Shreeve of Shrivenshire

PS painting from pencil drawing

Shrivenshire, an area of writers who protested against the old king in many satirical and comedic dialogues posted as town proclamations in neighboring villages and shires.
As punishment, a shire reeve was established to keep those unrepentant writers in check. This shreeve, or sheriff, imposed crushing restrictions on written works and thereby devastated the local economy. The neighboring shires, starved of creative literature and entertainment, begged the king to grant Shrivenshire a reprieve or install some less severe person to take over. This he would not do. His pride had been injured too severely and he knew others kings laughed at his mockery at the hands of mere writers.
Many years later, after the death of the old king and the rise of his moderate and well read son, the prince of Litteran, the reprieve was granted. A thankful Shrivenshire, absolved of past ills, wrote a stunning work to the new king's graciousness and wonderful fashion sense. That work went on to become a best seller in the more fashionable districts of the growing empire.

The principal town of Shrivenshire, Olde Roods got its name as a twist on words. The area was long known for its pleasant lake and many old roads and routes through the shire led there. The region was full of gnarled old trees that refused to yield even for well trod roads, their roots extending out and causing the routes to be extremely bumpy and uneven.
Over time people grew tired of such uncomfortable travel and fewer people frequented the lake. Only the most stubborn and resolute would choose to call the area home and so for long years it has been the home to writers and old men.

Other cartographic works...