Shinpo, Western Edge of the World

Shinpo and the eastern coast of Greater Hunlo

   Far to the west, off the coast of Greater Hunlo, are the seven major and eight minor islands that make up the vassal kingdom of Shinpo. Most of the east knows little of this ancient land and its people and this is unlikely to change anytime soon as Shinpo has slipped into insignificance and vassalage.  Where once an intelligent, precise and aggressive people thrived, now exist a people broken and shamed. Their leaders corrupt and weak, content to be ruled by their Hunlo masters, the people of Shinpo have very little to pride themselves on. Some would mourn but many others consider this only just as Shinpo once brought misery and destruction to much of the world.
  For most people, Shinpo is just a land from which silk, gold, silver, platinum, gems and fine tea comes from and not much else. Some might also know that long ago it was a powerful empire ruled over by one of the more evil gods, Ng. Prior to the great catastrophe known as The Sundering, Shinpo was a militaristic land which under the rule of Ng constantly warred against her much larger neighbor Hunlo and its god, Xixiziang. Despite being outnumber in virtually every conflict, more often than not, Shinpo emerged victorious. This was due as much to the discipline and tenacity of her people as it was to the leadership of Ng. The people of Hunlo were courageous and intelligent, but poorly led time and time again as Xixiziang had no use for the military arts.
 Ng was known to require of her people ever increasing heights of perfection, demanding such strict social control that it was said to drive some of her subjects mad. Social castes were clearly defined, from the moment one was born, one was given a purpose and prepared to serve in that capacity. No allowance was made for deviation or rebellion and yet oddly this did not produce a stagnant and dull culture as was the case in Oton. It is interesting to note that once each year a period of horrifying chaos descended upon the nation in a week long festival known as Exuberance.
  During Exuberance, which one can think of as a nationwide festival, anything and everything was suddenly allowable. During this time the most debauched and sometime horrifying behavior was perfectly acceptable. Ng herself participated in and led many of the orgies or carnivals of violence, depravity and sex that ensued.  The purpose of this festival was never spelled out in any religious texts, there were none ever produced by the priests of Ng, but it seems reasonable to surmise that Exuberance was like the release valve on a steam engine. It allowed the people to purge and express what they were forced to largely suppress the rest of the year and so maintain their sanity. It should be noted that not everyone engaged in atrocious behavior, many simply used the time for revelry, family outings and carnivals of the more traditional sort. It was well known by the Shinponese, which areas to avoid if one did not wish to become a victim or take part in the harsher activities.
  Shinpo was a land of tremendous beauty, the numerous gardens were all meticulously designed to mimic the random quality of nature and yet maintained in a perfect state that nature could never achieve. The buildings were constructed to precise standards using only the finest materials available and both architects and construction workers were highly valued. Cities were laid out not in grids, as in Pyria or Drury, but there was still a method to the curved roads and seemingly random placement of buildings. Today, however, Shinpo has fallen far away from these standards. One would wonder, were Ng to return, how she would react to Shinpo's present condition.

Excerpt from: A Social and Physical Geography of Gloe, by S.K. Stietz, Prof. of Geography, University of  Drury.

Lin: Last of the gods?

   After the Sundering, as chaos exploded across Gloe, the gods now free of their shackles began to lash out at one another in ways hitherto unseen. The world suffered these god wars for centuries and as is well documented in our histories, Ng emerged as the last of surviving god to challenge the very Oracle herself in Obsidian. There, upon The Pale, surrounded by the Waters of creation, she was slain after her second attempt at invasion and thus her threat was forever ended and the gods extinct. Out in the barbarian lands they still worshiped their deities, refusing to believe they had been killed. For centuries the peoples of these lands prayed in vain, their words borne away upon the wind,  never to be heard.
  However, rumors in academic and religious circles have consistently held that Ng was not the last god, that another remained hidden, avoiding all conflict and contact except with her own peoples. Lin the god of all of the Wilds of Inne, was not accounted for in the histories. Most believed that being militarily weak she was slain by Ng or another of the gods with little effort and thus did not bear mentioning, but this seems more a contrivance to avoid investigating her further. Perhaps, it was even an idea propagated by Lin herself to maintain her anonymity. And the Wilds of Inne, a land so treacherous that no one who has entered has ever returned, provides her shelter from prying religious and scholarly eyes. Lin was cunning and wise, she cherished the people under her care and was counted among the good gods. Who her people are is unknown and will most likely remain so until someone can mount an expedition strong or clever enough to return.
  Does Lin still rule in the Wilds of Inne? Has she remained hidden all this time, concealed from even the Oracle herself?  It would be a nice thing to know that at least one of the gods survived Ng.

Patrica Hume
Amateur Historian & Purveyor of Things Once Thought Lost

Excerpt found in a badly deteriorated notebook discovered behind Patricia's dresser after her death in 1653 A.S. Patricia herself was always considered an oddity amongst the Humes. While she possessed great intelligence, she preferred to remain separate from most people, never attending a social function, never making use of the Companions and only rarely dining with the family.

Obsidian

Obsidian Caldera

  The Obsidian Caldera is perhaps second only to The Great Rift as a magnificent and unique geological feature. Located near the western side of the Crooked Teeth range, approximately centered north and south, it is protected from the outside world by both its location and the Pascon, a wall entirely unnatural in origin.
  The caldera is roughly four kilometers in diameter, although it is not perfectly so.The outer edge of the caldera is known by the inhabitants of Obsidian as The Rimwall. The slope of the Rimwall is at or near 90 degrees at every point. From the floor of the caldera to the lowest point of the Rimwall, the Eastern Pass, the height is 2154 meters. From the floor to the highest point is 3893 meters and the peak is the tallest in the Crooked Teeth range. It is named Huining Peak, after a famous Praetor of the city. Huining Peak is located on the southern side of the Rimwall. There are two passes, creatively named the Eastern and Western Passes, each one requires a strenuous climb up switch backing trails with sheer drops on one side. One misstep can lead to death.
  Entry into the caldera can be accomplished at one of five points, one can hike over one of the passes, but the Pascon prevents entry. One can also use the Artery system under the floor of the caldera, but this has been unused for nearly two millennium and due to damage from Straken activity, is unsafe. Finally, one can enter using The Slice. The Slice is, in fact, the only method used to enter the caldera and it is only used by the natives of the land. No outsider is allowed to enter the caldera, this is one of the reasons for the Pascon as on several occasions parties have attempted to climb over and down into the caldera.
  The floor of the caldera slopes downward to the center and is completely covered by the Green Wood, a forest of mixed soft and hardwoods. There are many streams and all flow to the circular crevice known as The Deep, where they are either collected in reservoirs and pumped into the city or cascade over the edge creating incredible waterfalls. The flora and fauna of the Green Wood is not so diverse as that of a typical forest in barbarian lands, all large predators were hunted out long ago and now only herbivores and predatory birds still live their. There are several small predatory mammals but none are threats to humans.
  The most notable feature of the Green Wood are the Raobob trees. These trees are the second largest living creatures on Gloe, only Behemoths are larger.  Raobobs can grow to be 90 to 120 meters tall and 12 to 25 meters in diameter. They produce the precious sap called Amber, which is the primary export of Obsidian. The root system of the Raobob is extensive and the roots themselves act as walls, shelters and pathways for the creatures of the wood.
  The Deep is a ring crevice that is reported to be bottomless but in fact is not. It is extremely deep and nearly reaches the mantle region of the planet. The bottom is molten rock and water falling is turned to steam which creates and almost constant fog which obscures the bottom. It is wide, about 200 to 400 meters across and the sides are rough and easily climbable, however, where would one climb to? A unique feature of The Deep are the eight Pedestals, great flat-topped pillars of stone upon which are communities of the poorest of the peoples of the city. In truth, the pillars are connected to the walls of the Deep but so far down the mists block the connections from view.
  The inner side of the Deep is a ridge ring named The Corman, the Corman is rugged and features many ridges which run from the top to the bottom edge. The Corman is composed of mafic and ultramafic stone such as granite, basalt, schist, olivine & obsidian, giving it a dark and ominous look. There are 13 large ledges on the Corman upon which both Wei towns and Patron estates are located. Each ledge is roughly equivalent in size, but the shape varies. Patron ledges are the four highest, the largest of the ledges is named the Orincth and is a place for festivals, political meetings, executions, the infrequent market and general public activities.
  The Corman is in fact the crater wall of the very heart of the Obsidian Caldera. Inside the Corman are The Waters, a material unlike anything else in Gloe. Legend says that all things be they living or not, came from the Waters and that some day they will all go back to them at the end of all things. The Waters themselves appear bluish-silver and are not as viscous as water. The surface of the lake remains placid unless disturbed but rings tend to fade quickly rather than build. Any material that touches the Waters dissolves utterly, leading to the use of the lake as a means of execution and also infanticide. One mystery is how the stone that contains the Waters does not itself dissolve.
  Finally, roughly in the center of the Waters in The Pale, the island upon which the Oracle of Obsidian lives. The island itself is unremarkable, consisting of three hills, two connected and one isolated out on a finger of land. The Oracle's dome rests in the saddle between the connected hills. The hills are covered in lush vegetation, except the isolated hill which is barren, craggy stone. The island has beautiful white sand beaches and no means of reaching it as any craft placed upon the Waters dissolves rather quickly.

Celeste' Fenaille, OSihr to Margeri' Fenaille
  A.S. 1845, Geographical Overview of the Obsidian Caldera

Petain Corp.: The Bain Fold

Basic small purple model

  Petain Corporation is proud to bring to you, our loyal customers, the latest and greatest in personal trekking gear. As any seasoned hiker knows, the compromise between space, weight and need is a difficult balance. A true trekker puts a lot of thought into what they will bring with them on any given adventure. Whether hiking the ridges of Yalgor B Minor, the dry windy plains of Halcion or even the Alps of old Earth, striking that perfect combination is an art.
  But now, such concerns are a thing of the past and no longer will you need to be bothered. Instead of spending an hour packing, you can enjoy more time on the trail admiring the beauty around you. The Bain Fold is, quite simply, a bottomless intuitive pouch. We won't bore you with the egghead stuff, but suffice it to say, a Bain Fold will hold a limitless amount of weight and allow you to access whatever you desire by use of a standard neural interface. The only restriction on storage are that the object be small enough to fit through the mouth of the pouch.
  There are several models for consumers to choose from. Please access our catalog via Nunet for the complete line. Color and designs are nearly limitless and there are several different sizes. Currently, the widest mouth versions are strictly for military or secon use, but we hope to bring you these versions soon. Thank you all for being such loyal customers and we hope you enjoy the Bain Fold. Petain Corporation prides itself on flexibility and meeting the demands of its customers, you. Let us know what you think and give us any feedback you might have.
  Happy and safe trekking!

Pinwin: Winthrop Security Suit Type 72

Recent Pinwin Shipment: 

   We at Winthrop Corporation are extremely proud of the brainchild of Chan Pinwin, a brilliant engineer and fashion amateur who came on board not four years ago. His new line of Pinwin are one piece jumpsuits made of a kelo-silk weave which has only recently been improved upon by our R&D. They seal in the front, communicating with an implanted NUINT to know when to release and allow the wearer to remove the suit and when to stay sealed. They are long-sleeved and have a round collar which fits snugly around the neck. 

   These new Pinwin protect the wearer from small arms fire, including slug and plasma weapons, quite effectively. They also protect against extreme weather, breathe well and are waterproof, of course. They are light, flexible and self-cleaning and a new feature allows our Pinwin to self-repair as long as materials are available for consumption. These new generation Pinwin can stop a kinetic pellet from an AnEphine and ConEphine although the wearer will not feel very peppy after impact. Unfortunately, they can only stop a couple of these rounds before the suit will begin to fail. However, Winthrop Corporation is working hard to overcome this weakness and believes the average user is unlikely to face such weapons often.

   Pinwin have top of the line adaptive camouflage and any wearer moving slowly or remaining still is extremely difficult to distinguish from their background. The suit changes to any coloration the wearer desires, even clear for those more adventurous types. A wearer of a Pinwin can see all other wearers who are distinguished by a white outline unless suppression technology has been added to the suit. We strongly recommend this feature, however we understand that your budget does not allow for this at this time.

   Pinwin can be worn for a maximum of two weeks, the wearer can both urinate and defecate in the suit, these materials are used to repair and maintain the suit, they are absorbed and the wearer is kept clean. The sensation of soiling one’s self is not pleasant but a wearer gets used to it and the suit will clean them quite thoroughly. The Pinwin shipped to HF-629 do not have the waste recycling function which allows food and water to be made from feces and urine, this is unfortunate but the company did not feel the expenditure was worth it in the case of HF-629. It is hoped that soon budget constraints will allow for the upgrade to these new types as well. We would like to remind you that higher investment up front can save money in the long run.

   Also, it should be noted that Sano-Lieber H&R has been cited three times for backwards engineering and our reps have cautioned to keep careful watch for any indication this is occurring. You at Sano-Lieber are important clients but even so, we cannot allow you to try and take advantage of our relationship. I am sure you can understand our cautiousness and not become offended by our wish to protect the integrity of our design.

Yours Respectfully,

Enrique Hemenez

Vice President of Customer Relations

Winthrop Corporation

Straken, by Willim Hiamshire, amateur naturalist and gentleman scholar.

   For most, the mere mention of Straken evokes feelings of dread and terror. Even though the dangerous creatures are rarely encountered in civilized lands of Gloe, the grim results of those few encounters are enough to make them the most feared creature in all the land. 
   The name Straken is a melding, or some would say bastardization, of the longer and older name Stone Kraken.  The original name is apt for Straken are like the many tentacled sea creatures found in the oceans of the world. Survivors of Straken encounters describe them as jelly like and having dozens of tentacles. Although the number of tentacles may be an exaggeration, it has been confirmed that all Straken do not have the same number. The very few Straken that have been successfully killed had between 8 and 16 arms branching off of a central body which houses the brain and all other organs. 
   Straken possess the extraordinary ability to considerably alter the shape of their bodies. The limbs, torso, brain and organs can all be flattened to a width no thicker than a centimeter, allowing it to move using natural cracks in stone. Many mistakenly believe that Straken can swim through stone as a fish swims through water, but this is simply untrue. Indeed, I have witnessed a Straken emerge from a crevice in the wall of a mine and then seek refuge in another crack when surrounded by fire (fire is the best method known for harming and driving off Straken) lit by the miners to keep it at bay.
   Beyond the shape of their bodies and their dangerousness, little is known. What we do know is this, they come in a variety of colors but this does not seem to indicate a difference in sex or species. They consume stone and reproduce by laying eggs. Egg clusters have been found in the deepest areas of natural caves and sometimes miners have accidentally broken into an egg chamber with disastrous results.

Artist's sketch of Emphalian peach orchard tube

  What is also known is that Straken spend a great deal of their time building randomly but the structures they build are not themselves random. This may seem like a contradictory statement but allow me to explain. Miners and even overland travelers have found tunnels and structures built in isolated locations. The tunnels found seem to have been built for use by humans on foot or the larger tunnels for some kind of transportation device similar to a locomotive, but underground. 
   One of these large tubes was discovered recently in Emphalia and quite literally sprang into existence overnight. A peach grower went to bed and awoke to find the tube in the middle of his peach orchard. The tube stuck out from the ground, sloped at a 45 degree angle, about 3 meters high and descended beneath the ground about fifty meters before narrowing to a small fist sized hole. In Hesp, silver miners broke into a maze of arched tunnels large enough for two men to walk comfortably side by side. The tunnels led nowhere, they turned randomly and intersected one another. In all there were over four hundred meters of tunnels that led nowhere. Most sections ended abruptly, but always there was a small crack or hole through which the Straken exited.
   Why they had made these structures is unknown and until a method can be found for capturing or observing Straken we most likely never will know. Several government have funded expeditions to discover the purpose of these activities and to learn more about these creatures. Indeed, I lead the team from the University of Pyria and next year we have been granted permission to study one of the large tube sections found in the White Caps of Artengia. Hopefully, the current war will not interfer with our research.
   Straken are most heavily clustered in the Crooked Teeth, Dagger, and White Cap mountain ranges and their exact numbers are unknown. Great care is taken by the wiser of mining companies and individuals to scout for Straken before beginning a new dig. If Straken are present, there are methods for driving them away. as stated before, Straken dislike fire and will flee from it, they also seem to react badly to certain sounds and some miners use specially made bells, chimes or tuning forks to keep the creatures away.
  Straken are both beautiful and deadly and this researcher can not help but feel they have some long lost purpose. Some day, if enough effort is made, we might unlock this purpose and discover a way to either tame the Straken or harness their industrious behavior for the benefit of mankind.

The Behemoth, by Depri Andreau, Prof. of Natural History, University of Artengia

Adult Behemoth on the move.

Behemoth

    The Behemoth is unlike any other creature on Gloe. They live exclusively in the northeastern area of Gloe and are an essential part of the Orange Free Republic economy. In addition to being the largest living creatures known to exist, they are also asexual and their method of reproduction remains a complete mystery. To date, no infant Behemoth has been found yet smaller adolescents are commonly seen. The accompanying sketch is of an untamed adult specimen which was found traveling along the north edge of the Lynewood several years ago. The sighting was unusual as Behemoth generally stick to their established roads and this one was at least thirty kilometers from the nearest road.
   The typical adult Behemoth is the size of a small foothill, ranging anywhere from 30 to 50 meters tall and 100 to 120 meters in diameter. When resting they can sometimes be mistaken for terrain as trees grow on their backs and their flesh resembles densely packed soil. When traveling, a Behemoth uses it's hundreds of thick root-like legs to move. These root-legs digs into the soil and drag the creature in the direction it wishes to go. The root-legs also serve the function of drawing in water and minerals from the soil.
   A wild Behemoth lives in a symbiotic relationship with two other species. The Acadia tree and the Turnbull ant. One of the reasons Behemoth are mistaken for hills is the foliage that grows upon their backs, grass, small shrubs and Acadia trees cover the back of a healthy Behemoth. Behemoth in poor health can easily be noticed as the flora on their backs withers and dies. The Acadia trees grow in clusters, randomly spaced upon the back and grow a few meters tall. They are broad leaf trees but do not lose their leaves in the winter. Acadia trees produce red plum-like fruit which is edible and quite tasty. The fruit is high in sugar and is very sweet.
   The Turnbull ants living on and inside the Behemoth serve as both protection for the Acadia trees and produces a sap called Chisin. The Behemoth consumes Chisin as part of its diet, although what function it serves is not yet known. Turnbull ants are unique and can be quite frightening when encountered. They are easily the largest insect on Gloe, so they share a trait with their host. Turnbull ants range from half a meter to one meter in length. There are two species of Turnbull, one is solid red and the other is red and black striped. The red and black striped Turnbulls are much less common and more aggressive. Much like normal ants, Turnbulls have workers, soldiers, male drones and a queen. Workers keep the surface of the Behemoth clean and harvest the fruit of the Acadia, taking it into the tunnels they carve into the Behemoth.
   It is not known if the tunneling is painful to the Behemoth, but it most likely is not or if it is the pain is insignificant as Behemoth do not seem upset by it. The worker ants ferment the fruit which naturally produces Chisin. Soldier ants have large, serrated mandibles which can do terrible damage to those they attack. Humans can easily be overwhelmed and killed by three or four of these soldiers although the ants are only provoked when their territory is trespassed upon.
   The queen is larger than the other ants, usually eight to ten times bigger and produce eggs at a much slower rate than their smaller cousins. Whereas a typical black ant queen might produce 50-100 eggs in a day, a Turnbull queen will only produce 1-2 eggs a week. Male drones are only produced once a decade and die within days of fertilizing a queen.
  Behemoth can move up to two hundred kilometers in a twenty four hour period but seldom travel so quickly. They rest an average of 6 hours a day and spend the rest of the time moving on their easily recognized roads. A Behemoth road is an open strip of land, usually covered in short grass and about 200 meters wide.

Next: Tame Behemoth