Natural Resources

Staple Crops

Geith: Given poor soils, geith is grown. In a two or three-field system, geith is planted during autumn. Scythes are used for harvesting. Geith is ground up to make flour for pastries and biscuits. Every 2 litres of geith seed can yield 5 litres of grain. The average yield density is 900 litres of grain per hectare, at 0.4 kg per litre.

Grop: In better soils, grop is grown. In a two- or three-field system, grop is planted in the spring. The thin, elongated sheaths which hold the grain may be shaken loose, but typically a hacking knife is used for cutting. The grop produces a seed which is ground up to make a coarse, cake-like bread, or used as a crunchy snack. Boiled grop soup is renowned for its lack of flavor. Grop has a yield ratio of 4:1. On the average each hectare of grop produces 1 kL of grain, at 0.7 kg per litre.

Fruits and Vegetables

Dachaills: A sweet, golden fruit imported from southern nations. The dachaill is used in confections. The dachaill can also be used to produce a wine, which can further be processed into a beverage similar to cognac. Each are of dachaill orchard can yield 300 litres of produce, at 0.5 kg per litre.

Deaberries: Deaberries are purplish and used in pastries and desserts. They are sweet and slightly sour. Each are of deaberry orchard can yield 300 litres of produce, at 0.35 kg per litre.

Rhalberries: These are delicious berries used in pastries or as standalone desserts. Rhalberry pie recipies are hot items for contests and conversation. Each are of rhalberry orchard can yield 300 litres of produce, at 0.35 kg per litre.

Others: A wide variety of roots and leafy vegetables are commonly grown in villagers' gardens and used in soups and stews.

Meat Animals

Note: The "type" designations given here are borrowed from Traveller, a trademark of FarFuture Enterprises, Inc.

Gluck: A typical farm fowl, kept by nearly all peasant families. Glucks are similar to chickens, but as stupid as turkeys. Gluck hens can be expected to produce a half-dozen or so glucklings yearly. Diet: herbivore; Type: grazer; Average Lifespan: 8 yrs; Weight: 8 kg

Org: The domesticated org provides meat and dairy products and is cheap to feed, since they eat anything. If not fattened for food, orgs can also serve as guard animals, and can even keep out scarworms if given proper numbers. Orgs are commonly used to help clear stubble after harvest, though they are not as efficient as pack lizards. Diet: omnivore; Type: gatherer; Average Lifespan: 10 yrs; Weight: 100 kg; Weapons: Teeth; Armor: Hide.

Seedworm: Six metres long and a metre in diameter, these burrowing detritivores have two purposes on Goerthan farms: turning soil and filling stomachs. Seedworms are cheap and their flesh preserves well when salted and dried. Unfortunately the yield is rather low: only about 5% of the animal's weight is salvageable as edible meat after death. Diet: herbivore; Type: filter; Average Lifespan: 6 yrs; Weight: 680 kg.

Other Domesticated Animals

Gantach: A 2m-long hunting beast, also useful as a guard or war beast. They are expensive to train and breed, thus usually held in common in villages. Nobles tend to own them in plenty. Habitat: Temperate woods and plains; Activity: Any; Diet: carnivore; Type: chaser; Average Lifespan: 16 yrs; Weight: 200 kg; Weapons: Teeth; Armor: Scales.

Gardell: Pricey, difficult to breed two-legged avio-saurids. They are both scaled and feathered, with toothed beaks and vicious claws. Gardells are typically bred to have flashy colors. Nobles and knights ride them into battle. Habitat: Temperate land; Activity: Day; Diet: carnivore; Type: pouncer; Average Lifespan: 10 yrs; Weight: 800 kg; Weapons: Claws & Teeth; Armor: Scales.

Hueglach: A common, two-legged pack beast related to the gardell. Hueglachs can be rode by small persons, but usually serve to carry light loads. Habitat: Temp to trop swamp or forest; Activity: Day; Diet: omnivore; Type: hunter; Average Lifespan: 10 yrs; Weight: 500 kg; Weapons: Teeth; Armor: Scales.

Pack Lizard: The ubiquitous four-legged draft animal of Madoria. They are used both to pull carts and wagons, and to carry medium loads on their backs. Pack lizards are also employed to graze on the stubble left after harvesting. Habitat: Any warm land; Activity: Day; Diet: omnivore; Type: grazer; Average Lifespan: 12 yrs; Weight: 1100 kg; Weapons: Teeth; Armor: Scales.

Summary of Domestic Animals

Processed Resources

Plant Products

Arach: Most trees in Sioncarwood and Somberwood are arachs. Most of the buildings of Goertha are built of arach and stone. Arach is a sturdy, rigid hardwood and makes good staves. Arachnuts are inedible.

Cotherell: The cotherell is more or less similar to flax, and references made to linen are actually to the material made from the cotherell.

Len: An evergreen tree which has strong, pliant wood used for making longbows. The len is especially common in Gedringale, but also grows in the highland regions of Somberwood.

Muegran: A shrub which produces a cotton-like material also called muegran. Luckily, the muegran is not as difficult to process as cotton.

Manufactured Goods

Beverages

Beer: The Ralubians grow a reed in their marsh which is used in brewing ale to produce reed beer. Most Goerthans drink mead or ale.

Dachaill Wine: A fine beverage, affordable only by the well-to-do in Goertha. Dachaill wine is often distilled to produce a cognac-type of drink called Cadrun's Wine.

Agricultural Labor

During the season of Descent in the month of Effellor, the farmers plough the open geith fields with teams of pack lizards. The seedworms, now fully grown after a summer of weeding, are brought out to begin the process of sowing and harrowing. The worms are stuffed with seed, which they cannot eat, and are then sent down the furrows. The seedworms feed on the young weeds that are just starting to pop up, and gradually expel the seed. In the process they break up dirt clogs and cover up their trail. As an extra benefit, they digest any weak or rotten seeds, leaving behind only the strongest.

In the winter, if the weather allows, those orgs not slaughtered in Sarpellor are allowed to graze on the fallow fields. Pack lizards and seedworms hibernate during the winter, and require an insignificant amount of feed during this time. They are needed again in the season of Ascent, starting with the month of Arhant, to plough and sow the grop fields. The orgs graze on fallow at this time as well, though during sowing they are occasionally employed to ward off scarworms. Sowing time is also time for Crohelm's Watch, a vigil against the wiles of Troella, who sends her minions to eat the newly planted seed.

During the first month of summer (Selant) both pack lizards and seedworms are employed in the weeding process. Harvest occurs at the end of summer, in the month of Dent, during which spring and winter crops are reaped.