Airceann River

Airceann River by tumblr user @thewatchau

Location of the Airceann River in Duilintinn by tumblr user @thewatchau

The Airceann River is a chalk-based river that originates on the northern slopes of the Southern Mountains, flowing east through the Coastal Plains to carve out the Iolla Cliffs in its path to the Eastern Sea.

## Name Origin

Airceann means “to be positive, affirming, or certain,” which fits the river flowing beneath the Iolla Cliffs of House Schneeplestein perfectly. The Iolla Cliffs house at least a dozen small communities where the chronically or severely ill can receive 24/7 care from resident doctors and nurses called the Iolla Sanitariums. While very little is certain about life when living with a serious illness, this river dares to be the exception.

The name “Airceann” not only highlights the certainty of the river’s flow each year, but allows the people living in the cliffs above that life goes on, even in the face of the surprising or inevitable. It’s sometimes mocked as “the bedside river” because the sentiment of the name sounds a lot like a doctor’s “bedside manner” as they tell you bad news. Overall, however, the Airceann River was named for its consistency and in the hopes of bringing positive mental attitude to the Iolla Cliffs and their residents.

## Geography

While most rivers in the kingdom are either fast and rough or constantly flooding and drying up, the Airceann River features a glassy smooth surface, no matter the season. Fueled along its slow and steady journey by the near-constant rain that falls upon the Southern Mountains, the river is invariably crystal clear during the summer and frozen over during the winter, creating a beautiful, smooth road of water or ice from the mountains to the sea. Watercress and other wildlife common to chalk rivers populate its shores and waters.

## Crossing

The Airceann Bridge is an extremely vital piece of infrastructure in Duilintinn, built to cross the Airceann River along the border between House Schneeplestein and House Jameson. A collection of taverns, trading posts, and other businesses have taken advantage of the traffic flowing over the Airceann Bridge, forming a town of the same name.

The Airceann Bridge is the only way to access the Iolla Cliffs by land. The only aquatic route is through Reaper Cove, which is very dangerous and only known and used by members of The Watch. As a result, the bridge is extremely busy with people coming to and from the Iolla Beacon Outpost and Iolla Sanitariums.

Immediately north of the bridge is an intersection, with roads traveling towards Noefrach, Runners’ Haven Outpost, Cordoire, Fionport, and across the bridge itself. A bustling little town has grown around this intersection, also going by the name Airceann Bridge. While the constant traffic of passing travelers makes for good business, the hilly incline where this town is located limits how many entrepreneurial business owners are willing to set up shop in the region. However, despite the architectural challenges, many traders, craftsmen, innkeepers, etc. have made the Airceann Bridge their home.

## Trivia

The South Downs of the United Kingdom are one of the most significant real-world geographical references for the natural landmarks of eastern Duilintinn, from the Beinnfaire Ridge, to the Coastal Plains, to the Iolla Cliffs. In this case, the Airceann River draws some inspiration from the chalk streams of the River Test, though with cliffs and flat coastal plains surrounding its banks, instead of the trees and vegetation in the image right.