"Yes, I have been to Beldan many times. Of the Orth, my people live closest to the border of Grara. Frequently we travel there to trade hides, furs, and carvings for things we can't get ourselves like sugar and high-grade flour."— Tasiir of the People of the Horse
On the Edge of the Orth
Of all of the towns and villages of
Grara, Beldan is the closest to the
Orthlands and despite its distance from the center of Graran politics it is not as small or remote as many other communities in the nation. It is located along a well-worn road which makes travel to Beldan easier than travel to other places in
Grara. While Beldan isn't a huge industrial centre like
Cliffside, a few traveling merchants make the journey there to purchase
Orth art which they sell to wealthy individuals in
Grara.
Where the Grass is Wheat
While the landscape surounding Beldan may look much like the
Orthlands with tall grass and gentle windblown hills and plains, the makeup of the soil is different. This allows the people of Beldan to grow a modest wheat crop. The wheat is not of any notable quality but they produce enough to feed the village and trade with the
Orth.
Merging Cultures
This transition area between the
Orthlands and
Grara is also home to a people whose traditions are drawn from both, the
Ordahn. The region was once inhabited solely by the
Orth until some time early during the
Time of Rebuilding when
Graran settlers moved into the area. The hospitality of the
Orth was inviting to the settlers who established the town. Only later would that town become a part of
Grara and the
Orth territory shrunk to what it is in the present.
Every town is different but Beldan is a town like no other in its nation or anywhere else. The festivals they celebrate, the food they eat, and the art they make are unique.
Comments