Merta Fings
Merta lives in the Cordican mountains with just her sheep and sheepdogs to keep her company. Merta does things slowly, silently, and deliberately, whether it's tending to her flock or cooking supper. She uses the wool to make brightly colored yarn, which she then knits into sweaters and hats. She used to take her wares down into town to sell, but now that her knits have gotten some fame, she has a dealer, Urnol, who comes to her instead. Each time he comes, she prepares tea, which they share quietly by the fire.
Cordican Sheepdog
Cordican sheepdogs are a large gentle breed. Their roles as working members of the family are taken very seriously, and their training and care is considered an artform. In the wintertime, villages hold meetups to gather the dogs, socialize the pups, and carry out competitive games and demonstrations. Though the atmosphere is festive, there is an undercurrent of tension as it is also the opportunity to gain prestige as a breeder or trainer.
Gemma and Nix
Gemma and her cat Nix live in a fishing village in Cordica in a huge ramshackle home with Gemma's extended family and often a handful of guests passing through. Like her family, Gemma works in the fishing trade. She likes the hub-bub of family life, but is anxious for next year, when she is of age to marry. Her parents assure her that they've found her an excellent match, but Gemma can't imagine how they did this or who it could be, and is not eager to leave her home and family.
Defense Tower
Cordica’s shores are dotted with towers waving their blue and white flag, a clear reminder to their neighbors to the south that if Cordica was or ever will be part of the Masconian Empire, it currently is not. Although Cordica is sparsely populated, the few that live there seem to personify Cordica’s harsh climate and rugged environment. No one living has seen armed conflict in their lifetimes, but still they keep their towers fortified and ready.
Pocket Fruit
Size: bramble bushes; up to 8' tall
Uses: Pocket fruit are a much-loved Cordican treat, for anyone willing to brave the thorns and brambles.
Noted: Cordican families jealously guard their ancestral tools and techniques for collecting the fruit. The rivalries take center stage at competitions and bake-offs held during an annual festival celebrating the abundance of the island.