Behid-The-Scenes: Trail's End

[Starry Dancer]

This is a transfer post from BSC, telling all about Trail's End, the area in which our own dear Canter Hollow can be found! Let's Star off with a history lesson:

History of Trail's End

North of North is a mystical continent that resides on a sea of light called AUROBORUS (Auroborus in legend means ‘Infinite loop of light’). This magical land is not a spherical planetoid with conventional laws of physics; it is a flat continent whose natural laws are heavily influenced by magical forces. Travel to and from North of North to other worlds is commonplace, but not trivial – Auroborus is a magical conduit that links North of North to other realms. Winged creatures can fly through the sea of light and as long as they have the stellar coordinates, knowledge and expertise, they can travel to almost any location in the cosmos.

North of North is the hereditary homeland of the equine races–horses. All breeds of horses can trace their bloodlines back to North of North.

Sara, the goddess of horses, makes North of North her home. It is here that she first met the horse herds and their leader Bella and Bello.

The evolution of the Horse Priestesses into the Valkyries began North of North.

North of North is a magical place where the connection between all things can be seen by those who know what to look for. Magic here is subtle with visual characteristics that may look like anything from a simple shimmer of light to a material object to a dynamic outburst.

The World Map is merely a glimpse into North of North focusing on a specific location: TRAILS END (The Rolanddotter Estate) and all its splendid architecture and natural wonders. Much more exists beyond its boundaries or if you plunge below its surface. The map is a gateway into places yet unseen and adventures yet to be had.

[Starry Dancer]

The History of the Rolandotter family

The Rolanddotter Family
North of North is a large mystical world full of mystery and adventure. Bella Sara is the story of horses, of a child goddess and the transcendent connection between horse and human.

The story of Bella Sara taps into the timeless connection between girls and horses; their love and companionship. This fantasy is heavily steeped in mythology complete with gods, goddesses, Valkyries and other mythical creatures all with their own agendas and vendettas.

The heart of this story is the Rolanddotter family beginning with horse priestess Mitka Rolanddotter and her lineage passed down through Sigga Rolanddotter (the first Valkyrie) and finally over a millennium to Emma Roland.

Like the family, their name has changed over time.

o Rolanddotter – original form

o Roland – on Earth the name was shortened.

o Many Estate names still retain the original name:

- Rolanddotter Estate

- Rolandsgaard Castle

[Starry Dancer]

Rolanddoter Estate
Description & History: The Rolanddotter Estate known as TRAILS END encompasses vast tracts of land, and architecture and locations depicted in the world map. These lands originally belonged to Sara’s parents, who took up residence where DRASILMARE™ and TEARDROP LAKE now reside. Her parents brought with them (from outside this world) a cone from the Universe Tree which they planted next to their cottage on Sara’s first birthday. This tree grew into what is now DRASILMARE™. Sara later formed TEARDROP LAKE from her tears after her parents died. Once Sara’s half sister Sigga became a Valkyrie, the castle ROLANDSGAARD was built for her and the town CANTER HOLLOW and buildings naturally blossomed up around it.

Trails End, as the name evokes, is a place where one can feel safe and restful. At the same time its outlying areas should summon up the sense of adventure that lies just outside the town and castle grounds.

Trails End’s borders aren’t clearly defined, some estimate the estate to encompass more than 50,000 acres stretching from the Naastrand Sound to the base of Whitemantle Mountain.

[Starry Dancer]

Rolandsgaard Castle
Description & History: ROLANDSGAARD CASTLE is the family seat of power for the House of Rolanddotter. Sigga Rolanddotter, the Valkyrie protector of North of North built the castle soon after she first took up her Valkyrie mantle. Each Valkyrie was given a home world to watch over. North of North is the original land that the Valkyries came from so this castle and Sigga’s place as the defender of this world has a special significance.

Sigga Rolanddotter no longer directly controls Trails End and all its holdings for she dared love a mortal, and was forced to bear the consequences. Rolandsgaard, the jewel of Trails End, is barely a shadow of its former beauty, the luster all but gone. In Sigga’s absence the Castle’s daily routines have been maintained, if barely. The house Steward oversees maintenance, order, and general goings-on. People have lost hope of Sigga or any successor ever returning. Will Trails End and the castle ever have a new owner? Will Emma one day take over responsibility of the sizeable estate?

The castle superstructure is crafted from Aurorite, a highly prized marble-like stone hewn from the quarries of Whitemantle Mountain. The stone gets its name from the subtle shifting colors infused in the rock quartz from extended exposure to the shifting lights of the AUROBORUS. The tiles and crenellations on the high towers are crowned with pink coral, while blue sea shells adorn the lower tiled roofs.

The official name is ROLANDSGAARD CASTLE, but many simply refer to it as Rolandsgaard. Later it was shortened even further to Roland Castle. All of the aforementioned names are used.

[Starry Dancer]

Upper and Lower Terraces of Rolandsgaard Castle
The WINDING BYWAY is a cobbled roadway that links the castle’s upper terraces with the lower terrace’s rolling countryside.

The WOODREACH SPAN is a stone pedestrian bridge that spans the FASTALON River into the DARKCOMB forest.

FROTHWASH is an artesian spring aquifer that feeds water directly in to the castle. This mineral-rich spring is highly prized for its naturopathic qualities believed to bring health and long-life to those who bathe and drink from its revered source. The overflow bubbles energetically from under the castle to cascade in one spectacular drop to the rushing Fastalon a few hundred feet below.

There has been great interest in Trails End thanks to its magnificent coastline and dramatic mountain vistas—Rolandsgaard Castle is unquestionably the heart of the estate.

[Starry Dancer]

Canter Hollow

Description & History: CANTER HOLLOW is a township that lies in the shadow of Rolandsgaard Castle nestled amidst the fields of the lower terrace. A thriving little business district is built up around a fabulous marble horse fountain in the central town square—forever a reminder of their equine roots. Shops and exotic little boutiques are the hub of activity and the social gathering for the populace of Trails End. Because of its central location many goods and services are funneled through the town. Strange and wonderful shops have sprung up in CANTER HOLLOW beyond common day-to-day General Stores and Cafés. Gems and jewelry and other curios are brought from faraway regions, including a pet store for bizarre creatures and exotic clothing shops. Canter Hollow has offerings for the high-minded, art stores, a small but highly touted museum, a world cultural center, a university of higher learning with a well-stocked library and even a little village theatre for amateur thespians. Canter Hollow’s modest and practical lifestyle cloaks a sophisticated culture with splendid offerings seldom found in larger cities.

The citizens of Canter Hollow are a diverse bunch, migrating from all over North of North. They reflect the various regions of the land. Many have settled at Trails End because of the proximity to the Rolands Hold Arena and the equestrian events routinely held there, others attracted to the regal spires of Rolandsgaard Castle, while others are interested in the mysteries of Darkcomb Forest. Others are traders and peddlers who travel through Canter Hollow to buy and sell goods. Regardless of the various offerings found at Trails End and Canter Hollow, the estate valley is primarily the home to horse enthusiasts.

Every year the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is held in high summer, a grand pyrotechnic celebration to commemorate Sara’s birthday. The highly anticipated annual festival attracts a wide attendance. Months in advance, travelers come from far and wide to experience the one-of-a-kind light show (some are even rumored to have journeyed from faraway lands beyond the Sea of Light).

Trails End is known for its holiday celebrations. In the winter months the Winter Festival is celebrated and Ronnie the Reindeer makes an appearance. Hot drinks, candies and other delicacies are whipped up by the specialty shops to the delight of enthusiastic party-goers. Art exhibits are put on display for all to enjoy – ice sculptors craft intricate snow and ice-shard carvings taken from Whitemantle Mountain; these amazing life-like statues come to life fueled by the magic glow of the night sky, they dance and frolic, bringing great pleasure to the on-looking crowds.

Canter Hollow has a long and colorful history dating back before the construction of Rolandsgaard Castle. Legend says that a family came from beyond HIGH PASS, a mother, a father, and a daughter and with them they brought “an abundance of belongings” in a single cart, stacked high, pulled simply by the father. When the family reached the FASTALON River they could not easily cross; its swift tumultuous waters flowing over talon like rocks prevented their passing. It is said they rested from their arduous journey, perplexed as to how to proceed. The next morning a beautiful white horse appeared, cantering up and down the opposite shore. Two more horses appeared until there were three in all. The fable explains that the white horse passed over the water, walking upon its liquid surface as sure as it was granite. The second horse, just a small foal, leapt the river in a single bound. The third, a giant black male stepped into the rushing current, stopping the river completely—the male joined the other two on the far shore. Bounding gleefully forward, the young daughter locked the foal in a friendly hug. The parents, taken back by what they witnessed, bowed before the mare and stallion. Indicating the river beyond, the horses urged the family to follow. The mother mounted the white mare, the daughter followed the frisky foal and lastly the father walked in stride with the black lord, his heavy load all but weightless. Together the two families crossed the earthen bridge, the surging waters held in check. The two mothers ran ahead to a beautiful little hollow sheltered between the river and looming forest—slowing to a canter the white mare introduced the family to their new home and that’s how CANTER HOLLOW got its name.

[Starry Dancer]

Rolands Hold Arena
Rolands Hold Arena was constructed by Sigga’s Estate in the early years soon after being named guardian of North of North. From the beginning Sigga wanted a dedicated home that would support all manner of games and competitions, to hold official equestrian events as well as theatrical presentations and orchestra concerts. No one in North of North had ever seen such a place of grand beauty and opulence. The construction was no easy task and took a generation to build, hundreds of artisans and craftsman toiled year after year to create Sigga’s dream. Finally the HOLD was complete, a magnificent horse-shoe shaped coliseum with wide open balconies and hallways that could easily contain thousands of participants and fans.

The coliseum/arena’s official name is ROLANDS HOLD ARENA; the locals simply refer to it as the Hold.

[Starry Dancer]

Coral Causeway

Description & History: The CORAL CAUSEWAY or CORALWAY extends from the Estate house lands across the Fastalon Drift and under the Goddesswall to the Brighttree Jungle. The expansive length was constructed of coral reefs which were shaped, formed and fashioned with the aid of great water horses. The Coralway was constructed to connect the western jungles to the Castle and its estates

[Starry Dancer]

Bella and Bello Monuments
Description & History: The two GRAND MONUMENTS that guard the valley. Sigga Rolanddotter hired a sculptor to create a work of art as a tribute to Sara – she wanted to give something unique to Sara to express her gratitude. Sara had been such a positive influence not only to her, but her family and her Valkyrie sisters. North of Sigga’s estate was a mountain pass; towering above the valley were two titanic rock formations. Sigga gave instructions to the artist to sculpt two monuments into the face of these rocks. These monuments were created for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Valkyrie sisterhood.

THE MONUMENTS AT WHITEMANTLE PASS. Locals call the monuments the BOOKENDS

[Starry Dancer]

Overgaard Skylands

Description & History: The Overgaard Skylands are a floating Archipelago suspended high above Trails End. The world of North of North is not a spherical world, it is a floating continent. These floating islets help reinforce these unique qualities – floating islands can be found all over the world. Some of the islands are uninhabited, but some are used as aerial stables and for flying horses.

The Overgaard Skylands are also referred to as Overgaard. Floating islets are known as Skylands. The Overgaard chain of Skylands are also referred to as the floating archipelago.

[Starry Dancer]

Darkcomb

Description & History: DARKCOMB FOREST is a very old and large forest that has many mythical qualities often described of enchanted forests; its outer border extends from Whitemantle Mountain south and around Stonelory to the banks of Horseshoe Bay. The forest is home to magical creatures and other unknown forest entities live beneath its protective canopy. Fastalon and Comb Stream flow through the forest; objects that flow along the river currents enter from the north but never seem to exit into the sea to the south.

[Kai]

Nice Starry!

[ponyiowa]

Great! I like how you took the time to copy all of this from BSC and copy it onto here.

[321unicorn]

Okay your Going to think is funny. but I the same thing as you did starry!!!!

[Kona]

This cool! I hope you can place more stuff up on here about the North of North!