Jasua's Apples

The land of Jasua is a small one compared to many in the Golden Circle but it is rich and diverse. It grows many things and exports them as well. But it is the apples for which its famous. 700px

Geography

The geography of Jasua is difficult to detail. First off its a shadow astride several different other realms. It is incomplete in nature. It is landmass in the midst of an ocean that itself borders onto shadow. The oceans are dark and thick and as they go out from the shore they fade off into unknown shadows. Sailors of Jasua learn how to hug the shoreline yet some are lost to the shadowwaters every year.

The northern area of the main landmass is a vast region over 5000 miles long that is cool winters and warm summers. These areas are filled with apple trees of a wide variety. It also has many cultivated ground vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli,carrots and many types of tubers. The natives adore artichokes and grow them in vast quantities.

History

Jusua was discovered by Prince Eric of Amber in his youth. On one of his first trips to lay down travel trails into Amber he found Jasua. He claimed he was thinking of apples but was specifically looking for a shadow with a large amount of produce to feed the growing Amber populace.

His youth and imprecision led to finding a shadow that was not a full realm or unverse but a farming shadow with a lot missing to make it unable to become a viable nation to develop into a Golden Circle kingdom, no matter how he tried. He made many attempts to convince someone to develop into a royal line but the degree of arrogance needed was not there. Pride in their produce was the closest they came.

In time the concept of mass production did hook into the mentality of many families and they began growing orchards larger then for their personal use.

The problem Prince Eric found then was what did they need in trade? As it turned out there were few meat animals on Jasua. Birds mostly. Chickens, geese, ducks, turkey, doves, partridges, and pigeons were found. These are common meat for them. The Chicken, goose, turkey, and dove were domesticated. They had river fish but no ocean fish. Fishing is a common pasttime.

There were almost no large meat animals. The largest animals on Jasua are cows and dottles. Prince Eric found they liked pork in almost any form. They disliked red meats. So trade with Jasua became largely a matter of pork in to Jasua and a large number of things for export. Eric tried importing pigs directly but they found that pigs destroyed home gardens and the practice stopped. However some wild boars escaped and have become a dangerous and threatening animal that is frequently hunted.

Geography

The geography of Jasua is difficult to detail. First off its a shadow astride several different other realms. It is incomplete in nature. It is landmass in the midst of an ocean that itself borders onto shadow. The oceans are dark and thick and as they go out from the shore they fade off into unknown shadows. Sailors of Jasua learn how to hug the shoreline yet some ore lost to the shadowwaters every years.

The northern area of the main landmass is a vast region over 5000 miles long that is cool winters and warm summers. These areas are filled with apple trees of a wide variety. It also has many cultivated ground vegetables like asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli,carrots and many types of tubers. The natives adore artichokes and grow them in vast quantities.

Animals

Canines

There are a variety of dogs. Mostly farming dogs. They were domesticated early and were never a source of meat. Dogs are a common farm animal used to keeping cows from straying. They are common pets and are allowed indoors.

Felines

Cats are common and are usually used as hunters of pests and vermin like mice and rats and insects. Cats are common pets and are often allowed inddoors as are dogs.

Fowls

Chickens, geese, ducks, turkey, doves, partridges, and pigeons were commonly found. These are a common meat for them. Chicken, goose, turkey, and dove are domesticated. Early every home has a dove cote.

Fish and shellfish

Fish

They have river fish but no ocean fish. The ocean waters cause river fish to mutate like shadow creatures and it scares the natives. Offworlders have found the mutated meat edible but the natives can not be convinced.

Shellfish

Fresh water river shellfish are plentiful. Oysters, abalone, crab, lobsters crawdads, clams, can all be found throughout the rivers of Jasua. They are almost never found in ocean waters.

Cows

Cows are one of the exceptions to the rule of large meat animals. However they are odd. Both female cows can be milked with normal results. However half of male cows may be milked as well. They produce a milk identical to cow milk. The other half of cows are castrated and used as oxen.

Milk was such a common drink that they never considered killing them for meat till Prince Eric suggested it. When it was tried the people universally disliked the taste of red meat. After that it was not done again. Cows eat local grasses and the leavings of vegetables in a manner similar to goats. Nearly every home farm has two to 6 cows. Male and female cows are similar in appearance with the exception that male cows have horns that fall off every few years and are used in many ways.

Oxen

Half the male population of cows become oxen and are used as beasts of burden. Families also treated them as pets.

Dottles

Another large meat animal on Jasua are dottles. There is some evidence that in ancient history dottles were eaten but by the time Prince Eric discovered the realm this practice was long forgotten. Dottles were domesticated. They were used for plowing gardens and fields that were not rocky. They were used as riding animals and to pull small carriages for four people or less. Mostly two person carriages. Dottles are a very protective animal and often bonded with one family member.

Dottles are frequently raced and seem to enjoy the sport being competitive against each other.

Dottles can be bossy toward cows and oxen.

Produce

Apples

By far the most plentiful produce of the realm. They ship whole apples, apple sauces, jams, jellies, breads, and candies. They produce fine apple juices as well as extraordinary cysers and apple alcohols.

The topic of apples would fill a library. There are many uses and many types and it is by far the most common export product from Jasua.

Artichokes

A plentiful crop of Artichokes is produced each year but it is a staple of Jasua natives. The Jasua Artichoke produces meaty inner petals about 4 to 5 times as lush as normal artichokes. The artichoke heart can be two to three times the size of of normal artichokes.

The dry outer petals and the thistles are often mixed and mashed into a pulp and used to make paper. Wood is almost never used to make paper.

Ground Vegetables

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a nearly daily part of a meal for Jasuans. Plain, cooking with cheese, fried, grilled, in soups. It is a found in every home garden and is cultivated on huge farms for export.

Broccoli

Another common vegetable is broccoli which is often paired with cauliflower. It is a common export.

Asparagus

Asparagus is another common vegetable found usually in bigger gardens and in large farms. It is eaten raw and cooked.

Carrots

Carrots are a common vegetable found in nearly all gardens. It is grown for export. Carrots

Beets

Beets have a unusual place in Jasua's food palate. They are deeply loved or detested. There are few people who do not have a strong opinion of them.

They are cooked and eaten hot or cold. They are used in salads or slaws. There are many different uses of beets in dips. It is made into hearty drinks.

Beets can make sugar. They can also make a neutral alcohol of great potency. Jasua beets are low in salts unlike beets elsewhere. Beet Alcohol can be used to make other alcohols. However most beets for export are shipped whole. Beet alcohols are mostly drunk by natives.

Radishes

Jasua radish grow in huge quantities. It is a common native food but is also exported in huge quantities. The number of recipes the Jasuans have made using radishes is staggering.

Agave

Agave is grown in huge fields. It is harvested and eaten as a vegitable as well as used to brew booth a grain neutral alcohol and various types of tequilas.

Milk & Cheeses

While milk is a common product it is rarely exported unless it is done magically.

Cheese however is a craft and art at which the Jasuans excel and are famous for. The many types of cheeses would fill volumes. Safe to say both fine cheese shops and common food marts across the Golden Circle all carry Jasuan cheeses.