The County Of Whitethorn
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While Caer Adeg-y-Lleaud is the main location for roleplay in the County of Whitethorn, it cannot be viewed in isolation. The County occupies a large part of the Missouri valley, drawing in a couple of small cities and numerous towns and farming communities. It could quite easily be described as a backwater fiefdom... and yet Glamour lurks int he most unusual places. |
| The Beltaine Belle |
| Courtiers relaxing on the terrace of Caer Adeg-y-Lleaud of a summer's day
may look out from time to time; across the verdant lawns, the emerald woodland and the fertile valley, onto the beautiful golden ribbon of the sun-kissed Missouri far below them... and they might spy a black smut inching its way along the river, leaving a trail of sooty smoke behind. A watcher on the bankside, conversely, would be assailed by the throbbing chug, chug, chug of the archaic engines and the crashing cacophony of the paddles churning through the water as the massive old riverboat wallows past. Then knocked clean off their feet by the sudden ear-splitting blast of the great whistle. Even the courtier on the terrace might spill their mint julep, as the Belle's whistle has been heard more that fifteen miles from the river. The Beltaine Belle is actually a small Freehold, incepted in the early 19th century by a prominent nocker inventor and gambler, Jeremiah "Forthright" Harkington III. The secrets of her labyrinthine engineroom are known only to the current Captain, a title held by more than six different nockers since Jeremiah's tragic accident. At the heart of the engineroom the Balefire burns, a red-hot roaring furnace of sound and fury which any kithain would be hard-pressed to sleep by. At least four of the Belle's Captains were known to be deaf. The upper decks contain a bar, a large casino and even an ancient movie theatre. Once the proudest vessel on the Missouri, neglect by all the nockers who's passion did not extend to little chips and playing cards has left the upper decks in a sorry state. The bar remains stocked, however, for visitors and those few craftsnockers who need to calm their nerves after a particularly worrying "side-effect" of a new invention. The lower decks are where the fun begins. The handful of nockers who share the facilities each have their own workshop, carved out of the rivetted steel bulkheads and miles of clanging, seething pipework in their own unique styles. The Balefire provides endless quantities of steam, heat, motive force and all the other essentials for nockercraft. The Belle does not ride the river for much of the year, but remains docked to obscure backwater moorings or even to the tying point at the base of the hill below Caer Adeg. The nockers' pay an annual tithe to the Countess: one commissioned item of nockercraft from each of the Belle's craftsmen. They also agree to patrol the river and deal with any chimerical or mortal troubles relating to it. In exchange they are granted the protection of the Countess' Law and freedom to sell their wares throughout the County. |
| Caer Ffynnonarian (Silverwell) |
| Set alongside the Trodway from Caer Adeg-y-Lleaud in a beautiful grove of the Near Dreaming is the Countess' Hafod, her "Summer Court". This homestead is ruled by Baron Diarmot MacLaoise Mac Fiona on her Excellency's behalf and offers a place where the court can retire to enjoy the colour and Glamour of the Dreaming. |
| Redwall Abbey |
| In fact lying just outside the County border, the small Freehold of Redwall Abbey provides a haven to pooka of every stripe. Ruled by the ennobled troll Baron Mathias who owes fealty directly to the Duchess Medea. |
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