Travel Guide FAQ

Here we briefly survey a number of types of places that people ask about on a regular basis. For geography, you really want to refer to the maps by Larry Dixon that are printed in the front of many of Misty's Velgarth novels. There is also a partial map in The Valdemar Companion (pp. 205-210). (We are told that efforts are underway to make the entire map of the known realms of Velgarth available as a poster. Watch the QO newsletter for details.) Kerrie Hughes has written a delightful piece, "A Travelers' Guide to Valdemar and the Surrounding Kingdoms", in The Valdemar Companion (pp. 81-108). We highly recommend it to anyone who is writing fanfic about characters travelling on Velgarth.

Countries

We know more about some countries than others. Here's a brief overview of the realms of Velgarth:

• Acabarrin
• Agedia
• Ambon
• Angarsk
• Azill
• Brendan
• Crane
• Dhorisha Plains (Shin'a'in; cross between Plains Insian and Mongol cultures)
• Drammin Prefecture
• The Grand Empire of the Hinar
• Empire of Holy Ithik
• Haighlei Empire (aka "The Black Kings"; cross between the Japanese and great African empires)
• Hardorn
• Iftel
• Isiro
• Jkatha
• Karse (combination of medieval German and Moslem cultures; Babylonian religion)
• Menmellith (client state of Rethwellan)
• Oris
• Rethwellan
• Rodina
• Ruvan
• Sarmus
• Seejay (also Ceejay)
• Taymyrr
• Thurbrigard
• Tolmassar
• Treterine Empire
• Valdemar (shield: winged silver horse rampant with broken chains on a blue field; motto: "No One Way Is the True Way")
• Vaterlunde
• Velvar
• Zoskin

Major trade routes within Valdemar include:

• Exile's Road (from Haven to Lake Evendim)
• North Trade Road (from Haven to the Forest of Sorrows)

Cities

There are very few settlements large enough to call cities on Velgarth, but here are the ones we know about and the countries where they are located:

• Delton (Ruvan)
• Haven (Valdemar; capitol)
• Highjorune (capitol; Lineas)
• Oberdorn (Ruvan)

Towns

Most of the towns mentioned in the books are shown on the map Larry Dixon did with Daniel Green for The Valdemar Companion (pp. 205-210). Here are some other settlements that are mentioned in the concordance:

• Berrybay (Valdemar)
• Errold's Grove (Valdemar)
• Felwether
• Fromish (Jkatha)
• Great Harsey (Rethwellan)
• Greenhaven (Valdemar)
• Hevenbeck (Valdemar)
• Hielmarsh (Rethwellan)
• Kelmskeep (Valdemar)
• Kettlesmith (Valdemar)
• Lyavor (Ruvan)
• Lythecare (Jkatha)
• Vidan (Ruvan)
• Waymeet (Valdemar)
• Westmark (Valdemar)

Towns are run by a Mayor and a Town Council. Each town has its own gaol.

Villages and Smaller Settlements

These places are smaller than towns.

• Covia (under k'Treva protection)
• Delcare (Valdemar, seven days from Haven by Companion)
• Garthhold (under k'Treva protection)
• Hunsted (Guard Outpost; Hardorn Border)

Villages are run by Mayors.

Inns

Most travelers on Velgarth stay at inns and taverns. Here are the ones we know about, the place where they are located, and their specialized clientelle, if any:

• The Compass Rose (tavern; Haven; Blues)
• Fivepenny (tavern; Haven)
• Griffen's Egg (tavern; Haven)
• Halfway Inn (Valdemar)
• Hanging Goose Tavern (Hardorn)
• Hollybush Tavern (Haven)
• Hostel at Keeper's Crossing (Hardorn)
• Inn of the Green Man (Highjorune, Lineas)
• King's Arms (tavern in Haven)
• North Road Inn (Valdemar)
• Owl Inn (Valdemar)
• The Page Inn (Highjorune, Lineas)
• The Virgin and Stars (tavern; Haven, third year Bardic students)
• Wheat Sheaf Inn (Petras, Rethwellan)

Ranks

There are ranks within the populations of the various countries. Here are the ones we know about:

Hardorn

• Monarch (King; no queens have been mentioned)
• Town Councillor

Karse

• Son of the Sun (Ruler; always male until Solaris, who is female)

Valdemar

• Monarch (King or Queen)
• Heir to the Throne
• Lord Marshall
• Lord Seneschal
• Lord or Lady
• Armsmaster

Cultures

Misty has created many of her cultures by combining elements of various Terran cultures. Here are some that we know about:

• Haighlei (Great African Empires and Japanese)
• Karsite (medieval German, Moslem and Babylonian)
• Shin'a'in (Plains Indian and Mongol)

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