Westemnet

The Westemnet (the 'West-Plain') is the plains of Rohan west of the river Entwash, and bordering the Fangorn forest to the north. Lands north of the Folde described as “a grey-green sea” of “endless miles of grass” containing “hidden pools and broad acres of sedge waving above wet and treacherous bogs.”

Summary

Westemnet has a population of approximately 1060. The region has several permantently inhabited settlements, including the town of Entwade.

Climate and Ecology

Westemnet contains the following ecological zones:

L2 - Sub-Mediterranean-subcontinental herb-grass steppes, locally meadow steppes

S25 - Tall sedge fens

Architecture

There are three main housing styles in Westemnet:

• Longhouses: Based on Anglo-Saxon longhouses. Longhouses in Westemnet, due to less available wood, have walls primarily made of mud and wattle with thatched roofs.
• Stilt houses: Stilt houses are houses raised on piles over the surface of the soil or a body of water. Stilt houses are built primarily as a protection against flooding; they also keep out vermin.
• Turf-houses: Based on Norse era longhouses, turf-houses are built with a mud brick base and a turf-roof held up by wooden support beams.

Since Westemnet and the Folde are both settled by the same group of people, the interior styles are virtually identical. Interiors vary depending on the function of the building and the profession of its inhabitants.

Levees are used in some areas to control floodwater.

Economy

The economy of Westemnet is mostly agricultural and pastoral, with some settlements only being inhabited seasonally to permit seasonal pastoralism.

Bog Iron and peat is extracted from the wetlands surrounding the Entwash.

Regions

A map of Westemnet.

Entwade Town

-Population: ~300 (~55-60 houses)

-Industries: markets for sale of livestock

-Style: Westemnet, more stilt houses

WEV1

-Population: ~150 (~25 houses)

-Industries: large pastures, space for seasonal market

-Style: Transition from Folde to Westemnet style.

WEV2

-Population: ~160 (~25-30 houses)

-Industries: large pastures, rushes harvesting

-Style: Westemnet

WEV3

-Population: ~140 (~20-25 houses)

-Industries: large pastures, peat cutting

-Style: Westemnet

WEH1-8

-Population: ~20 each

-Industries: pastures, rushes harvesting, peat cutting

-Style: Westemnet

WEC1-3

-Population: ~50 each (~7-10 tents)

-Style: Rohirric encampment style, see Eastemnet 15