Salsola Territory

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Salsola's Territory Claim

Salsola is located on an isolated peninsula jutting from the westernmost edge of Drifter Bay. Surrounded by the grey waters of Drifter Bay, the pack enjoys both dramatic coastal terrain and sweeping grassland plains. A thick swath of predominantly-coniferous forest begins just north of Millstone Village and extends to the far eastern edge of the territory, split in two by the meandering Deception Creek. The kingdom utilizes the icy waters of the Pictou River as its easternmost border. All borders are kept well-marked and well-patrolled, as Salsola is infamously suspicious of (and unwelcoming toward) those they deem to be Outsiders.


In Autumn 2015, Salsola had its first large territory expansion.

Maintaining the fast-flowing and frigid waters of the Pictou as their strong Eastern border, the Mafiosi extended Salsola's land claim primarily North. It stretched up well beyond the boundary of the Deception River, reaching toward the very foot of the Halcyon Range itself. Barring passage through to Drifter Bay, and with now-abolished Inferni blocking it's Eastern end, Outsiders were pushed to trek through the formidable mountains themselves to reach the Southern realms of Nova Scotia.

In Winter 2017, Salsola expanded its reach to what it is today; Claiming the southern sectors of the city of Amherst and spanning across and further into the Halcyon Mountains. The town-structures of Amherst, built by Those who came Before, have been re-purposed to fit increasingly varied Luperci needs. With a proper port and dock and a thriving market square, the newest northern acquisitions promise to add to Salsola's burgeoning wealth.

Now the kingdom's reach is considerably immense, an unmissable political power separating the mainland and the peninsula right in the heart of 'Souls.

Thistle Kingdom Map
Art by Alaine

Territory Directory (Hide)


Upper Tantramar

Upper Tantramar consists of all Salsolan claim north of the Deception Creek.

The variety of ecosystems to be found within Upper Tantramar is mightily impressive. From the dense, haunted forests of the Blackwoods to the cracked concrete and repaired constructions of southern Amherst, this region exists between one extreme to another. At its northernmost reach are the foothills of the titanic Halcyon mountain range, whose glacial melts feed the frigid waters of the Great Falls and the Pictou river. At its heart are rolling hills and great plains of swaying golden grass, humped with various drumlins and eskers, rolling and rising awkwardly from the otherwise flat land.

Prey is plentiful in Upper Tantramar. Herds of whitetail deer roam the lesser pine barrens and make habitual pilgrimage across the grasslands in search of the sweet berries that grow further north. Where stone paths and crumbling buildings mar the outskirts of the abandoned city, smaller prey - such as hares, pheasants, and rodents alike - may be found taking shelter among the cracks and crevasses.

  • Common Fauna: hares, woodchuck, porcupine, fox, bear, cougar, deer, moose
  • Common Birds: chickadee, swallow, pigeon, hawk, raven
  • Common Flora: aspen, bearberry, lilac, thistle, cedar, pine
CREDIT

Credit: Link?

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Mountains – Pixabay – FelixMittermeier Mountains – Pixabay – Pdimaria Pictou River (Halcyon Mountain) – Pixabay – Free-Photos Cave – Pixabay – Dietmarwiedemann Waterfall – Pixabay – Niner09 Ravine (bottom) – Pixabay – Free-Photos Upper Tantramar – Pixabay – Free-Photos Upper Tantramar – Pixabay – 12019 Meadow – Pixabay – Sergiumarvel Upper Tantramar – Pixabay – Vrolanas Upper Tantramar – Pixabay – Walkerssk Pictou River (Drifter Bay) – Pixabay – Sonyuser Blackwoods – Pixabay – Tama66 Pinebarrens – Pixabay – Pexels Forest edge – Pixabay – Erik_Karits Forest (Winter) – Pixabay – Cocoparisienne Forest (Autumn) – Pixabay – Valiphotos Forest Path – Pixabay – Pexels

Amherst ()


Credit: Tama66

Amherst was a human-built town constructed on the high ground near the Tantramar Marshes, close to what was once the border of New Brunswick. In the years following the apocalypse, Amherst fell into ruin – exposure to the salty water and air brought in by the Bay of Fundy may have contributed to this swift decay, though the falling of the Red Star further destroyed what had been left behind. There is a notable difference between the section of the old town beyond and within Salsola's claim. The pack has gone to efforts to remove debris, demolish unsafe structures, and reinforce or rebuild those which remain. Salsola's Amherst claim is the most urbanized portion of the Thistle Kingdom's territory, but this low-density area still boasts plenty of green space.

The Docks ()

Credit: Coldhamr

Abandoned long ago in the time of Those who came Before, the Docks - as the shipping port has come to be colloquially known - were repaired over a period of several years by the Thistle Kingdom and restored to a primitive version of their former glory.

Host to a variety of smaller canoes and a singular sailing ship, the Docks enable Salsolans another route to efficiently trade with those who live across the other side of the Bay of Fundy's tempestuous grey waters. Fisherfolk may take advantage of the piers to land catches that may not frequent the shoreline.

The Firehouse ()

Constructed during the time of humanity, the Amherst Fire Station is one of the remaining structures in the area. A two story building, this brick and concrete structure survived the worst of the natural disasters that affected Nova Scotia. It's original interior was damaged by exposure, not only from the large open doors of its mostly empty truck house, but from the fall of The Red Star, which shattered the building's windows. Though wear and tear is obvious, efforts have been made to keep the building standing. In some places, such as around the large and now vacant garage, timber has been erected to support door frames and other weak points. While its windows were obliterated when the Red Star fell, wooden shutters and leather coverings help keep the worst of the weather out.

The Marketplace ()

Credit: Unknown

Salvaged from the remains of a city square is the heaving quarter of the Marketplace. Heavily weathered buildings facing inward to an open plaza of cracked concrete and worn stone have been bedecked instead with fresh wood and cloth-bannered stalls. Riotous with color and sound, the Marketplace is the dominion of Salsola's Merchant tier.

The Marketplace remains the only location within Salsolan territory where Outsiders - under escort and careful watch - may be tolerated, or even welcomed. Trade is the lifeblood of this landmark, and new or aspiring merchants will often display their wares here in an attempt to cut their teeth on the ruthless nature of barter.

The Blackwoods


Credit: meggonoke

As the name suggests, this dense patch of woodlands is so overgrown and tangled that it emanates an eerie, haunted quality. Although close by the western coastline, the tall and densely packed trees mask all scent of the nearby ocean, which can be quite disorienting to those traversing the forest's depths. In some groves, the trees grow so close together and the underbrush is so thick that it blots out a lot of the natural light, leaving deep areas of pervasive, chilling shadow. All this, in addition to often-changing or hidden prey trails, leads to many unprepared adventurers losing their way.

A coastal mist will often rise from the nearby bluffs and roll into the forest, shrouding it in fog. Popular myth describes the souls of lost wanderers and treasured ancestors, watching from the boughs of the ancient, gnarled pines. Due to its reputation as a place of occult - or perhaps, causing it - the Blackwoods are a popular locale for practitioners in Salsola's coven.

Ediling Ravine


Credit: Unknown

At a glance it would be easy to miss. From above, Ediling Ravine appears to be a mere fissure in the earth - but once one is able to find an entrance, its true breadth is revealed. Relentlessly carved from the earth by a narrow, shallow wend of the Pictou River over the course of many years, the feeling it evokes is similar to that of a shaded grove or shadowy garden; foreign, exotic, but relatively non-threatening. The air here is intoxicating, smelling deeply of cold spring water, fermented berries, and rich earth.

During the fall and winter months, the water therein freezes and creates a slink ice rink from one end to the other.

The Highroad

A curious new installment to the realm of Salsola, the Highroad is a single path that crosses the northern Amherst border and leads directly through to the Marketplace. Heavily patrolled, all passage over the Highroad is scrutinized by soldiers and scouts stationed at the Queensgate Garrison.

The purpose of the Highroad, as separated from other pathways leading deeper into Salsolan territory, is to allow select Outsiders access to the Salsolan Marketplace. An Outsider will only be allowed entry along the Highroad if they are escorted by a trusted Family member, and once their wares have been inspected at the garrison.

There is lingo befitting of usage of the Highroad. For example, should a Salsolan say to the sentries posted at the garrison: "This is our friend, I wish to take them along the Highroad", then the soldiers will know that the Outsider is worthy of the Marketplace. Should a Salsolan say to the sentries: "This is my friend, I wish to take them along the Lowroad", then the soldiers will know that the Outsider is to be robbed and/or accosted the moment they set foot on Salsolan soil.

The Great Falls

Flung far in the north-easternmost corner of Salsola's claim, the Great Falls thunder down with a vengeance from the foothills of the Halcyon mountains. A convergence of several smaller falls that become one massive drop of water, the bottom is deep and unreachable. The frothing, violent waters would mercilessly drown any who attempted to swim beneath them. Nearby pools have been carved over many thousands of years, however, and are perfect for swimming - but beware, the natural rock formations are as dangerous as they are a wonder to look upon.

In early spring 2019, the trial of Delfina Heiwa was held here. Rumor has it Delfina's bones still to lie at the endless bottom of the Great Falls, her spirit forever trapped in the torment of the rushing waters.

Grimrun ()


Credit: TheOtherKev

Acting as the heart of the Pauson Breeding Program, and based upon the design of an older building replaced in the process of original construction, this barn is much larger than its older companion. Only equines are housed in Grimrun, and here the authority of the Equinest and their Vaqueros is all but law. These stud-book horses are considerably extremely valuable to the pack, and have more restrictions when it comes to general member use. All horses stabled here are in use (in one way or another) for the breeding program, and, as such, most of the mares are either pregnant or have a foal at foot, and not suitable to ride. Select intact stallions are kept as studs should their bloodlines, physical endowments, and temperaments lead them to be suitable for the task.

Behind dense foliage overgrowth and the thick wooden doors of Grimrun, Salsola is quietly developing its own breed of horse - one of the first of the new age in Nova Scotia since the fall of humankind.

Grotto of Seven Sleepers


Credit: Unknown

Just south of the foothills of the Halcyon mountain range is a mysterious place known locally as the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers. The entrance to the grotto has been cut over time by continual cascades of water, likely overflow of ice-melt from the rapids following the Great Falls. It is unclear whether the water from the Pictou seeped through the porous mountain stone and created the interior cavern pools, or if the hidden water existed there previously.

The pools run very deep in some places, hinting at an underground river or spring, and very shallow in others. There are seven distinct alcoves in the grotto, which lends it the name for the myth of seven sleepers, who awaken from their watery graves to a world that is unlike the one they once knew. The Grotto has a mystical, transformative ambiance, in part due to the way light enters (especially at sunset, when the sun hits the western mountain side) and reflects throughout the damp crystalline walls. At night the Grotto can be dangerous, although on a full moon the waters seemed to become luminescent in an ethereal way.

The Lesser Pine Barrens

While a part of the whole eastern forest - known in its entirety as the Pine Barrens - the northern strand, separated from its lower half by the Deception creek, is referred to as the lesser Pine Barrens.

The lesser Pine Barrens is so named due to being smaller in size, and thinner in density, than its southern portion. The conifer and broadleaf forest trickles out until its northermost reaches are claimed by marshland and fields. Due to the easily accessible grazing land, the lesser Pine Barrens are a favorite of deer and other herbivores. Rarely, one might find a moose doe and calf wandering the open trails between copses of pine.

A main path leading east toward Drifter Bay ambles through the northern spread of the lesser Pine Barrens.

Orchard


Credit: Hans

Not all the relics left behind from Those who came Before are carved out of stone, brick or concrete. Some, such as the orchard, indicate that life has never been entirely separate from the wonders of nature.

Just south of the overgrown reach of the Blackwoods lies an acre of fruit trees, predominantly variants of apple. The older trees are planted in even rows, though some younger trees - having grown from saplings fallen at the base of their parents - have begun to distort the tidy pattern. The ground is thick with weeds and rich mulchy leaflitter. When in season, the trees burst with fruit, and the orchard becomes a hive of activity as many Salsolans harvest their bounty for personal use.

There are many uses for the fruit harvested from the orchard - while many may snack on it as-is, it can also be preserved, made into jams, fermented, made into ciders or ales or wines. The opportunities are endless!

Shrine ()


Credit: Unknown

A centralized hub for worship and spiritual practice, the Shrine can be found deep in the formidable Blackwoods. Marked by a woven-branch doorway, the path to this structure is dotted with smaller decorations and shrines and opens into an unusual clearing. At its center is a large, open firepit ringed with stones that acts as both a beacon of light, as well as a common place for rituals and the like to be performed. From the pit, larger stones mark a wide pathway to the actual shrine that sits towards the back of the clearing. While large enough to fit three Luperci comfortably, the inner portion of the Shrine is dominate by a wooden statue of a peacock rising between two fanged snakes.

Springhill Cemetery


Credit: jwvein

Springhill cemetery is easily explored as it is not a very large or complex locale. Marked by a dilapidated church and a small cluster of long-abandoned and partially destroyed buildings, Springhill offers little in the way of salvageable materials. The outskirts of the forest have ravenously taken over the small church, and the once white-plaster building is now a sad, diluted grey-green, its sides covered with moss, vines and debris.

The most interesting discovery is behind the main chapel - an area littered with smooth square stones and roughly hewn markers. Once a graveyard, a family tomb lays beneath a thick slab of stone set into the hillside. Dark and dank, it smells of ancient times and has obviously been used for shelter by little woodland creatures that call the nearby Blackwoods home.

Queensgate Garrison


Credit: Jass0919570

In the shadow of the Halcyon mountain range sits and old battalion-esque building, a once-relic dated to roughly the same age as the Ruins proper due to the usage of similar stones in its construction. The garrison has been kept in relatively good repair over the ages, first by Those who came Before, and later by nomadic travelers passing through the then-unclaimed lands. As such, and owing to the sturdy rigidity of its original foundation, the Queensgate Garrison required only minor amendments before being of great use to the Thistle Kingdom.

Now this stoic building is the dominion of the Shield tier, and the semi-permanent home of a number of trainee guards, soldiers and scouts. It serves as a blockage between the difficult-to-monitor Amherst border and the deeper entryways to Upper Tantramar. Overlooking and monitoring all passage along the Highroad, the Queensgate Garrison is the frontline unit of defense in Salsola's north.



Deception Creek

Deception Creek is the landmark that divides Salsola’s territory into Upper and Lower Tantramar.

The creek earned its name for its deceptively fast-flowing and deep current in some stretches of the waterway - while the surface may appear glassy and slow moving, its undercurrents can be surprisingly treacherous to the unwary swimmer. There are many safe shallows suitable for crossings known to those familiar with the territory, as well as a notable luperci-made bridge that allows for the passage of carts up and down Salsola's claim.

The source of the creek is rumoured to be a spring somewhere south of Grimrun, which then flows over a small cascade before broadening out into a proper tributary. The creek coils, serpentine, between the Lesser and Greater Pine Barrens before joining with the larger mass of the Pictou River on the eastern border.

Credit: Boke9a



Lower Tantramar

Lower Tantramar consists of all Salsolan claim south of the Deception Creek.

The smaller of the two regions, Lower Tantramar is nonetheless teeming with potential. Capped by rising land and the sluggish, meandering waters of the Deception Creek, this region is surrounded on all sides by some form of water. At its heart is the tranquil reflection of Lake Ligeia, hemmed in by the lush and bountiful greater Pine Barrens. The large majority of Salsolan dwellings can be found in Lower Tantramar; from Millstone village, a quaint albeit neglected settlement of houses and cabins, all the way to the dramatic visage of the Ruins proper, an old relic from the ancient times of Those who came Before.

A knowing hunter will always be able to find supper in Lower Tantramar. The greater Pine Barrens support a thriving populace of wildlife, as does the deciduous Oakgrove closer to home. Due to its easily accessible waterways, fish are an excellent resource for those able and willing to pursue them.

  • Common Fauna: squirrels, mice, beaver, racoon, skunk, lynx, deer, moose
  • Common Birds: sparrow, woodpecker, falcon, gull, duck, warbler, crow
  • Common Flora: dandelion, coltsfoot, thistle, ivy, oak, pine
CREDIT

Credit: Link?

Landscape/Inspiration Gallery
Stream – Pixabay – Lars_Nissen Creek – Pixabay – Fietzfotos Bridge – Pixabay – JerzyGorecki Forest – Pixabay – Milesz Forest – Pixabay – Free-Photos Forest – Pixabay – Suju-foto Clearing – Pixabay – Tama66 Forest (Winter) – Pixabay – Sonyuser Fungi – Pixabay – Adege Meadow – Pixabay – Tama66 Meadow – Pixabay – Natalia_Kollegova Cabin – Pixabay – 12019 Stone ruins – Pixabay – Saalenixe-74 Grassland – Pixabay – 8moments Marrgerd – Pixabay – MichaelGaida Marrgerd (small hoofstock) – Pixabay – MabelAmber Marrgerd (horse in paddock) – Pixabay – StockSnap Open fields – Pixabay – Waldo93 Coast – Pixabay – Daniellegiberti Coast – Pixabay – Ippicture

The Garden ()


Credit: Unknown

The garden is located in lush terrain a short walk from the rich silt-infused and fertile banks of the Pictou delta. Various uncultivated plant cover disguises the garden from view, and a short fence surrounds it. The fence is useless for keeping vermin and such out of the garden, and merely serves as a boundary marker to separate the intentionally cultivated flora from the wild ones. A small cabin - little more than a shed - allows for the storage of crude gardening equipment and simple tools.

A number of different plants are cultivated here for Salsola's purposes; primarily, the pack is interested in healing items and items that can be used to conceal one's scent. However, any plants possessing useful properties may be added to the garden's stores.

The garden's proximity to the Pictou River allows for watering trenches to bring quenching liquid to the growing plants of the pack. Plants are frequently dried or preserved and later transported to the Storage shed for safe-keeping.

The Greater Pine Barrens


Credit: Holzijue

While a part of the whole eastern forest - known in its entirety as the Pine Barrens - the southern strand, separated from its higher half by the Deception creek, is referred to as the greater Pine Barrens.

The greater Pine Barrens is so named due to being larger in size, and more densely grown, than its northern portion. The conifer and broadleaf forest grows in lush abandon here, flirting with the eastern banks of Lake Ligeia and stretching all the way to the outskirts of Millstone Village. It is a favorite for trappers, who know the popular prey trails like the back of their hands. Hares, birds and other common wildlife can all be found here.

The pine in this forest is occasionally logged for construction, as the trunks grow big, straight, and true.

Isle Haute ()


Credit: Noelsch

A small island, known to Salsolans as Isle Haute, juts bravely into the waters just south of the mainland claim. Visible from the southern shore, it is a stony protrusion that is large enough to hold soil and trees well above the waterline of the bay. Isle Haute features towering bayside bluffs, which offer some protection from the ebbing tide. The mainland coast is slightly more forgiving.

The island is accessible via a dock and chain-pulley boat, which was once operated by the Slave of Salt pre-abolition of the slave rank by Queen Elphaba Revlis in 2018. Isle Haute is off-limits to most Salsolans, presumably due to its nature as a sacred site to the kingdom's Sanctus tier.

Lake Ligeia


Credit: Unknown

Bordered by the greater Pine Barrens and a short walk north of Millstone Village is a medium-sized, glacial lake. The shore surrounding it has dark, nearly black earth, perhaps the reasoning behind its name.

Although in the early days of Salsolan history, the lake served as an excellent hunting ground - a watering hold attended by many of the local wildlife - recent ages have seen an increase of the Salsolan population, and therefore an increase in regular domestic use of Lake Ligeia. As such, it has become more of a place for bathing and recreation than for hunting or trapping. Young Salsolans will often have gatherings beside the lake in the height of summer. Many domiciles use the lake to wash their clothing and their selves.

The Bay of Fundy


Credit: evgenuine

A coastal inlet ending in a secluded bay, the cataclysmic events of the Red Star's fall led to a large upheaval of the local terrain, eventually causing a land bridge that severed the loch from the broader ocean beyond for several years until, further earthquakes re-opened the waters to the sea.

The water of the bay as seen from Salsola's territory is often grey and choppy, with small waves that lap against a pebbly coastline. Icy cold in winter and pleasantly refreshing in summer, it provides an important natural resource for all local denizens. Those capable of fishing will find plenty of food sources within the loch, which teems with saltwater fish and crustaceans. More recently, use of primitive boats has enabled exploration of some islands or small rocky outcrops near to the coastline, as well as opening the possibility of easier trade with those who live across the large body of water.

Marrgerd ()


Credit: 6151189

Marrgerd is located just two miles north-east of the Ruins. It is the formal name for an area encompassing Salsola's main livestock grazing area and stables. The terrain is large mire fully encompassing over twenty-five hundred acres, comprised largely of open meadowland. In summer, the long field grasses are green and gold - in spring they are dotted with wildflowers. A small pond provides easy water access, left as the remains of a larger glacial kettle.

Most of the barn is constructed within a small stand of pine trees, the center-most of which were felled for building materials. The trees obscure the barn from view to some extent; if someone were not specifically looking for the corral or already aware of its existence, they might easily overlook it. Added shrubbery and vines planted along the barn's sides add to the cover. The barn itself is a weathered and drab gray-green color on the outside, aiding its disguise.

Millstone Village ()


Credit: Unknown

Millstone is a relatively isolated village, with only a small number of cottages, cabins, and houses that are in good enough standing to shelter denizens. It is accessible by a main pathway that leads out of the Ruins proper to the southwest, and also by many little forest paths that stretch and twist for miles through the greater Pine Barrens. Overgrown and surrounded by small plots of open land, the area is unusually fertile.

Small cabins hunker against the elements, many still containing simple tools of the past; technological advances were not present in this village even before the apocalypse. From silos to barns to a one room schoolhouse and graveyard, one can draw the conclusion that Millstone was, originally, an Amish village tucked away from the eyes of the world.

The Arena

Credit: Unknown

Constructed under the stern direction of Paladin Idrieus Eternity, the Arena was built in early 2017 due to a perceived need for specialized combat training space. It was used extensively in preparation for the Inferni-Salsola War. The Arena stands alongside a narrow coastal pathway, directly south of Millstone on the southern shore.

Any Salsolan desiring to train or improve their combat skills are encouraged to make use of the Arena. A simple construction, it appears to be a round corral-like pen with wooden posts acting as a guard rail. On one side, a sturdy wooden stand has been built to allow a small number of observers to get a better view. The base of the Arena is packed with thick gravel and sand, carted in from the beachier stretches of the southern shore.

The Notice Board

Credit: Link?

» Be sure to check out Salsola’s accompanying Discord channel for current notices!

Seeing the need for a better way to disseminate local information to the pack, Emissary Kamari Kaiser and Sanctus Apprentice Morgana Revlis spearheaded the construction of the notice board in June 2020. Members are encouraged to leave notices on this board, and asked to take off those that they intend to accept or claim.

The Notice Board is made out of oakwood gleaned from the Oakgrove due to white oak's natural properties for withstanding the elements. Two thick support poles are dug into the ground, and sit amongst a bed of small river rocks spread around the board’s base to help keep the ground from eroding away beneath it. A roof with layered, wooden shingles helps keep off the majority of the rain and snow from disturbing the messages nailed to the board itself. A bucket of nails hangs off of a hook, and, if one needs a hammer, there are plenty of rocks nearby to use. The board is tall enough to allow even Salsola’s larger, wolf-blooded denizens to comfortably stand beneath its short roof, and, it is high enough from the ground that it clears most of the thickest snowdrifts common in the area.

Some examples (not limited to!) of a note, message, scroll, or hide that may be tacked to the Notice Board are:

  • Hunting alerts (i.e. there is a large moose bull in the area that needs a team to bring down)
  • Bounties (i.e. a dangerous cougar has been spotted near to children and livestock, a price has been put on its pelt)
  • Outsider warnings (i.e. a rogue bandit has been stealing from merchants in Amherst and needs apprehending or chasing off)
  • Crown notices (i.e. the crown requires all hunters to provide a bird of their choosing for the next Last Supper)
  • Personal adverts (i.e. Wolf is looking for a new leather tunic, can anyone help him out?)
  • Service provisions (i.e. Dog is skilled in carpentry, and is looking to take on work mending or improving some Ruins domiciles)

Oakgrove


Credit: Unknown

Being as the majority of forest growth in Salsola is predominantly coniferous pine, Oakgrove appears different from the norm. The woods here are a majority oak-growth, a mixture of fine towering old trees, young canopy trees, and little oak saplings. A mixture of introduced English oak and native northern red oak, these trees are impressive to behold. Their lumber is some of the finest in kingdom lands, and much sought-after for the crafting of furniture, equipment and other wooden artifacts.

The acorns harvested from this area also have a multitude of uses.

The Peninsulas


Credit: Unknown

The Peninsulas consist of a shallow cove nestled between two flanking outcrops. The western peninsula is marshy grassland, while the eastern peninsula is rocky and forbidding. The cove provides excellent fishing, though one must beware the tide as they would anywhere else along the southern shoreline. Many consider this one of the most beautiful areas of Salsola, providing as it does a lovely view across the loch to the far coast on clear days.

Due to the shallowness of the cove and its pebbly, rocky base, the water here is startlingly clear. In fine weather it looks like polished glass.

In part due to erosion, this cape is often littered with large stones. During particularly turbulent weather, and especially after winter, rockfalls are common.

Pictou Delta


Credit: JillWellington

The Pictou Delta marks the point at which the Pictou River spills out into the loch. The land here is flat and rolls in toward the river, as much of the earth has eroded due to the force of the flowing water. Much of the foliage here is low, hardy growth, with very few trees or shrubs higher than the waist. The closer one gets to the delta itself, the swampier and more difficult the land is to traverse. However, the soil here is some of the richest and most fertile available anywhere in Salsola's claim.

Though the river empties into the bay with surprising force, the Pictou experiences a tidal bore with each tide change. The incoming high tide is visible, rolling slowly up the Pictou with each incoming high tide. Water nearest to the delta is decidedly brackish during these times, though it again becomes fresh with the tidal outflow.

The Ruins ()


Credit: Unknown

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Like bones, the bleached remains of a grand Chateau and its outbuildings sprawl in eerie, crumbling splendor across the high plateau. Monoliths from an age gone by, the ancient castle comprises of one central and four compass towers, along with a large number of halls, keeps, machicolations, barbicans and gatehouses. It was claimed as the main dwelling locale for the denizens of the Thistle Kingdom during the original foundation of Salsola, and has presided as the center of domestic Salsolan life to this day.

Many of the venerable old buildings are little more than stone skeletons, and require extensive repairs or additions to make them livable. However, not an unreasonable number have weathered the ages well, needing only a new wooden roof and mortar patches to provide comfort and shelter. A number of the buildings provide secretive pockets, and are often disguised with a protective growth of wild thistle. The stunning overgrowth of underbrush provides excellent cover, with vines overtaking the vast majority of externally exposed stone.

There are many pathways meandering throughout the Ruins, the main ones cobblestoned and large enough for a horse and cart, the minor ones little more than an individual-wide trail of packed earth. The main pathways are often accompanied by hedgerow or low weathered stone walls.

The Clinic ()

Edited by Songbird
Source: Rpnickson

The Clinic is a free-standing structure, comprised of an old hunting lodge later expanded and reinforced by early members of the Thistle Kingdom. It is bypassed by one of the main pathways into and out of the Ruins proper - as such, it is well situated along a main thoroughfare. The path is wide enough for a horse and cart, and is regularly used by such to deliver important medical goods to and from the building.

The building itself is roomy and has two floors, including an open upper level where emergency stores, such as blankets and food, are kept. The lower floor is made of stone, and is of original construction. The upper floor is made of pine, crafted by Luperci builders during repairs. It is on the upper floor where ill or resting patients are kept in narrow, simple bunks. There they are tended to by any of the kingdom's Curanderos or the Cleric.

The Feasting Hall


Credit: tjblackwell

The Feasting Hall is where Salsola holds their Last Supper ritual, Saturnalia banquets, and wedding receptions.

This is where the Family meets for meetings to celebrate events, discuss pack activities and progress – including the rites of intra-pack promotions – or to discuss any news relevant to the functioning of the pack. The Feasting Hall is located towards the southern end of the Ruins. Independent of the main structure of the old castle itself, the hall is a long rectangular structure that shows various amounts of exposure and age. Its condition allows for no roof, but sturdy stone walls with two main entrances. When an event is in preparation or progress, large pyres and lit torches will light up the hall with flamelight.

The Library ()

Edited by Songbird
Source: Unknown

Salsola's library was once a private residence, but expanded at the beginning of 2023 to allow greater space for the growing collection within. In addition to the new shelves, several specific areas divide up the Library: a large teaching space, a workshop for “messy” jobs, and a private study. The second floor of the building serves as a restricted area, behind whose locked doors rare first editions and sensitive items are kept.

The War Room ()


Credit: Link?

Opening summary, to include significance, construction, project leader, building placement, and building layout

In January 2022, in the aftermath of the battle to liberate the sieged Caledonians during the Tear in the Tapestry, a catapult was smuggled back to Salsola in secret by Kamari Kaiser with the help of Tattersall Valentine, Morrow Larue, and Mirko Morandi. This large siege weapon now sits outside the War Room.

Though the War Room is often associated with the Shield and the Kingdom’s fighter-types, it currently houses many of the Kingdom’s spoils, from wars to skirmishes and smaller conflicts, to great or rare hunts, to other notable moments within the Kingdom’s history. Trophies must have a significant meaning to the Kingdom, not just a single individual. For example, the sword of the leader of a group that harassed Salsola as a whole would be acceptable; the sword of a single, random, trespassing Loner would not be.

The Sea Caves


Credit: Unknown

Should one wander the winding, minor trails east of the Peninsulas that meander around the southern shoreline at low tide, they may come across a startling discovery. With the water receded, the craggy cliff by an inlet reveals a number of hidden caves, carved out under the coastline lip. There are three main caves, though a number of smaller ones are present below the water.

The brave among us may venture down into the caves and find a strange, alien world. The walls are slick with seaweed and strange growths. The receding tide leaves little salt-water pools teeming with crabs and other trapped sea life. Sometimes, rich and valuable salt deposits can be found, white and crystalline against the grey stone.

Just be careful exploring down there... It would be a shame to become trapped in the deadly rising waters once the tide comes back in!

Southern Shoreline


Credit: anthonytori

There is little need to patrol our southern border, as the Loch Fundy does the job well enough. With many little inlets, coves, and caves to explore, the southern shoreline offers a wealth of exploratory discoveries.

Tending to be rockier and pebbly in nature than the western coast, the water along the southern shoreline is often startlingly clear. It still retains some of the saltiness of its pre-Red Star connection to the ocean. Although in mild weather the water seems perfectly lovely, the southern shoreline can be especially dangerous in a storm, with high tides and waves lashing at the Peninsulas and Isle Haute.

The Stone Altar


Credit: Bru-nO

Along the high bluffs of the western coast, proudly situated on a high plateau overlooking the loch, one can find an odd confirmation of tall stones. Upon inspection it becomes apparent that these were deliberately placed here in ancient times, and many bear signs of crude runic carvings.

Known colloquially as the Stone Ship or the Stone Altar, this site is one of great cultural importance to Salsola. Various religious rituals are performed here, and one can often find piles of ash and charcoal from previous rites in-between the seeking stones. Since the foundation of the Thistle Kingdom, leaders have gathered their people to this location to deliver speeches of great importance.

Storage ()


Credit: Unknown

On the southern coast a short walk from both Millstone Village and the Ruins, a small hump of land hunkers against the loch's stiff breeze. It at first seems to be the average esker or drumlin, just another patch of land showing sign of past glaciation. Upon closer inspection, one realizes there is a thick and heavy oak door in the hillside itself, half-disguised by overgrowth from the hillock it sits within.

Disguised in this way from any non-Salsolan eyes, the Storage unit is better described as an underground bunker than it is a shed or a house. Due to the nature of being enclosed on all sides by earth, it is exceptionally good at maintaining an even, low temperature, perfect for the storing of treated or preserved foods. Sectioned by category, it is an orderly, monitored affair.

Western Coast


Credit: Unknown

Salsola's western border is flanked by the grey waters of Loch Fundy. This stretch of coastline comprises of both muddy sand beaches and highlands of craggy cliff. The wind in these higher bluffs can be unbearably fierce, but, on a mild day, the view they offer is well worth the risk. On the first inland stretch, the soil is unsympathetic to plants; few survive save gnarled pines, twisted and turned ugly by their harsh existence. The underbrush is similarly hardy, and the sparse pine forest gradually gives way to the beginnings of marshland to the east.

The most striking feature of this coastal terrain is the large number of erratic stones decorating the territory; it seems this stretch of coast was a particular hotspot for glacial dumping. Numerous round, flat, and misshapen stones—most of them rather large—decorate the western coastline.




Defunct Areas

Areas of old and those that were destroyed by time, by nature, or by the work of Luperci reside here. For some, their ruined remains may still be seen across the land, for others, the only trace of their existence is through Salsola™’s history books or through the memories of its people.

Lesser Forest

Three dilapidated buildings clustered near the park’s entrance; otherwise, the pristine wilderness park bear no evidence of humanity. The former picnic area provided an excellent small pasture ground.

Over the years, the Lesser Forest grew from its homey position nestled up against Millstone Village, and became absorbed into and became an extension of what is now known as The Greater Pine Barrens.

Shulie Farmland

Formerly a tiny community nestled against the bay, the Shulie consisted of only ten houses -- six of which were summer homes, occupied only during the warmer months. The farmhouse itself was one of two that still stood. The farm's former boundary, a low stone fence, stood to mark the remainder of the border. A spring on the farm's property provided the source of Deception River—now known as Deception Creek.

The farmland underwent revitalization in August 2013, eventually becoming what is now known as Grimrun.

Pictou Fishery

Once located in Upper Tantramar, the fishery marked the halfway point in the Pictou River. It had a beaten cabin and a small area that, during the human times, was likely used to breed and harvest the Atlantic Salmon that made their way up the river to breed. The whole area still smells like fish and smoke, but only faintly. Anyone there could also see a good ways into Drifter Bay.

During the Inferni-Salsola War, the fishery was used as a triage point.

The fishery and its weir further downstream were destroyed in February 2020 from rain and the melting snow accumulated from the blizzard of the month prior.

The Weir

The Borgata Xicohtli's Pictou River drains into the Bay of Fundy, and, as with many rivers along this bay, is subject to the tremendous tides within the bay. High tide brings about a tidal bore, which drives high tide waters upriver in a visible wave against the current.

One small creek of the river has been walled off with stones of various sizes to make a fishing weir -- this creek, nicknamed Pesce (See: Deception) Creek, serves as a fishtrap for the Salsola pack. Fish are driven upriver with the tide, and when the low tide comes about, they cannot escape. This is the weir's primary use. The first part of the weir sits along the mouth of the creek, consisting of a stone wall. This wall sits above the water during the low tide, but is completely submerged during high tide, allowing fish to pass over. The second part of the weir can be used only with two Luperci -- a large, rolled-up net sits in a canvas bag tied in a tree near the stone wall. The net must be stretched across the river, and it can then be walked downstream, driving a large amount of fish directly to the weir and trapping them.

The weir and its fishery further upstream were destroyed in February 2020 from rain and the melting snow accumulated from the blizzard of the month prior.



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Category: Salsola