Averoigne
Encyclopedia
Averoigne is a fictional counterpart of a historical province
in France
, detailed in a series of short stories
by the American
writer
Clark Ashton Smith
. Smith based Averoigne on the actual province of Auvergne
.
tribe called the Averones. They established a number of settlements in the region, many of which were fortified when the Roman Empire
absorbed the region. When Christianity
spread through the Empire, many churches and monasteries were established among the ruins of Druidic temples. Greatest among these was a great cathedral
constructed in Vyones, completed in 1138.
Other towns and villages located in Averoigne include: Moulins, Les Hiboux, La Frenâie, Touraine, Sainte Zenobie, and Périgon. In the forest can be found haunted ruins, such as the Château of Fausseflammes and the stronghold of Ylourgne.
In addition, in the novel A Case of Conscience
, James Blish includes a character named "Lucien le Comte des Bois d'Averoigne." This name means, "Lucien, the Count of the Woods of Averoigne."
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, detailed in a series of short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
. Smith based Averoigne on the actual province of Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
.
History
In ancient times, Averoigne was settled by the fictional GallicGaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
tribe called the Averones. They established a number of settlements in the region, many of which were fortified when the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
absorbed the region. When Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
spread through the Empire, many churches and monasteries were established among the ruins of Druidic temples. Greatest among these was a great cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
constructed in Vyones, completed in 1138.
Geography
Averoigne is located in the southern half of France. The northern half of the territory is dominated by the walled city of Vyones, site of an impressive cathedral. In the southern half is located the town of Ximes; the main road of Averoigne runs between Ximes and Vyones, straight through the thick, dark forest that blankets the province. A river called Isoile flows from the mountains in the northern part of the province to feed into a swamp in the south.Other towns and villages located in Averoigne include: Moulins, Les Hiboux, La Frenâie, Touraine, Sainte Zenobie, and Périgon. In the forest can be found haunted ruins, such as the Château of Fausseflammes and the stronghold of Ylourgne.
Fragments
A number of other Averoigne stories exist in outline form, uncompleted at the time of Smith's death. These include:- "The Gargoyle of Vyones"
- "The Sorceress of Averoigne/The Tower of Istarelle"
- "Queen of the Sabbat"
- "The Doom of Azédarac"
- "The Oracle of Sadoqua"
- "The Werewolf of Averoigne"
Other writers
Other writers have set stories in Averoigne, including:- "Out of the Aeons", by H.P. Lovecraft (with Hazel Heald), 1933
- "The Butcher of Vyones", by Michael Minnis (The Sorcerer’s Apprentices, Sunken Citadel/Tenoka Press, 1998)
- "The Circumstances of Ghostly Cats", by Michael Minnis (Apocalypse Rhythm: The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales of Michael Minnis, Volume 1, Lindisfarne Press)
- "Gros Vert", by Michael Minnis (Apocalypse Rhythm: The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Tales of Michael Minnis, Volume 1, Lindisfarne Press)
- "Symposium of the Gargoyle: A Tale of Nineteenth Century Averoigne", by Simon Whitechapel
- "The Passing of Belzévuthe" by Simon Whitechapel
- "Hugh the Discerning" by Garnett Elliott
- "The Doom of Azédarac" "posthumous collaboration" by Ron Hilger
- "The Oracle of Sadoqua" "posthumous collaboration" by Ron Hilger
- The Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
module X2, Castle AmberCastle Amber (Dungeons & Dragons)Castle Amber is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure module designed by Tom Moldvay. This was the second module designed for use with the Expert D&D set.-Plot summary:...
, designed by Tom MoldvayTom MoldvayTom Moldvay was a game designer and author most notable for his work on early materials for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons .-Career:...
, contains numerous references to Averoigne
In addition, in the novel A Case of Conscience
A Case of Conscience
A Case of Conscience is a science fiction novel by James Blish, first published in 1958. It is the story of a Jesuit who investigates an alien race that has no religion; they are completely without any concept of God, an afterlife, or the idea of sin; and the species evolves through several forms...
, James Blish includes a character named "Lucien le Comte des Bois d'Averoigne." This name means, "Lucien, the Count of the Woods of Averoigne."