Central Plain
Central Plain is one of the eight regional territories of the Realm of Talevir. The territory is administered out of Goodfields, near the center of the Central Plain at the confluence of the Gem River and the Silverlades River.
The territory lays claim to and controls much of the expanse of grassland at the heart of Talevir, from the Floodfold Gate in the south at the confluence of the Floodfold and Clay Rivers to the Woodland Gate hills and Prospect Spires 450 miles to the north, and from the coast at Hardwood Bay to Driver's Gap 600 miles east at the widest and the edge of West Hills territory to the hills of Deer Valley territory 200 miles to the east in the narrower southern region.
The heart of the plains is bisected by the mighty Gem River, flowing from the alpine tundra of the Galewall Plateau southwest to Fogveil Bay. The largest tributary of the Gem, the Silverlades River, flows south from the Prospect Spires at the eastern edge of Delver's Gambit and joins the Upper Gem River at Goodfields. The Gem River is navigable by barge below Goodfields, and shallow-draft vessels can be pushed upriver from Plains Ferry with poles or waterwheels, moving goods into and out of the regional capital over water. The next-largest tributary, the Minesway River, flows south from the western foothills of Delver's Gambit to Plains Ferry near the center of the territory. From Plains Ferry, smaller oceangoing vessels are able to navigate the Gem River, but most water traffic between Plains Ferry and Foal's Landing are river barges and passenger ferries. While the Upper Gem, Silverlades and Minesway Rivers are important routes to mines in the Prospect Spires, they are not navigable by vessels much larger than rowboat or canoe, with sections shallow enough for oxen-pulled rafts. Far more critically, these waterways provide irrigation for the multitudes of farms in the middle Central Plain.
As the heartland of the Realm, the directions of entry into the plains are referred to as Gates, originally an extension from entry from overseas. The Fogveil Gate actually refers to the 20 mile wide narrows at the entry to Fog Veil Bay, but was coined as a name for entry to the landmass via the Fog Bound Sea. Sureharbor grew as the major port and point of equipage largely due to the movement of people and goods to and from the Central Plain. The Woodland Gate refers to the northwestern arc of oak and beech woodlands stretching from Delver's Gambit to the rim of Hardwood Bay. Travel overland through the northern high plains is generally a very easy affair until running into the tightly folded hills covered in dense woods. The Floodfold Gate is the southern arc of freshwater marshes of the floodplains of the Clay and Floodfold Rivers. The majority of overland travel into and out of Central Plain crosses at the northeastern corner of this gate, where the Grain Road crosses the Floodfold River on its route from Goodfields to Stagshead. Driver's Gap is the eastern gate, leading into the plains from between The Spine and Galewall Plateau. Generally not referred to as a gate, like the other entries, due to the historical importance of the Gap as a route for shepherds and cattle drivers moving livestock to the east coast.
The Central Plain may appear homogeneous as a whole, but can be broken into several regions. The northwest High Plains edged by the Woodland Gate is drier overall, making for good range land but less fertile soil and water for farming, though rye is plentiful. The Middle Plains between the Minesway and Upper Gem River, cut in half by the Silverlades River, is blessed with an abundance of water and rich soil allowing for planting a great diversity of crops, though wheat dominates. The East Hills leading to Driver's Gap receive the least rainfall, verging on semi-arid, making the area best suited to raising sheep and growing barley, though vineyards do well on the hillsides and produce white and light red wines of note. The Low Plains leading into the Floodfold Gate is the wettest and has more clay soil, which can be problematic for many crops, but cabbage and rice can grow well in the south, leading into sorghum and then wheat heading north.
The territory lays claim to and controls much of the expanse of grassland at the heart of Talevir, from the Floodfold Gate in the south at the confluence of the Floodfold and Clay Rivers to the Woodland Gate hills and Prospect Spires 450 miles to the north, and from the coast at Hardwood Bay to Driver's Gap 600 miles east at the widest and the edge of West Hills territory to the hills of Deer Valley territory 200 miles to the east in the narrower southern region.
Geography
Fine weather, easy travel, good soil, and safety from bandits or those monsters of the wilds. Sure, every day's the same as the last, but why would anyone want to leave?The Central Plain is a massive expanse of grasslands with some low hills that barely mark the horizon. While largely flat, there is a steady elevation gain as one heads north, so the foothills south of Delver's Gambit and the hills at the northwestern edge of the plains at the Woodland Gate are several thousand feet above sea level at their base. The southern edge of the plains almost completely level out only a couple hundred feet above sea level at the Floodfold Gate, leaving the Floodfold and Clay Rivers to spread into broad, braiding swaths of slow flow.
The heart of the plains is bisected by the mighty Gem River, flowing from the alpine tundra of the Galewall Plateau southwest to Fogveil Bay. The largest tributary of the Gem, the Silverlades River, flows south from the Prospect Spires at the eastern edge of Delver's Gambit and joins the Upper Gem River at Goodfields. The Gem River is navigable by barge below Goodfields, and shallow-draft vessels can be pushed upriver from Plains Ferry with poles or waterwheels, moving goods into and out of the regional capital over water. The next-largest tributary, the Minesway River, flows south from the western foothills of Delver's Gambit to Plains Ferry near the center of the territory. From Plains Ferry, smaller oceangoing vessels are able to navigate the Gem River, but most water traffic between Plains Ferry and Foal's Landing are river barges and passenger ferries. While the Upper Gem, Silverlades and Minesway Rivers are important routes to mines in the Prospect Spires, they are not navigable by vessels much larger than rowboat or canoe, with sections shallow enough for oxen-pulled rafts. Far more critically, these waterways provide irrigation for the multitudes of farms in the middle Central Plain.
As the heartland of the Realm, the directions of entry into the plains are referred to as Gates, originally an extension from entry from overseas. The Fogveil Gate actually refers to the 20 mile wide narrows at the entry to Fog Veil Bay, but was coined as a name for entry to the landmass via the Fog Bound Sea. Sureharbor grew as the major port and point of equipage largely due to the movement of people and goods to and from the Central Plain. The Woodland Gate refers to the northwestern arc of oak and beech woodlands stretching from Delver's Gambit to the rim of Hardwood Bay. Travel overland through the northern high plains is generally a very easy affair until running into the tightly folded hills covered in dense woods. The Floodfold Gate is the southern arc of freshwater marshes of the floodplains of the Clay and Floodfold Rivers. The majority of overland travel into and out of Central Plain crosses at the northeastern corner of this gate, where the Grain Road crosses the Floodfold River on its route from Goodfields to Stagshead. Driver's Gap is the eastern gate, leading into the plains from between The Spine and Galewall Plateau. Generally not referred to as a gate, like the other entries, due to the historical importance of the Gap as a route for shepherds and cattle drivers moving livestock to the east coast.
The Central Plain may appear homogeneous as a whole, but can be broken into several regions. The northwest High Plains edged by the Woodland Gate is drier overall, making for good range land but less fertile soil and water for farming, though rye is plentiful. The Middle Plains between the Minesway and Upper Gem River, cut in half by the Silverlades River, is blessed with an abundance of water and rich soil allowing for planting a great diversity of crops, though wheat dominates. The East Hills leading to Driver's Gap receive the least rainfall, verging on semi-arid, making the area best suited to raising sheep and growing barley, though vineyards do well on the hillsides and produce white and light red wines of note. The Low Plains leading into the Floodfold Gate is the wettest and has more clay soil, which can be problematic for many crops, but cabbage and rice can grow well in the south, leading into sorghum and then wheat heading north.
Climate
The Middle Plains, around Goodfields, have a moderate climate with warm summers averaging around 60F-80F at the highest a couple weeks following the solstice and cold winters averaging 30F-40F at the lowest a couple weeks following the winter solstice, regularly receiving a few inches of snow in midwinter. The driest months are at the end of winter and end of summer while the highest precipitation falls in mid-spring through early summer. The High Plains to the northwest receive lower rainfall totals, somewhat higher highs, and much lower lows including snow flurries in winter. The East Hills experience descending dry air coming down the slopes from the Galewall Plateau leading to a more pronounced dry, cold winter compared to the Middle Plains. The Low Plains are far more humid overall, with the height of summer becoming downright muggy, while winters are milder and rarely experience snow.Settlements
General towns/villages pastoral. Breadbasket of the realm. Middlecross.Goodfields
Establishment of Capital. Old Kingdom. Trade with Dwarves. Triumvirate - Goodfields, Sureharbor, Talevir. Accord. Highwaymen & Sheriffs. Draft. Consolidation - Grain Capitol.Plains Ferry
Water Crossing.Foal's Landing
Establishment as vassal city to Goodfields. Growth. Breakaway to become new Regional Capitol.
Type
Territory
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