KINJA ISLAND

Kinja Island is located in what could be considered the frontier seas of Mer. It is far enough away from the Crowded Seas near Octopon that the place is more of a name on a map than a place that people have been to. In these waters, large ports are few and far between - most residents of these islands live in small villages and don't travel much. The closest "watermarks" to Kinja are the Archipelago of the Lizards and the Great Sargasso Reef. The Archipelago is roughly one week's sail to the north and is home to several clans and towns of lizard men. Common lore states that those islands are where that race was first born upon the surface of Mer. The Reef is further away, nearly two weeks' sail to the west-northwest. It is a dangerous place of little winds and many sandbars, rocks, and coral outcroppings. It is rumored to have been a base for a pirate clan in the past, as well as being home to an underwater kingdom or two.

Being in the more northern waters of Mer means that the climate of Kinja is temperate rather than tropical. While the day is nearly as hot as the rest of the planet (although you can still be out and about at high noon), the nights are much cooler. This also means that Kinja sees more rain than the central regions of Mer. The sea breezes are just as constant here as anywhere else, but they are more variable - often becoming quite strong. The climate has helped to shape the geography and culture of the island.

Kinja island is a rough oval of land about 12 miles by 20 miles. Most of the northern and western coasts of the island are rocky bluffs some 300 feet high bordered by narrow, rocky beaches. The bluffs themselves are devoid of plant life except for some scrub grass and the occasional tree which has become wedged between the rocks. The land near these bluffs is a rough and rocky terrain. While there is more vegetation here than on the bluffs, it is still sparse. Low-lying shrubs and tough grasses are the majority of the plants in this area. The land here is not extensively used by the islanders, although a few families graze goats. The rest of the island slopes away from the bluffs to the east and south. Most of the interior (and other shores) of the island are covered by lush prairie grass and light woods. A wide variety of wildlife makes it home here: wild chickens, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, pheasant, quail, and other birds and small mammals. A few foxes lair within the trees. The land here sees a lot of use by the islanders. In addition to the raising of sheep, the land is farmed and the trees are harvested. Also, several small rivers flow out of the central highlands and down to the coasts of the island. (These rivers have their sources both from underground springs as well as the rains which wash over the island.)

The southern end of the island consists of swamp and marshland. The ground is spongy and soft, which makes it virtually uninhabitable by humans. Although the water here is very brackish (as the fresh water from the rains mixes with the sea water), there is still a wide variety of wildlife present. Most of it is amphibious (snakes and frogs) or avian. Although no proof has ever been found, local rumors still insist that there are monsters which live deep in the swamp.

Kinja island is home to about 2000 people. Most of them live in the two settlements on the island, Drogan and Kinja. Drogan is a farming and fishing village of about 300 people. It is located on the east coast of the island, next to a river and on a bay sheltered by two outlying barrier islands. It is mainly self-sufficient, but a few residents to travel overland to trade in the other settlement on the island. Kinja is a town and home to most of the island's residents - about 1500 people. It is located on the west coast of the island, in a large, bowl-like ravine next to a river which cuts through the bluff to reach the ocean.

THE TOWN OF KINJA

The town for which the island is named is located next to the ocean, with a small river flowing along its southern limits. Most inhabitants live in the town proper, with a few families living on farms to the south and east. These farms supply the town with grain, and many fruits and vegetables. Most townsfolk keep a small garden and a goat or two in pens behind their homes. The town is mostly self-sufficient, relying on fish, wild game, and crops for food; wool and cotton for clothing. Local timber and stone are used for building materials. The homes and stores are built with half-timber construction - stone foundations and lower walls, wooden upper stories and roofs.

The inhabitants of Kinja are a quiet and tightly knit group of people. They know their fellows very well and are well-versed in relatives and family trees of both themselves and their neighbors. The Kinjans are mainly an agricultural society, raising sheep and goats and farming cotton, oats, rye, wheat, flax, and corn. A fair number of residents also make a living by fishing. A few families make their way by harvesting lumber from the few forests which grow on the island. Much of the limited trade which is done these days sees the export of cotton and wool in exchange for metal goods.

The buildings along the shore of Kinja are dedicated to the sea. A pair of modest docks jut out into the bay on the island's western shore. These facilities are watched over by a single dockmaster who also runs both the warehouse (which stores the goods the town wishes to use for trade) and the local ship repair/outfitting facility. "Rigger's", as it is called, deals mainly in large scale repairs and equipment for ships (such as raw lumber for repairs, borka paste, etc.). Going north along the coast road, most of the buildings are homes for the families that make their living by fishing in the seas of Mer. The coast is also home to one of the town's two taverns ("The Drunken Leviathan") and another naval store ("Armondo's Sail and Pasta Shoppe"). Near the docks, but set along the river rather than on the shore is the town's only inn ("The Black Sheep").

The rest of the town follows the slope of the land up and away from the shoreline. Most of the buildings are homes, with a few businesses mixed in. The town's mill is located on the main street of the town (that which leads from the docks) next to a shallow spot along the river's banks. The local bakery is just across the street. (It see quite a lot of business as the family who runs it has found a way to consistently harvest honey from the island's bees.) The butcher's is just past these two businesses. Kinja's market is in the center of town and filled with near constant activity. Most of the town's businesses are located here - the general store, the cooper's, the cotton spinner's, the wool spinners, and the other tavern ("The Plowman"). The family which does most of the town's weaving is located just up the street from the town market.

Beyond the market, near the top of the ravine, is the town's "government" area. The mayor's house (the current mayor is Ezekiel Graben) and the town's temple are here. Also, there is a large building known as the Militia House here. This building serves as both the town's armory and jail. On the outskirts of Kinja (along the top of the ravine) is the town's cemetery and several farms. The road which leads to these sites also (eventually) connects Kinja to the other settlement of Drogan.