The Waslands, a regal land, full of wondrous smells and bright visions of beauty,
The birds sing happily almost all the time, the sun shines brightly and the wind is always a soft breeze, (it has its purpose).

When one ventures to the Waslands it is with purpose, for it is a land the Great Gumba loves dearly, it is a land where all you do is feast. (yum)
Feasting is a good thing, so is Mead, but feasting is better than Mead.

The Waslands was not always this way, however, it once was a bleak and dismal place, not really a place, more like an evil vile pass through.
Akin to a wagon that traveled with wares, or a peddler perhaps, or maybe just a little patch of land.

Whichever the case, it was not a joyous place, feasting was not the only thing, nay, it really didnt even exist, for the Waslands once smelt of rotting fish and everything that was rancid about the ocean.
A foul stench, reminiscent of the smell of lickspittle that had baked in the sun for weeks.
A stench that would curl the hairs in your nose and make mortals cry in anguish.
A place that even the Great Gumba would not go unless he absolutely had to.

The King of the Waslands had fallen ill many years before and the whole continent had fallen into decay, yes decay, a fitting word for what it had become.
Then a son was born to the King, a fine strapping young lad who would become the Duke of the Waslands.

The Duke was a studious young lad, always learning and wanting to become better than he was, better than the land he would someday rule.
So the Duke set out to change what was, into something he wanted and could be proud of.
For years the Duke tried many ways to release the awful stench from the land, for years he tried and failed.
One day the duke heard of an Immortal named the Great Gumba, how this immortal loved to feast and drink mead, how he himself had once lived in a place of foul smelly things.
So being the studious lad, he read about the exploits of the Great Gumba, how he defeated Floyd the destroyer, vanquished the fabled Homer and about his lovely Bard, Kerry.

One thing and one thing alone was common in all the tales, FEASTING.
Could it be that food was the answer to his dilemma, could food somehow save his beloved Wasland?

The Duke set forth to find the answer, he had the royal chefs cook and cook and create and taste and eat. For weeks they cooked, for weeks they ate, NOTHING helped.
The Duke was almost at his wits end. Pork had done nothing, Beef had done nothing, Foul had done nothing, Green things had done nothing; even the magical tofuey bean thingy had done nothing, (well it did something, but thats another story).

The Duke was lost, could it be that feasting was not the answer, how could that be.

Discouraged and bitter the Duke walked the long road back to his castle, along the way he happened upon a cart vendor, a vagabond as it were. Much to the Dukes surprise the area around the wagon did NOT smell the awful stenchy smell, how could this be, could he have the answer, could this be what he had been searching for.

The Duke approached and asked what the vagabond was cooking, the vagabond replied, a meat sausage of my creation, part beef, part pork and part magic. I cook it in a pan in which is hot oil and magic herbs; over this I sprinkle fried onions, not any onions mind you but sweet onions from the grounds of Castle Wasland.
This was a miracle; the Duke had found his prize, feasting after all was the answer to his problem. He begged the vagabond to show him the secrets and the magic and after many days of learning the Duke returned to the castle.

Make ready the royal kitchens, for I have the remedy to our ills, shouted the Duke.
Bring me meat and herbs and onions from the south side of the castle, for tonight the stench shall be banished forever from the Waslands and we can once again hold our selves high and proclaim to the world we are the Waslands, come and feast, come and enjoy, come and smile.

The Duke worked feverishly throughout the night, preparing the meat sausages for the pans of frying, many pounds of meat was chopped and mixed and caressed to create the magical tubes of delight.

When the dawn broke, the fires were ordered lit and the oil was set to the pans, when all was ready and the oil was hot, pounds and pounds of fresh meat were laid upon the oil.

A smell unlike anything the great people of the Waslands remember, wafted from the castle, covering the land and banishing the foul stench of baked lickspittle.
A joyous huzzah was heard in and around the castle, Nay it was heard throughout the land for that day the Duke of the Waslands had saved his kingdom and at the same time created a delicacy unknown to mortal and immortal alike, the Wasich.

Many moons have passed since that joyous day, many Wasiches have been devoured and many great feasting days have passed. The Duke of the Waslands and the Great Gumba have become great friends, for the Great Gumba cannot go a week without a Wasich or two, (maybe three).
All is well in the Waslands, the country is sound, and the land is safe, for none dare invade a place that is held in such high esteem by the Great Gumba, for that would be foolish.
So that my friend is the story of how the Waslands became the great feasting legend of many fable. Many tales await thee about the fabled Wasich and the Duke of the Waslands for this world is unlike any other, feasting drives it, and feasting is good.

So Sayeth the Great white Sage of the great Northron region.

This is a tale about the second great beast that prowls the halls of Castle Catalano.
A noble and fierce beast, a fitting companion to Baloo.
When one looks at the beast, they see muscle and sinew, eyes that can pierce the night, claws that can rip flesh and teeth that glisten in the moonlight.
She is a warm companion and a fierce champion defender of Castle Catalano, never far from the Bard.

She came to the castle by way of Karyn the Procreator; the beast wandered onto her estate and would not leave. Not wanting to harm the little one she caught and caged the beast and had her minions take it to her sister, the Bard.
For who else would care for the little one.
She arrived in a cage of silver, very sad and forlorn. Wanting nothing more than to be a companion, however she had a few bad habits.

She liked to chase horses, amusing as this may be; it is not good for the horses.
She did not like gloves or gauntlets, they would be ripped off your hand and them promptly buried. She would then sit on the ground, look at you and bark once, as if to say, hey look what I did, it won’t bother you anymore.
She was however one of the most lovable creatures you could ever want to meet.
To this day she will crawl into your lap (all 80 pounds of her) and cuddle with you.

Her position is clear, she defends Castle Catalano alongside Baloo.
She will defend Kerry the Bard until her lifes breath is gone.
For this dedication and commitment she was named MAYA, a derivative name of a sun god.
For she is a bright light in our world, a creature that will honor and defend the Great Gumba and Kerry the Bard. Light and powerful, able to cover great distances with ease.
Maya is a true warrior beast.

So there you have it, the Great Beasts that defend Castle Catalano.
Baloo and Maya, companions to The Great Gumba and Kerry the Bard.
Prowlers of the night, sentinels of the halls, kindred souls of the immortals.

So Sayeth the Great White Sage.

The Great Beasts,
The Hounds of Castle Catalano,
The Protectors of the Bard,
The Containers of Evil,
The Scrap Scavengers,
The Hunters,
The Lords of the Lowlands,

All of these describe the beasts that roam and protect Castle Catalano.
Some call them fierce creatures that, like the Great Gumba, are next to unstoppable in battle, some say they can eat a mere mortal in under 30 seconds, while others just fear them.

To an immortal however, they are nothing more than companions, they eat and sleep beside their masters, they are well cared for and share much joy with the Great Gumba and Kerry the Bard.
They will however defend Castle Catalano and all its occupants to their last lifes blood.
For you see, they were saved by the Great Gumba and Kerry the Bard, castoffs as it were, beasts that no one wanted.

Baloo was the first beast the Great Gumba saved. Long, lanky and lean was the condition he was found in. A once noble beast, Baloo was nothing more than a shell of the great animal he was.
The Great Caretaker of animals had called the Great Gumba back in the Norr woods and said to his friend, I have a beast that I think is worthy of the Great Gumba. The Great Gumba was overjoyed, he had been searching for a great beast for some time and now he might have found one.

On the way to the great caretakers compound the Great Gumba was trying to imagine what this great beast might look like.
Strong Sinews, Massive haunches, fangs like razors, eyes that can pierce the night.
Great companions to hunt beside the Gumba and maybe even follow him into battle.
Today would be a grand day, thought the Great Gumba.

The caretaker met the Gumba outside his compound, their he began to extol the virtues of this great beast. All of this was pleasing to the Great Gumba, so at last he said bring me the beast.
In walked, (barely) this thin, lanky, mangy looking hound, no massive muscles, no razor like fangs, no noble looking beast be this.

The Great Gumba sat on his haunches and thought and he looked, a tear rolled down his cheek, this was not the beast he wanted.
The beast walked over to the Gumba and sat and stared right into the Gumbas soul.

At that moment, a connection was made, of battles fought and won and some fought and lost. This was the beast.
Come my friend, said the Great Gumba, come and live at Castle Catalano and worry no more.

That was Five years ago, Baloo as he was named, has grown into a great beast, the size of a small horse, able to take on most wild game and win.
One of the Great defenders of Castle Catalano and the Bard.
And once saved the Great Gumba, but that is another story.


So Sayeth the Great White Sage of the Northron Region.