FH - correspondence

Darrin Hyatt, 19 Jul 2002
... Just some tidbits...1 Pistole (gold) = 3 Crowns (silver) = 9 Livre (silver) = 180 Sou (copper). The average family annual income of Gascon is roughly 20 pistoles. I have not drawn up history, maps and details for the entire Franco Empire. There is simply not enough time. I will try to keep you up to date with what your character's should know as I develop the campaign world. Your character's native language is Franc and everyone has 2 character points worth of Tradespeak for free. Tradespeak is a widely used bastardazation of most civilized languages. It is used most frequently in trade and diplomacy so a very large portion of the world has some fluency in it. To the east of the Franco Empire are the Garm lands. Garm is made up mostly of feuding barbarian kings. What they may lack in organization, they make up for in their prowess in battle. Garm raids into the Franco Empire are common, but they rarely hold territory before the Empire can organize a more disciplined force and push the barbarians back out of the contested lands. To the south is the Ilt Kingdom. Ilt is an ally of the Empire and is mostly perceived as a less-abled friend. To the west is the Span Kingdom. There is a non-agression pact set up between the Empire and the Span Kingdom. While the Span Kingdom would prove a worthy advesary, they seem more interested in exploration across the seas. Now more locally; Gascon is at least a week's travel to the Garm lands and has not been raided by the barbarians for at least a few decades. Gascon lays on a small river and the most notable road to an Empire outpost on the border with Garm. Between the outpost and Gascon lays a monestary. While the monks there are peaceful they are more than capable fighters and stand as another barrier to the barbarians. Recently there has been an increase in orc sightings. The area around Gascon has not been entirely cleared, however, it has not been raided by for several decades. Lately, though, more than the usually number or orcs have been seen and closer to the small village. ...
Darrin Hyatt, 20 Jul 2002
... I have not given much thought to the calendar. The seasons are exactly as Earth’s; spring (Ver), summer (Aestas), fall (Casus) and winter (Hiems). Climate (note: the following section is plagerized, bastardized and basically used to cover up my lack of detail) The climate of the empire is generally temperate with three major variations: oceanic, continental, and Mederranean. The climate of any particular region of the empire is largely determined by the dominant of these three influences in the region, although elevation and other local conditions are also important. In general, the climate of the empire is well suited to agriculture. The oceanic climate prevails throughout much of the empire, especially in the north and west, where westerly winds from the Atlantian Ocean bring mild and moist conditions. These winds, charged with moisture, produce cool summers, mild winters, and year-round rainfall. The rain usually comes in the form of a slow, steady drizzle. Overcast skies are common, but snow and frost are rare. Par (the capital), for example, receives 650 mm (26 in) of precipitation annually, with rain occurring an average of 188 days each year. The average daily temperature range in Par is 1° to 6°C (34° to 40°F) in winter and 13° to 24°C (55° to 75°F) in summer. The oceanic climate fully dominates the west coast which has an average winter temperature range of 4º to 9ºC (39° to 47°F) and an average summer temperature range of 12º to 19ºC (54° to 67°F). The continental climate has a pronounced influence in the northeastern regions of the empire. Winds and air masses coming from the east bring little moisture and more extreme temperatures. In winter these air masses bring cold weather, and in summer they bring heat. The eastern city of Gascon, for example, has an average winter temperature range of -2º to 3ºC (28º to 38ºF). In the course of an average winter the temperature in Gascon is below freezing for 80 days, and on at least 20 days snow is recorded. But the summers in Gascon, which average 13º to 25ºC (56º to 77ºF), are hot and often oppressive, with heavy precipitation during summer thundershowers. The Mederranean climate holds sway over the southern regions of the empire, with the strongest influence felt in areas lying within 160 km (100 mi) of the sea. Winters are mild and moist, although much of the precipitation comes in short showers. Summers are hot and rainless. The southern regions have an average daily temperature of 2° to 10°C (35° to 50°F) in winter and 17° to 29°C (63° to 84°F) in summer. Average precipitation is 550 mm (22 in) annually, with rain occurring an average of 95 days a year. Severe climates are found only in the mountains. High in the mountains, winters are long and snowy. I have given you all the general information about the world that I have so far. There is one moon, sometimes refered to as ‘little sister’. The first day of spring (Ver) is a major holiday. Beyond that, I have not decided. ...

Darrin Hyatt, 19 Jul 2002

...

Just some tidbits...1 Pistole (gold) = 3 Crowns (silver) = 9 Livre (silver) = 180 Sou (copper). The average family annual income of Gascon is roughly 20 pistoles. I have not drawn up history, maps and details for the entire Franco Empire. There is simply not enough time. I will try to keep you up to date with what your character's should know as I develop the campaign world.

Your character's native language is Franc and everyone has 2 character points worth of Tradespeak for free. Tradespeak is a widely used bastardazation of most civilized languages. It is used most frequently in trade and diplomacy so a very large portion of the world has some fluency in it.

To the east of the Franco Empire are the Garm lands. Garm is made up mostly of feuding barbarian kings. What they may lack in organization, they make up for in their prowess in battle. Garm raids into the Franco Empire are common, but they rarely hold territory before the Empire can organize a more disciplined force and push the barbarians back out of the contested lands. To the south is the Ilt Kingdom. Ilt is an ally of the Empire and is mostly perceived as a less-abled friend. To the west is the Span Kingdom. There is a non-agression pact set up between the Empire and the Span Kingdom. While the Span Kingdom would prove a worthy advesary, they seem more interested in exploration across the seas.

Now more locally; Gascon is at least a week's travel to the Garm lands and has not been raided by the barbarians for at least a few decades. Gascon lays on a small river and the most notable road to an Empire outpost on the border with Garm. Between the outpost and Gascon lays a monestary. While the monks there are peaceful they are more than capable fighters and stand as another barrier to the barbarians.

Recently there has been an increase in orc sightings. The area around Gascon has not been entirely cleared, however, it has not been raided by for several decades. Lately, though, more than the usually number or orcs have been seen and closer to the small village.

...

Darrin Hyatt, 20 Jul 2002

...

I have not given much thought to the calendar. The seasons are exactly as Earth’s; spring (Ver), summer (Aestas), fall (Casus) and winter (Hiems).

Climate (note: the following section is plagerized, bastardized and basically used to cover up my lack of detail)

The climate of the empire is generally temperate with three major variations: oceanic, continental, and Mederranean. The climate of any particular region of the empire is largely determined by the dominant of these three influences in the region, although elevation and other local conditions are also important. In general, the climate of the empire is well suited to agriculture.

The oceanic climate prevails throughout much of the empire, especially in the north and west, where westerly winds from the Atlantian Ocean bring mild and moist conditions. These winds, charged with moisture, produce cool summers, mild winters, and year-round rainfall. The rain usually comes in the form of a slow, steady drizzle. Overcast skies are common, but snow and frost are rare. Par (the capital), for example, receives 650 mm (26 in) of precipitation annually, with rain occurring an average of 188 days each year. The average daily temperature range in Par is 1° to 6°C (34° to 40°F) in winter and 13° to 24°C (55° to 75°F) in summer. The oceanic climate fully dominates the west coast which has an average winter temperature range of 4º to 9ºC (39° to 47°F) and an average summer temperature range of 12º to 19ºC (54° to 67°F).

The continental climate has a pronounced influence in the northeastern regions of the empire. Winds and air masses coming from the east bring little moisture and more extreme temperatures. In winter these air masses bring cold weather, and in summer they bring heat. The eastern city of Gascon, for example, has an average winter temperature range of -2º to 3ºC (28º to 38ºF). In the course of an average winter the temperature in Gascon is below freezing for 80 days, and on at least 20 days snow is recorded. But the summers in Gascon, which average 13º to 25ºC (56º to 77ºF), are hot and often oppressive, with heavy precipitation during summer thundershowers.

The Mederranean climate holds sway over the southern regions of the empire, with the strongest influence felt in areas lying within 160 km (100 mi) of the sea. Winters are mild and moist, although much of the precipitation comes in short showers. Summers are hot and rainless. The southern regions have an average daily temperature of 2° to 10°C (35° to 50°F) in winter and 17° to 29°C (63° to 84°F) in summer. Average precipitation is 550 mm (22 in) annually, with rain occurring an average of 95 days a year.

Severe climates are found only in the mountains. High in the mountains, winters are long and snowy.

I have given you all the general information about the world that I have so far. There is one moon, sometimes refered to as ‘little sister’. The first day of spring (Ver) is a major holiday. Beyond that, I have not decided.

...