随想①

●「湾泉（わんせん）」黄金帯
大路を横断する細長い源水。誰もその果てを知らないが、大陸のあらゆる小川はほとんどすべて、この水から分かれ出たものだ。

本流に近い黄金地帯には、「モンガビ」「トラシュ」「シャヴィアナ」「シモ」の四大都市を中心として、数々の小都市や町が育まれ、種族と命が最も集う場所となっている。

伝承によれば、「湾泉」の源を見つけ出した者は、大陸から忘れ去られ、姿を消した種族――人魚に出会えるという。

【人魚の簡説】
彼らは海の精霊であり、また悪魔でもある。甘美な歌声で甘露を誘い、熱き涙で水流を絶え間なく大地の隅々へ導く。そして、自らの存在を見てしまった命を、ひとつ残らず呑み込んでしまう。

【怪聞】
黄金帯の経済は常に繁栄し、諸種族はかろうじて平和を保ってきた。だが最近、奇妙なドワーフの博士が現れたという。狂ったように諸都市を駆け回り、出会う者ごとにこう告げている――「湾泉」が熱を帯びている、と。だが、誰がそんなことを気にかけるだろうか？

——

“Wansen” — The Golden Belt

A slender source of water that crosses the great highway.
No one knows where it ends, yet almost every brook and stream on the continent is said to branch off from this single flow.

Along the golden region close to the main current lie the four great cities—Mongabi, Trash, Shaviana, and Shimo—around which many smaller towns and settlements have flourished. It is the place where the greatest number of races and lives gather.

According to legend, one who discovers the true source of Wansen will encounter a race long forgotten and vanished from the continent—the Merfolk.

[Brief Account of the Merfolk]

They are both spirits of the sea and demons alike.
With voices as sweet as nectar, they entice all who listen, and with burning tears, they guide the flowing waters ceaselessly through every corner of the land.
Yet any being that catches sight of their true form is devoured—without exception.

[Strange Rumors]

The Golden Belt’s economy has ever prospered, and its many races have managed, just barely, to maintain peace.
But recently, a peculiar dwarven scholar is said to have appeared—rushing madly through the cities, proclaiming to everyone he meets:

“Wansen is growing warm.”

And yet… who would care about such a thing?