Note: Information on this page is OOC knowledge, except with agreement from the Sable GM
The World of Murray
Murray is located outside of the Commonwealth. It is a trading gateway into the Sable Shadows, although details of its location are usually supplied on a need to know basis. However, it is known that all the approaches to its location are by sea. It has recently suffered a severe set of natural disasters, and as a result, major geographical changes have occurred there. It now comprises a pair of continents, each almost a million square miles in area, where previously there was only one. Of these, Hearadh continent is more temperate, getting actively cool to the north; while Belenus continent, to the south, is somewhat warmer. Despite the land area, the population density is very low, at a little under 40m all told, plus off-world visitors. Between them is the Sea of Rothiemay, in which is an island about one hundred miles across, where the capital of Huntly is now situated.
The overall tech level of the realm is similar to Sable itself, in that much of it is equivalent to post-WWI, having moved forward since the disaster. However, as the industry is based on magi-tech, the level of pollution in the cities is considerably less than it would be in the equivalent size cities on twentieth-first century Earth. The highest tech is the steam engine, and the internal combustion engine still hasn't got onto the drawing board - the high ambient magic level and the nature of Sable's magic, which Murray shares, mean that industry and technology here are also magically powered. Transport on both continents is mostly by rail or road, although the rivers are used where navigable and there is coastal trade, especially on Belenus. The land transport network is more extensive on Hearadh, which has the higher population, spread more evenly across the continent than on Belenus. There is also a great deal of maritime traffic between the continents and with Rothiemay Island, and there are ATS stations in the eight largest cities. As far as firearms are concerned, revolvers, shotguns and bolt-action rifles work, but nothing automatic or semi-automatic. Socially, the attitudes of the people are akin to early-Edwardian, if somewhat less chauvinistic.
Murray is a Constitutional Monarchy, and in general, the government governs, and King Robert or his Regent, Prince James, oversee. All three land masses are split into constituencies, which elect councillors who sit in the local councils in the major population centres. Those local councils elect representatives from their number, who then go to Huntly, to sit in the national parliament, which meets at Government House and comprises about 300 people, with a Prime Minister selected from the largest party in power. The current incumbent is Jonathan Wheeler, of the Tory Party. A mechanism of emergency powers does exist to temporarily suspend democratic rule at times of high threat or disaster, but these have only ever been invoked once, during the recent disaster. Technically, these emergency powers are still in force, although with the stabilisation of the continents and the restoration of their cities, and the rapid rebuilding on Rothiemay Island, the Prince Regent is in the process of restoring government to its elected representatives and declaring the emergency over.
The standard of living is comfortable to high, now that the world is recovering from its tribulations, and there is a mixture of agricultural and industrial economies. Industry is mainly centred around the larger cities on both continents, of which there are eight with populations in excess of one million people, including the three capitals; and another dozen or so of between 500,000 and 1m souls. There are also smaller cities and large towns which have a less-intensive industrial base, and there is still a strong fishing industry.
Hearadh continent, capital Cromarty, is where the majority of the native population of Murray lives, numbering about 22m people. To the north of the continent is the Lliath Mountain range, which reaches to around 10,000ft. There is also another, extensive set of high hills to the south, the Carlincraig Hills. From the highlands, forested foothills roll outwards, until they finally give way to managed forests and agricultural land. Rivers criss-cross the continent, and the major cities are all on such rivers of confluences of the rivers, some distance from the coast or above 1,000ft. The entire coastland is made up of cliffs of varying heights from 50-300ft, a geographic change in the wake of the tsunami that recently devastated the world and reduced the population by almost half, and the rivers have cut deep gorges in the cliffs to drain into the sea. In addition, the fishing harbours, which mostly border the Sea of Rothiemay, are often now in cliff-walled bays, and require steps to get down to the sea. In these bays, elevator systems have been put in place to lift people and cargo from the sea to the villages above. Although there are a nomadic tribes and clans living at altitude, as well as hill farmers and much of the forestry industry, the majority of the population lives closer to sea level - probably 75% of them at 1,500ft or less above sea level.
Belenus continent, capital Newburgh (pop 2m), is the primary centre of trade with a number of other worlds and nations, as well as with the Commonwealth, although most of the trading partners do often also have either offices or embassies in Huntly itself. The total population of the continent is around 11m plus visitors. Being somewhat further south than Hearadh, the climate on Belenus is significantly warmer. The Clashindarroch range is to the north of the continent, but only rises to a little over 6,000ft, and there is hill farming and forestry most of the way to the peaks. The Badenoch mountain range is to the south of the continent, and rises to nearly 12,000ft, with all the rivers from it draining either towards the Sea of Rothiemay, or to the south. To the west side, the mountains rise up very steeply from the coast, so there is only habitation on the coastal plains on that side. To the east of the mountains, the gradient is more shallow, sloping down towards the coastal plains near the Sea of Rothiemay, where the majority population live because the climate is more comfortable, albeit still warm. There is some farming, agriculture, viticulture and industry on Belenus, especially around Newburgh, Denmoss (pop 1.3m) and Inverkeithny (pop 1.2m), the three largest cities on the continent.
Rothiemay Island
Rothiemay Island is located in the Sea of Rothiemay, between the two continents of Murray, and is the location of Huntly, Murray's overall capital. In addition to Huntly itself (pop 2.5m), there is one other major population centre, Millburn (pop 750,000), and there are probably another 0.5-0.75m souls on the rest of the island, including a couple of larger towns, for a total island population of around 3.5-4m. The island is surrounded by cliffs on all sides, the most impressive, the Bailieshaven Cliffs, reaching 600ft. There are two major rivers on the island: the Garry and the Dronach, although there are also a number of rather smaller waterways scattered around the island. The River Garry rises at the Haugh of Glass, an impressive waterfall up in the Hatton Hills (at 2,400ft) to the north-west of the island, and eventually falls to sea level through Glen Garry, a steep-sided valley (almost a gorge) which cuts through the Bailieshaven Cliffs. It is navigable from the sea up to Hillbrae in the centre of the island, due to a complex lock system. The River Dronach rises in Glen Dronach, in the Annochie Uplands (which reach about 2,600ft), to the north-east of the island, although its course down to the sea is rather more gentle.
Rothiemay Island is split between industrial and agricultural production, and there are a number of fishing towns and villages around the island. Millburn is a primarily industrial city, with the agricultural centres being around Culdraine and Coynachie. There is forestry and hill farming on the slopes of the Annochie Uplands.
Huntly City
The capital city of Murray is called Huntly, and is situated towards the south of the Rothiemay Island, nestling in a meander of the River Garry. Huntly itself comprises the walled Old City, which about a mile and a half square, and then the newer residential and industrial areas outside the walls in Greater Huntly, plus the Huntly Docks to the south. The Old City is built on the lower slopes of Castle Hill, which rises to about 400ft to the east, before dropping in high cliffs down to the river. If the whole area, including the residential and industrial suburbs, is taken into account, there are probably 2.5m souls in the Greater Huntly area.
The focus of the Old City is the Octagon Plaza, a large paved area with a road around the perimeter, where the four main thoroughfares in the Old City meet. The Plaza is used for meetings, concerts, fairs, etc, and is surrounded by the National Gallery, the Octagon Hotel, the Murray Museum, and the Huntly Concert Hall. Beyond the road are restaurants and shops, and bars, restaurants and shops also line the outermost road, remaining separated from the walls by more parkland. The only buildings which go right up to the walls are St Raphael's Cathedral, and the Bishop's Palace. Transport within the Old City is solely by carriage or omnibus, with other vehicles limited to the area outside the walls.
The remainder of the walled City is laid out in quarters in a block system, defined by the main thoroughfares, with parks in the corners. The south-western, or Government quarter is the location of Government House, the law courts, government offices, the cathedral and the Bishop's Palace. Ministerial homes are also in the Government quarter, as is the HQ of the City Police (as distinct from the Greater Huntly Police). The University of Murray, Murray Mage School and the City School, plus some some residential property and a couple of other hotels, are in the north-western Academic quarter. Embassies and some of the residences attached to them are in the north-eastern Embassy quarter, with the other diplomatic residences and missions from off-world religions just outside the walls around the North Gate. The south-eastern or Business quarter primarily comprises offices, etc for the various Murray trading concerns which deal with the Commonwealth, plus the Stock, Metals and Commodities Exchanges, although again, there are a couple of hotels in this district plus the Museum of Trade and Industry, and the Gallery of Modern Art. The commercial district for off-world trade is through the South Gate, between the Old City and the River Garry.
Outside the walls is the metropolis of Greater Huntly, which is refinding its feet as the world rebuilds. This outer city is split into a number of administrative areas with residential, commercial and industrial areas, and comprises the largest centre of population and population density on the world. There is a Huntly local council, which meets regularly at City Hall, outside the west wall of the Old City. That area also hosts a more extensive shopping and entertainment district, with hotels, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, nightclubs, casinos, etc. In addition, all visitors arriving by arcane means, including the ATS system arrive in the Visitors Plaza, to the south-west of the Commercial District, where their papers are checked before they are allowed into the rest of the city.
Huntly Castle, home of King Robert and Queen Claire, when they are in residence, and the King's grandson and Regent, Prince James, in their absence, is situated atop the cliffs looking down on the River Garry, surrounded by a double curtain wall, plus an external fortification which joins to the walls of the Old City. Between the Old City and the castle, within the external wall, is public park known as Royal Gardens. The castle itself comprises a comfortable, fortified house and its outbuildings, and a central tower house keep, both stone built of local stone, with an area of private garden also enclosed within the inner curtain walls along with the barracks (which houses about 200 Royal Guard), other buildings, parade grounds and courtyards. There is also a spring which - possibly illogically - rises in a pond within the castle curtain walls, then forms a stream which flows through small arches in the cliff-side walls to the edge of the hill, before falling down the side of the cliffs into the river.
James, Prince Regent of Murray
Prince James, the only child of Prince William, is King Robert's eldest grandchild and is one of the few who was not brought up in Sable. He does visit Sable, maintaining a warm
relationship with his parents, grandparents and the rest of the family, but is primarily resident in Murray, where he has stood as Regent for his grandfather since shortly after
Murray came into being. Prince William was surprised when James was chosen as Regent, but since his son was given the position, he has proven himself to have been a good choice for
the role.
He takes after his father in both appearance and abilities, although his temperament is somewhat calmer, more like his mother's. He enjoys academic work, and is also a born administrator, which has proven very handy in his duties. He is both Talented, and a soldier of some skill, and is one of the generals who is sometimes called upon to conduct the active war with the Reich when theatres of actual conflict break out, although most of the time his duties on Murray take precedence. Most especially, however, he has more control of the Royal Powers than any other member of the family save the King, which makes him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield and elsewhere, and is the primary reason why he was chosen as the King's Regent.
He recently married Dr Rosalyn Shannon, a Talented Murray noblewoman and paediatric physician, whom he met during the restoration of the Murray, as she was on the rebuilding committee with a special brief regarding the needs of those children who lost one or both parents in the disaster. While she is somewhat younger than he is, despite his youthful appearance, it appears to have been love at first sight.
He was admitted to the Order of the Garter on 21st April SY153.