Alun-Tar: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:00, 4 April 2025

Alun-Tar

Type	Agricultural Settlement
Location	Central Sanctuary Vale, midway along the Va-Djes Road
Realm	Terasil
Inhabitants	Mixed (non-Orasian majority)
Significance	Key provisioning site for overland travelers; one of few agricultural zones in the Vale
Controlled by	Council of Stone

Alun-Tar is an agricultural settlement located midway along the Va-Djes Road, in the central basin of the Sanctuary Vale. Known for its dry-field cultivation and access to the lower Sora River, it is one of the few viable farming zones within the Vale. Unlike most settlements under Council of Stone oversight, Alun-Tar is home to a mixed population, including non-Orasian field workers, supply handlers, and seasonal trade laborers. It functions as a resupply hub and provisioning station for caravans crossing the Vale.

Geography

Situated along the western edge of the Sora Basin, Alun-Tar rests on flat land bordered by dry scrub hills and shallow irrigation routes fed by nearby runoff channels. Fields of drought-resistant crops stretch across low embankments, with storage halls and water collectors positioned near the main road. The climate is dry and temperate, with brief rain cycles during convergence seasons.

History

Alun-Tar was established under Council permit as an experimental farming zone in the aftermath of the Great Erosion. Its land was initially prepared by Orasian surveyors, but cultivation was undertaken primarily by settlers from beyond Terasil. Over time, the settlement grew into a logistical waypoint and food source for deeper Vale settlements and spiritual enclaves.

Notable Locations

Irrigation Fields – Dry-farmed grain and root crop beds organized into narrow divisions.
Roadfront Market – A simple trade post for caravan exchange and seasonal storage.
Lower Shelters – Worker housing and midday rest points aligned along the western road curve.

Culture and Society

Alun-Tar has a practical, task-driven culture with minimal ceremony. Labor cycles follow the sun and water flow, with seasonal gatherings organized more around trade rhythms than spiritual observance. While Orasian law is observed, daily life is less formal and more community-centered, with mixed linguistic and cultural habits.

Economy

The settlement’s economy is based on dryland crop yields, food processing, and short-term supply contracts. Goods are bartered with passing caravans and long-range traders traveling between Va-Tar and Djes-Val. Alun-Tar also provides logistical support to nearby Council outposts and signal points.

Defense and Military

Alun-Tar is lightly patrolled by Stonewarden detachments on rotation from Reth-Val. No permanent military presence is maintained, though a small outpost structure exists for emergency relay. The flat terrain and visible sightlines allow for early warning if needed.

Dangers and Threats

Risks include crop failure during low-flow seasons, dust storms, and territorial disputes among passing caravans. Though rare, migration of large fauna from the Fold has been observed during dry shifts. Settlement leaders enforce strict provisioning limits during lean cycles.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Settlement Infobox
+{{Settlements in the Sanctuary Vale Infobox
 |Name=Alun-Tar
 |Image=[[File:Terasil - Sanctuary Vale - Alun Tar 01.jpg|center|frameless]]
-|Type=Stone Farming Settlement
+|Type=Agricultural Settlement
 |Location=Central [[Sanctuary Vale]], midway along the Va-Djes Road
 |Realm=[[Terasil]]
-|Inhabitants=Orasian
+|Inhabitants=Mixed (non-[[Orasian]] majority)
-|Significance=Key provisioning and land-tending site for overland travelers; center of highland terrace cultivation
+|Significance=Key provisioning site for overland travelers; one of few agricultural zones in the Vale
 |Controlled by=[[Council of Stone]]
 }}
-{{Settlement Sections
+{{Settlements in the Sanctuary Vale Sections
-|Introduction=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.
+|Introduction=Alun-Tar is an agricultural settlement located midway along the Va-Djes Road, in the central basin of the Sanctuary Vale. Known for its dry-field cultivation and access to the lower [[Sora River]], it is one of the few viable farming zones within the Vale. Unlike most settlements under Council of Stone oversight, Alun-Tar is home to a mixed population, including non-Orasian field workers, supply handlers, and seasonal trade laborers. It functions as a resupply hub and provisioning station for caravans crossing the Vale.
-|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.
+|Geography=Situated along the western edge of the [[Sora Basin]], Alun-Tar rests on flat land bordered by dry scrub hills and shallow irrigation routes fed by nearby runoff channels. Fields of drought-resistant crops stretch across low embankments, with storage halls and water collectors positioned near the main road. The climate is dry and temperate, with brief rain cycles during convergence seasons.
-|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.
+|History=Alun-Tar was established under Council permit as an experimental farming zone in the aftermath of the [[Great Erosion]]. Its land was initially prepared by Orasian surveyors, but cultivation was undertaken primarily by settlers from beyond Terasil. Over time, the settlement grew into a logistical waypoint and food source for deeper Vale settlements and spiritual enclaves.
-|Notable Locations=* Terraced Bands – Wide, flat stone layers used for crop-fixing and mineral rooting.
+|Notable Locations=* Irrigation Fields – Dry-farmed grain and root crop beds organized into narrow divisions.
-* Field Rests – Small shelters set into the ridges for workers and travelers alike to pause during the midday heat.
+* Roadfront Market – A simple trade post for caravan exchange and seasonal storage.
-|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.
+* Lower Shelters – Worker housing and midday rest points aligned along the western road curve.
-|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.
+|Culture and Society=Alun-Tar has a practical, task-driven culture with minimal ceremony. Labor cycles follow the sun and water flow, with seasonal gatherings organized more around trade rhythms than spiritual observance. While Orasian law is observed, daily life is less formal and more community-centered, with mixed linguistic and cultural habits.
-|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.
+|Economy=The settlement’s economy is based on dryland crop yields, food processing, and short-term supply contracts. Goods are bartered with passing caravans and long-range traders traveling between [[Va-Tar]] and [[Djes-Val]]. Alun-Tar also provides logistical support to nearby Council outposts and signal points.
-|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.
+|Defense and Military=Alun-Tar is lightly patrolled by [[Stonewarden]] detachments on rotation from Reth-Val. No permanent military presence is maintained, though a small outpost structure exists for emergency relay. The flat terrain and visible sightlines allow for early warning if needed.
+|Dangers and Threats=Risks include crop failure during low-flow seasons, dust storms, and territorial disputes among passing caravans. Though rare, migration of large fauna from the Fold has been observed during dry shifts. Settlement leaders enforce strict provisioning limits during lean cycles.
 }}
-[[category:Sanctuary Vale]]
+[[Category:Settlements in the Sanctuary Vale]]
-[[category:Council of Stone Holdings]]
+[[Category:Council of Stone Holdings]]
+[[Category:Sora Basin]]