Chanson Isole'e
A cloistered hamlet designed with real-world French influences, and seasonal access.
Contents
Description
Chanson Isolée is a curious island landmass that cannot seem to decide if it wants to be part of the mainland or not. During the Spring and Summer months, waters recede and turn the island into a peninsula, making trade and travel viable. During the fall and winter months, rains move in that cause the waters to flood and rise, cutting it off completely from the mainland and returning it to it's island status. There are no docks or ports anywhere on the island, and the island is surrounded by an impressively engineered and tall stone wall.
While the island itself is roughly 20 miles around, the majority of the island is comprised of large, jagged rocks, making most of it uninhabitable except to those willing to put in the effort to pave their own way or creatures small enough to live between the rocks. The town of Chanson sits roughly in the middle of the island and is rather small, yet is distinguished enough to be considered it's own entity by the Crown. It is comprised of three primary levels: The lower hamlet, the upper hamlet, and the Chateau, which sits on the highest elevation of Chanson and looks out over the town.
The locals here are a mixed bunch. In the past, the island was full of academics and philosophers whose lifestyles were well suited to the long months of isolation. With the island's past seemingly rooted in education, it is a curiosity to very few why there has been a steady decline in academics. While there are still a few of these studious creatures dotted throughout the upper and lower hamlets, theirs is a dying breed. Still, the island seems to be the printing press of the Tapestry, meaning there's a high chance that books you read were either written by someone from Chanson or printed on the island.
In the dry season, the road to Chanson Isolée is a mess of mud and paving stones, many of which are replaced every year to help the mercantile carts. Merchants come in droves to try and maximize their routes between it and other places, given that Chanson doesn't exactly sit neatly between anywhere. During this time, most of the winter population will take to the waters as fishermen. Some take advantage of their position and catching saltwater fish caught up in the inflow, while others may go further out to sea if the rivers are overcrowded. Very few dare to try and fish during the winter months, as the water becomes choppy and has been known to sink even larger marine vessels. There are a few light houses along the wall that are used to help keep ships away year round, to help prevent any potential ship wrecks.
While they do not deal with animals the way other locations do (farming sheep, cows, etc) the locals of Chanson Isolée are quite fond of smaller pets like poet rats, rabbits, and small birds.
History
Since its inception nearly 300 years ago, Chanson Isolée has rather profoundly remained outside of the public eye by and large. This makes the island's history a rather boring and long one that would take years of reading through their scholarly texts to truly unravel.
It is believed that it was founded by Geof Chase, a studious hermit. History says he and his guild (whose name has been lost to time) built the fortress of Chanson in order to remove themselves from any lingering after effects related to the fall of the Virtuosos. At the highest point on the island, they built luxurious chateau to act as their guild's base. As whispers of his island fortress grew, so too did the interest of a few other hermit minded citizens of The Tapestry.
Eventually, it is believed that in-fighting caused Geof's guild to disband and for many decades the chateau at the top of Chanson would never have a successful guild occupy it. So numerous were these failures, that eventually the locals and even the scholars stopped noticing and recording them. Eventually, the Nobile of other guilds took it over and converted it into a finishing school for the aristocracy. After all, with so many intelligent philosophers and academics all in one place, it seemed only a natural step for Chanson to become the seat of higher education in the Tapestry. It was only about bout two decades ago, in the year 1997, ago when they were all moved and locked away in the Manor in Inizio D'Oro. The reasoning for this Primo Uomo's decision was never explained, but life continued fairly uninterrupted in Chanson.
In recent history, Candidature 9 has been the only head guild to be able to hold onto its position. Established in the year 2017 by Ignace Poirier and Hester (no last name given), Candidature 9 has found themselves mostly well received by the public.
Culture
Chanson's culture is very relaxed about almost anything under the sun and moon. So much so that, while the island isn't lawless, there are very few restrictions imposed on it's residents and visitors. The important laws of the royals still apply, but most of the silly or petulant laws simply aren't enforced in Chanson. Prostitution is legal and isn't looked down upon, the use of recreational drugs is fine,and generally speaking: If what you're doing isn't causing another harm, it's probably okay.
The people, like most found across the Tapestry are friendly and willing to aid the new arrivals to the land and help them get settled. They are exceedingly patient, as their population nearly quadruples every spring for the market boom and festival that accompanies it. To them, if The Skald really wants something to happen, it will no matter how much they push back. This laissez-faire attitude, along with their general open mindedness has made the area a refuge for some and a point to avoid for others.
Religion
Skaldic
Economy
Population
During the fall and winter months, the population sits at about 200 residents.
During the spring and summer months, as more people cram in and occupy every room of every house on the island, the population often jumps to around 1000.
Main Exports
- Various Brews
- Muscles, Clams
- Books
Places of Note
Chateau Vocal
The former finishing school for the aristocracy, now a towering building that once offered practice rooms for singing to the public on the levels below. Rumor has it that this old practice is how the Chateau got it's name. The parlor on the first floor has been converted into a tap room for tasting the newest and steadfast concoctions of Candidature 9 and is also a great meeting place for the public, as it is full of tables and chairs. It is a two story building with approximately 28 rooms. Only the entry way, taproom, and adjoining restrooms are available to the public, which are all located on the ground floor..
In the upper level, the seated guild makes their quarters. The current seated guild is Candidature 9, a brewery and creator of alcoholic concoctions. The upstairs areas are off limits to non-guild members, unless escorted by a guild member or given special permission by the Guild's Doge. However, you are likely to encounter guild members providing sample glasses of their wares on the ground level, as well as a mysterious force that will always make sure you have more drink if you want it, but only when no one is looking at your glass.
Upper Hamlet
The second highest level in the town, the Upper Hamlet has access to more light throughout the day as it is generally above the stone wall's height that surrounds the city. Overtime, this area has developed into a mostly residential area, housing those who have done well for themselves here as well as a few boutiques. The buildings are still crammed as tightly together as those on the lower hamlet, and all are welcome on this level without prejudice.
Parc d'auteur
This small park is located in the upper hamlet and is the only space besides the Cheateau on the island dedicated to bringing a bit of green to the rocky island. The island was established well after the founding of Chanson, supposedly as a means to help increase tourism, despite nothing exceptional actually being placed here.
The park itself is ever so slightly hilly, allowing for a nice stone stair feature and small flower garden as a center piece. Tall trees provide some amount of shade, benches line the short walking path, and there are a few spots of grass large enough for a few couples each to picnic on without being too close to one another.
Lower Hamlet
The lower hamlet is what greets all visitors when they first enter. This level of the town is largely dedicated to merchants, sales, restaurants, and the occasional very narrow and cramped alley way that is used for extra storage. This is also where the bulk of travelers stay, as locals rent out their rooms like a boarding house during the warmer months as another means of making income to afford the colder ones. Given that this area serves as the ground level for the wall and is much closer to it than the other levels, it is often light by gas lights and candles to make up for the obstruction of natural light caused by the wall.
Le Renvoi Catacombs
Further beneath the rocky island lay a web of caves that have never been completely explored by any known man as much of it is continuously underwater. Part of this system, which is only fully submerged during the fall and winter months, lay Le Renvoi, the catacombs for the heroes and royals of The Tapestry.
There are two main entrances to the Catacombs: From the lower hamlet and somewhere within the Chateau. The lower hamlet entrance is known by most, and usually has a guard stationed outside of it. It is generally open to the public during the spring and summer months, unless announced otherwise by Chanson's Doge. This entrance, when not partially flooded by the months of high tide, has a steep decline into the cave system and the catacombs proper. Even during low tide months, there is standing water that can range between ankle deep to knee deep depending on the tide, so it is best to go prepared.
The skulls of revered heroes line the walls, many with markings in their skulls intact, but the deeper one goes in, the more decayed these bones become, the less identifiable, and the more forgotten. Dotted throughout the walls are the inlaid tombs of royals throughout the ages, though there seems to be no particular order to where they are encased. As one nears the end of what is traversable, they would encounter a set of stone doors that are wide open with intricate and Skaldic markings across it's surface. One cannot travel much further than this before encountering the treacherous waters that keep the rest of the cave systems from ever being explored.
It is said, perhaps in part because of the catacomb's oft forgotten name, that not all who have been laid to rest down here sleep eternal.
