Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #275

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #275 

October 3rd, 2023 

• Number: 275 

• Name:  Deep Dive on a Site of Interest: The Dismal Marsh and Lotus Delta of Danthas – Part 2 

• Location: Northeast Wastelands where the Danthas River meets the Sea of Hethichol 

• Population (approx.): 150 (Rushes in Sun) 

• Brief: Despite its name, there are some inhabitants of the Dismal Marsh who have found it an acceptable place to live. Along the southern parts of the marsh, where the dry winds from the Mu Onno desert begin to turn mud into sand, there are great swaths of rushes and sedges in clumps around narrow channels of water. Some of the clumps might seem a bit larger than one would expect for they are the cunningly designed mud and straw huts of the native Lizardfolk. They are gathered in tribes, assembled based on Mafalag, a concept of leadership of the one(s) with the most honor and trust of their Kin. They are dangerous and isolated but live relatively quiet lives (unless threatened) worshipping the most basic elemental forms of Aenwyld including, for one tribe, Rushes in Sun, the Light of Malam above. 

• Thosh, 23, male Lizardfolk, is a Shaman of the Glow Like Rising Sun tribe. He is six and a half feet tall and has lovely moss-green scales. His face and body have honey-brown areas that accent his body. His personality is calm and reassuring, and most of the tribe loves him for this. Thosh wears long robes with the god of light symbol emblazoned on the front. He also has a special ceremonial robe that has embroidery on it. It was a gift from a human friend. Thosh uses a staff covered in runes as a walking stick. 

• Thosh brought the belief in the Malam the God of Light to the tribe. In his youth, he lived around humans, learned about Light and Dark, and followed Malam the Light. He brought his beliefs back to the tribe and slowly turned them into his thinking. He is a gifted orator and knows that Lizardfolk prefers plain speech. The tribe now acts brightly toward one another but is still wary of outsiders. 

• Thosh found his mate in Nellev, 20, female Lizardfolk. Their eggs are due to hatch any day. Thosh and Nellev live in one of the larger huts in the Dismal Marsh. The tribe numbers around 150 members and uses what the marsh provides them to survive. Thosh has an acolyte, Ro, 15, male Lizardfolk, who lives with Thosh and Nellev. 

• Geography: Rushes in Sun (location 3 see below) and the other Lizarfolk tribes of the Dismal Marshes live on a stretch of land south of the southernmost major navigable channel of the Danthas River, also almost directly south of the Swamp Queen’s demense (#20 and location 1). They claim and hunt over an area about 40 miles west to east and up to 15 miles south of the channel. Rushes in Sun is one of the larger tribes, growing due to Thosh’s words, deeds and resultant increased Mafalag. The tribe's homes are earth-sheltered, partially underground 1 or 2 room huts covered by roofs of rushes and sedge. Some are reinforced by stone or wood foraged nearby or traded from locals outside the marshes.