Khadavla
Bibliophile
A few generations ago, the city of Five Lion Lodge sat at the edge of the jungle on the Mangrove River, but the loggers have pushed the local jungle back considerably since leaving the sorcerers struggling to make the resultant land sustainable to non-jungle crops.
Trade Factol Parish, it is said, purchased a comprehensive crop rotation plan from Salt Sorrow, owner of the Seven Fingers Delta Plantaton and Trading Post up the river in the jungle that involved juggling native and foriegn crops localy with wind breaks, bumper crops, spells and prayers, and large tracts of 'fallow forests' that allowed the logging operations to never move further into the jungle than a day's ride from the city by replanting and rotating. The monumental sum paid by the already nigh beggared Trade Factol for the plan allowed the already well to do Salt Sorrow to elevate himself to "Baron of Mongoose Mangroves," a freeman worked plantation so vast none has successfully contested it's status as a Barony. Trade Factol Parish's has done well over the last 40 years as well. The text on the city notes that his specialty line of d'jala concubines had been the sole product available for expxort during those hard times, and on their profits alone did Factol Parish feed, clothe, and defend the people of his city.
Entering the city on the twentieth of Resplendent Earth one can see that old Factol Parish has done well in the 40 years since. Men, it is the norm, wear sheer cotton pantaloons, women usually short skirts of the same with a bit up top (depending on which of the two surounding cultures of 'civilized' folk, a tight band or a sheer fluttery pannel). A hodgepodge of slaves weaves through the streets as well, little different than their masters at a glance save that the iron collared--who often bare the marks of old criminal lashings--carry no knives while the silver collared--who do not, but might bare battle scars--carry small, serviceable tools as opposed to the daggers most men and many women walk with. No free person goes without a small expression of resalable fashion in the form of silver with a few small gems. They are clean, healthy, and their shoes recently renewed. Most bare to boot a minor talisman or two apropriate to the dangers that concern them, disease, pregnancy, battle, bad luck, poison, drunkeness...
The roads are quality second age pavement. The homes are teakwood and expensive tile. Though most locals care not a whit for the frequent cooling rains (and how it makes their sparse clothing translucent) a goodly number of shops carry umbrellas. To the typical northerner, the heat is that of an oven. To the typical southerner, the humidity is like breathing water.
Inquiries at the docks reveal that two major caravans are going to Mongoose Mangroves this season. Trade Factol Wedge out of the Verengian City States they missed 5 days ago, but Trade Factol Seresen Cotton's wagons came not long ago, and will be loading onto ships tomorrow.
Trade Factol Parish, it is said, purchased a comprehensive crop rotation plan from Salt Sorrow, owner of the Seven Fingers Delta Plantaton and Trading Post up the river in the jungle that involved juggling native and foriegn crops localy with wind breaks, bumper crops, spells and prayers, and large tracts of 'fallow forests' that allowed the logging operations to never move further into the jungle than a day's ride from the city by replanting and rotating. The monumental sum paid by the already nigh beggared Trade Factol for the plan allowed the already well to do Salt Sorrow to elevate himself to "Baron of Mongoose Mangroves," a freeman worked plantation so vast none has successfully contested it's status as a Barony. Trade Factol Parish's has done well over the last 40 years as well. The text on the city notes that his specialty line of d'jala concubines had been the sole product available for expxort during those hard times, and on their profits alone did Factol Parish feed, clothe, and defend the people of his city.
Entering the city on the twentieth of Resplendent Earth one can see that old Factol Parish has done well in the 40 years since. Men, it is the norm, wear sheer cotton pantaloons, women usually short skirts of the same with a bit up top (depending on which of the two surounding cultures of 'civilized' folk, a tight band or a sheer fluttery pannel). A hodgepodge of slaves weaves through the streets as well, little different than their masters at a glance save that the iron collared--who often bare the marks of old criminal lashings--carry no knives while the silver collared--who do not, but might bare battle scars--carry small, serviceable tools as opposed to the daggers most men and many women walk with. No free person goes without a small expression of resalable fashion in the form of silver with a few small gems. They are clean, healthy, and their shoes recently renewed. Most bare to boot a minor talisman or two apropriate to the dangers that concern them, disease, pregnancy, battle, bad luck, poison, drunkeness...
The roads are quality second age pavement. The homes are teakwood and expensive tile. Though most locals care not a whit for the frequent cooling rains (and how it makes their sparse clothing translucent) a goodly number of shops carry umbrellas. To the typical northerner, the heat is that of an oven. To the typical southerner, the humidity is like breathing water.
Inquiries at the docks reveal that two major caravans are going to Mongoose Mangroves this season. Trade Factol Wedge out of the Verengian City States they missed 5 days ago, but Trade Factol Seresen Cotton's wagons came not long ago, and will be loading onto ships tomorrow.
