Dustmere

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File:Mercatia-dustmere.png

Overview

Dustmere (Commontongue ˈdʌstmɪr for dry lake) is named for its dry terrain. Lore about Dustmere is thorough and accurate. It is highly civilized, well mapped, and studied by scholars and historians. It's only significant mystery is the small island ruins in the west.

History

In the early Shattered Age, this island was known as Thureye (Nortongue ˈθɜrraɪ for dry isle). In the latter half of the Shattered Age, this island became known as Excillis (Imperial ɪkˈsilɪs for wastes).

Populations

Dustmere has a population of 3900, across 1 town and 2 villages. Low quality roads connect northern town and village.

• Grimshale (Commontongue) has a population of 2200. It is on the northern coast of The Dry Vale and Amethyst Harbor. It has a considerable fishing industry, including rare species like the glassback ray. There is a local custom of appeasing the "salt sisters", vague mythical figures that visit the town with good and bad omens.
• Saltport (Commontongue) has a population of 800. It is on the eastern coast of Mireleth lowlands and the Ruby Passage. While it has some fishing, the main economic power of the village comes from being the destination of gem mines at the base of Thorncliff. The village has a custom of thanking Aedifica and touching her symbol anytime they begin a workshift. Failing to do so is considered the source of all bad luck.
• Adrianecha (Dawntongue ˈɑdrɪɑˌnɛʧə for a man's name) has a population of 900. It is on the western shores of Lake Drosmira. It is the closest thing Dustmere has to a farming village, collectiong dropweed kelp from the lake and swampcorn from the river delta marsh. The village holds a festival during Autumn called "Mirrorgard", where they put mirrors on their front doors to stop the Widow Below from entering their homes.
• The road connecting Saltport with Adrianecha is called Whitespinel Road. It is dotted with watchtowers and gem mining camps.

Geography

• There is a northern dry, flat area called The Dry Vale (Commontongue). Cracked earth and tough brush cover this stretch of land. Locals refer to winds as "the sigh", as the dust makes a noise like rasping breath.
• The Scarpback (Commontongue) is a steep, dry, hilly region to the south of The Dry Vale. It is rich with limestone quarries and some copper mines. Locals say that the hills resemble the bony spines of some massive, buried, ancient beast. The coasts of this region become increasingly cliff-like toward the south.
• The Scarpback hills rise steadily southward until they reach a cliff. This cliff is called Thorncliff (Commontongue) or Stanca Spinilor (Dawntongue ˈstɒŋkɔ ˈspinilɔr for thorn rock). The wall of the cliff is lined with tough brambles and thick, woody vines. Local legends say ancient prisoners were forced to climb down the cliff. If they survived, they were pardoned. The base of the cliff is riddled with gem mines.
  • The Glassborn River starts from a spring in the southern Scarpback hills and leads to a waterfall down Thorncliff called Glass Falls.
  • A notably large hill in the range is called Varfalos (Dawntongue ˈvɑrfʊˌloʊs for crown) or Crown Hill (Commontongue). The hill is covered in a drab flower called mottleburst thistle that blooms after lightning storms.
• The lowland at the bottom of the cliff that makes up the southern end of the island is called Mireleth (Nortongue ˈmirʌˌlɛθ for swamp field).
  • Lake Drosmira (Darktongue droʊsˈmɪrə for dark vision) has a persistent fog over its dark, silty waters. Local legends say that the lake is home to The Widow Below, a ghostly entity that can appear in reflections during twilight and drowns those who see her.
  • There are three major rivers that leave Lake Drosmira, collectively called the Widow's Tears. Individually, the rivers are named Velcrina (Dawntongue ˌvɛlˈkrinə for a woman's name) in the west, Mirebrook (Commontongue) centrally, and Zambelca (Dawntongue ˌzæmˈbɛlkə for a woman's name) in the east. Velcrina has vast reed beds and the nests of a rare amphibious bird, the green-tongued heron. Mirebrook is the widest and most navigable by boat. Barges use it to move goods through the delta. Zambelca is known for a colorful fish called a topaz minnow.
• The western coast of Duskmere has a bay called The Bay of Ashes. It is a somber, mist-laden bay with ashen colored sands and stony, cliff-lined beaches. The sands give the waters here a dark hue, with grey foam.
• The large islet in the Bay of Ashes is called Raven Isle (Commontongue) or Insula Corbuli (Imperial ˈɪnsəˌlə kɔrˈbuˌli for island of ravens). Home to ancient standing stones as well as Dark Age era ruins.

Economy

The town and villages of the islands must import their produce from Valdessa and Kopakita, but produce enough fish for their local needs. The hills and cliffs have quarries of limestone that satisfy their local building needs, as well as exports to other islands. Their exotic fish attract travelers to their local markets. There are also gem mines in the cliff wall, which are exported to Mercatia City.