Ambergris Fig Fig is to Ambergris as Ygg is to Amber. Amber. Both are trees grown from branches of the Great Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. (SEE the Amber series by obert !ela"ny, !ela"ny, Amber #iceless ole$laying by Eric% &'ci%, obert !ela"ny, et all, my Amber writings, and those of others.) Fig is not a sim$le tree, b't a *ast banyon+style $lant of m'lti$le tr'n%s wo*en by limbs which criss+ cross and f'ses together as often as the branch a$art. Each of Figs lea*es is a realm of -egrim the life of -egrim is Figs florescence.
Amergris (SEE the Amber series by obert !ela"ny !ela"n y, Amber #iceless ole$laying by Eric% &'ci%, obert !ela"ney, et all, my own Amber writings, and those of others.) Ambergris is a *ariation of Amber. Amber. Ambergris Ambergris is to -egrim as the Emerald /ity is to 0", b't Ambergris has a stronger fla*or of tr'e Faerie.
Ambergris, the Living Palace-Garden Island Ambergris the island is a li*ing, sentient being. The intermingled $alace and garden she grows '$on the s'rface of her mini+mo'ntain self is a florescence of the Earth 1erself. &hile her inhabitants may b'ild halls and towers as dwellings and wor%sho$s and artf'lly craft artificial $lants for their gardens, these fabrications are artifice only tem$orarily. Ambergris Ambergris the li*ing $alace+garden $alace+ garden soon grows to inf'se and incor$orate s'ch new str'ct'res into her li*ing self. Trowel+laid mortar becomes her new flesh, 2'arry+ hewn stone her new bones. The great b'l% of Ambergris is the 'nalloyed $rod'ct of her own s$ontaneo's growth. 1er halls and towers may seem s'$erficially similar to those b'ild elsewhere by mortal hands, b't a certain organic *ol'$t'o'sness hints at their organic o rganic origen. Towers Towers branch into t'rrets and halls b'd garrets. The whole is interwo*en, bo'nd and s'stained, by what might be either *ines or *eins, also of stone. There is no differentiation of cliff and wall, room and ca*ern. The main ty$es of stone are the *ario'sly tinted $'r$le granites, shot thro'gh with *einds of *iolet stone, from the 3'r$le -o'ntians beyond the 3enisola 3r'gna and the glittering white fossil+st'dded limestone and harder ossified coral of Blyscan Brython, detailed with malachite and a"'rite, co$$er and other $recio's metals from the #war*yn mines 'nder the -alachite -o'ntains beyond the 3enisola -'schio. Ambergris is characteri"ed by a richness of detail. She does not long lea*e a wall flat or a s'rface 'nornamented. 4iches and $ilasters, moldings and medallions are 'st the beginning. She s$ro'ts stat'ary and 'nf'rls dra$eries, stains her windows and engenders f'rnit're with e2'al enth'siasm.
-ottos write themsel*es '$on her mantles and titled $ortrait b'sts grow abo*e her lintels it wo'ld be nice if more of the writings were in lang'ages some scholar co'ld decifer. Ambergris is e2'ally li%ely to 'se more nat'ralistic forms of ornimentation. Stalactites and stalagmites, faerie $ools and m'shroom rings are as fre2'ent as any other f'rnat're or orinmentation. &hile she grows many+branched candelabras and torch+bla"ing chandeliers, gas+lit wall sconces and oil lam$s chain+h'ng or s$ro'ting ato$ $ilasters in ab'ndance , mosaics of l'minescent lichens and roosts for cl'sters of glow+moths, *ari+colo'red fire+f'ngi and crystal containers of brillient+bla"ing metalic fish are 'st as common. She is, after all, a faerieland. 1ere, the walls tr'ely do ha*e ears + and eyes. Ambergris th's has access to all that is said within her walls, and has seen $ict'res and models from far+off lands. 0ne res'lt is that her architect'ral flights of fancy are a com$lete mi5 of e*ery style %nown to the far+ fl'ng realms of -egrim + and from other worlds beyond. Another res'lt is that Ambergris has a cons'mate %nowledge of the intrig'es that ta%e $lace within her walls and gro'nds. Than%f'lly, she is no gossi$. 6ndeed, she is so s'btle in her comm'nications that most forget, if they e*er reali"ed at all, that she is indeed a being 2'ite sa$ient, e*en if her dis$'table sentient is of a cast beyond mortal com$rehension. Architect'ral and landsca$ing re*ision is a constant $rocess. This reg'larly ca'ses conf'sion among her inhabitants. &hole rooms a$$ear and disa$$ear. 6tems fossili"e into concretions of the s'rfaces they are set down '$on while other items that started off as bas+relief s%etches become real. This is es$ecially rele*ant in the a$artments and wor%sho$s, as areas steadily inhabited by indi*id'als of strong character ta%e on their inhabitants characteristics. &ardrobes and cabinets, tool chests and c'$boards are as s'sce$tible to the affect as are architect'ral elements. A benefit is that items in Ambergris are self+re$airing. A drawbac% is that witho't $ro$er ins'lation, one cannot co'nt on ones $ossessions always being a*ailable. 6t has been s'ggested that the inhabitants of Ambergris are her ser*ants, and not the other way aro'nd. 6t is e*en r'mored that 7'een Titania was created by Ambergris as her interface with the rest of the world. (SEE 7'een Titania, 'nder The Ambergritae, below.) That her inhabitant bring her trin%ets, s'ch as car*ed models of far+off architect're or bo'2'ets of flowers seems a cas'al form of animistic worshi$ or $ro$itiation rather than o*ert comm'nication.
Ambergris' Stable Features Ambergris an island in the form of a miniat're mo'ntain, with l'5'ro's gardens and architect're s$rawling accross her s'rface and e5tending dee $ below. &hile she is notorio'sly fic%le, with feat'res constantly a$$earing and dissa$earing, or at least transforming, she is considerate eno'gh to %ee$ certain feat'res stable in their o'tlines, if not their details. The com$osition of garden and architect're show caref'l consideration for defence as well as roman ce in their design and detail. 1istory has shown Ambergris well able to defend herself.
The Cliff Ambergris is cliff+girded, as m'ch for aesthetic reasons as for defence. Stee$ stairs lead down to isolated beaches fo sand or $ebble, b't s'ch $aths $ass thro'gh strong+gated t'nnels are are narrow eno'gh for easy defence. -any incl'de brea%+away or withdrawable segments. 0thers are s'bect to roc%slides or ha*e been %nown to sim$ly disa$$ear.
The Sea Caves These are her real $orts, large eno'gh for boats. Shi$s m'st ma%e $ort at the towns across the water. The sea ca*es ha*e great gates. The sea ca*es comm'nicate with her canal system. /'rio'sly, the tides do not seem to infl'ence the water le*el inside.
The Canals Ambergris is threaded tho'gh by a canal system, which comm'nicates with her sea ca*es. The canal system may be accessed at se*eral le*els of Ambergris, b't there is no strong c'rrent or a$$arent change of height in the canals. The gondolas 'sed on the canals are as short and st'bby as coracles, for greater mane'*erability. The gondoliers are Goblyn from the 3'r$le -o'ntains some fo'rty miles to the north.
The Subwa Ambergris has a s'bway system. 6t is based on #war*n mine tech nology. There are, in fact, crews of #war*yn to man the wooden $ony carts. E*en they dont really %now the f'll e5tent of the system. 6t does e5tend o't 'nder the sea to the three headland towns aro'nd Ambergris.
The Gardens As befits a faerie realm, the island Ambergris is as m'ch garden as it is $alace. 0ne feat're of the gardens is that there are h'ge wor%sho$s de*oted to the artificial crafting of flowers and other $lants from metal and $recio's stone, wood whittled and inlaid, and $a$er c't and c'rled, folded and $ainted. &hen these artificial $lants are set into the gro'nd or affi5ed to walls, tree tr'n%s, or other str'ct'res, they graft themsel*es into $lace and $roceed to grow. 84at'ral8 $lants im$orted from elsewhere will also grow, b't are soon transformed. Lea*es t'rn to car*ed malachite, be+s$angled with dewy diamond dro$lets. Blossoms become e*erlasting by *irt'e of mineral s'bstance. 4ote that if har*ested, the $lants, with their fr'its and flowers, soon re*ert as if by a ri$ening $rocess to e$hemeral organic 2'ality if not $ro$erly $reser*ed or ench anted. Th's, the *egetable $rod'cts are edible, and while the dewdro$s may be collected, witho't enchantment they will melt away before they co'ld be, for e5am$le, e5$orted for $rofit, sho'ld any be so coarse of moti*e. 3rod'cts of these fab'lo's gardens incl'ded $etals d elicate in te5t're yet rob'st as fabric when sewn.
Guest !uarters The most honored of g'ests are gi*en 2'arters in Ambergris herself. -ost, howe*er, m'st stay at inns on the mainland. S$ecial freinds of members of the Family may ha*e their o 'n s'ites resear*ed for their e5cl'si*e 'se, e*en if it is years between *isits.
Famil !uarters 7'een Titanias n'mero's decendants and their families all ha*e s'its. -any branches of the family ha*e their own wings and co'rts.
"#al Suite 1ere the #i*ine Ancestress herself and her $ersonal bodyser*ants ha*e their $ri*acy. E*en her own childred come here only by in*itation. The oyal S'ite incl'des its own %itchen and a l'5'rio's bathing ca*ern with miniat're la%e.
The Aerie-Stable Flying mo'nts are %e$t here. (Land+going mo'nts are stables on the mainland.) These incl'de winged horses and giant swans to draw the 7'eens own chariot.
The Ambergritae The Ambergritae are clearly a Faerie fol%. Their large, li2'id eyes of almond form and s$ider+sil% hair of e*er+$erfect coif're, all of h'es no mortal flesh e*er %new, i*ory com$le5ions fl'shed and shadowed green and bl'e, and ears so tall and c'r*ed, $ointed and fl'ted of edge as to be almost wing+li%e, mar% them so. They *ary considerably, as none b't 7'een Titania 1erself is $'re Ambergris all are 1er descendants, the $rod'cts of mi5ed bloods. 1ow many generations a 3rince or 3rincess is from their #i*ine Ancestress is reflected in how m'ch Ambergris flows thro'gh their *eins. Their loo%s reflect their di*ersity. The Ambergritae are now of fo'r generations decent. The terms half+blood and 2'adroon, octoroon and he5adecane are 'sed as honorable title+s'bstit'tes. Ambergris$ the %l##d-Sa& Ambergris flows as blood and sa$ in the *eins of the 1o'se of Ambergris. 6ts $'rity is a matter of both decent and e5ercise. S$o'ses and ado$ted children can, by transf'sion and maical rites, de*elo$ Ambergris in themsel*es.
Ambergris is best %nown for $romoting maical abilities the blood+sa$ of Ambergritae is well+%nown as a 'ni*ersal $hysic to the more sorcero's a$$lications of alchemy. 1a*ing Ambergris flowing in their *eins gi*es the Ambergritae a great nat'ral $ro$ensity for maic. The best+%nown e5ercise of Ambergritae maic is Shifting. The 'ninitiated may thin% of Shifting as the Ambergritae ability to Shift from one location to another by sim$ly wal%ing. From the Ambergritae $oint of *iew, it is not they who Shift b't the s'rro'ndings. This is basically identical to Shadow wal%ing in a 8reg'lar8 Amber 'ni*erse, the only significant difference being that instead of mo*ing to distinct se$arate worlds, Shifting leads to (or leads to the creation of) the *ario's realms of -egrim. Ambergris is li%ewise 'sed for the creation of Tarot, those enchanted cards 'sed by the Ambergritae and their fa*orites for eadings (fort'netelling,) far+casting (scrying,) far+telling (comm'nications,) and, gi*en s'fficient $ower, tra*el (nearly ris%+free Shifting.) !ueen Titania #i*ine Ancestress of the Ambergritae, 7'een Titania r'les o*er a co'rt boistero's and colo'rf'l. She is modeled on the classical image of the 8Faerie 7'een,8 b't is colo'red, as are her /o'rt and realm, by Gloriana, the 9nf'lfilled 7'een, (-ichael -oorcoc%.)
6t has been s'ggested that 7'een Titania was created by Ambergris as an interface between the li*ing $alace+land and the rest of -egrim, that Titania is a mo'th$iece of the land, or was at least created so. Tatiana is immortal and ageless, and what stories there are of her yo'th co'ld well be myth. The facts of the matter are $robably irrele*ant. &hat matters is that she is now, and for time beyond memory has always been, 7'een of the Faerie.
The /o'rt of Ambergris is more than 'st a fairyland. 1ere are ambassadors from realms far and wide. This is the center of -egrim $olitics + and romance. All roads lead to Ambergris her merchant+$rinces trade far across the roads of sea and land. -aintaining these ro'ts is a d'ty of the 3rinces and 3rincesses of Ambergris. To this end their tra*els are made of e2'al $arts social $olitics to %ee$ good relations with those lesser realms of -egrim in the orbit of Ambergris and s'ch ad*ent'res are may be needed to %ee$ the ro'ts of comm'nication o$en. 1ere there be dragons.
ther Areas #f Ambergris Ambergris the realm is ideal in its geogra$hy she designed herself to be so. 4at'rally, the climate is e2'ally $erfect. &hile the lands immediately aro'nd Ambergris are settled and safe, one need not o'rny far to meet wilderness and ad*ent're. There are $ort *illages and latif'ndia ($ri*ate co'ntry retreat estates and $lantations) all along the neighboring coasts of the Blood, A"'re, and Golden Seas. The *illages and esates are walled for both $ri*acy and defence while it has been cent'ries since any scion of of 7'een Titania brewed '$ s'fficient $ower to dare bring an army towards Ambergris, and millenia since and foreign $ower was so a'dacio's as to attac% o$enly, there are always beasties and wild h'manoids tric%ling down from the mo'ntains beyond. These $ro*ide a fine challenge to the %nights of Ambergris, both mortal and Faerie. The island of Ambergris is a miniat're mo'ntain at the confl'ence of streights connecting three seas, the Blood, A"'re, and Golden (cloc%wise from the north.) This ma%es for an e5ce edingly $ict'res2'e rainbow in the waters abo't Ambergris.
Penis#la Prugna P#rt# Arc#balen# The streights are di*ided by three headlands. Facing Ambergris from between the Blood and A"'re Seas streights is the great glittering commercial city of 3orto Arcobaleno (3ort of ainbows), so named beca'se the constant sea+s$ray and dewy fogs create rainbows all abo't the town, girded abo't with sta'nch walls and elegant towers, all of $'r$le and *iolet, with detailing in b'es and reds to com$liment the crimson and cobalt seas. Aside from the s$'r of ro'gh cliffs of *ario'sly tinted $'r$le granite shot with *eins of *iolet 2'arts defining its headland, this widest of the three $enins'las is fairly flat and wet, e*en swam$y in $laces. 6t is, in fact, rich delta soil de$osited by the Fi'me 3r'gna, or 3l'm i*er, the last branches of which bring barge traffic right to the city gates. The crown of 3orto Arcobaleno is a cl'ster of $alaces, osteling '$on the s$'r of cliffs for *iews of Ambergris. Some belong to the famo's -erchant+3rinces of Ambergris, se*eral of whom are act'al Ambergrisae, lesser members of the oyal Family. 0thers are embassies hosting ento'rages from e5otic, far+off lands as well as neighboring realms. Still others are residential hotels. A few are home to royal families li*ing in e5ile 3orto Arbaleno ma%es a good ha*en, as the Ambergrisae find s'ch e5iles a 'sef'l $olitical tool. The fortified /itadel o*ersees the whole city from the $ea%. The s'bway leading 'nder the sea from Ambergris is accessed 'nder the citadel. 6t is not for $'blic 'se. The 7'eens /'t is a stee$+sided moat di*iding the granite headland from the rest of the city, which is b'ilt on softer gro'nd. Three bridges r'n stee$ly down from their t'nnels thro'gh the /itadel cliffface
wall across the moat+canal to the lower gro'nd on the imainland side. The bridges are made of giant sliding slices of horn at d's% the A"'re+side bridge is withdrawn and its $ortal sealed sh't. The Blood Sea side bridge remains e5tended for three ho'rs $ast d's%, so the -erchant 3rinces can wor% $ast d's% at tehir co'nting ho'ses before heading bac% to their $alaces. The central brige and $ortal is o$en 'ntil half $ast midnight, to ser*e re*elers in the 3 leas're #istrict on Festi*al 4ights, it may remain o$en all night long., and can be withdrawn and their t'nnels sealed sh't. Below the bridges in the bottom of 7'eens /'t ra*ine, is a canal+c't $leas're garden flan%ed at either end by lagoons ringed with elegant boatho'ses for $leas're craft and b ea'tif'l gondolas to ferry $assangers to lesser $orts along the neighboring coasts. F'rther bac% from the ro'gh o'tcro$$ing of $'r$le cliffs which form the headland, washed by the crimson waters of the Blood Sea, are the commercial war*es b'sy with merchantmen, o*erseen b y the st'rdy watchtowers of the merchant $rinces co'ntingho'ses + and the assayers office +raise their elegant nec%s high for first *iew of rich+cargoed *essels. Across the nec% from the im$ort harbor are the rather ric%etier + and far smellier + war*es of the fishing fleets and great har$oon+slinging h'nting shi$s, seawee% hoo%ers s%iffs and waterb'ses ser*ing $assengers to :a'l% :liffan across the Blood Sea streight and other $orts '$ and down the neighboring coasts. Bac%ing the merchants harbor are an incredible di*ersity of sho$s whre goods from a tho'sand distant lands are bartered. Bac%ing the fishing harbor are most of the smythies (located in the 'ndesireable, smelly area d'e to their niose and smo%e), the fishmar%et (nat'rally), and aoining $rod'ce mar%et (towards the city wall), and the wor%sho$s of craftsment of di*erse s%ills. These two areas are laced by canals. -ost of the gondoliers are Goblyn from 'nder the 3'r$le -o'ntains some fo'rty miles to the north, or 'st o*er a h'ndred miles by barge '$ the Fi'me 3r'gna. Along the higher gro'nd in between these two 2'arters, centered on the Grand 3la"as G'ild 1all+lined $arade gro'nds, is the most famo's 3leas're 7'arter in the world, feat'ring baths and theatres, $ar%s and cafes. There are eno'gh lights here to brighten e*en the foggiest of 3orto Arbolanos nights. E*en this somewhat higher gro'nd is c't by canals. At the foot of the 3leas're 7'arter, near the city wall, is the /irc's (am$hitheatre) and aoining Beast mar%et. There is no distinct Tem$le #istrict. Shrines are fo'nd in almost e*ery home and garden, and e*ery street and ally has its neighborhood niche for offerings. Tem$les are scattered thro'gho't the city with thelarger tending to be in the $oorer areas, where large eno'gh s$aces co'ld be obtained, or b'ilt on the sites of former $alaces where the owners donated the land. The great 0ld &all bo'nds and defends Arcobaleno on her mainland side. The 0ld &all is thic%ened and strengthened by the grainery towers b'ilt into it. A /anal Gate $eirces the the base of the etty at either end where the 0ld &all contin'es o't to its terminal lightho'se towers. Along the foot of the 0ld &all r'ns a moating canal. Beyond the 0ld &all canal, between the lagoons, is the broad Greensward, at once a defence and a $icnic gro'nds. The races held here, from one shore to the other along the greensward below the wall, are famo's for the drama of the r'nning beasts and for high+sta%es gambling. Beyond the Greensward is the Flesh #istrict, with its cattleyards and a'tion bloc%, abattoirs and feedsheds, leather wor%sho$s and, e5iled from the city $ro$er d'e to their smell, the dyers *ats. Ser*icing these and the fields beyond are the $oor li*ing in their tight+$ac%ed 2'arters. The canals here are rather sc'm+choa%ed. Encirling the o'tter city is the 4ew &all. Li%e the 0ld &all, it is $eirced by a canal gate at either end lagoons ringed with boatho'ses mar% either end of the 4ew &all -oat. These lagoons ser*e boats and
barges for $leas're, $assage, and cargo tr2a*eling thro'gh the ma"e of the Fi'me 3r'gna (3l'm i*er) delta.
%e#nd P#rt# Arb#lan# The Fi'me 3r'gnas loo$s, la"y and broad, meander abo't the delta $enins'la which it has b'ilt '$ with rich silt+earth. /rews %ee$ barge canals o$en from the 3l'ms main streams right to the city gates. The $aths of the barge+$'lling draftbeasts are the only roads in the area. These $aths arch high on wooded bridged where meanders of the Fi'me 3r'gna and associated canals intersect. -'ch of the bottomlands is thic%et+cho%ed bog and swam$, a dri$$ing $'r$le wilderness. Fields are ringed by wic%er walls to hold in soil, or are act'ally foating gardens b'ilt on b o'yant floating $eat islands or log rafts. The roads for the barge+$'lling draftbeasts are of floating cord'roy, logs lashed together side by side. The thic%ets of willowy, $ict'res2'ely twisted $l'm trees of two do"en *arieties, as well as cherry and other half+wild stonefr'it trees, dotting the bottomlands are well ada$ted to soil half m'd. Ten miles along, higher, drier land begins to rise from the rich b't wet bottomland soil on either side of the 3eninsola 3r'ngna. The bottomland, laced by slo'ghs and cree%s, the o5bows and meanders of the Fi'me 3r'gna, contin'es '$ the middle of the $enins'la for another twenty miles. 1ere begin the scattering of $ic'res2'e *illages shimmering with gnarled sil*ery oli*e trees and lataf'ndia (co'ntry estates) scented by citr's gro*es. 1edgrows of oregano a nd la*ender are a+b'"" with honey+hi*ing bees. There are thro'gho't the delta o'tcro$$ings of *ario'sly tineted $'r$le granite shot with *iolet 2'art, rather li%e the headlands. These are foothills fo the 3'r$le -o'ntains which $ile '$wards some fo'rty miles away from from Ambergris. The 3'r$le -o'ntains tower high, clad in a hea*y cloa% of dee$ $'r$le conifers. The mines here wo'ld be more $rod'cti*e if the nati*e flora, fa'na, and fol% were not so tric%sie. The Fi'me 3r'gna is na*agable not mearly '$ to b't right on into the 3'r$le -o'ntains and the Goblyn %ingdom below. #'e to its la"y c'r*es, the Fi'me 3r'gna ta%es o*er a h'ndred miles to tra*el the fo'rty miles from the mo'ntains to 3orto Arcobaleno. The :ing+9nder+The+-o'ntains is on good terms with Ambergris, who are officially his o*erlords. 1e is %ing bec'ase his $redecessor wasnt and so got himself de$osed. The Goblyn may not li%e Ambergris, b't they do a$$reciate the commerce.
Penis#la (uschi# Pala))# Av#ri# The rich green of 3enisola -'schio (-ossy 3enins'la), a /rown $ro$erty, di*ides the A"'re and Golden Seas. 6t is named for its royal forest of giant mosses, some stands of which e5ceed a h'ndred foot in height. Below, a thic% car$et of lesser mosses ma%es for fine gra"ing to fatten the royal herds. iders here may ha*e diffic'lty differentiating between the orchids and the b'tterflies. The Ambergris oyal 4a*y is tended in a sheltered harbor to one side of the $enins'la. Strangers are not welcome here. The 3residio g'ards access to the Ambergris s'bway below, as well as access to the harbor. 3ala""o A*orio (6*ory 3alace) is sited '$on the to$ of the first foot hill of the -ontania -'schio. From
here, there are fine *iews along the $enins'la and o't to Ambergris and '$ along both flan%s of the mo'ntains which rise far and high into the mainland. The b'l% of Ambergris riding beasts are tended and trained here. &hile 3ala""o A*orio is a fa*ored h'nting loge, many nobles $refer to base their h'nts at more isolated locations. S'ch lodges, often b'ilt '$on s$'rs of the forested mo'ntains, may also f'nction as 2'arters for game%ee$ers and foresters and as watchtowers.
%e#nd Pala))# Av#iri# Fi*e miles '$ either coast the /rown Lands $'ll bac% from the r'gged coasts to ma%e room for small *illages and latif'nia ser*iced by water there are no roads for another fifteen miles. Twenty fi*e miles f'rther bac% the -alachite -o'ntains rise '$ in bald, stony $ea%s. There are rich mines yeilding malachite and a"'rite, co$$er and other $recio's metals, b't there are also malicio's monsters to challenge the bra*e. Ambergris lea*es the mining to the #war*yn :ing+9nder+the+ -o'ntain.
%lscan %rth#n *aul+ *liffan Between the Golden and Blood Sea :a'l% :liffan (/hal% /liff),a town far more modest than her o*erwhelming sister, 3orto Arcobaleno, shelters a slee$y comm'nity of farmers and $etty crafters. :a'l% :liffan is b'ilt of the nati*e white stone. -ost of the ho'ses are roo*ed in li*ing orange sod. -any of the sim$ler, hi*e+b'ilt h'ts are com$letely co*ered in sod. 0't on the -isty -oors, s'ch a sod co*ering $ro*ides good camo'flage as well as ins'lation form the weather. Stairs ha*e been c't into the alba+white cliffs of the sea+loc% below :a'l% :liffan. Boats carring $assangers and farm $rod'cts, li*estoc% and b'ndles of straw and hay, stone and $eat, often all mi5ed together, may tie '$ at the ro'gh landings c't into the stone, or draw '$ on the s%ree+stone cobble beach at the head of the loc%. The loch is also 'sed by the coracles of $earl di*ers and seaweed gatherers, fisherfol% and their trained cormerants. There is a small fortress here, %e$t as m'ch to g'ard the entrnce to the s'bway to Ambergris as to watch o*er 2'iet :a'l% :liffan.
%e#nd *aul+ *liffan Blyscan Brython ('ddy Briton) is a land of great, ro'gh bloc%s of stone, layers of limestone st'dded with fossili"ed shells alternating with layers of hard ossified ancient corals. As a thatch '$on the bl'ff cliffs, a tangle abo't their feet, and s$rigs cle*ing to e* ery crannies are t'ssoc%s of r'ddy orange grasses and heath and yellow+orange gorse when bac%lit, the land loo%s to be a+fire. These -ist+-oors are l'sh from sea+fog. The shee$ and geese grow fat on the rich gra"ing if they can a*oid the mires of march c'$$ed '$on the le*el bl'ff to$s and the and s'dden, stee$+sided, dar%+ watered terns in those cre*asses not cho%ed with scree gra*el. The white stone of co'ntry $alaces and small *illages gleams ghost+li%e thro'gh the fog or glitters li%e s'gar crystal when the rare b't bright s'n glistens '$on the dew+dam$ walls. Set high '$ on cliff+girded hilloc%s, they ga"e across landsca$es of barren moorland c't by forest+sheltering gashes. This is good
co'ntry for gamebirds, b't the footing is in many $laces too treat'ro's for a h'nt. 1ere and there, the cre*asses are wide eno'gh to hold lochs, la%es dee$ and narrow. The sea+lochs are li%e fords lwalled by s2'arish, bloc%y stone. &hile no organi"ed foe of Ambergris has come this way since the ;oten were last s'bd'ed o*er a milleni'm ago, stray beasties and and cr'de wild h'manoids from the mo'ntains beyond ma%e staying behind strong walls at night a wise $olicy. The land mo'nts higher in fits and starts for some twenty miles, to the ;ot'ns Biers mo'ntains. These are wild lands, e*en before the row of watchtowers which ga"e o't across to the ;ot'ns Biers. Beyond the Towers are fell beasties, more the 2'arry of a bra*e %night errant, mortal or Faerie, riding o't '$on a 2'est for glory than of a mere s$orting h'ntsman.
