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AABN:  48725
Title: a book entitled, 'The Island of Zulia, volume 1'

The Island of Zulia, by Don Milano Juan-Pedro Gonzales Andorra 

Volume One

The Island of Sloe was once known by another name, and that name was
"Zulia".  Sloe will be referred as Zulia throughout this paper. 

CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY 

The Island of Zulia is a landmass approximately 11,000 kilometers due east
of the Isle of Naginag.  The denizens of Zulia refer  to this continent as
"Atmir". 

If viewed from above, the general shape of Zulia would appear like a
diamond, with the narrow part of the diamond across the  north-south axis. 
The total amount of landmass is roughly equivalent to that of the Isle of
Seriphus. 

Zulia has a semi-tropical climate that changes little throughout the year. 
Rainfall occurs in frequent short downpours at irregular  intervals.  Most
of the continent is covered with forest, save a band of swamplands that
runs from north to south roughly in  the center of the island.  A shallow,
freshwater river runs from north to south a bit west of these swamplands,
which is called "Tuy". 

HISTORY 

Before the portal was opened to Kordan, Zulia was home to a number of
villages.  All of these villages were populated by humans of  the Zulian
race.  Amongst them, the words "human" and "Zulian" were pretty much
considered to be synonyms.  Zulian were aware that  humans exist elsewhere
in the world and call humans not of their race "catires".  (Note: this is
merely a descriptive term.  It is  not derogatory.) 

Zulians believe themselves to be descendants of the race of giant-like
beings who first constructed the portals between the Portal  Islands that
they call "gorros".  The gorros were very advanced in technology and magic,
and number of artifacts from that era have  survived the years and still
continue to function.  Legend has it that the gorros' civilization
collapsed due to in-fighting, and  that fighting between the various
villages of Zulia continued throughout the ages.  A number of villages have
risen and fallen during  Zulia's lengthy and bloody history.  (The author
would have difficulty recounting such history with any accuracy.)  The
names of the  villages were (at the time the author last left Zulia),
starting at the northernmost and going clockwise around the coast: 

Charallave - One of the more populous villages.  It was situated along the
northern coast, west of modern Stillwater. 

Maracaibo - One of the stronger villages.  Maracaibo controlled the fertile
lowlands where Stillwater is now. 

Venezia - Situated on a bay on the east coast of Zulia.  Venezians were
renowned sailors and had the best  navy. 

La Lluvia - Was where what is now called the Blue Marsh.  The people built
their houses on rafts and on stilts. 

Bandera Azul - Believed be built on the site of the capitol of the gorros
and is connected to a number of  underground ruins. 

Gocholandia - Were very warlike and aggressive.  It was the only village
not on the coast, being a bit  south of the center of the island. 

Marguera - Was where Pellam is today. 

Barquisimeto - One of the smaller villages, situated on the northwest coast
of the island. 

After the portal from Kordan was activated, settlers from Atmir quickly
established the base camp that would later become  Vemarken.  These
colonists rapidly spread out all of the island, consuming and exporting the
scant resources that Zulians relied on  for survival.  The settlers became
involved the many inter-village conflicts and played the various villages
against one another to  avoid direct conflict.  Once the Zulians realized
what was happening, it was too late.  The conflict shifted from between
villages to  a fight between the mainlanders, who were primarily from
Ralnoth, and the Zulians, but the natives did not stand a chance.  The 
Zulians rapidly lost ground to the Ralnothians due to the latters' superior
magic.  Before they knew it, only Bandera Azul remained,  and the Zulians
had no choice but to surrender or be wiped out.