to use the river and the periphery (for fishing, logging,
settlement...etc.) in exchange for trading goods and technical knowledge.
Despite the ever-expanding presence of civilization, the Southern Marshes are
vast.  They hold secrets and perils that cause even the fiercest lizardpeople
to shudder.

Specifica:

The name of several cities, each concentrating on a specific trade good.  Most
people tend to call each Specifica, but if distinction is required, the name of
the trade good is added to the name.  Thus we have...

Specifica of the Furs: A city which is 7 days north(upriver) of Generica and
has a primary export of furs, which it trades for goods from the south, like
sugar...

Specifica of the Sugars: A sister city to Generica which is south along the
coast, and trades sugar with Generica, in trade for goods from the north and
Valkeer...  Recently it was the site of an uprising of the Lizardmen of the
Marshes, the results of which are as yet unknown.

Specifica of Cod: A smaller settlement north along the coast, exporting fish
southward to Generica.

Underwurlde:

To the west passing from the mountains under the Great Forest, and even to the
city sewer system itself, is the Underwurlde.  The Underwurlde is an extensive
system of grotto, caves and so on, which travel for hundreds of miles.  There
is said to be a whole city in a large, magic grotto, itself called The
Underwurlde, where many dark and evil races dwell.

Valkeer:

This is an island country to the west of Generica.  It is almost a week's
sail if conditions are good.  It was taken over by the Overlord Grimsword,
his death-knight general Dracat Deathblade and his undead minions.  He
rules the land with an iron hand, no one daring to defy him.  He constantly
torments his people (being from Ravenloft).  Broken Skull Keep lies 
imbeded into the Dagger Mountains.  This is the center of his rule.
The Guardians of the Claw are a group of undead and evil humans, that
protect Valkeer from invaders.

Vascondy:

This small country lies to the northeast of Generica, bounded on the east by
the Mysty Mountains and the west by the land of Alasir.  It is a farming land,
known for its quality orchards and vegetables.  Vascondy has recently been
annexed by the land of Alasir.

Ydoine:

This country is situated on the coast to the north of Generica.  Its capital is
Naix.  The people speak a language very similar to French(as close as Common is
to English, anyway).  They are ruled by a feudal system, but have a large
middle-class.  They also have a strong naval force, and they rule several
territories on the Dark Continent and in the islands near Camequeva.
 

--
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