The Two Volcanoes, Free Province of
by Michael BerryAC 1000
AC 1014
Area:
AC 1000 -11,760 sq. miles
AC 1014 -11,872 sq. miles
Population:
AC 1000 - 14,784
AC 1014 - 13,558
Ethnic Groups:
Kerendian 70%, Kaelic 8%, Boldavian 5%, Averoignian 5%, Hattian 4%, Flaem 3%, Lupin 2%, Thyatin 2%, Other 1%
Selected Villages: (population values are given for AC 1000 and AC 1014)
Desana (900/850)
Cajoli (550/500)
Zeula (350/300)
Grolla (250/275)
Traviale (200/200)
Monsaere (100/150)
Government:
Propraetor appointed by the Council of Princes, for seven year renewable terms. Seat in Desana.
Administrator:
Propraetor Girolamo da Verazzano (born 945, F5, AL. N) Appointed in AC1000.
House:
Sirecchia
The Two Volcanoes Free Province (TVFP) has over the last hundred years come to be a traditionally Caurenzian administered province. Only twice, and each time only for one seven year term, has the province not been administered by a Caurenzian.
Territory:
The TVFP is the largest free province by total area in Glantri and covers most of the Kurish Massif mountain range. The province is bordered on the north by the Principality of Sablestone and the Red River on the south. From the Sind border the TVFP extends east to the Principality of Caurenze and the Glantrian Alps.
Food:
Subsistence/regional export
Trails:
The TVFP has only one trail of note listed in the Glantrian AAA roadmap. It is rated as a fair quality trail. The Vialœnga connects the Principality of Caurenze with the Viscounty of Verazzano and runs alongside the Arnus River.
In addition there are many small unlisted poor quality trails lead into and through the mountains. Neither the Arnus nor the Upper Red River are navigable to ship or boat traffic in TVFP territory.
Economics:
The greatest concentration of population and economic activity in the TVFP is located in the hills between the Principality of Caurenze and the Viscounty of Verazzano. Here approximately 20% of the TVFP’s population lives on less than 4% of the provinces overall land area. The primary activity of the Arnus hills region of the TVFP is to produce food to be exported to Caurenze, Verrazanno, and Castelbianco. Outside of the Arnus hills, in the mountains of the Kurish Massif, is a major complex of sulphur mines near Naetius Volcano. The Kurish Massif range is also noted for the sumac, poppy, pimento, gentian, and other spices which commonly grow there. Gentilian is the main ingredient of the regionally famous Two Volcanoes liquor.
Notable People:
Girolamo da Verazzano is the Propraetor of the TVFP. Like all Glantrian career bureaucrats he is a very ambitious man, however with da Verazzano that ambition is mixed with a Caurenzians natural disposition for discipline, efficiency, and for treachery. Girolamo has worked his way up the career ladder quickly using all the tools he has, or can make use of. He secured the promotion to Propraetor of the TVFP after arranging a clever scheme that forced the resignation of the previous Propraetor for corruption and skimming from the taxes collected and sent to the Council.
Marcantonio Odilone (Priest of Koryis C16, Werehawk 8, Al L/LG) lives in the village of Desana and studies the several species of raptors found in the area. He developed his lycanthropy under the guidance of his Immortal, who wishes to repopulate Mystara with the formerly extinct werehawks. Though clerics are no longer illegal in Glantri under pain of death, Lycanthropy still is in most areas, Marcantonio is reclusive and hides not only his lycanthropic nature but also his clerical nature as to not draw too much unwanted attention to himself.
Notable Sites: (reprinted from the book: A tour of Glantri in 1000 pages by noted Glantrian scholar Giovanni Porpora)
The Vialœnga is the main trail connecting the Principality of Caurenze with the Viscounty of Verazzano, stretching along the Arnus River. Now let us follow the trail upriver! As we leave the Principality of Caurenze, at the right we see Rocca Vegia’s ruins. Di Sfontis built it on a rocky blur, in order to control the trail, and gave it to the trusted Military leader Braccio da Oreggiano. The Keep, as well as the small village who had risen around it, was devastated by a violent earthquake in 947 AC. It’s told the earthquake was evoked by the new Prince, Francesco di Malapietra, in order to prevent the da Oreggianos to investigate the deaths of some relatives of di Sfontis. It’s told as well that an Immortal punished the descendants of Braccio da Oreggiano because the Leader had burnt some Holy place in the past.
Going on, we finally meet Desana, the first village, famous for its cherry-trees, in Felmont the famous Sagra de le Cerase attracts a lot of people from all around. By now the Arnus River is no more navigable, and the steep slopes of the Glantrian Alps host several species of raptors, the most famous of whom are called poiane and gheppi. These seem to concentrate their presence around l’Arco del Gerfalco (deriving from the name given by Hattians, ger-falke, bearer of hawks) an Arch that traces its origins in a natural process, but it's told it was erected by a powerful mage.
Watermills announce our arrival in the village of Grolla, that once hosted the Festa de l’amicizia, a fair during which every Caurenzan used to party with his relatives. Prince Innocenti di Malapietra banished the Fair, because the large number of deaths by poisoning occurring in these days spread the outrageous and untruthful rumor that they were intentionally caused. On the other side of the river, there’s Rocca Nûa, a Keep recently built soon after 947 by Francesco di Malapietra, to replace Rocca Vegia. He used money of the Council. The Keep is currently used as an outpost by the patrols of Innocenti’s security forces, and it’s connected to Grolla by Pontaccio, a wooden bridge which looks unsafe though Caurenzan architects guarantees its safety. Few miles and we are at the village of Cajoli. The village is famous for the Stone Fountain in the Main Square, and for the Chestnut groves which surround it.
Continuing up the Arnus through Verazzano back into TVFP territory we move into the Kurish Massif and move toward Naetius Volcano. The waters of the Arnus bear the signs of sulphurous substances, giving it yellow-reddish hues. Here we find two villages, Zeula and Traviale. Zeula rises on a hillock, around a castle, once property of family Novellara, loyal ally of family di Sfonti, the castle has since passed to the ownership of Prince Innocenti di Malapietra, who uses it as a vacation home. Traviale was property of family Ciacchi, a family of warriors, which tried to rebel to the Light of Rad. Di Sfontis easily defeated them and gave their territories to Novellaras. Monsaere is the primary village nearest to the Sulphur mines. Its name (mons aeris, copper mount) suggests that once there were copper mines, now depleted..
Useful Links:
Two Volcanoes, Free Province of the: Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles