Lastfell
Contents
Description
The region of Lastfell is centered in the middle of both geographical and cultural versatility of the northern part of Beluaterra. The townsland is known among the people of this great continent as the "Crossroads of the North", a name which speaks for itself. From the southwest, it is bordered the fertile lands of Orde, and further west is the Jedinchel Mountains and Qual, where the start of the Great Northern River can be found. From the north, it is protected by the lush forests of Wailing Wood, directly west by historical Unger, the capital of Thalmarkin, and on the south, the Great Northern River itself cuts off Lastfell from the neighboring region of Bil Havil. Finally, in the east, when a man looks really hard, the Bay of Souls can be seen past rural Kannoktet where the Great Northern River slips quietly into the sea.
Lastfell is a critical region in the north, quickly becoming a known region in Thalmarkin. It is the only point within many hundreds of miles where people can cross the Great Northern River by walking from the northern nation of Thalmarkin to her neighbors in the south.
The only connection between Lastfell and Bil Havil, the northern and southern part of the continent, is a bridge built in the days of old. The bridge and its accompanying ferry are both constructed of heavy timbers, almost the size of full trees. Together they are known as the "Fell Crossing". This characteristic gives great strategic and military opportunities to anyone who controls Lastfell. So it is not odd that many times in history the region’s control was, nicely said, a "matter to discuss". The region also represents an important fortified crossroad region. It is a gathering point for armies where they can get some light repairs and protect the only bridge across the Great Northern River.
History
The history of Lastfell is very rich and significant, although the exact details are lost to the rivers of time. In the Age of Mystery it supposedly belonged to Helonon, a barbaric realm that was destroyed by an alliance made of Fronen, Melhed and Ar Agyr. Argos, a hero of ancient Melhed, had the most important part in the battles of that time. In the Age of Blood it was the property of the democracy of Ar Agyr, based in Unger and was a major defense point of that nation against the Defensive Alliance. During the Age of Reason, it came under Melhed control and was vital in defense against the inhumans of the second invasion. Having destroyed Ar Agyr, the inhumans had free reign over the north on the other side of the river. The walls of Lastfell, built by Bimbo Neuropa, and the reason he gained the Medal for Construction, allowed Melhed's small forces to fend off the hoards. The rulership of Bimbo Neuropa lasted for extremly long time, which makes him the most honoured and loved amongst the people of Lastfell, and is mostly because of him that Lastfell stands proud today. The people have, in his honour, constructed a large monument made of silver in the center of the townsquare. The heir and succesor of Bimbo is a fierce warrior Asterion Arakiss. He is mostly deserved for writing and collecting the scripts, scrolls and handwritings of Lastfell and putting it all in books that were later published. In that manner the region became alive in urban legends and more familiar in the educated world. The region of Lastfell under the leadership of Asterion took a major part in recounquering the northern part of Melhed and connecting it with the mainland. Asterion also rebuilt the motte and bailey that Bimbo did, but was destroyed in one of the many sieges that occured in Lastfell. Nowadays a mighty motte and bailey stands proud and laughs in the face of the enemy.
Climate
The climate in Lastfell is characterized as North Tundra. In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. In tundra, the vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, andis and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra. The word "tundra" usually refers only to the areas where the subsoil is permafrost, or permanently frozen soil. However, due to regions abundance of fresh water there are plenty of forests and blooming plants, along with a mild climate. With plenty of forests comes the shelter from the harsh winds of the north. In some regions of Lastfell there are numerous hills that make valleys conveniant for improvised natural roads.
Animal species of Lastfell are also quite unique as the fauna. The most memorable are: Seemalach Fox, Caribou, Ermine, Grizzly Bear and the Harlequin Duck. The most famous is the Seemalach Fox which is also somewhat the unoque animal of Lastfell, breeding and residing only in the vicinity of Seemalach. The Seemalach Fox is about 10 -16 inches long and weighs about 6-12 pounds. It is about the size of an ordinary dog. It has short legs a long bushy tail that it uses as insulation by wrapping it around itself when sleeping. Its long hair is white in the winter, and "blue" or gray in the summer. Its head has a stubby muzzle, small ears, and large eyes. Its feet are lined with fur, which helps it conserve heat. The Seemalach Fox has adapted a stealthy movement due to its predatory nature.
People
The people of Lastfell are more or less a happy bunch. This is because of relativly low population comparing it to some rural regions, and higher income of the precious gold coins. The people here are, as the region permits them, more interested in education and thinking than, to them, "primitive" and peasant work. As such, the prosperitiy of science bloosoms, from aritmetics and engineering to chemistry and biology. As a result, it gave a numeorus number of philosophs, engineers, alchemists and medicians. Lastfell also cherishes the improvement of literature and poetry, especially since Asterion rules. New books are being written, alphabet prospers, poems are becoming more and more significant amongst the people mainly because of their hidden messages, which in result gave birth to all kinds of legends and quests.
They don't like strangers messing with their own private matters and you can say that are apathic even towards Melhedians from different regions. But, as
Lastfell is on the border of Melhed, monsters outbreaks are a common thing. So, when things are intense and survival is in question, they are the fiercest
warriors in Melhed. As Lastfell is being so many times in history a turning point and the last defense point, survival is in their roots and genes.
