Geography

Warm moist westerly winds keep the subcontinent’s climate mild except in the most northern and eastern areas.  Large rivers open into deep estuaries and bays, giving easy access for small coastal trade ships  to reach deep into the heart of the subcontinent.  Cities have grown up where rivers joined, or at fords or bridges, or just along the banks where some lord or merchant guild in the past had set up a garrison or trading post. 

The greater part of the stories take place in the Ruetli mountains. The Ruetlis consist of a range of very high peaks, of Alpine height, falling to a series of plateaux at or just below the snowline, which are in turn dissected into deep winding glacial valleys.The geography has had its effect on history, producing a independantly minded people.

Eastwards lie the Cloudbearers, a huge range cutting across the subcontinent from North to South, which bar the way to all but the bravest and most determined travellers.  They are not much smaller than the Himalayas, and were formed in the same way, by the force of the subcontinent slamming into the side of the Eurasian landmass and buckling up the edge to form the high mountain range. 

Some people do cross the high mountains, usually merchants carrying rare and high value goods.  There are paths for small parties like that, but no way for any invading armies. 

Not only is there no way for invaders, there is no one to invade.  Beyond the high mountains is a dry elevated plateau, which gradually drops to the South to become a hot dry desert.  Only beyond these barriers are other inhabited lands, mainly populated by people of Indian, Chinese or Polynesian ancestry.  Sira and Joni's initial assumption is that Mary had come from one of these lands. 

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