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The Cinfer Shire was every part of De Weslanan north of the Cin River and the Noorderstroom River. The name Cinfer means "cold rocks" which is an accurate description of the northern part region, that borders Gi-Albter is Isfer. Freezing winters and cold summers are normal here, with a breeze that blows in from the north. The southwestern part of the original Cinfer Shire borders the bank of the Cin. It is more fertile than other parts of Cinfer. Dohn was the first city in the Cinfer Shire, with an economy based on the orchards and wheat fields near the river. The Count of Dohn build a castle about one day away from Dohn, right in the middle of the Cinfer Shire. From there, he hunted animals, and explored this parts of his county. The castle was paid for by the Emperor, who thought it was an excellent idea to build a lot of castles on the northern border of his empire to keep the barbarians from the north out of it. The Count of Dohn agreed, knowing that there was no such people as "barbarians of the north", and used the castle to relax in with his court and his guests. Near this castle, on many maps "Jachtslot", is the Pillar of Ice. The road leading to it from the "Het Koude Water" Guesthouse goes straight to the north, and enters a narrow, shallow gorge. This road is supposed to have been a riverbed, and water runs over the road every now and then - but never more than just a film. At the junction where "De Verloren Weg" and 'De Kloof" come together in this gorge, the Pillar of Ice is. It is a frozen cascade, shaded by the sides of the gorge. It is the end of some small streams, that still flow slowly over the ice. At the foot of the pillar are small caves and holes in the ice. The counts of Dohn used it to keep their hunting loot and beer casks cool. The gorge then turns to the northwest, slowly shallowing, until it comes at level with the plain. A path shows the way to the Jachtslot that can be seen from far away, with its towers and walls rising up against a flat horizon. From the Pillar of Ice another road takes of into the Cinfer Shire: "De Verloren Weg" (The Lost Road). It starts right at the Pillar of Ice, with steep stairs next to the Pillar. It follows one of the larger streams for a stond then bends off to the mountains. Was it a properly paved road with wooden bridges -or what's left of them- at first, it soon becomes a rocky path (with patches that are still paved) crossing brooks with fords, eventually there is just a trace like that of an animal. The traces fades in the plants close to the White Mountains, where the Red Hruk is King of the Sky. Where this road should lead to is unknown, it is unknown who build it, and the rest of it stays a mystery as well. Legend have it that the Witch of Ways lives at the end of the road, and children have written this on the sides of the gorge, near the pillar. For sure, you can easily get lost in the fog that haunts the Cinfer in Autumn. More to the west, the maritime climate has its effect on the plants. It is warmer near the shore, and sediments and erosion make a rather fertile area, although it is very sandy and not really suited for agriculture. There is some arable land, but most farmers make a living of sheep. In the natural harbour near De Klif the town of Lameirvar was build. It soon became an important harbour and fish centre. The Emperor decided the Cinfer Shire had to be shared between the old county of Dohn, and a new county, Lamorial. Lameirvar is still the capital of the latter. As the trade became more important for Dohn, who had build an own harbour and focused on nearby counties as Ciniz, Unvar and Tarnov, they left Cinfer Shire to Lamorial - then a rather poor harbour town. Today, Cinfer Shire has no economic or strategic importance. It just is there, and people leave it there. The Jachtslot is still visited at times. Related topics: |