From: djb6@ellis.uchicago.edu (Dennis Brennan)
Subject: ADMIN: Atlas (& Map) of the Known Lands
Reply-To: djb6@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 23:38:01 GMT



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  ~~--__        /         / ___          /--__        / /^\
        ~~--___/       _-~ / /^\        /    ~~~-----~ /___
         _____/     _-~---~ /___       /| _        ~~--~~ /^\
      /^<  ___         ~~--~~ /^\   _-~/ / ~--__   ~~--~~~\
         ~~   ~~--__   ~~--~~~\---~~  | /       ~~--___--~~\
                    ~~--___--~~\       V

                           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:

	Entry for the country of Varande

	ASCII map of the Known Lands.  (Sorry, folks, for my embarrassing
	bumbling of the project.  I believe that finally you will have
	something to see for all my efforts.  The PostScript map project
	has been postponed indefinitely.  (Well, it is _definitely_
	postponed, but for how long is anyone's guess).

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.

Antilles:

A collection of islands, of various sizes, between Generica and the Dark
Continent.  The dark-skinned inhabitants, mostly fisherman, have at this stage
in history mostly fallen under the thumbs of seagoing powers like Alasir,
Ydoine, and Rameshan.  The Western Isle and Valkeer are north of the Antilles. 
Camequeva is the largest and best-known.

Camequeva:

A tropical island in the Antilles.  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, for the
most part 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
Aaron Humphrey.)

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.  There are also several strange races to
be found here, including the lion-like Dragas on the Plains of Drotshava, far
to the west of the Savannah; reptilian Drists living in the northern deserts;
and elephantine Loxorians in the southern jungles.

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 crystalline 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
[Editor's note: Presumably this portal lies within the Great Forest] 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 King Permus Tremor (thanks to the help of the
Luthor Questors).

Generica and surroundings:

Generica is a generic fantasy ciy having approximately Rennaisance-level
technology (excluding gunpowder, but including 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 Generica's 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.  [ED: For a closer look at the city of Generica, read
Aaron Humphrey's periodical posting _Generica_Tourist_Refernce_Guide.]

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.)

The Great Heath:

A thousand miles east of the Mysty Mountains is an area that is mostly spanned
by plains and moors.  Once, in ancient history, this area was ruled by a single
great conqueror, who died with twelve sons.  Since then, the area has been
divided and subdivided until it reached its current state--over a hundred petty
baronies, earldoms, duchies, and the like.  There is an Emperor, whose Empire
spans little more than the average earldom.  All the ruling families trace
their ancestry back to the Great Conqueror, and occasionally signs of
inbreeding are apparent.  Not all of the realms are on the plains--a few are in
small mountain ranges, some in swamps, forest, etc. 

Pappheymknaff:

Pappheymknaff is an orc-infested country in the north part of the Mysty
Mountains, northeast of Vascondy.  The inhabitants have not spoken Common for
long; some of the older people there still use their own language,
Udriapapfklai, which sounds quite funny for Common speakers.  The names of
persons and cities are still in that language.  Suffice it to say that the full
name of the Count who rules the place is Dalzpansen Pitscheknelz ov Gumsiaseer
Wachdosalm ond Kechlatza Pepadethruphla Unilak.

The Pappheymer are constantly battling hordes of orcs dwelling in the
mountains, so they are normally very experienced in fighting.  Magic other than
that of the priests of Fivririmirfi, the main deity there, is strictly
forbidden.

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.  Clint Wolf pointed out that
Rameshan resembles Earth's Ottoman Empire during the 16th-18th centuries.
Rameshan's 'Golden Age' of splendor and empire began waning long ago, and
political life in the country is dominated with various conflicting factions.
Among these are Cardinal Xar's cult of the Church of Ilmater, which persecutes
mages, a brotherhood of learned men and their allies known as the Society
of Gentlemen Apothecaries, and the various courtesans of Pashar's palace life.
Increasingly losing economic ground to ambitious Alasir and the upstart
city of Generica, certain factions in Rameshan would like to re-assert
Rameshan's dominance over the Great Blue by making war on Generica. 

Satosi:

This city is also known as the City of Festivals.  It sits on the south coast
of the continent, south of the Great Heath.  Satosi draws thousands of tourists
a year for its festivals.  The city suffers from surprisingly little crime and
dishonesty.  Some attribute this to the enormous tree standing in the center of
the city, which also makes this city the center of druidic worship.  South of
Satosi is a large archipelago, similar to that in the Earthsea books.

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.  It appears that Specifica'Sugars is a Generican satellite city,
a holdover from Generica's military presence in the Southern Marshes during
the Lizardman wars.  Currently it is the site of a limited uprising among
the local lizardfolk.

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 grottoes, 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 [and north of the Antilles].
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 embedded 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.

Varande:

Varande is a small country situated to the southwest of Vascondy.  Its
borders also touch Alasir and the Great Blue.  It is basically a farming
and fishing country which has kept to itself in the pass.
    Varande has two major cities, the capital being Aarafawn which was
ruled by a monarchy until just recently, when it was quite decimated by
the invading Alasir military power.  Seeleth was originally a small
fishing community like most other small towns in Varande.  But over the
last few hundred years or so it has risen in power with the increase in
fishing trade.  Seeleth now rivals Aarafawn itself and until recently was
under the sway of its tyrannical assasins guild.  Many problems (the least
being the unleashing of a lunatic werewolf on the streets for a few
months) led to the many citizens rising up and disbanding the guild
through brute force and sheer numbers.  Seeleth is now the major Alasir
base in Varande due to its prime location along the Great Blue.  Aarafawn
is not quite what it used to be!

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 Antilles.


##################                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
#####################                       ^^^^^^^
######GREAT##########                         * DiamondGate
#######BLUE#####                                of North 
#################                                 Glacier
###############
######################              Mt. Ledoritan
#VALKEER#################                /\   ^^^^^^ Pappeym-
#    ################   YDIONE              ^^^^^^^ Knaff
##############         * Naix                 ^^^^^^^^^
########                                 VASCONDY^^^^^^
#######                                *Evermeadow ^^^^^^
###########   *Aragat   ALASIR                   ^^Mysty^^^   
################                                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
##################                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
###################VARANDE                       ^^Mts^^^^
####A#### #################*Specifica of Cod       ^^^^^^^^^^
####N## ### ##############                        ^^^^^^^^^^
####T##################                           ^^^^^^^    GREAT
####I###### #####      *GENERICA     -Ceruputhon River--^^   HEATH
###LLES#########        \           /                ^^^^
################         | Great Forest              ^^^^
###############          ----------*Specifica of Furs ^^
##############""""""""       [] Portal to FR         ^^^
################>------Southern------Kirender R.--^^^^^
Specifica of Sugars*""""Marshes""""         ^^^^^^^^^
####################"""""""""          ####### *Satosi
########################""""""#######################
###################################################
###############  *   #############################
###       #### Pashar  ######The Gulf#############
#           ###      ###################       #####
#          ####    RAMESHAN############           ####
    DARK ####.........################               #####
  CONTI-  ######.......*Orluccar###                 ########
   NENT ######..Rezzian.....####                     #######
        ####.....Desert......#                         #####


-- 
Dennis Brennan
djb6@midway.uchicago.edu