Northwash

Northwash (S."Forodló") stood well protected on the slow-moving north stream of the Entwash delta. Flood waters were less prone to swell this particular branch, and the levees were stronger. Nevertheless, the inhabitants built no stone houses; only wooden ones clustered atop this small, sandy knoll. These folk exploited the wealth of the river in many ways: north and east of the village old channels once ran and later the marsh had dried, and the peat left behind was cut for fuel. On the banks of the Formennin, ﬂoating wooden pontoons marked out galasenin beds. The trappers and hunters drew their punts and coracles alongside these ﬂoats after venturing into the Midden. These resourceful marshmen made their way by trapping mink, otter, and vole, catching young hawks and harriers, and shooting duck, goose, grebe, and heron. The folk of Northwash were somewhat tacitum and gruff by nature, having a particular dislike for those south of the delta. Travellers were apt to have the door slammed in their face. They had no headman, preferring a kind of ﬁerce independence. Since the loss of so many communities in the Enmets after the Plague, they had fallen outside most jurisdiction, with only an occasional River Patrol visit.