West Country

Long's West Country refers to four provinces on the north shore of Long Bay which share a strong sense of regional identity.

Historically the area (excluding Crocodylida) was called Anura.
 * Crocodylida (local name Crocodylidee) is the east most of the four provinces and includes two large barrier islands at the mouth of Long Bay;
 * Bufonia (Bufonidee) is a large mainland province north of Crocodylida;
 * Eleutherodac (Free Neck) straddles the mouth of an inlet north of the bay and also includes a barrier island and some territory on the inland/eastern coast of the inlet;
 * Hylidia (Hylidee), also called Hylia, is a large island off Long's western shore.

History

Allied Principalities: During the Basiliscus Dynasty, the people of the West Country were tributaries of Long but maintained their independence. The land was ruled by a number of chieftains with a complex history of wars and alliances.

In the latter half of the Dark Age, the "Kingdom" of Anura emerged as a powerful state. Under the Naja and later the Varanus dynasty, the West Country became incorporated into the Kingdom of Long.

Geography

Compared with the gentle, tropical climate of the bay, the outer sea west of Long is significantly colder (mild-temperate climate). This area experiences heavy rainfall, rough seas and seasonal hurricanes. Further inland the West Country is characterized by rolling hills and woodlands.

Culture and People

The West Country has a number of old cities. Near the coast people fish and hunt large sea mammals for resources such as ambergris. Inland hunting game (deer and boar) and farming wheat is the main source of food and revenue

Seafaring trade serving the west coast of Long is less developed than in areas to the south and east. Ships coming from the east must circumnavigate the Taipan peninsula. The Merchants League's presence along this trade route is limited and traditionally trade was carried out primarily by West Country merchant ships.

There is a strong West Country (or Anura) cultural identity with the region's inhabitants viewing themselves as distinct from the generic Long populace. Anurans are proud of their history of independence and the free-willed spirit persists to date. People in the West Country speak a dialect of the Long language which is difficult for outsiders to understand and they tend to speak standard Long with a pronounced accent. A love of nature is another key element of West Country culture.