Eisande
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Overview
Founded by the angel Eisheth, she gave her provinces the gifts of healing, music, and story; thus Eisande is known for its excellent healers as well as its traveling bards, known as Mendicants. It's also more tolerant of the Tsingani than other provinces.
Geography
Eisande is the smallest of the seven provinces of Terre d'Ange, but it said to hold the wealthiest families in all of Terre d'Ange. It sits on the southern coastline of the country, bordering Siovale to the west, L'Agnace to the north, and Caerdicca Unitas to the east. The Duchy is divided into the five Comtés: Camaelines-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Hautes-Camaelines, Var, and Vaucluse.
Climate: Most of Eisande has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers, mild winters, little snow, and abundant sunshine. Within each Comté there are micro-climates and local variations, ranging from the Camaeline climate inland from Nice to the continental climate in the northern Vaucluse. The winds of Eisande are an important feature of the climate, particularly the mistral, a cold, dry wind which, especially in the winter, blows down the Rhone Valley to the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var Comtés, and often reaches over one hundred kilometers an hour.
Landscape
Rivers of Eisande: The Rhône River, on the western border is one of the major rivers of Terre d'Ange and has been a highway of commerce and communications between inland France and the Mediterranean for centuries. It rises as the effluent of the Rhône Glacier in Valais, in the Saint-Gotthard massif, at an altitude of 1753 m.. It is joined by the river Saône at Lyon. Along the Rhône Valley, it is joined on the right bank by Cévennes rivers Eyrieux, Ardèche, Cèze and Gardon or Gard, on the left Camaeline bank by rivers Isère, Drôme, Ouvèze and Durance. At Arles, the Rhône divides itself in two arms, forming the Camargue delta, with all branches flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. One arm is called the "Grand Rhône", the other one is the "Petit Rhône". The Durance River, a tributary of the Rhône, has its source in the Camaelines near Briançon. It flows south-west through Embrun, Sisteron, Manosque. Cavaillon, and Avignon. where it meets the Rhône. The Verdon River is a tributary of the Durance, rising at an altitude of 2400 meters in the soutwestern Camaelines near Barcelonette, and flowing southwest for 175 kilometers through the Camaeline-de-Haute-Provence and Var départements before it reaches the Durance at near Vinon-sur-Verdon, south of Manosque. The Verdon is best known for its impressive canyon: the Verdon Gorge. This limestone canyon, also called the 'Grand Canyon of Verdon', 20 kilometres in length and more than 300 metres deep, is a popular climbing and sight-seeing area. The Var River rises near the Col de la Cayolle (2,326 m/7,631 ft) in the Maritime Camaelines and flows generally southeast for 120 kilometres (75 mi) into the Mediterranean between Nice and Saint-Laurent-du-Var. With an area of over 930 km² (360 sq. miles), the Camargue is western Terre d'Ange's largest river delta (technically an island, as it is wholly surrounded by water). It is a vast plain comprising large brine lagoons or étangs, cut off from the sea by sandbars and encircled by reed-covered marshes which are in turn surrounded by a large cultivated area. The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds, the brine ponds providing one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo. The marshes are also a prime habitat for many species of insects, notably (and notoriously) some of the most ferocious mosquitos to be found anywhere in France. It is also famous for bulls, Black Bear and the Camargue horse.
Mountains of Eisande: If the Maritime Camaelines, along the border with Caerdicca Unitas, are considered part of Duchy, they are the highest peaks in the region. They form the border between the département Camaelines-Maritimes and the Caerdicca Unitas area of Cuneo. The chief peaks of the Maritime Camaelines are: Punta dell'Argentera (10,794 ft), Mont Ténibre (9948 ft), Cime du Gélas (10,286 ft), Cime de l'Enchastraye (9695 ft), Monte Matto (10,128 ft), Mont Bégo (9426 ft), Mont Pelat (10,017 ft) Mont Mounier (9246 ft), Mont Clapier (9994 ft) and Roche de l'Abisse (9039 ft).
The Calanques: The Calanques also known as the Massif des Calanques, are a dramatic feature of the Eisande coast, a 20-kilometer long series of narrow inlets in the cliffs of the coastline between Marsilikos on the east and Cassis on the west. The highest peak in the massif is Mont Puget, 565 meters high. The best known calanques of the Massif des Calanques include the Calanque de Sormiou, the Calanque de Morgiou, the Calanque d'En-Vau, the Calanque de Port-Pin and the Calanque de Sugiton. Calanques are remains of ancient river mouths formed mostly during Tertiary. Later, during quaternary glaciations, as glaciers swept by, they further deepened those valleys which would eventually (at the end of the last glaciation) be invaded with sea and become calanques. The Cosquer cave is an underwater grotto in the Calanque de Morgiou, 37 m underwater, that was inhabited during Paleolithic era, when the sea level was much lower than today. Its walls are covered with paintings and engravings dating back to between 27,000 and 19,000 BC, depicting animals such as bison, ibex, and horses as well as sea mammals such as seals and auks.
The Garrigue: The Garrigue is the typical landscape of Eisdande; is a type of low, soft-leaved scrubland or chaparral found on limestone soils around the Mediterranean Basin, generally near the seacoast, where the climate is moderate, but where there are annual summer drought conditions. Juniper and stunted holm oaks are the typical trees; aromatic lime-tolerant shrubs such as lavender, sage, rosemary, wild thyme and Artemisia are common garrigue plants. The open landscape of the garrigue is punctuated by dense thickets of Kermes oak.
 The Camaelines Landscape near Le Destet |
 View of Mont Ventoux |
 Flamingos in the Camargue |
 The Gorge du Verdon |
 The Garrigue |
 The Rade at Sunset in Toulon |
 Calanques de Marsilikos |
Comtes (Counties)
Comte Available
This area is in the south of Terre d'Ange in the Duchy of Eisande. It is surrounded by the the Duchy of Siovale on the west, Vaucluse on the north, and Var on the east, and by the Mediterranean Sea on the south. An ancient road called Eisheth's Way, built by the soldiers of the Tiberian Empire, runs through the department. Furthermore it is renowned for its dry, fruity rose wines.
Marsilikos: It was founded in 600BC by sailors, which makes it one of Terre d'Ange's oldest cities. The Ducal Seat is in Marsilikos within the comte. Marsilikos is the largest and grandest city, founded by the Hellenes long before Elua came to Terre d'Ange, akin to the French city of Marseilles. The leader of the city proper has always been a woman, 'The lady of Marsilikos'.
Climate: Renowned for its mild climate and sunshine. Overall the summers are hot, the winters are sunny, and the mid-seasons are mild. The winters are colder away from the coast. There may be days of strong Mistral winds between Octobre and Avril. However, the Mistral sweeps away clouds and haze to create clear, brilliant blue skies and beautiful starry nights.
Andrássy
Legendary cities and towns whose fame has spread around the world include Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat, Villefranche-sur-Mer. It is a unique region of beauty and elegance where the living is good all year round. In this highly contrasting region, the mountains are never very far from the sea; regional traditions and international cultural events go hand in hand; and ancient villages stand next to illustrious palaces.
Nice: Once a small seaport serving a Tiberian legionary camp, it's history can be documented as early as the 10th century. Formerly, the first humble township om the Mediterranean seaside, was inhabited by monks and fishermen. A few strokes of oar away, the islands Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat raise from the waves. The sea traffic was intense but fruitful. It thrived in its seatrade, the fishing, agriculture and small and medium enterprises in which the Noble House de Andrássy exploited in their favor. They discovered other treasures as well, far more beneficial for the development of the city. They bought terrain at the Croix des Gardes and constructed there the villa 'Eleonore-Louise'. Their praises when they were aboard, or had guest from afar in their Château des Yeux de Mer, attracted the foreign aristocracy, who is then began building secondary residences for the winter. With the port town's new fame, it became known as Cannes; Jewel in the crown of the 'Côte d'Azur'. Since the dawn of time Cannes embodies the sweetly scented nation of a life which everybody dreams of living. It is the sun which first playfully with the azure blue of the sea, before laying down to sleep in the arms of its wooded mountains. It is the harmonious marriage of sparkling colour and light. It's lush vegetation prospers languidly in the idyllic climate. The perfect getaway for those who appreciate the finer things in life.
Climate: Andrássy is sheltered by the Camaelines, and is the most protected part of the Mediterranean coast. The winds in this department are usually gentle, blowing from the sea to the land, though sometimes the Mistral blows strongly from the northwest, or, turned by the mountains, from the east. Rainfall is infrequent- 63 days a year, but can be torrential, particularly in Septembre, when storms and rain are caused by the difference between the colder air inland and the warm Mediterranean water temperature (20-24 degrees C.). The average annual rainfall in Nice is 767 millimeters, more than in Elua, but concentrated in fewer days. Snow is extremely rare, usually falling once every ten years. Nice has an annual average of 2694 hours of sunshine. The average maximum daily temperature in Nice in Août is 28 °C., and the average minimum daily temperature in Janvier is 6 °C.
Lefèvre
Lefèvre is composed of a series of very high mountain peaks and deeply eroded valleys.
Dinge: Digne dates back to the neolithic era. It lies in the heart of Eisdane in the foothills of the Camaelines and on the east bank of the Bléone River, giving it a unique transition between the mountains and the plains of the Duchy, joining Grenoble and Cannes. Local cultivation of lavender and fruits for preserving has made the town known all over duchy. The House de Lefèvr's castle resides on a protected ridge to the northeast.
Climate: Lefèvre has a Mediterranean climate in the lower valleys under one thousand meters in altitude and an mountain climate in the high valleys, such as the valleys of the Blanche, the Haut Verdon and the Ubaye, which are over 2500 meters high. The alpine climate in the higher mountains is moderated by the warmer air from the Mediterranean. Lefèvre has unusually high summer temperatures for its altitude and latitude (44 degrees north). The average summer temperature is 22 to 23 °C. at an altitude of 400 meters, and 18 to 19 °C. at the altitude of 1000 meters; and the winter average temperatures is 4 to 5 °C. at 400 meters and 0 C. at 1000 meters. The lower valleys have 50 days of freezing temperatures a year, more in the higher valleys. Sometimes the temperatures in the high valleys can reach -30 °C. Because of this combination of high mountains and Mediterreanean air, it not unusual that the region frequently has some of the lowest winter temperatures and some of the hottest summer temperatures in Terre d'Ange. Rainfall in Lefèvre is infrequent- 60 to 80 days a year - but can be torrential; 650 to 900 mm. a year in the foothills and plateaus of the southwest, and in the valley of the Ubaye; and 900 to 1500 mm. in the mountains. Most rainfall comes in the autumn, in brief and intense storms; from mid-Jun to mid-Août, rain falls during brief but violent thunderstorms. Thunder can be heard 30 to 40 days a year. Snow falls in the mountains from Novembre to Mai, and in midwinter can be found down to altitude of 1000-1200 meters on the shady side of the mountains and 1300 to 1600 meters on the sunny side. Snowfalls are usually fairly light, and melt rapidly. The Mistral (wind) is a feature of the climate in the western part of the Lefèvre, blowing from the north and the northwest, bringing clear and dry weather. The eastern part is more protected from the Mistral. The Marin (wind) comes from the south, bringing warm air, clouds and rain. It is is one of the sunniest regions of Terre d'Ange, with an average of between 2550 and 2650 hours of sunshine annually in the north of the department, and 2700 to 2800 hours in the southwest. The clear nights and sunny days cause a sharp difference between night time and daytime temperatures.
Fontaine
Fontaine is a southeastern Terre d'Ange comte in the Duchy of Eisdane. It takes its name from the Var River, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but which now flows into the Mediterranean further to the east. The Var is bordered on the east by the Andrassy; to the north of the Verdon River by the department of Lefèvre, and to the south by the Mediterranean Sea. Toulon is the largest city and administrative capital of the Fontaine. Other important towns in the Fontaine are: Frejus, Saint-Raphael, Draguignan, and Brignoles. Fontaine is known for the harbor of Toulon, for its seaside resorts, and for its wines, particularly the wines of Bando.
Climate: Fontaine has a climate slightly warmer, dryer and sunnier than Andrassy, but also less sheltered from the wind. Toulon has an average of 2899.3 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest city in Eisande. The average maximum daily temperature in Août is 29.1 °C., and the average daily minimum temperature in Janvier is 5.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 665 millimeters, with the most rain from Octobre to Novembre. Strong winds blow an average of 118 days a year in Toulon, compared with 76 days at Frejus further east.
Comte Available
From the city of Avignon to the peak of Mont Ventoux, through the Luberon hills, discover the lands of this comte, the fields of lavender, and the Côtes du Rhône wines. This comte is a magical region of Eisande where the light seems more intense, the sun seems more luminous, and the air is filled with the scent of eucalyptus and pine. This comte is the interior of Duchy defined to the north by the famous Côte du Rhône vineyards and Dentelles de Montmirail - curious hills with sharp eroded peaks resembling lace. The valley of the Rhône river in the west provides the irrigation for this region of fruit, vegetables and famous vineyards. The Camaelines and Mt. Ventoux mark the eastern border, and dominate the landscape. There are many interesting cultural and historical sites in the Vaucluse, including the theatre at Orange, the Tiberian ruins in Vaison-la-Romaine and picturesque villages with fascinating châteaux.
Climate: This comte is the meeting point of three of the four different climatic zones of Terre d'Ange; it has a Mediterranean climate in the south, an Camaelines climate in the northeast, around the mountains and the massif of the Baronnies; and a continental climate in the northwest. The close proximity of these three different climates tends to moderate all of them, and the Mediterranean climate usually prevails. Orange has 2595 hours of sunshine a year. It rains an average of 80 days a year, for a total of 693.4 millimeters a year. The maximum average temperature in Janvier is 29.6 °C., and the average minimum temperature in Juillet is 1.3 °C. There are an average of 110 days of strong winds a year.
History
Pre-historic Times
Eisande is a historic Duchy the Mediterranean Sea. Skeletons adorned with shell and fishbone necklaces and bracelets have been uncovered in the coastal Camaelines-Maritimes outside Nice, indicating a hunting, fishing, gathering culture. However, the first impact that man had on the landscape was in Neolithic times, evidenced by the building of long barrow burial mounds, known as dolmen. These were actually a series of upright stones supporting a capstone, forming a chamber in which to lay the dead, and then covered with earth. Due to the terrain of Eisande, too rough and too warm to support the great mammals, the staple meats of early inhabitants were ibex, red deer and rabbits; this explains the notable absence of cave paintings depicting the hunt, which were immortalized by cave-artists in western Terre d'Ange.
Quite suddenly, a precocious Neolithic revolution replaced hunting with a pastoral culture, which coincided with the first domestication of wild animals in Terre d'Ange. This new culture has been at the root of Provençal life ever since, although industrialism tried to supplant it for a brief time. In the Vallée des Merveilles above Tende, there are tens of thousands of rock carvings, thought to be evidence of Bronze Age shepherds who came each summer to these inhospitable highland valleys. All of these semi-nomadic shepherds, along with traders in skins and salt, wore into the landscape the first recognizable tracks which would become the waymarks for Roman engineers arriving much later to construct their stone-slabbed highways.
Tiberian Influences
Antibes and Nice, both outposts of Marsilikos, came under attack by pirates in 181 BC, but the Tiberians came to the rescue. Largely, over the next few centuries, as a result of Marsilikos's increasing reliance on Tiabrian's military prowess, and to protect their lucrative trade routes, garrisons were installed in towns between the Camaelines and the Pyrénées and Eisheth's Way was built by the soldiers of the Tiberian Empire.
Gallery
 Map of the Duchy of Eisande |
 Marsilikos |
 Toulon |
 Eisheth's Way |
 The baptistery of Frejus Cathedral |
 Sénanque Abbey, near Gordes |
 The Roman Theater in Orange (1st Century AD) |
 Château des Yeux de Mer in Nice |
 Lefèvr's Castle near Dinge |
 Du Fontaine Estate near Toulin |
Cuisine
The cuisine of Eisande is the result of the warm, dry Mediterranean climate; the rugged landscape, good for grazing sheep and goats but, outside of the Rhone Valley, with poor soil for large-scale agriculture; and the abundant seafood on the coast. The basic ingredients are olives and olive oil; garlic; sardines, rockfish, sea urchins and octopus; lamb and goat; chickpeas; local fruits, such as grapes, peaches, apricots, strawberries, cherries, and the famous melons of Cavaillon. The fish frequently found on menus in Provence are the rouget, a small red fish usually eaten grilled, and the loup often grilled with fennel over the wood of grapevines.
- Bouillabaisse is the classic seafood dish of Marsilikos. The traditional version is made with three fish: rascasse, grondin, and congre, plus an assortment of other fish and shellfish, such as saint-pierre; lotte; ursins; crabs and sea spiders included for flavor. The seasoning is as important as the fish, including salt, pepper, onion, tomato, safron, fennel, sage, thyme, laurel, sometimes orange peel, and a cup of white wine or cognac. In Marsilikos the fish and the broth are served separately- the broth is served over thick slices of bread with rouille.
- Escabeche is another popular seafood dish; the fish (usually sardines) are either poached or fried after being marinated overnight in vinegar or citrus juice.
- An oursinade is the name of a sauce based on the coal of the sea urchin, and usually is used with fish, and also refers to a tasting of sea urchins.
- Brandade de Morue is a thick cream made of cod crushed and mixed with olive oil, milk, garlic and sometimes truffles.
- Rouille is a mayonnaise with red pimentos, often spread onto bread and added to fish soups.
- Ratatouille is a traditional dish of stewed vegetables, which originated in Nice.
- Aïoli is a thick mayonnaise made from olive oil flavored with crushed garlic. It often accompanies a bourride, a fish soup, or is served with potatoes and cod. There are as many recipes as there are families in Eisande
- Soupe au pistou, either cold or hot, usually made with fresh basil ground and mixed with olive oil, along with summer vegetables, such as white beans, green beans, tomatoes, summer squash, and potatoes.
- Tapenade is a relish consisting of pureed or finely chopped olives, capers, and olive oil, usually spread onto bread and served as an hors d’œuvre.
- Daube provençale is a stew made with cubed beef braised in wine, vegetables, garlic, and herbes de provence. Variations also call for olives, prunes, and flavoring with duck fat, vinegar, brandy, lavender, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, juniper berries, or orange peel. For best flavor, it is cooked in several stages, and cooled for a day between each stage to allow the flavors to meld together. In the Camargue area of France, bulls killed in the bull-fighting festivals are sometimes used for daube.
- Fougasse is the traditional bread of Provence, round and flat with holes cut out by the baker. Modern versions are baked with olives or nuts inside.
- La pissaladière is another speciality of Nice. Though it resembles a pizza, it is made with bread dough and the traditional variety never has a tomato topping. It is usually sold in bakeries, and is topped with a bed of onions, lightly browned, and a kind of paste, called pissalat, made from sardines and anchovies, and the small black olives of Nice, called caillettes.
- Socca is a speciality of Nice- it is a round flat cake made of chickpea flour and olive oil, like the Italian farinata. It is baked in the oven in a large pan more than a meter in diameter, then seasoned with pepper and eaten with the fingers while hot. In Toulon socca is known as La Cade.
- The calisson is the traditional cookie of Aix-en-Provence, made from a base of almond paste flavored with confit of melon and orange.
- The gâteau des Rois is a type of Epiphany cake found all over France; the Eisande version is different because it is made of brioche in a ring, flavored with the essence of orange flowers and covered with sugar and fruit confit.
Notable Nobles
| Picture | Actor | Character | Age | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Helen Mirren | Néomie de Fontaine | 55 | Marquise of Central Eisande (Lefèvre and Fontaine Comtes), Barrone of Aubagne |
 | Johnny Depp | Simon de Mereliot | 34 | Marquis of Western Eisande (Mereliot and the NW Comte) |
 | Stewart Townshend | Etienne de Andrássy | 28 | Comté de Andrássy |
 | Irene Jacob | Mariska de Andrássy | 18 | Comtesse de Andrássy, Lady within Lefèvre |
 | Christian Bale | Darius de Lamy | 36 | Viscomte de Andrássy |
 | Matthew Macfadyen | Gareth Levesque | 36 | Lord within Andrássy |
