Map#1 Blackstone 1188

The original idea of Blackstone sparked from the idea of a small contained location that would attract interest from great powers from far away... a bit like Babylon 5.

It started as a game and all good games need a map. It evolved for the Book, both becoming enriched in certain ways and simplified in others.

Blackstone 1188 - before the arrival of the Durians

The Black Stone - wedged between two peaks, the Black Stone is a striking anomaly compared to the grey rock of the Guardian Peaks around it. It is impossibly hard and its single immense mass has dammed up the mountain waters to create Lake Bren Heedy.

The Cemetery - Blackstone buries its dead in this area of land that is no good for farming. The soil is not deep enough, so the Blackstoners raise cairns over their dead. There is a small cottage used by Ghallan Brathiggan who tends the cemetery.

Elwith's Rock - a rocky hill that stands above the woodlands to the southeast of Blackstone. Often used as a clandestine location for lovers to meet, it has some odd runestones at its summit.

The Flock Hills - rolling hills providing valuable pasture land for Blackstone between the Four Sisters and the Great Southern Forest.

The Four Sisters - A spur of four peaks that divides Blackstone from the expanse of the Great Southern Forest. The Flock Hills run from the spur down into the forest.

Jumping Jak - a stream that runs from the heights around the pass at Traksian's Gate, all the way down to the River Rudthuil.

Kleger Wood - the woodland that fills the ground to the west of the village. It is surrounded by mountains on two sides and the River Rudthuil to the north. The land is rocky and poor, making it unsuitable for farming.

Lake Bren Heedy - this long mountain lake takes all the cold melt waters and streams from the local area of the Guardian Peaks. The Blackstoners pay it little attention as it has no fish. They say it is dead.

The Market Round - the place at the centre of Blackstone village where the Trade Road widens to create a place for trading and general village business. Its north side runs into the ford and has the Old Fire Inn. The south side has the small church of the Korpos Vigillos.

The Mill - at the start of Blackstone the mill is a ruined having burned down. This has been just one more woe for the people of Blackstone as they struggled to grind their wheat into enough flour to feed everyone.

The Mirrormist - a pool that filled the space in front of the monastery and the Black Stone. It is assumed to rise from the waters of Lake Bren Heedy and, for reasons unknown, they become suffused with heat as they travel beneath the Black Stone. This give rise to its name, the waters are usually so still they have a mirror-like reflection and a mist constantly hangs over them.

The Monastery - the Monastery of the Korpos Vigillos is older than the Empire and has seen over a thousand years of dedicated prayer. Its beautiful white masonry construction is attached to the Black Stone.

The Trade Road - the common route used by traders going between the Kanari Hegemony in the north and the Durian Empire in the south. The ford at Blackstone is the only convenient crossing point for miles.

Traksian's Gate - the mountain pass is marked by two great pillars, perhaps once statues, that have weathered away.

The Valley Farms - the valley to the east of the monastery has rich soils and supports wheat and bean crops. The original Blackstone families settled this land to farm it on behalf of the monks.

Map by Peter Tomkins