Alun-Tar
| Alun-Tar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Stone Farming Settlement |
| Location | Central Sanctuary Vale, midway along the Va-Djes Road |
| Realm | Terasil |
| Inhabitants | Orasian |
| Significance | Key provisioning and land-tending site for overland travelers; center of highland terrace cultivation |
| Controlled by | Council of Stone |
Alun-Tar is a working Orasian settlement located midway along the Va-Djes Road, deep within the open savanna of Sanctuary Vale. It is known for its structured terraces, mineral-rich fields, and quiet, durable way of life. Travelers heading toward Djes-Val often stop here for resupply, water, and orientation, while local stone-tenders maintain the surrounding land with deep ancestral practices.
Geography
Set on a series of low, stepped ridges, Alun-Tar is surrounded by layered stone terraces cultivated with surface-rooted grasses, fissure crops, and stabilized mineral beds. A steady breeze cuts across the plain, and wind-carved stone walls help shield the inner structures from erosion and dust. Shallow aquifers feed a system of sloped irrigation channels known as the “vein runs,” which guide water across the tilled layers.
History
Founded during early land stabilization campaigns following the Great Erosion, Alun-Tar grew from a line of traveling stone-tenders who built simple maintenance ledges to slow runoff and erosion. These methods evolved into a full-scale pattern of stone farming—shaping, binding, and renewing the land over decades. Today, Alun-Tar is one of the only permanent farming sites within the Sanctuary Vale proper.
Notable Locations
- Terraced Bands – Wide, flat stone layers used for crop-fixing and mineral rooting.
- Field Rests – Small shelters set into the ridges for workers and travelers alike to pause during the midday heat.
Culture and Society
Life in Alun-Tar follows the cycle of stone and sun. The work is quiet, precise, and communal. Days begin with a ritual where tools are struck against binding stones to determine stability. Offerings are made seasonally to the land, leaving shaped stones or returned tools in the terraces during rest periods.
Economy
Alun-Tar’s economy is centered on the cultivation and controlled trade of stone crops and minerals. Goods are exchanged seasonally with caravans and wayfarers, with surplus stored in communal vaults. Barter remains common, with tools, crafted implements, and field tokens favored over coin.
Defense and Military
Though not fortified, Alun-Tar’s open layout allows clear sightlines in all directions. Local Stonewardens rotate through on seasonal cycles and maintain a small signal pillar at the highest ridge. The land itself, carefully shaped and difficult to traverse without guidance, serves as a form of passive defense.
Dangers and Threats
Primary threats include sudden stone shifts, vein floods, and mist drifts that alter perception across the terraces. During dry seasons, tension can build between traveling groups seeking provisions. Alun-Tar’s council keeps strict seasonal trade rules to prevent depletion or imbalance.