From The Kingdom of Rydaria and it’s Lands – A. Kelisen

	The lands of our great Kingdom span the whole of Rydar Island, the large, sunny home of our people. The majority of the island is made up of rolling plains and valleys, but there is one mountain, Mount Rydar, that rises high above the rest of the island. On the coasts, frothy water laps upon the sandy shores, and in the south west lies our capital of Valkara. On the east side of the island lies the Polished Plains, where you can walk for miles and not see a single plant. Unless it is winter that is, as the Ocean will swallow it up and turn it into a shallow lake, perfect for catching shellfish. Much of the island has been settled by the industrious Rydarian people, and thousands of villages dot the landscape.  These villages have cleared most of the land of obstacles, such as trees and small rocks, and have begun tilling the land to grow the many crops of Rydara. However, in the north lies the king’s personal hunting grounds, a vast forest full of wildlife. He generously opens it to the general populous during the Rainy Season, when food can become scarce.

	Speaking of seasons, agrarian life in Rydarian is split into 4 Seasons: The Rainy Season, where cold blows in from the west and brings rain with it. Many Rydarians  take this time to repair their homes and process their crops, usually next to a warm fire, shielded from the cold wind of the outdoors. The Sowing Season; when the cold wind and rain from the Rainy Season begin to subside, the people of Rydaria emerge from their homes to plant the crops for this year’s harvest or release their livestock to the fields again. Next comes the Growing Season; much of this time is spent maintaining the crops. Rain is scarce during this season, and the Sun beats down heavily on the land. Finally, the Harvest Season arrives with the first rains after the Growing Season. The crops are harvested and the people are able to enjoy many feasts before the start of the gloomy Rainy Season.

	Many different types of crops are harvested in Rydaria, though the largest share of the harvest is made up of wheat and barley. The harvest is cut with what the farmers call, a “Reaper”, and then the cut products are savagely beat and thrown in the air to separate the chaff from the kernels. The kernels are then left to dry in either the sun if the weather permits, or on a heated stone. These are the staple crops of most Rydarians, and are used in many different types of foods, though bread and porridge is what feeds most of the people. Another important use of wheat and barley is in the production of the all-important beer! Many skilled brewers use them as the main ingredient in their excellent brews, though most of time each brewer adds other ingredients as well. (If you want my suggestion, there is a small brewery in the village of Etoh, the brewer their makes the best spicy brew in all of Rydar Island) Other than wheat and barley, the next two most grown crops are Olives and Grapes. These are grown near the coasts, where the Ocean mist can spray the crops, as apposed to wheat and barley, which is grown inland. Both of these crops are harvested and pressed to get their delicious juices, Olive Oil and another popular alcohol, Wine. Olive Oil is perhaps the most important thing to Rydarians after wheat, barley and beer. (And wine is close behind) It is used to flavor dull bread, cooking, medicine, and lighting lamps. Many call it the “Nectar of the Gods” but many others say that wine is the rightful holder of that title. Good wine is not as common in the rural areas of Rydaria, but in the cites you can find a tavern or winery on every corner. The wine found in the rural areas is usually sour and much weaker, though some villages on the coast get first pick of the grapes from the vineyards and can make quite prolific wines. (I recommend Torir, on the southern coast) Most wines are not even a year old, but the more well-off citizens can find wine that dates many years back. Some wines are served pure, but most are flavored with a variety of herbs and spices, like garlic, honey or fish sauce. This leads nicely into the rest of the crops, which are grown on a smaller scale. As said before, many different herbs and spices are used for cooking, brewing, and seasoning. There are quite a lot of different ones, and even I am not sure what they are all used for. Your local herbalist would be more help. Some vegetables are grown to supplement the meals of Rydarians.  These are mostly beans, lentils and peas. Though an assortment of more vegetables can be found such as onions, leeks, carrots, turnips, garlic, mushrooms, asparagus, celery among others. Fruit orchards are very rare, as they require quite a lot of water and maintenance. But the rich can also feast on lemons, pears, apples and oranges. Wild Berries can be harvested around the island, though they are rare to find outside of their season and are usually dried. Strawberries, Raspberries and Blackberries are some of the berries found. A few non-food crops are also grown on the island as well, a very popular product is flax, which is used to make the lovey cloth that clothes most of Rydaria. A variety of plants are also grown to dye the flax fibers to make colorful clothing and to make paint for artists. Flax is also used for rope, twine, paper and a general fabric. Medical crops are grown in very small quantities as well.

	Now, that’s enough about crops, it’s time to get to the meat! Ranches are not as common, as they require much more space than farms, and our island only has so much land. But it is very common for a village to keep a few animals in a communal herd. Sheep are popular, as they provide wool has well as food. Sometimes they are milked and either made into cheese or just kept as a drink. They are skinned for leather as well. Rich people can enjoy meat and eggs from various types of birds, such as geese or chickens. As there is only a few of each on the island. But the biggest source of meat on Rydar Island is from the Ocean. Fishing is done year round, and the catch is either sold fresh along the coast or dried and sold inland. Many coastal villages are dedicated to just fishing. A popular thing done with fish in rural areas (Cities have banned it due to the smell) is allowing the fish to ferment and turning it into a sauce. I have tried it a few times during my trips inland, and I say it is not as bad as the city dwellers make it out to be. It really doesn’t smell that bad after it has been strained of all the remaining lumps. It is usually flavored with herbs and spices and eaten quite liberally with other foods. When the Polished Plains flood in the Rainy Season, many shellfish can be easily caught as well. Though you need to get a writ of access from one of owners, and take a cut of any food you find, and you must hand over all pearls you find.
All this food means the people of Rydaria are usually well fed, crop failures can be supplemented with either fish, goat meat, or hunting for birds in the north. Water is collected mainly through wells and rainwater collection. During droughts many crops will go dry and die, as there is simply not enough fresh water without rain.

	Rydar Island is the home of more than just food though, many people make glass using plentiful sand on the coast. Some of the pieces they create are amazingly complex and colorful, though only the rich in the cities can afford those. Several clay pits can be found around the island, and pottery workers make several useful items such as bowls, jars, etc. Some sculptures are also sold in the cities. There is a small logging industry, as trees are scarce. Wood is needed by people to fuel their fires, but also needed for building.