Emerald Shores

Sitting along the southern border of Dendralis lie the Emerald Shores, an extended stretch of coastline reaching from the Fissures in the west to the Black Swamp in the east. Sandwiched between the Greenwood and the Emerald Sea, the Shores consist of a handful of primary settlements, each adding a vital link into the economic web of the region. These towns, combined with the settlements of the Emerald Isles, make up the body of the Emerald Shores Alliance.

History

As human progress pushed westward along the coastline after the founding of Crescent City (Splitriver City at the time), they established the towns of the Emerald Shores, leaning into the natural resources of the area, such as Hearthstead being built on the unique soil of the area, or Blackrock Reach leaning into the local rock deposits. Collectively, the Shores have experienced a rather docile existence, with the most consequential moment coming with the signing of the Alliance Decree, making these regions a pivotal addition to the reach of the Emerald Shores Alliance. Individually, Blackrock Reach has seen some threats from small orc raiding parties, though the high dwarven population of the town has successfully defended the town with ease. The tight proximity of both the Emerald Shores and the Greenwood has kept the region otherwise safe and quiet over the region's history.

Geography

Though it gets its name from the lush greenery of the neighboring forest, the Emerald Shores is a narrow stretch of land along the coast. Home to the gentlest terrain in Dendralis, the Shores feature long, windswept grasses, growing thickest closest to the Greenwood and thinner towards the shoreline, with yards of soft sandy beach covering much of the coastline. The winter rains will see the grasses turn a rich emerald green color, while summer's sun turns the range into a near-amber as the grasses turn a beautiful golden yellow.

Demographics

The Emerald Shores make up the western reaches of mankind in Dendralis. Though the populations are fairly small in these settlements, not reaching much over 1,200, they are vastly dominated by humans, with non-humans making up less than 20% of the population in any settlement outside of Blackrock Reach. The Reach has a distinctly dwarven population, with nearly 50% of the populace being dwarves, and humans making up another 40%. Due to the mining operations, the area became a haven for dwarves arriving to the Land of Trees, resulting in mass migration of dwarves both new and established to the continent upon the founding of the town.

Politics

The primary settlements of the Emerald Shores are all signing members of the Emerald Shores Alliance, providing the settlements, and their goods in particular, protection from enemies both foreign and natural in exchange for a small tax levied to support the navy. Beyond this connection via the Alliance Decree, the settlements of the region are quite insular, operating like self-governed city-states. Similar to their cousins in the Fertile Valley, the people of the Emerald Shores operate under Seated Republics, with a democratically elected mayor presiding over 4 democratically elected chairs. Unlike the Valley, these chairs are elected by the general population and represent the interests of all citizens rather than specific industries in the town. The mayors do hold a mayoral league, though they only meet every other year, barring immediate issues.

Settlements

The Emerald Shores is comprised of six primary settlements who are all members of the Emerald Shores Alliance, while a number of unincorporated fishing thorps dot the coastline between the towns. These primary settlements include:

Crescent City

The Largest and wealthiest settlement in the Emerald Shores, Crescent City is a bustling city comprised of nine districts which are each self-governed. Second only to Emerald Point, the City of Crescents is the central hub of trade into, out of, and through the entire Emerald Shores Alliance. The city is also home to the most diverse population on the entire continent, as it is the hub for ships arriving from foreign lands, creating a vibrant and varied city, with many layers to its gears beyond the surface.

Hearthstead

The largest farming settlement outside of the Fertile Valley, Hearthstead specializes in crips that thrive in the coastal environment, including grapes, olives, tomatoes, olive and grapeseed oils, and more. Hearthstead's produce plays a significant role in the cuisine of choice for many of means in Emerald Point.

Maribel's Hollow

Maribel's Hollow is a sleepy little hamlet tucked into a holler along the edge of the Greenwood. Though not formally a member of the Emerald Shores Alliance, Maribel's Hollow enjoys the protections of the ESMN due to its location within the Emerald Shores. Though the Hollow is the oldest settlement in the shores, being founded by Geraldina Verdewell in 387, 3E, its existence confounds most outsiders as the village does not actively take part in the large volume of trade through the region via imports and exports. Instead, the hamlet has been successfully self-sustaining for well over 450 years.

Westforth

Sitting on a small cape in the center of the Emerald Shores lies Westforth, a small town which plays a vital role in the region. One could be forgiven for mistaking Westforth as being part of the Emerald Isles, as industry in the town is almost completely centered around the sea with fishing and shipping being the primary work which residents engage. Westforth also holds the distinction as sending more young men into the Emerald Shores Merchant Navy than any other settlement in the Shores.

Seward's Bay

Sitting at the mouth of the Lussaceluiné lies Seward's Bay, the westernmost settlement in the region actually on the shore of the Emerald Sea. Seward's Bay is a rough little shipping town, with economic prospects in this town arguably lower than anywhere else in the Emerald Shores Alliance. The village is focused heavily on shipping as it is the final stop for rock coming from Blackrock Reach before ships reach the open waters of the Emerald Sea. Companies also ship out timber from the Greenwood, harvested by the western Olosse, a practice viewed with scorn by many Olosse, and trepidation by Dendralin commonfolk.

Blackrock Reach

The lone settlement located out of view of the Emerald Sea, Blackrock Reach sits on the edge of the Fissures just south of the Lussaceluiné. Due to its location at the foot of both the Fissures and orcish badlands, Blackrock Reach is built on a rich mining tradition, making it the primary source of construction and sculpting stone in the Emerald Shores Alliance.

Climate

Balmy and temperate, the Emerald Shores enjoy warm, humid summers and windy, rain-soaked winters. While summer skies are often clear, storms roll in with the seasonal winds, lashing the coastline with their fury. Snow is a rarity, falling perhaps once or twice a century, leaving most winters green and wet. The rhythm of the seasons shapes life here, with the promise of renewal always on the horizon.

Ecosystem/Flora

The Emerald Shores is home to a surprisingly homogenous ecosystem considering the wild nature of Dendralis, making for the least diverse ecosystem on the continent. Small mammals, amphibians, and even some reptiles call the region home, along with a large number of sea and shore birds. It is rare to see any large or extra-large wild game or beasts in the region. As the lack of cover and food discourages these species from leaving the Greenwood. The flora of the region is similarly homogenous with long grasses, a variety of wildflower species, and a number of tree species making up the vast majority of plant life in the Shores.

Natural Resources

The true wealth of the Emerald Shores lies not in abundance but in balance. Each settlement taps into the unique resources of its location—Hearthstead’s fertile soil, Seward’s Bay’s waterways, Blackrock Reach’s stone. Together, these pockets of productivity form the backbone of the region’s prosperity, woven together by trade routes protected by the Emerald Shores Alliance.

Type

Coast / Shore

Included Locations

• Crescent City