Torell
1. Description
Torell is an island off the the eastern coast of the continent of
Minartan. It is just south of the elven island of Lanuin and north of the
Islands of Filas and Beheran. To the east of it spans the endless waters
of the Gray Ocean. The closest Land of Minartan to the west are the wilds
of Dethzael. Most of the Island is forested with deciduous trees and a
small amount of conifers. Covering about a sixth of the island in its
north northwestern portion are plains that had been forest but were cleared
away over the years by the native inhabitance. The Trees being used for
construction of boats and housing and for firewood. The Isle is surrounded
with shallow rocky shores, as Lanuin is, making it very difficult to
approach Torell from any direction. Only the Tore'e, who inhabit the isle,
know how to tack the shallow waters surrounding the isle.
The climate has four seasons but the extremes are mild due to the
wet warm air blowing from the south Gray Ocean. It is Inhabited by the
Tore'e people who are exceptional seafarers and traders. The small forested
islands of Nepland and Gryweer located just west of the main Island are
considered part of Torell by the inhabitance.
2. Climate
The weather of Torell is very damp and cool having only a hand full
of days in the summer of open sky sunshine. Harsh rain and thunderstorms
are uncommon with windy cold drizzle being the norm. Seasonal changes
are evident but mild, temperatures staying usually between 10 and 20
degrees celsius year round. In the fall all the tree shed their leaves
and the forest explodes with color. Blues yellows reds oranges and purples
of every hue paint the tree limbs and floor of the forest. During the
winter it does snow but only two to three times and usually doesn't last
long because of the rain and dampness that melt it away. Also during the
winter the Islands of Torell receives most of its rain fall. in most
years between 1 to 2 meters in the three month period. In the spring the
temperatures rise a bit and the trees bud and grow leaves that are a
bright, almost fluorescent, green. The northern plain of the main land
becomes filled with bright flowers and green shoots of grass and shrubs.
In the summer the temperature raises some more and the clouds clear for a
few weeks. It often becomes muggy with damp warm air that sits stale over
the islands. Every fifteen years or so the southern gray ocean spits up
a hurricane that strikes the islands and unleashes deadly havoc. Pounding
rain and 150 kph winds beat down upon the wildlife and people of Torell
uprooting trees demolishing houses and sinking ships. Along the eastern
coast huge waves pushed by the wind have been known to toss sea water
nearly a kilometer inland in some places killing untold numbers of trees
and wildlife.
3. Flora
The plants of Torell are well adapted to the seasonal changes that
occur there. The Islands' wet mild climate are well suited for plant
life and the smaller plants such as grasses and shrubs stay relatively
green and grow year round. Trees and larger shrubs in Torell are mostly
deciduous and during the fall they shed their leaves and stay dormant
during the winter months budding in the early spring. There are some
conifers that grow on the eastern coast of Torell's main island which
are more adapted to the high salt content of the soil there that is due
to periodic hurricanes that awash the coast in ocean water. The origin
of these conifers is much debated among the Tore'e as they lack any
resemblance to other conifers found in all of the known lands of Majik.
This has led some to speculate that the trees originate from seeds that
have washed ashore from some distant land lying across the vast expanse
of the Gray Ocean. The trees are called Mouse trees because the unique
shape of the cone seeds that resemble the top tail end of a mouse.
4. Fauna
The animal life of Torell is quite unique being relatively isolated
from the main land. Birds and lizards have taken up many of the niches
normally filled by mammals. A large four legged lizard prowls the coasts
and forests of the islands. The Tore'e call them Tewik Dragons, they
grow to be up to 7 feet long from head to tail, are very vicious and
have been known to kill lone travelers. The Tore'e use the scaled skins
of these beasts for their soft boots they wear on ship deck. Wingless
bird are common some having grown claws at the tips of their wings using
them to clime trees and live as monkeys would. Others have grown in size
and walk on strong legs with long necks that reach up to 5 feet from
head to foot.
The original inhabitance of Torell were the Akreb Goblins who were
mostly wiped out by the Tore'e when they first arrived. The Akreb now
only inhabit Gryweer and small parts of Torell's main island along the
western coast across from Gryweer. These creature are highly aggressive
and territorial. They attack humanoids in large swarming numbers with
sharpened sticks and stone tipped clubs. They show little intelligence
aside from simple tool making and fire use. In appearance they are a
meter to 125 cm tall, have thin wiry bodies, tar black hairless skin,
sharp teeth, and monstrous faces with large pointed ears. Males and
female show no difference in size but male grow yellow fur mains along
the spine of their back. The Akreb are exceptional tree climbers and
can swoop down upon their pray with blinding speed. They are omnivores
and the meat they eat is primarily the young and eggs of the Tewik
dragons though on rare occasions they have been known to kill a large
Tewik adult.
5. History
Up until three hundred years ago, when the humans arrived, the Islands
of Torell remained uninhabited by sentient beings except for the Akreb
Goblins whos sentience can be questioned. The Islands were surveyed by
the Zrei'gu'aiuo elves when they first arrived at the eastern islands
anout 900 years ago but, preferring Lanuin, left the islands wild. When
the Tore'e took possession of the island they first settled at where
Hascron is now situated. They quickly set to work building their ships
and houses clearing forest land and killing off the Akreb goblins. Engarox
was settled some hundred years later. The Torell have never engaged in
open warfare after the slave rebellion in Lanuin. They have had some sea
skirmishes with Zrei'gu'aiuo ships and fought off slavers who attempted
to enslave peoples along the northern Minartan coast but nothing as
drastic as full fledged warfare.
6. Geography
6.1 Kras Mountains
The Kras mountains are located in the north western portion of the
Torell island just about a kilometer south east from the city of
Hascron. They are actually not mountains at all but rolling hills. Most
of the hills are cover with forest and they are the highest point on
Island. The grassy portions of the hills and the plains near them are
used primarily to farm sheep by the few Tore'e who live there.
6.2 Nepland Island
Nepland is the larger of two islands just west of the Torell main
island. It is Forested with deciduous trees and at its southern most
point sits the Tore'e city of Engarox. Aside from the city the island is
sparsely inhabited with but a few fishermen living along it shores. The
Island's coast is rocky and tretcherous. Sailing near it or landing at
its shores take expert knowledge that only the Tore'e possess ...
6.3 Gryweer Island
Gryweer in the smaller of the two islands just west of the Torell main
island. It too is forested with deciduous trees. Although it lacks any
human inhabitance the tore'e consider it a Tore'e possession. Aside from
the regular animal and plant life found throughout the Torell islands
there live here Akreb goblins. These creatures once lived all over
Torell and its islands but were exterminated by the Tore'e. Some do
still live on the main Island of Torell near its western coast but are
believed to have migrated from Gryweer after the initial killings. They
are vicious animals who attack in large troops thus over powering any
humanoid with their sheer numbers.
7. Cities/Landmarks
7.1. Hascron
Hascron is located on the north west coast of the Torell main island.
Tore'e are its primary inhabitance and it is the largest of the two
Tore'e cities. It is here that the Tore'e build their ships in their
numerous ship yards. It also holds most of Torell's permanent residence,
unlike Engarox which is more of a trading port. Fishermen, ship carpenters,
and retired sailors are its primary inhabitance. Its population is
about 3000. Also within Hascron is the Great Tore'e navigation library
which holds tens of thousands of book describing the waters, trade
routes, stars, lands and peoples of Majik. Many rutters and old ship
logs can be found here. The library is not a lending library but allows
all Tore'e free access to most of it books. Its funding relies primarily
on donations of rich Tore'e traders and fees paid by foreign scholars
who study here. Patrons are allowed to scribe copies of the books and
the library rents out the services of scribes for such work. Some of the
more rare books such as "Tilmak's Journal of the Lands Beyond the Gray
Ocean" or "The Lands of the Necrolytes" can only be read for a fee.
Young Tore'e who dream of piloting, captaining or navigating ships are
often found here studying. The population of Hascron is about 4000.
7.2. Engarox
Engarox is a Tore'e city located on the southern tip of Nepland Island. It
is the primary trading center for Torell and the Tore'e people. Ships
destined for lands all over the three continents of Majik moor here.
Exotic good are sold ijn the floating markets on small skiffs that wind
in-between ships loading and unloading food stuffs crafts and raw
materials. Part of the city in fact floats on the main harbor.
Structures made of wood bob up and down in the harbor serf. Others stand
on large pears that jut out 200 meters from shore. The population of
Engarox is smaller then Hascron most of the occupants not being permanent
residence. Those that do live in the city support the economy as
merchants, shop keepers, Inn keepers, and tavern workers. There are some
fishermen but less then is found at Hascron and on the coasts of the
main Torell island. The premenent population of Engarox is about 2000 but
as many as 5000 can be in the city at any given time.
7.3. Griklen Temple
Griklen temple is one of the few stone structures on the islands of
Torell. It sits on the surf beaten rocky shore in the south eastern
corner of the main Torell Island. The structure stands 50 meters tall
and is a gray citadel lacking any windows. It was built some 100 years
ago with huge sums of coin taxed from the Tore'e by the priest's
"donation" collectors and now serves as a temple and residence for the
clergy hierarchy. The large granite stones from which temple is built
are smooth and were quarried from the mainland then shipped at great
cost upon Tore'e ships.
Joshua Corning
Last modified: Tue Oct 5 04:07:15 PDT 1999