Sulorte
Sulorte's beauty is second to none: the coast features long stretches of white sand, undisturbed but for the occasional saltwater marsh or fishing village. Its turquoise waters are temperate and surprisingly warm well into the winter months. Heavy cloud cover is common during the cooler parts of the year, and on still winter mornings a layer of fog lies along the coast, only to be burned away by the noonday sun.
Central to the region's coast is Sulorta Harbor, the seat of the region's lord. It serves as the heart of Sulorte's sea trade: many villages along the coast bring their catches here to sell at market. Few ships sail to this inconsequential village from the major cities of Shinnen, Giask and Askileon, but ships embarking to these cities find fair winds and speedy travel.
The beaches are bordered by heavy maquis which grows thinner as one travels inland. Set amongst the low, dense brush are flat farms stretching all the way to the Smokey Hills, a sight broken only by sparse stands of ancient oaks and eucalyptus. Fires are common in the summer as the weather grows hot and dry, but Sulorte's people have learned to respond quickly to such threats. A flame on one man's property becomes an inferno on another, and in addition to their normal patrols local militia are taught to spread the word when one begins. These tragedies are regarded as a blessing and a curse, for burnt land is quickly tilled and turned into more farmland.
The population density diminishes further inland. Villages seem further apart, and farms grow larger under the guidance of two or more families. Because of the fear of fires homes are built not of wood, but clay. Grass is scarce, and few families keep more than a handful of goats or chickens. Shepherds guide small, mixed herds of sheep and goats along favored trails, and wells become favored places of trade and conversation. Rarer kept are cattle, though they sell handsomely along the coast. Wild herds that find their way into farmer's fields are dealt with harshly; consequently, the shepherds have learned to be wary of the farmers, and the farmers of the shepherds.
Major crops include barley and wheat, but fruit trees are where Sulorte stands a cut above its neighbors. Olives, figs, dates, lemons and oranges, carobs, and pomegranate groves thrive in the mediterannean climate. Grapes are common, and most every family vints their own wine, though only a handful do it commercially. Because of the scarcity of large animals olive oil is most commonly used for cooking.
The four major seasons are markedly different from one another. In the Spring the land is vibrant and green; it is a time for festivals in celebration of Sulorte's warmth and prosperity. In Summer the land dries and grows hot, though at night a cool fog rolls inland. Autumn is regarded with mixed feelings: the crops are often rich, the threat of fire is at its highest, making the harvest season a race against time. With Winter comes the rain and fog; the land recovers and is at its greenest during this time. Nights can reach freezing, and every few years snow can roll in from Smokey Hills.
This is the land the locals call the Little Pearl.
