Travelogue: Stella Maris, Numantia, and Numantia Maris

Clustered to the west of the Caledon mainland lie three islands. The first, Caledon Stella Maris, is Lady Patty Poppy's sanctuary.

A small sky city hovers over the land:



High on a tor is a statue of a knight:



The flora are unusual…and a little bubbly:



A house is integrated under the stone bridge:



Next to Stella Maris is the "neighbor and ally" to Caledon, Numantia (along with Numantia Maris), owned by Mr. Wordsmith Jarvinen and Miss Stonehedg Magic. The area is dominated by a castle sited on the highest point of the islands:



The climate is similar to that in the Mediterranean, and the architecture is inspired by the Celtic Iberian city of the same name that held out against the Romans for several decades before falling after a 13 month siege in 133 B.C.

The terraced landscape provides stunning views:



Nearer the water, the villas are charming:



Across the water, in Numantia Maris, lies the airship dock:





Does this mean the Numantia bar doesn't serve a drink made with vodka, orange and cranberry juices, and peach schnapps?

Numantia and Numantia Maris

Rounding out my tour of the western isles, adjoining the new Stella Maris, is Numantia and the new Numantia Maris, both owned by Miss Stonehedg Magic and Mr. Wordsmith Jarvinen.

Approaching from the sea, the stone lighthouse is the most striking feature on land.

The town itself has a high wall on two sides, providing protection from the sea...or invaders. At the center is a castle made of light-colored stone.

The terraced gardens provide a pathway from the castle toward the sea.

On the far side of the island is a small village.

Numantia Maris is a new section of the duchy, consisting of much water. The striking feature of this area is an airship mooring tower.

A grassy meadow grives way to this stone building.

The strange lands of the Caledonian West...

Numantia Rises

To the west of Westmoreland now lies new a land, Numantia. (Say, wasn't this where Atlantis rose, then fell again?) Though largely undeveloped as yet, this territory has both low lands, with a stream and beaches, and higher elevations, with terraced hills.


Numantia was the name of an Iberian settlement of Celts. In 153 B.C., the city allowed in fugitives from another Celtiberian tribe, drawing the anger of the Romans. A subsequent siege of the city was unsuccessful. Twenty years later, however, the Roman Senate sent another general to undertake another siege, and this one was more successful. The general erected "a nine kilometre fence supported by towers, moats, [and] impaling rods.... After 13 months of siege, the Numantians decided tok burn the city and die free rather than live and be slaves."*

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numantia


The modern version is owned by Miss Stonehedg Magic, and is being developed with Mr. Wordsmith Jarvinen. One can only hope it has a happier ending than its predecessor.