Location

Abernathy is the province in the northeast of Elan. It shares borders with the provinces of Killock to the west, Gauld to the southwest, and Wyllis to the south. Its northern border is shared with the country of Dorage. To the east is the Bryne Ocean, and in it Bailey Island, which also belongs to the province. Abernathy’s capital city is Woolsley, nestled in the southeast of the province.

Environment

Most of Abernathy is densely forested, except for the coastlines where salt flats are plentiful. The waters of Colbane Bay are perfect for fishing and ship-building, especially with such plentiful lumber available. Bailey Island, although rocky and vulnerable to storms, is the location of numerous shipyards and factories. 

Livelihood

The people of Abernathy are divided between those who live in the forests and those who cling to the coastline. In the forest, life revolves around lumber. Sawmills litter the province, making up most of the jobs. However, with so many mills around, land disputes are common and cause fiery competition between owners. Of these owners, two families have emerged as the main competitors: the Dickersons and the Marletts. Rorey Dickerson controls most of the northern expanse of Abernathy’s forests while Judy Marlett controls strong footholds in the south. Where the two overlap is often filled with turmoil and riots. Some lumber workers are fiercely loyal to their employers and take up this extra work to attack the competition. Many more workers just want to put food on their tables and a roof over their heads. Working for a lumber company already has enough dangers to it - adding an explosive rivalry can be the tipping point for many to leave.

Those who stay in the forest have a complex life. Around them is beauty, plenty, and hardship. There’s plenty of firewood, but most families struggle to find enough food. They must either buy canned and pickled foods from company stores or hunt for food themselves. There are, however, a handful of people who reject the lumber life and have taken on hunting, trapping, and fur trading full time. Foxes, wolves, otters, minks, weasels, deer, elk, and many other species populate the area and are pursued for their meat, hide, and fur. Once a patch of land is too heavily hunted, the trappers and hunters simply move on. 

Along the coastline, residents depend on the ocean for their livelihoods - either through making salt or fishing. All towns along the coast fish. Several large cities even have canneries. 

One of the largest seaside economies used to be whaling. It’s said that whaling built Bailey Island, as it had the greatest access to the Bryne Ocean. For decades, whales were sought after for their meat and blubber. Their bones were prized as a resource with which to make all manner of objects. Due to decreasing whale populations, the practice has recently fallen into decline. Bailey Island currently hopes to switch to more commercial fishing, but some residents refuse to give up the old ways. Residents of Bailey Island tend to be more superstitious than the people on the mainland. 

Specialties

Aside from lumber and fishing, Abernathy is known for artisans that excel at woodworking, taxidermy, and bone carving. With plentiful lumber, many seaside cities have devoted themselves to building ships for commercial and military use. 

Key Cities

Sackville, at the innermost point of Colbane Bay, is the most populous city in Abernathy. It boasts the largest shipyard in Abernathy. Sackville is also home to the Republic of Elan Naval Academy, and merchant and military sailors frequent the streets.

The largest cannery belongs to Fog Harbor, at the northeastern tip of Colbane Bay. It’s a dizzying and populous town - more populated even than Woolsley. Trade ships come through often to drop off imports from other provinces in exchange for the canned delicacies. Life there is more cosmopolitan, and more socially mobile, than the rest of the province.

Woolsley is the third most populated city in Abernathy. Most of the people in and around the city hold jobs in the civil service or work to support those civil servants. Many families with wealth will move here to influence lawmakers and rise in public ranks. As such, trade and industry continue to boom.

Views from Others

The people of other provinces often view those from Abernathy as pessimistic. This could be due to the fact that they are always prepared for the worst to happen. They are also seen as the most superstitious, especially when it comes to reading signs from nature and the weather. In all, they are seen as people who prepare for the worst and take cues from the world around them in helping to that end.