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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 419417" data-attributes="member: 6294">Areas of NoteSome major settlements and features of Galiban are described below:AmberdaleTen years after the establishment of Galiban, substantial amber deposits were found in this region.  For the next forty years, Amberdale was a thriving mining town, and became a notable regional centre.  With the gradual decline of the mines, however (they petered out entirely some fifteen years ago) the town has become nothing more than a small farming village, though it recovers some of its glory each year at the Harvest Festival, which remains a major event.Amberdale has a population of approximately 500.Black Flag IslandThis last stronghold of the once-powerful pirate bands is dominated by rough and inhospitable terrain.  Nominally outlaws who are enemies of the Duchy, the pirate "lords" conspicuously avoid preying on the Duke's ships.  Most people believe that they survive only by because they make less trouble than it would take to stamp them out.  Despite this, rumours occasionally sweep the land of a mighty pirate armada.  So far, this armada has never eventuated. Crescent RangeThese mountains dominate the centre of Galiban, and for many years prevented expansion into the eastern reaches of the peninsula.  Eventually routes through the mountains that were capable of taking wagons were found.The Range itself is still largely unexplored, however, and is reputed to be home to many tribes of humanoids, as well as other, more ancient and powerful creatures.Dragon IsleSea Captains have always taken a wide berth around this frost-covered island, which is reputed to be the lair of an ancient and powerful dragon.  Common legend has it that the unusually cold climate of the island is caused by the dragon's presence.  Of course, there have never been any reliable sightings of this supposed dragon.Duvik's PassThis town marks one of two wagon-capable passes through the Crescent Range.  This route is smaller and less well-known than the more northern passage, but Duvik's Pass is still an important strategic location, in both military and economic terms.Duvik's Pass has a population of approximately 1,500.MarikestThis large town is the largest settlement of "the Hidden Coast", so-called because for many years it was believed that the coastline lay many miles further east.  The wide berth given to Dragon Island meant that it was not until land-based explorers crossed the Crescent Range that the actual coastline was discovered.Marikest is a large town, with a thriving market and a several nearby forts for its defence.  For the people in the eastern half of Galiban, it is far more real a "capital" than distant Tarkamul.Marikest has a population of approximately 3,500.MielThis town marks one of two wagon-capable passes through the Crescent Range.  This route is the larger and better well-known of the two, and is also more centrally located.  As might be imagined, this makes Miel an important strategic location, in both military and economic terms.  Accordingly, it has a military presence that is considerably larger than its modest size would normally require.Miel has a population of approximately 1,500.NorthgateThe continued presence of pirates in the seas around Galiban - despite their relative quiescence - requires that some kind of defensive measures be taken.  Together with its sister-city of Southgate, this settlement guards the sea routes east through the Seven Isle Sea.  Anyone approaching from that direction would have to pass within sight of one of these two settlements, unless they were willing to chance the icy waters around Dragon Isle.The local industries are entirely focussed on the provision and support of the naval and military forces of this settlement.Northgate has a population of approximately 2,500.PoissonLocated some miles to the south of Marikest, Poisson is the site of the first - and so far, only - lighthouse to be built on the Hidden Coast.  This grants the settlement a significance beyond its size, and visitors are often surprised by the variety of services and accommodations available here.There is a long, broken ridge just to the west of Poisson.  This feature of the landscape is known locally as the Whispering Wall.Poisson had a population of approximately 800.Risen StarThis isolated monastery is built on a spur of rock at the southern end of the Whispering Wall.  A tiny community, the monks and priests who live here are all followers of Pelor, the Sun God.  Outside of major settlements such as Tarkamul and Marikest, this is probably the best place to seek magical healing in all Galiban.Risen Star is a monastery in the western style (there are no martial artists) and has a population of approximately 50.Seven Isle SeaThese waters lie to the east of Galiban, and were only discovered quite recently, when the real location of the coastline was determined.  As can easily be seen, they take their name from the seven islands that lie between Galibans northern and southern peninsulas.Skull PortThe "capital" of the pirates, Skull Port is a rough and dangerous place to be, and is alternately bursting with wealth and abjectly poverty-stricken.  Most of the town's buildings and facilities are in a very bad state of repair, and there is no sewer system of any kind: waste is just left in the streets.  Few would visit Skull Port unless they had no alternative.Skull Port has a population of approximately 2,000.SouthgateThe continued presence of pirates in the seas around Galiban - despite their relative quiescence - requires that some kind of defensive measures be taken.  Together with its sister-city of Northgate, this settlement guards the sea routes east through the Seven Isle Sea.  Anyone approaching from that direction would have to pass within sight of one of these two settlements, unless they were willing to chance the icy waters around Dragon Isle.The local industries are entirely focussed on the provision and support of the naval and military forces of this settlement.Southgate has a population of approximately 2,500.TarkamulBy far the largest settlement in Galiban is the capital, Tarkamul.  This city was once a stronghold of the pirates, built at the apex of a fertile river system.  The pirates chose their site well, and the first Duke Galiban adopted the stronghold as his capital.In the intervening years the city has grown strong and prosperous, and is the economic as well as political centre of the Duchy.  Tarkamul is also the home of the Duke's own shipyards, which are vital to the prosperity of the Duchy and to the maintenance of communications with the Empire.Tarkamul has a population of approximately 10,000 and a similar number of people live in the river valleys to the city's north.WestamereThe town of Westamere marks -appropriately - the western edge of the Duchy of Galiban.  From here, the great road known as the Trade Way runs some fifty miles to settlements within the Dwarven kingdom of Grahzkal.Though the lands between Westamere and Grahzkal can be dangerous, a lot of trade passes between the Duchy and the Dwarves.  For that reason, Westamere is the best source of superbly-made weapons and armour in Galiban.  Most such items, however, are destined for the markets of the Devayik Empire, and form one of the Duchy's most valuable export markets.Westamere has a population of approximately 4,000.White MountainsNamed for their permanent cap of white snow and frost, the White Mountains also mark the northern limit of human exploration in Galiban.  What little is known of the lands to the north and west of these peaks has been gleaned from the handful of Dwarves that still make their home there.  In the last forty years even these doughty warriors have mostly migrated south, seeking warmer climes and fewer hostile neighbours.</blockquote>

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