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Arms of BlieneArms of Bliene


The province of Bliene marks the southernmost part of Diemed. It is an area covered in hills and mountains, with untamed forested vales between. The tallest of the peaks reach more than 2000m high, and it is said one can see across to Aduria on a clear day. To the north the mountains gradually lower through a region of foothills before the gentle rolling hills covering most of Diemed take over. In the direction of the sea the steeper hills continue all the way to the shore, making from some spectacular coastal scenery.
Most of the province?s inhabitants are based close to the sea, and the majority of the produce of the area is related to what one can gain from the ocean. Fishing is a common occupation, with a small fleet of fishing boats going out every morning to bring in the days catch. Some of these go directly to Aerele with their fresh catch, but the majority brings it back to their villages where it is salted or dried.
There are also some settlements in the valleys in the north of the province, primarily involved in the mining of lead and tin. As these are a major source of revenue for those owning the rights, they are heavily guarded to prevent any robbery or damage. Most of the mines are chartered from the Duke himself, while others reside on land belonging to several different noble families.

[top]Towns

The provincial centre of Bliene is the town of Baghraeme. Here resides the ducal institution involved with running affairs in the province. The town itself grew as a result of the commerce with the monastery dedicated to St. Herullien, an institution whose history stretches back to the first centuries after the formation of the empire.
The town is situated around a lake forming at the mouth of the Baghram alley. The river than passes through the valley and forms the lake comes from the high peaks of the Bliene mountains, and can during periods of heavy rain or snow melt flood parts of the area. To protect the inhabitants from these regular floods only the people involved in fishing and transportation on the lake is found near to the shore. The larger warehouses are built on high foundations of unmortared rock, and the smaller houses of the less well off are wooden sheds built on poles lifting them over the flood line. Down by the lake numerous small boats can be seen at any time, with a lot of activity and trading happening around them.
The town itself has few places of interest, being a town primarily serving the requirements of the local peasants and the monastery. What little surplus is generated in the region is generally passed on to the coastal communities by the monks? representatives. This is primarily a little dried freshwater fish from the lake and rivers, and a good bit of milk and leather products from the considerable number of goats kept in the area. This is in total almost enough to keep the trade balance to the monastery, with the major purchases being velum, inks and other supplies for their copyist, and what the monks want of luxury goods like spices and fine cloth.
The only notable building is the old church just north-west of the town. The construction itself is rather oppressive, with the appearance of a rather monolithic low building made out of local stone. Few openings for light and scant external features help little to improve the visual impression. What is more impressive is that it is more than a thousand years old, and was reputedly built by only two men. The story goes that were the only ones of several families to survive a plague that ravaged the hamlet they lived in by the lake. In memory of their loved ones they spent the last years of their life building the church, and when outsiders finally arrived the next year the two of them were found dead beside the altar in the church. The bodies very reputedly free of any marks of the time passing since they died, and they were later canonized by the Cardinal. The spirits of the two men are said to still roam the land around here, protecting the inhabitants from any plague or other ailments.

[top]Sites and features

The place that sparks the most interest in Bliene is the spot where the Battle of Mount Deismaar took place. The claims are conflicting, and what little evidence can be found is quite scanty. What most scholars agree on is that the battle took place somewhere in the province. This is enough to bring a steady stream of pilgrims wandering through the province to whatever location they think might be the right one. There is also quite a few hermits residing in remote parts of the province, having forsaken civilization in favor of religious meditation and contemplation.


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