Photos of Lothere

Sunday 8 April 2007

We have seen some of the disadvantages of attempting to locate my story in a real location. One of the advantages is that the valley and its landmarks really exist, in a fashion. Therefore, keeping in mind that the distances are four times as they appear, I can show you some “photos of Lothere”.

The above photo is a view from the height of the downs, southward towards the big lake. Dunellen castle is on one of the knobby hills along the lakeshore on the right of the photo, namely the one at the very edge of the photo. Egelric’s castle would be on the hills that are just out of sight on the left. (Photo by Michaeljohn.)

Here is a view from the south side of the river, looking west across the northern part of the lake:

Dunellen castle is on the lakeside hill at top center, and the patch of green just behind it is the fertile little valley where Dunellen village is located, and also Bertie’s manor. His manor would be just behind the hill from this angle. Sir Eadwyn’s manor is on that side of the lake as well, at the right edge of the photo. Egelric’s castle is on the hills behind us. (Photo by Hisashi.)

Another shot of Dunellen across the lake, at dawn:

Is that hill photogenic or what?

This, if I am not mistaken, is Egelric’s hill:

It is seen from the southwest, and covered in shadow, appropriately enough.

Here is why Sigefrith is not too worried about any armies marching into the valley except through one of the obvious entrances:

These are the mountains south of the lake. (Photo by Neil Ferguson.)

Here is a view walking through these same mountains:

There was nothing here in 1085 either, but it was so pretty! (Photo by Paul Townend.)

Here is a view across the northeastern lake:

This could be the view west from Sir Baldwin’s castle. I thought it was pretty with the snow.

Here is a view from the northern mountains looking southwest towards the lake:

You should be able to recognize Dunellen as the last of the range of hills on the far side of the lake. Egelric’s castle is on the side of the steep hill on the left side of the picture. (Photo by greenspice.)

Here are two of the stone circles just to the north of Acanweald:

Here we’re looking roughly eastward towards Raegiming. Isn’t it funny how no one in the story has ever noticed these stone circles before? *shifty eyes* (Photos by William Russell and Pete Bridgwood respectively.)

I don’t know where in the valley this is, but it’s nice and Novembery:

Here is a view of Acanweald:

This picture looks down from the climb up to Thorhold, towards the northwest. (Photo by Barry Curwen.)

I could keep this up for hours, but you get the idea. It makes me sorry that I am not a Hollywood director and can only use the Sims to tell my story. Now that you have seen what it looks like, you can imagine along with me.

And now that I have seen what it looks like, I am dying to go there. Anyone up for a Lothere-​​based field trip? 

But I’m afraid I might totally lose touch with reality if I set foot in the actual location of my story. At best, I will start looking around for the ruins of my castles. At worst I will start looking around for Sigefrith and his friends, or at least the descendents of the elves…