Encyclopaedia Elyden Entries #27 - Rhinocoloura

Here's the 26th Encyclopaedia update for your perusal, based on the latest Atlas map, depicting Rhinocoloura. I've also added a simple PDF, as well as just listing all the entries here.

Please let me know what you think and let me  know if there's any mistakes or typos as these entries are heading straight to the Encyclopaedia at the end of the month :)  

You can keep up with these entries by looking for the  'Encyclopaedia Entries' tag.  

If you have any queries about any of the following entries, please don't hesitate to ask :) _______________________________________________________   

ABANA: l. in the Far E of Rhinocoloura, forming part of the border with it and Pnessa. 

ABBEN: r. in the c of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, flowing N for 225-miles from sources in the  

ABATH: Karkadanni city in the far S–E of Rhinocoloura, on the scrub woodlands around l. Abana, where in 1050 RM Korachani explorers made contact with karkadanni for the first time.

Little is known of the city and its people, and it was last documented by imperial scholars in c. 2450 RM, when the city was described as a ‘gem in the jungle’ (pop. unknown).

ABYDDOS: rocky region serving as a border between the N–E of Rhinocoloura and the far W of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber, specifically the tribal territories of Illphagos. It is noted for its many volcanic cones, sulphurous fields, and colourful geysers. The area is renowned for the electrical discharges that pepper the ash clouds that hang above the cones.

Abyddos is thought by some to be Atramentally-active, though it is so inimical to exploration that this remains merely a hypothesis.

ADARAS: Mtn. range dominating the c of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, from N to S, forming part of the Ethistoni Highlands. 

ADAVAM: Mtn. range and highland region in the N - E of Rhinocoloura, W of the glass hills of Athorna in the W of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber. The S - W steppe of the Mtns. is home to the crater known as Cthaith, in which meteoric ore deposits were once found.  

AGORNON: halfblooded middle-caste found in the city-state of Hazor, under the command of the Tyranon caste. The agornons are the spawn of otherworldly breeders who mate with human slaves, and serve as a middle-class in Hazor society, fulfilling various roles.

AJALADI: settlement in the c W of Rhinocoloura. It is known for its cattle rearing (Pop. c. 7,000). 

AKASHUN: small city in the c N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major source of myrrh in the region (Pop. c. 17,500).

AKASM: large l. in the S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, along the Danosoth Mtns. It is commonly considered as the main source of the r. Shibboleth (3), which flows over 5,000-miles N to the Inner Sea from the l. Its N-shores are known for their black sand and glass-like stones, and it was traditionally the site where many merills would spawn, though pollution and corruption of the r. Shibboleth, as well as damming and industrialisation along its course has led to them dwindling greatly in numbers.

ALAMANARA: ancient tower in the N - W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura thought to date back to the Fourth Age, though little is known of its roots. It is made of an unidentifiable metal and, despite its name, is thought to be solid. The tower is around 20-ft. Wide at the base and rises for some 80-ft. tapering suddenly at the apex. It is covered in a thick layer of lichen and mosses, with vines and other creepers growing thickly at its base. Attempts at penetrating the surface have so-far proven unsuccessful, and excavation works outside it have revealed that the tower -more correctly called a pillar) penetrates the earth to a depth of no less than 100-ft. Possibly much deeper. Some believe that it is linked some way to the Prison carceri, though this claim is otherwise unfounded.  

ALOADI: small city in the W of Rhinocoloura, along the W-shore of l. Shibbeth, along the course of the r. Shibboleth. It is a major producer of legumes (Pop. c. 13,000). 

ANGOR: also ‘the Tower of Studies’. College in Rhinocoloura, some 10-miles to the S - W of the capital city of Sardonyx. Many scholars in the region graduate from this college, which dates back to 1153 RM, when the ntn. was still under Korachani control. A small settlement has appeared around the college to cater to the needs of its students and staff (pop. c. 2,500).

BAB DETHABA: small city in the c S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, to the W of the Kaddras Mtns. It is a major breeder of camels that are used in trade in the region (Pop. c. 16,500).

BAB HEBIB: city in the N - W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 45,000).

BAB SHEKH: settlement in the c S - E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major course of granite in the region (Pop. c. 5,500).

BABAEA: small city in the S - E of Rhinocoloura, along the course of the r. Dawwan. It is an agricultural centre, exploiting the seasonal inundation of the r., growing crops as diverse as sesame and peanuts along the alluvial soils for miles N and S of its boundaries (Pop. c. 16,000).

BABEKH: small city in the c of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, along the course of the r. Abben. It is known for its peanut and chickpea cultivation (Pop. c. 13,000). 

BAGASH: small city in the N - E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a military centre in the region, and many rhinocolouran troops are recruited and trained here (Pop. c. 20,000).

BAMUSDA: major city in the c of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major industrial centre and one of the most urban cities in Ethistonith (Pop. c. 300,000).

BARAWADI: settlement in the N - W of Rhinocoloura, along the course of r. Raseleth. It is known for its cultivation of reeds and rice (Pop. c. 6,000). 

BIRAMA’S NEEDLE: (3,050-ft.) natural rocky pillar in the c of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, rising for over 1,000-ft from the S - W of the Naberin desert. At the base of the pillar is a ruined ancient Hazorin fortress dating back to c. 700 RM, abandoned in c. 1080 RM.    

BOROCHAN: abandoned Korachani coal-mining colony in what is now the E of Rhinocoloura. It was founded in c. 620 RM and operated largely unchallenged until 800 - 900 RM, when it was abandoned due to decreased yields and increased costs to maintain. Over the years the open-cast mine was appropriated by Neandaran and later Rhinocolouran industries, though only scraps of coal remained, hardly worth the cost of operations, and the pit has lain silent and empty for over a millennium.

BYSTRA: major r. and tributary of the r. Shibboleth, with its source in the tribal territories of Chril in the c of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber. It passes through the territories of Atevegos and Illphagos, before crossing the border W into Rhinocoloura, before meeting its parent, the r. Dakhan.

CARPHIS: city in the E of Rhinocoloura, which originated from the abandoned Korachani colony of Marchosia. Historically, it was renowned for its gold quarries, which were heavily guarded by imperial forces. Over time the gold yields have dwindled, and it now specialises in producing jewellery and object d’art, much of which is traded E across the Salt Road with Mulciber, specifically the tribe of Illphagos (Pop. c. 18,000). 

CTHAITH: complex crater situated in highland plains in the N–E of Rhinocoloura, just W of the Adavam Mtns. The meteoric iron deposited in its centre was the site of a large open-cast mine that was abandoned in c. 1200 RM, due to dwindling yields and the increasing difficulty of transporting iron over 1,500-miles to Morulaurgo, the closest Sarstroan harbour. 

DAIJANI: settlement in the W of Rhinocoloura, just 9-miles W of Phithasol, across the r. Shibboleth.  It is a major producer of food, particularly grains (Pop. c. 7,500). 

DAKHAN: r. flowing W for 700-miles from sources in the tribal territories of Jacitta and Illphagos in the Growing Mountains of Mulciber, into Rhinocoloura, before joining with the r. Raseleth, itself a tributary of the r. Narreti.

DALAHET: small city in the c W of Rhinocoloura. Its main industry is tanning, using cattle hides  (Pop. c. 18,000). 

DAMMAN: r. in the W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, flowing E for 310-miles, before meeting its parent, the r. Shibboleth.

DANOSOTH: expansive Mtn. range in the c E of Sammaea, forming the S-most border of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, known for some tainted terrain. It is home to l. Akasm, which is commonly referred to as the main source of the r. Shibboleth.

The Mtn. range is commonly divided into two; the Upper and Lower Danosoth, to the N and S respectively.

DAWWAN: major r. in the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, flowing N for 750-miles from sources in the Upper Danosoth Mtns. before meeting its parent, the r. Shibboleth. 

DEAD PLAINS, the: region in the E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, in a basin surrounded by the Nakaras and Tatrasan Mtns. In c. 2000 RM it was a healthy scrubland, known for its many settlements of shepherds and cattle-drivers, but a series of devastating droughts between 2180 - 2280 RM, saw millions of herd animals starving and eventually dying of dehydration. Hundreds of settlements were likewise wiped out, their people either dying or fleeing to the N where the climate was not as severe. The region remains a desert to this day, the desiccated remains of livestock dotting the ground, reminding any foolish enough to travel there what awaits them.    

DENERYX: one of two major fortifications built in the empire of Neandara (present-day Rhinocoloura) in 3280 RM, the other being the tower of Lekheryx. The towers were constructed to defend the northern borders of Neandara from possible attack from the north, specifically from the Korachani empire, though they were never used and fell into ruin after the collapse of Neandara in 3470 RM.

DOTHEGAR: Mtn. range that serves as a natural border between the ntn. of Rhinocoloura and its vassal, the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. The E of the range is home to the independent state of Hazor 

EGRET CRUSADES, the: beginning around 3250 RM, these series of battles and skirmishes launched from the E-most provinces of the Korachani empire against the perceived barbarities of the ‘hinterlands’ surrounding the borders of those lands – Naareth, Anubia, Aethios, Rhinocoloura, and particularly Suor.

Named after the Venthiri General-patrician who organised the first crusade, the wars were launched by the patricians, barrators and the Church of the Undying Machine in order to exploit foreign lands without the need of imperial subjugation: pillaging, capturing slaves, quick resource grabs, etc. The so-called crusades were a constant in the area until their decline in c. 3500 RM. Though never declared to have stopped (indeed, localised crusades were continuing well into the dying days of the Korachani empire), the last official crusade of its kind was in 3523 RM.

The Egret Crusades were notable in contributing to the decline of local rel. and forms of mysticism that went against the teachings of the Church of the Undying Machine. Most noteworthy is perhaps the near-destruction of the ancient form of mysticism known as Gramarye, which only remains in Waelmigh and Gibeah.

EREBISH: settlement in the N of Rhinocoloura, situated along the course of the r. Dakhan. It is known for its legume productions (Pop. c. 10,000). 

DEBADI: settlement in the c N - E of Rhinocoloura, known for its sizeable goat herds (Pop. c. 6,000). 

DONHAK: ruined metropolis in the far W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, in the Atramentally-tainted region of Taruula Haal, within the desert of Phritphora. Little is known of the ancient stone city, but it had already been  deserted for many years when first encountered by imperial explorers in c. 1150 RM. 

ELAHIKH: settlement in the c S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major course of granite in the region (Pop. c. 7,500

ELASHEN: fortified city on the W-shore of l. Nefen, in  the c W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. (Pop. c. 45,500). 

ELEBMEN: settlement in the c N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It’s main industry is the production of myrrh (Pop. c. 8,000).

ENERYX: city in the N–E of Rhinocoloura, forming a part of the Salt Road. It commonly trades N with the Mulcibian tribe of Orim (Pop. c. 80,000).

ENYGOHATH: Aiklah ruins in the S–E Rhinocoloura, in the Zelet Badlands. Little but the vaguest remnants of foundations and formless statues now remain, half buried in the foothills of the Rhinocolouran highlands, though some sun-bleached aiklah bones have been found, scattered around.  

ERALYX: city in the N - W of Rhinocoloura, along the E-bank of r. Dakhan. The city is a centre of a dozen smaller settlements up and downstream that are major producers of legumes, that are stored in Eralyx before being traded (Pop. c. 42,000). 

ERATHASH: rock formations in the Khunrath region in the far N - E of Rhinocoloura, covering around 3,500 square-miles. The region is renowned for its untouched raw beauty, the red tint of its granite rock and the near geometric intrusive igneous pillars that dominate it.

ERINAKH LAUR: (c. 1200 - 3211 RM) (lit. ‘New Erinat’). Ntn. in the N - E of Sammaea, in what is now the N of Rhinocoloura  that appeared in 1403 RM following the retreat of Korachani colonists from the region of Erinat in 1195 RM, when the Interreges were left as caretakers of its abandoned mining operations there. Over the years they would forsake their Korachani roots, adopting local culture and traditions. Coupled with Kzanademi immigrants from the S and the natives of Erinat, a new nation appeared, calling itself Erinakh Laur, which means ‘new Erinat’ in the Kzanademi tongue.

By c. 1780 RM Erinakh Laur had divided itself into three prefectures - the N, S, and E, ruled from Sardonyx, Hazor, and Erivur, respectively. Amongst them, Hazor would become richer than the others through its industries and trade routes, making its rulers believe the prefecture was more important than the others, leading them to demand more autonom. This was refused by the ruling council, and Hazor would distance itself from the other prefectures, expanding S. Erinakh Laur remained a singular ntn. on paper, in truth it had ended with the growing ego of Hazor’s rulers, the Maathora, and by around 2400 RM Hazor had effectively excised itself from Erinakh Laur, leaving the other two prefectures to fend for themselves. Sardonyx and Erivur petitioned the Maathora to think of the common good, but it was too late. In 2483 RM Hazor declared its independence, effectively challenging Sardonyx and Erivur to refute the claim. Knowing that they were no match for the military might of Hazor, they had no choice but to accept.

Hazor came under the leadership of the otherworlder Neander in 2965 RM. He ousted the Maathora and moved his armies N to challenge the remaining prefectures of Erinakh Laur for dominance. The two prefectures fractured, the dream of a united Erinakh Laur ended. Neander would then pressure both Sardonyx and Erivor to capitulate, and secreted spies in both capitals to facilitate this, but neither prefecture capitulated. In 3194 RM Hazor besieged the city of Erivur, leaving it half-destroyed, its populace decimated. No sooner was the city taken, did the Hazori armies march against the sole remaining prefecture capital - Sardonyx - but there was no need. The loss of Erivur led to a cessation of hostilities in 3211 RM, with the eventual capitulation of Sardonyx, bringing Hazor in full control of what had once been Erinakh Laur. Neander renamed his new empire Neandara, after himself, bringing to an and a ntn. that had existed for just over 2,000-years. See Vol II: Extinct Nations and Realms. 

ERINAT: ancient city-state that originated in the N - E of Sammaea in what are now the S - E of Aethios and the N - E of Rhinocoloura. Having located the Idol of Baphomet, the nomadic Erinati people would settle the land around the confluence of the r. Dakhan and Saradar, building a temple to house the Idol, which became an object of veneration to them. The people of Erinat would spread over the coming centuries, founding new settlements along the two rivers, founding the settlement of Sarad Ryx (now Sardonyx) in c. 50 RM.

The arrival of Korachani explorers to the area in c. 380 RM brought with it clashes with missionaries and colonists on their way to founding new mines for the empire. As mining operations increased, Erinat would suffer greatly against soldiers that were better-equipped than them. Erinat suffered in this time, abandoning some of its settlements in the E, as it moved away from the Korachani colonies. 

By around 610 RM merchants from Hazor made their way N, bringing with them precious ores to Erinat, and its capital, Tigar, and a well-guarded trade-network was formed between them, as well as the Liegelands of Lakertha, to the W. 

In around 750 RM, at the height of Korachani activity in the region, the Idol of Baphomet was stolen by a rogue shaper. This devastated the people of Erinat, and the religion that had arisen around the Idol waned, disappearing completely by around 1000 RM.

Between around 850 - 1000 RM the people of Erinat (amongst others) would experience a cultural renaissance, as Kzanademi refugees fled to the region from the distant S, bringing with them a healthy culture. Their polytheistic religion found a foothold in the vacuum left by the Idol of Baphomet, as did their language, which within centuries had largely supplanted the old Erinati tongue, which was complex and antiquated. 

Korachani expansion continued over the next centuries, as resources continued to dwindle. In 1195 RM the region was left in the hands of the Interreges, who would remain in the region until 1403 RM, by which point support from Korachan was all but terminated. By that time they had been assimilated by local culture and traditions. What were once the colonies of Korachan, the state of Erinat, and the Kzanademi migrants, had all mingled, becoming one people, one nation - Erinakh Laur, meaning ‘new Erinat’ in the Kzanademi tongue. See Vol III: Extinct Nations and Realms.

ERIVUR: major city in the E of Rhinocoloura, along the course of the r. Sarakhar. After the Interreges were ousted from the region in 1403 RM, it became the capital of one of three prefectures of Erinakh Laur (now Rhinocoloura). It was besieged in 3194 RM during a brutal civil war that left it devastated, its populace decimated. It would later recover and go on to become one of the most industrious cities in Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 180,000).

ETAR: settlement in the N - E of Rhinocoloura, along the course of the Salt Road. It is a major manufacturer of ochre pigment, which is sold across the trade-route and is used as far afield as the Korachani empire and Parthis (Pop. c. 26,000). 

ETHISTONI HIGHLANDS: explansive highland region dominating the c and S regions of Etjhistonith, in the N - E of Sammaea. The highlands are made up of various ranges, all linked, including the Adaras, Kaddras, Nakaras, Sarasan, and Tatrasan Mtns.    

ETHISTONITH: ( - 3703 RM) (dem. Ethistoni) arid highland ntn. in the N - E of Sammaea, to the S of Rhinocoloura, the E of the Umbra Sokhar and W of Pnessa. Historically, its people were insular, maintaining little contact with the outside world outside of necessary trade. Its S lands are sparsely-populated due to the climate and terrain, and most settlements were traditionally located within 100-miles of the r. Shibboleth. 

There was much contact between Ethistoni natives and Korachani settlers during the height of Imperial colonisation of the region between c. 600 – 800 RM. this resulted in much conflict, but the Ethistoni people were adept at hiding in the rocky terrain and using it to their advantage. The Korachani invaders had difficulty securing the region, and moved on S, eventually founding the colony of Noavatur, about 800-miles S.  

In c. 2500 RM Ethistonith became the target of Hazori hostilities, and the latter was able to annex some Ethistomi territories before the period passed. This stained relations with Hazor in the future and the already insular Ethistoni people would bear an enmity towards the Hazori that lasts to this day.

In the years following 3470 RM, Ethistonith saw an influx of halfooded refugees fleeing S from Hazor - exiles of House Neander, which was overthrown in 3469 in Hazor, following the death of its ruler, the otherworlder Neander. These halfbloods would mostly forsake their noble heritage, mingling with the mortal populace of the N of Ethiisonith. They were most numerous in the city of Yehhan, and today most of its residents can claim some degree of Hazori ancestry.

It was annexed by the Rhinocolouran Khanae in 3703 RM, and its government dissolved, becoming little more than a territory of Rhinocoloura. Today, 300-years following its assimilation by rhinocoloura, its people are far-removed from the days of independence, and though there is an ancestral mistrust of the city of Hazor and its denizens, the people of Ethistinith have adapted to their live as part of a greater empire. 

The region around the r, Shibboleth remains fertile and largely rural, with few industrialised cities of note along its 1,450-mile stretch.Indeed, much of Ethistonith is considered wilderness, where wild animals roam free, the true rulers of the land. See Vol III: Extinct Nations and Realms.

HAZOR: (dem. Hazorin) storied city in the S - E of Rhinocoloura, based around an ancient citadel in the E of the Dothegar Mtns. Hazor has roots in the early days of the Fifth Age and was a major fortress where natives fought against the Korcachani colonists that were invading lands to the N - E, in the region of Ugostauth, between c. 390 - 420 RM. Following this the city became a centre for both culture and military and stood apart from the growing Erinati state in the N.

It grew wealthy from mining valuable ores in the S-face of the Dothegar, and its unsurpassed natural defences made it easily defensible, and by c. 750 RM it had dominated lands S of Dothegar, as far away as Birama’s Needle, around which it constructed a major fortress that today lies in ruins.    

As Erinakh Laur expanded to the N between 1400 - 1600 RM, it would slowly exert political pressure on Hazor, which in 1720 RM became the capital of one of three prefectures of the nation, though by c. 2400 RM Hazor had grown so powerful that it excised itself, effectively becoming an independent region, though on paper, it remained one of three prefectures of Erinakh Laur.  In 2483 RM it formally declared its independence from the other prefectures, which were unwilling to risk open war with the more powerful prefecture. 

In 2965 RM it was visited by an otherworlder calling itself Neander, who gained a vast following amongst the city’s upper echelons, rising to power in 1001 RM, where he ruled until his death in 3462 RM.   

In 3739 RM, 36-years after Rhinocoloura was able to orchestrate the capitulation of Ethistonith, Hazor was also absorbed by the Khanate after years of political marriages and influences finally paid off. 

In 3808 RM the city of Hazor was attacked by seven pale otherworlders, who hunted the remaining members of the halfblood house of Neander across Rhinocoloura like animals. They appeared without warning and acted without provocation, stoically murdering all descendants of Neander they could find. It is unknown if any escaped, and if they did, they surely fled far from Hazor or Rhinocoloura. After weeks of conflict in the region, the mortals and halfbloods unable to wound, let alone slay any of the attacking otherworlders, the seven attackers disappeared without word, and nothing is known of their purpose in Rhinocoloura, or the reasoning behind their attacks. 

Hazor served as the capital of the empire of Neandara, after the Otherworlder Neander united the 3 prefectures of Erinakh Laur under his banner in 3211 RM following a lengthy civil war. Hazor was to remain capital until the fall of Neandara in 3462 RM led to the fracture of its lands, after which Hazor would survive as an independent region on the peripheries of what would become Rhinocoloura.

Today, Hazor remains a powerful city in full control of the surrounding region, its armies forming a major part of the Rhinocolouran mil. forces (280,000). 

HUHSAN: settlement in the c S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major course of granite in the region (Pop. c. 3,800

ICHABAB: settlement in the far E Rhinocoloura. For centuries it has been known for its monocerous hunters, the horns of which are sold at great profit to the pharmacological industry and scholars, who seek to study them to learn more about their healing properties and natural resilience to the Atramenta. As a result Rhinocolouran monocerouses have been hunted to near extinction and only remain now in small numbers in the sparse rainforests of Abath, and the karkadanni who dwell there are known to go out of their way to protect them (Pop. c. 8,000).

ILLAREGH: (B. unknown - D. 3712 RM) halfblooded ruler of Rhinocoloura from 3618 RM to his death of natural causes in 3712 RM. Of red-skin and claiming otherworldly heritage (a claim that was never refuted but also never proven, other than for his unnatural longevity), he first appeared in the settlement of Melakab, claiming he would unite the struggling prefectures of Rhinocoloura. He was successful in 3618 RM after years of war and ruled until 3712 RM, leaving a dynastic Khanate that rules Rhinocoloura to this day. 

IMOROR: highland region between the r. Dakhan and Mhalar in the E of Rhinocoloura. The entire area is replete with duststone, which though forming beautiful and convoluted chasms and formations, has led to the region being barren and dangerous to large creatures, where the risk of the ground collapsing is increased. What life exists here is adapted to the harsh terrain, though this was not always the case. Korachani colonists settled the region between 430 and 750 RM, founding the fortress of Marchosia  in 752 RM, and it was their industry and mismanagement of resources that was partially to blame for its present condition. The tomb known as the Soth Hammomar Hanihil is located to the far N–E of the region.

INDRA: large bas-relief carving covering a cliff-face in the region of Abyddos, in the N - E of Rhinocoloura, believed to be a remnant of the ancient Aiklah culture that was thought to have existed in the region thousands of years ago.

ISURUS: Mtn. range in the N - E of Sammaea, forming a natural border between the E of the Kharkharadontid desert, and the S - W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. Cliffs along its W-face are known for the hewn-tombs of Senerokh, thought to date back to the late Fourth Age. 

KADDRAS: Mtn. range in the S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, forming a part of the expansive Ethistoni Highlands. 

KALARLI: small region of Atramental taint in the c N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. The region has diminished greatly in size, from its peak in c. 1800 RM, when it was estimated to be about 10,000 square-miles in area, and is today under 200 square-miles in area. During its peak, the rate of congenital physical deformities were more common than the norm elsewhere in Ethistonith, though this has decreased today.    

KARKADAN: (Plr. & Dem. Karkadanni) also ‘Lord of the Desert’. Bestial humanoid creatures characterised by a keratinous horn on their faces, thick skin, stubby fingers and large girth. Reclusive and slow of gait, they are pensive creatures, prone to long periods of melancholy and contemplation. Karkadanni are incredibly strong, though lethargic, rarely possessed of the energy or purpose to engage in difficult or lengthy physical pursuits. They are omnivorous, eating anything they come across, from fruits and vegetables and bark to carcasses.

They are known as the Lord of the Desert amongst the etheri nomads, and the word is transliterated as Karkadan in Korachani, from which its imperial name originates. 

Once common throughout much of Sammaea, they are only now seen fleetingly along the route of the Salt Road in Rhinocoloura, Ethistonith and Aethios, where they dwell in sheltered badlands. Once a proud and haughty race, the karkadanni are now shy amongst other humanoids, wearing crude cowls to cover their bestial features.

The Korachani empire first made contact with karkadanni in the city of Abath in c. 1050 RM, and they were described as: ‘large grey thick-skinned beasts that walk as men, their brows heavy, their faces distorted by keratinous horns.’ Original accounts were dismissed as fancy though later contact with the karkadanni and accounts of neighbouring people confirm such stories. See Vol II: Classification and Taxonomy of Life: Reghon Haghor.

KHLASH: also ‘the Weeping Plains’. Wetlands in the E of Rhinocoloura, along the N shore of l. Nohehun, known for its wildlife. 

KOTHALIK: fortified city in the W of Rhinocoloura, along the border with Ethistonith. Before Ethistnith became a vassal of Rhinocoloura, Kothalik was known for its embassies and diplomats, who are said to have had a hand in planting seeds of dissent amongst Ethistoni natives that would facilitate their capitulation to Rhinocoloura in 3703 RM. (Pop. c. 98,000).

KRANAT: sect of karkadanni ascetics native to the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura and parts of Rhinocoloura who live in small monastic groups in the arid roughlands of the region. They are known for scrimshawing their nose horns, and they prepare the skulls of their dead, entoming them in niches constructed in the cliffs of their homelands. 

This practice is most common in the N - E face of the Dothegar Mtns. overlooking the Zelet Badlands, and comes from the ancient belief amongst karkadanni that the designs bestow power upon them. This may be true, as evidenced from runic magic and runic tattooing, which utilise the power inherent in leylines, but is a largely unexplored facet of karkadanni culture.

KURABEI: (B. 3957 RM) present ruler of the Rhinocolouran Khanate. 

KZANADEMI: language spoken in Rhinocoloura, and by minorities in Noavatur. It arrived in Rhinocoloura between c. 850 - 1000 and was spoken by Kzanademi exiles following their exile by Korachani invaders. The language was simple and spread throughout the land and was adopted by the newly-emerged ntn. of Erinakh Laur, going on to become the national language of Rhinocoloura upon its founding in 3470 RM. See Vol II: Languages of Elyden. 

KZANADAEMI POLYTHEISM: rel. of Rhinocoloura. Brought N by Kzanademi immigrants following the geneocide of their people by Korachani settlers in the c E of Sammaea. The rel. is known for its many deities, and its priests wear veils over their faces, which are revealed only when in communion with their patron god. See Vol IV: 

KZANADI: city in the c of Rhinocoloura. It is named after the Kzanademi migrants that first appeared in the region between 850 - 1000 RM, and where most scattered into existing settlements, a few did found a new settlement, that would go on to become Kanadi  (Pop. c. 35,000). 

LAKARTHA: city in the N - W of Rhinocoloura. Its origins date back to the ancient Sokharan empire, and it was once the capital of the Liegelands of Lakertha, which were attacked by Neander in 3298 RM, leading to their destruction and eventual absorption into the empire of Neandara. Today it remains as a healthy city along a tributary of the r. Shibboleth (Pop. c. 33,000).

LAKERTHA: also ‘the Liegelands of Lakertha’. Early Fifth Age N - E Sammaean ntn. founded by descendants of the Sokharan dynastic family in what is now the E of the Umbra Sokhar and the W of Rhinocoloura. Members of the Sokharan dynastic family fled E in the century following the crumbling of the Sokharan empire in 348 RM, leaving the politicking that dominated the power vacuum left by the collapse of Sokhara behind. 

They slowly expanded, building a road network and expanding their military, securing what resources they could by around 500 - 550 RM, by which time they had made contact with the state of Erinat, whose people were moving W due to increased hostilities with the Korachani colony of Marchosia. The Lakerthans, still bearing an enmity towards Korachan, became allies of the Erinati, and became part of a flourishing trade network. 

The empire of Neandara declared its independence from Erinakh Laur in 2483 RM and it soon expanded to the W, clashing with Lakerthan border forces. This escalated into outright war in 2521 RM, though open hostilities did not last long. By 3211 Neandara had subjugated Sardonyx and Erivaur, reuniting the original three prefectures of Erinolh Laur, after which it set its sights on Lakertha, which in 3298 RM fell to its armies after a year-long siege, becoming part of the empire. Neandara collapsed with the death of its otherworlder ruler in 3462 RM, and after some years of conflict, the region restabilised by 3469 RM, becoming rhinocoloura. See Vol II: Extinct Nations and Realms. 

LEKHERYX: one of two major fortifications built in the empire of Neandara (present-day Rhinocoloura) in 3280 RM, the other being the tower of Deneryx. The towers were constructed to defend the northern borders of Neandara from possible attack from the north, specifically from the Korachani empire, though they were never used and fell into ruin after the collapse of Neandara in 3470 RM.

LETHE: city in the Prison Carceri beneath the N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, just E of the Anialla Mtns. The city has a surface exit built around an ancient sinkhole. The mouth of the hole is heavily fortified and has an open-air market where goods from the deep are sold to the surface world. It is one of few Carceran settlements to trade so openly with the surface (Pop. Unknown).

LIBRARY OF BABAEA: fort-like mud-brick college in the far S of Rhinocoloura, in what was the state of Hazor when it was constructed in c. 2640 RM. It is an antiquated building and were it not for yearly renovations that patch up weather damage to the mud-walls, it would disappear within decades. Inside, scholars are taught the old oral traditions of the region, as well as the Atramental history of the area, particularly the Umbra Sokhar.  

MAATHORA: ruling sect of Hazor in the state of Erinakh Laur. They rose in c. 1830 RM and were responsible for the economic and military growth of Hazor, which in 2483 RM declared its independence from Erinakh Laur. They ruled the new ntn. of Hazor until they were ousted by the otherworlder Neander in 2965 RM. 

MAKHUR: settlement in the W of Rhinocoloura, W of the r. Shibboleth (Pop. c. 6,000). 

MARIGETA: priests, often Shamen, common to many regions of Rhinocoloura, who fulfil the role of holy leaders in the region’s polytheistic religion. They are often found in positions of authority, where they oversee the conservation and reverations of holy water sites. 

MARCHOSIA: 1. Also ‘Makoshar’. Now extinct Korachani colony in what is now the E of Rhinocoloura, around the hills of Imoror. Established in c. 750 RM, following months of travelling upstream along the r. Dakhan, a small settlement was founded in fertile lands some miles S of the confluence between it and the r. Mhalar. There, mining operations were established, exploiting the gold reserves in the region.

As other Korachani colonies faltered against native resistance around the Ugostauth Plateau, Marchosia was able to maintain tentative contact with Korachan for at least six decades following the establishment of the fortress, though as the Desposyni Wars reached a peak in c. 830 RM contact decreased until the city was declared abandoned by Khadon in 859 RM. other settlements in the region were maintained until 1195 RM, at which point they were left to the Interreges. This time also marked an end of hostility between an expansionist Korachan and Ethistonith and other adjacent ntns.

Following the colony’s isolation from the empire, Marchosia slowly developed its own culture, eventually adopting native customs whilst never truly abandoning its Korachani roots. A tradition that remained and which would eventually become adopted by much of Rhinocoloura is the custom of interring the skulls of the dead in great towers, with the details of the deceased carved into the cranium. Though individual settlements survived, the fortress was abandoned to the advancing duststone formations of Imoror. 

In c. 1340 RM it was restored and converted to a monastery of an ascetic order of monks who abandoned it to guardian templars in c. 1500 RM. Over time the monastery became the object of the templars devotions, and the teachings of the monks were forgotten. Pilgrimages from surrounding towns became common and a city grew outside its walls, catering to the thousands of wayfarers that visited it every year.

By this time, the people of Marchosia had integrated with the natives, their language (still rooted in Korachani) developing on its own, adopting native phrases and words. By c. 1800 RM the people were calling their land Makoshar.

Little is known of the regions’ fate, though by 2600 RM the region had been subsumed by Rhinocoloura. Most of its cities were abandoned, with the exception of Carphis, which remains to this day. The high number of earthquakes and duststone collapses in the area have levelled most of the regions’ ruins.

2. fortress capital of the eponymous Korachani colony in the N - E of Sammaea, in what are now the N - E of Rhinocoloura, S - E of Aethios, and W of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber. Officially founded in 752 RM, it first appeared some centuries earlier as a tentative colony. As the people of Marchosia (later Makoshar) grew distant from their Korachani roots,the fortress remained a constant – a holy structure and link to their roots. By c. 1340 it had become a monastery, though by c. 1500 it was empty, guarded by Templars after it had become a place of pilgrimage.

Following the regions’ demise in c. 2600 RM, the fortress-temple was allowed to decay and is now almost completely erased by the elements and subsequent earthquakes.

MASOLYAN: small fortified city in the N of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 18,000). 

MELAKAB: settlement in the S - W of Rhinocoloura. It is unimpressive, and home to shepherds, though it played an important role in the rise of the Rhinocolouran Khanate, for it was the first recorded settlement where the Khan Illaregh first made himself known. In 3601 RM (Pop. c. 7,000).  

MERODI: settlement in the N of Rhinocoloura. It is known for its production of legumes (Pop. c. 3,400). 

MHALAR: r. In the N - E of Sammae, flowing N - W into Rhinocoloura from sources in the Growing Mountains of Mulciber and the Ugostauth plateau for 550-miles, before meeting its distributary, the r. Dakhan, itself a tributary of the larger r. Raseleth.

NABERIN: rocky highland desert dominating the E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is an ancient land, its rocks worn smooth by wind and rain, and is largely uninhabited. It is populated by a semi-nomadic indigenous people who revere the igneous dome of rock known as Pathon, and who hold the land sacred.

NAKARAS: Mtn. range in the S - E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, forming part of the expansive Ethistoni Highlands.  

NEANDARA: (3211 - 3470 RM) relatively short-lived Fifth Age empire in the N - E of Sammaea, in what is now Rhinocoloura. Emerging from the ntn. of Erinakh Laur following the subjugation for surrounding lands by the otherworlder Neander, the empire was belligerent, known for its well-equipped armies that between 3042 - 3211 RM marched across the lands surrounding the city of Hazor, which was made capital of the newly-christened Neandara. 

The empire grew rich from industry and trading, and in 3298 RM marched against Lakertha, succeeding in taking most of the ntn. within a year, expanding its territories further.

Neandara prospered following this, maintaining its wealth, and trading with the Salt Road, protecting its borders against foes that had no intentions of antagonising it. But it was not to last, and the empire crumbled following the assassination of Neander in 3462 RM. His offspring quarreled amongst themselves trying to decide who will rule in his place. The mortal populace would revolt amid this chaos, storming the imperial citadel in 3469 RM, finally able to depose the fragile ruling house  the next year. The offspring of Neander were either executed or exiled, with some of them fleeing S, settling Ethistonih and Pnessa.  

The resistance instated the leaders of their uprising as the rulers of Hazor, and one of their first actions was to abandon the name of Neandara. Instead they named their home Rhinocoloura, a corruption of the old name, Einokh Laur, that had grown in popularity amongst resistance members.  See Vol III: Extinct Nations and Realms.

NEANDER: 1. (B. unknown - D. 3462 RM) dard-skinned otherworlder, commonly acknowledged to be an Aehari. He became the ruler of the city of Hazor in 2965 RM after supplanting the ruling Maathora sect there. He later took over the three prefectures of Erinakh Laur, renaming them the Neandaran empire. He remained ruler until his assassination in 3462 RM, which would lead to the fracturing of his house, and the eventual collapse of Neandara, named after him, which was founded in 3211 RM, after the three prefectures of Erinakh Laur was united under his banner.

2. Halfblood house sired by the eponymous otherworlder in the city of Hazor in Rhinocoloura, between 1001 - 3462 RM. Careful not to dilute the bloodline too much, he sired nineteen children, and never allowed the house to surpass 500 in number.  The house was divided in two - the Tyranon upper caste, made up of first to third generation halfbloods; and the Agornon middle-caste, made up of fourth generation halfbloods and above.

NOBATA: settlement in the c W of Rhinocoloura. It is known for its cattle rearing (Pop. c. 4,000). 

NOHEHUN: l. in the E of Rhinocoloura, acting as a confluence of the r. Mhalar, Somalan, and Sarakhar, with the Mhalar leading N1 from it into r. Dakhan.

NORERAEL: also ‘the Godscrowns Mountains’. Mtn. range in the c S of Rhinocoloura. In Rhinocoloura it is known as ‘the Godscrowns’, after its many peaks, each of which is named after one of the many deities of its pantheon. 

OBEAH: once-capital of Ethistonith positioned along the banks of the r. Dawwn. With the annexation of Ethistonith by the Khan Illaregh in 3703 RM, the ntn. was absorbed by Rhinocoloua, and the duties of capital were taken on by Sardonyx, to the N. Nevertheless the city remains a major political hub, where the old territories of Ethistonith are governed to this day.

In antiquity the region surrounding the city was Atramentally-active, and some degree of disfigurements were not uncommon in nearby settlements, particularly Obeah. Today the Atramental taint has subsided naturally and only exists in the small region of Kalarli to the S - W of Obeah, though birth defects remain more common than they are elsewhere in Ethistonith.

During the peak of these outbreaks a caste of untouchables emerged in the city made up of those whose bodies had been touched by the Atramenta. By c. 2050 RM they made up a considerable lower-class, consigned to slums, on the N-banks of the r. Dawwan (which is ironically gentrified today and home to high-value properties). Over time these untouchables would develop a pervasive criminal network, and they became important informers, even coming to work for the government by c. 2120 RM. Today this untouchable caste has largely been eradicated, though a small number of outcasts remain, ignored by most  (Pop. c. 285,000). 

OGGADEN: rough highland region in the N of Rhinocoloura, forming part of the border with Aethios. 

OPOANT: fortified city in the c S of Rhinocoloura, just N of the Norereael Mtns. It is a major military centre, and manufacturer of military equipment  (Pop. c. 50,000). 

OTODA: region of mesas in the Upper Danosath Mtns. in the S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. The mesas are noted for their moss-covered tops.

PARAETA: major fortified city in the S–E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 75,000).

PARAHADI: major fortified city in the far N - E of Rhinocoloura. It is home to many troops who patrol the region of Soudal against banditry and Mulcibian attention (Pop. c. 75,000). 

PATHON: dome of igneous rock in the E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, in the region of Naberin. It is unclear whether or not the formation – measuring no less than a mile wide and half as high – is artificial or of natural construction, though many cite various features, including the regularity of its surface, as evidence that it was created, though whether by mortal or Demiurge hands, remains unclear.

The region is largely ignored by natives though a group of semi-nomadic indigenous people hold the dome and the land surrounding it as sacred and has travelled its lands since the late Fourth Age, and is unrelated to any of the other ethnic groups in Ethistonith today.

PHITHASOL: 1. 43-mile length of the course of the r. Shibboleth, in the c S - W of Rhinocoloura, known for its many white water rapids, making commercial travel across this part of the r. Impossible. There are 4 main cataracts, which as a group are named after an ancient temple, found in the region, which also gives its name to a major city, S of the first cataract, along the N - E shore of l. Shibbeth. 

2. Ancient temple, its exact location now lost, in the S - W of Rhinocoloura. The series of whitewater rapids along the course of the r. Shibboleth are believed to have been named after the temple.     

3. Major city in the S - W of Rhinocoloura, named after an ancient now-lost temple (Pop. c. 175,000). 

PHRITPHORA: expansive stone desert in the far E of Kharkharadontis, crossing the border into the W  of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is characterised by its gravelly surface and large black glass-like rocks that lie scattered across the otherwise featureless expanse. Part of  the desert crosses over into the Atramentally-tainted wastes of Taruula Haal.

RENNED: small city in the c N - E of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 14,000). 

RHINOCOLOURA: (3470 RM - ) Situated in the central north-east of Sammaea, nestled between the wasteland of the Umbra Sokhar and the Growing Mountains of Mulciber, Rhinocoloura occupies a 1,900-mile stretch of the mighty river Shibboleth. Half of its territories are dominated by arid mountains, badlands and highlands, and the rest is comprised of the fertile drainage valleys of the Shibboleth, where most settlements are located. 

The Khanate of Rhinocoloura was established in 3618 RM, following the appearance of the red-skinned Khan Illaregh in the city of Melakab 14-years earlier. This came at the end of a 14-year campaign that swept across the region from west to east, ending with the successful siege of Sardonyx, which remains the capital and seat of the Khanate to this day. 

Following Illaregh Khan’s death of natural causes in 3712 RM, rhinocolouran borders have stabilised somewhat, though it was able to absorb Etistonith in 3739 RM, after political seeds sown by the Khan decades earlier came to fruition. Though its armies are no longer on the march, the Rhinocolouran military is still respected, though it is perhaps better known today for its trade in ochre, myrrh, and myriad foodstuffs cultivated along the alluvial soils of the river Shibboleth - an inauspicious fate for the marching armies of the Khanate. See Vol III: Extant Nations and Realms.0

ROLOUR: small city in the c of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 12,000). 

RHITHASOL: expansive mushroom-shaped rock-formation in peaks in the S of Rhinocoloura.

SABNOL: fortified settlement in the N of Rhinocoloura. It maintains a trade link with Aethios in the N and the Umbra Sokhar to the S - E.

Not to be confused with the city of Sabonol in the E of the Umbra sokhar, with which it shares a trade route. The names are thought to be etymologically-linked, possibly owing a common ancestry in the early Fifth Age or earlier (Pop. c. 70,000).

SAHURRE: small city in the c N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major source of myrrh and is the c. of the myrrh production industry in the region (Pop. c. 20,000).

SARAD RYX: ancient early Fifth Age settlement in the state of Erinat, S of the r. Saradar. An outbreak of river flu around the confluence of the r. Saradar and Dakkhan led to many Erinati settlements being abandoned, and the Idol of Baphomet, located in a temple since c. -450 RM, was moved to Sarad Ryx, which became the new capital in around 220 RM. 

The city was abandoned in c. 520 RM, due to Korachani influence in the region, and was larger resettled in c. 690 RM, eventually becoming the capital of Erinat after the old capital, Tigar, was razed by Korachani forces in 817 RM. Its  name would slowly change to Sardonyx, the present capital of Rhinocoloura.

SARADAR: r. in the N - E of Rhinocoloura flowing N - E for 180-miles from sources in Siri Rah Mtns. before meeting its parent, the r. Dakhan.

SARAKHAR: r. in the E of Rhinocoloura, flowing N for 190-miles into l. Nohehun.

SARASAN: Mtn. range in the S - W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, forming part of the expansive Ethistoni Highlands. 

SARATHANT: 1. small fortified city  in the N - W of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 15,000).

2. Major fortress in the N - W of Rhinocoloura, guarding the Salt Road from banditry

SARDONYX: bustling metropolis and capital of Rhinocoloura since 3631 RM, and currently the seat of the Rhinocolouran Khanate. It originated as the small settlement of Sarad Ryx, founded by Erinati settlers in c. 50 RM, though was abandoned in 520 RM following increased Korachani influence in the region. Its natural vantage point over surrounding lands and natural springs made it the perfect site for a settlement and it was resettled by c. 690 RM, and in just over 100-years it was made the capital of the N prefecture of Erinakh Laur, after the old capital, Tigar, was razed by Korachani forces in 817 RM. It would eventually become known as Sardonyx by c. 900 RM.

Though never part of the Salt Road (which turned E around 60-miles N) Sardonyx nevertheless became an important trade city, and a way point of sorts where caravans would leave the Salt Road to trade good before turning back N. 

By c. 1780 RM Sardonyx had become the religious centre of Erinakh Laur, and had become renowned for its large temples devoted to the Kzanademi Polytheism, an identity it retains to this day.

In 2965 RM Hazor came under the leadership of the otherworlder Neander, after having already declared its independence from Erinakh Laur in 2483 RM. Following this it would pressure Sardonyx to capitulate, and political intrigue became a way of life in the city, with Hazori spies vying to sway the city’s opinion of Hazor. Unsuccessful, Hazori forces would go on to prey on trade between Sardonyx, Erivur and Lakertha in 3042 RM, and within a few decades the region was embroiled in all out war. In 3194 RM Hazor destroyed the city of Erivur, and moved further N towards Sardonyx. This led to the signing of surrender in 3211 RM, and Sardonyx capitulated to Hazor, bringing Hazor in full control of what had once been Erinakh Laur, renaming the region the empire of Neandara. 

Sardonyx remained a major city throughout the rule of Neander, which lasted until 3462 RM, when he was assassinated, leaving the empire in tatters. Resistors in Sardonyx rallied the people against the descendents of Neander, and led an uprising that would reach the city of Hazor in the winter of 3469 RM, attacking its ruling citadel, further destabilising the capital, which fell the next year. The resistance instated its generals as rulers, who divided the land into four prefectures, of which Sardonyx became capital of one.

In 3604 RM a red-skinned mortal appeared in Rhinocoloura, alongside an army and entourage of followers  claiming to be the descendent of an otherworlder, sent to unite the struggling prefectures. He began a campaign across Rhinocoloura, capturing city after city. Sardonyx was the last city to fall to the Khan in 3618 RM, where he instated a new government, after which Rhinocoloura became a Khanate, with Sardonyx as its capital (Pop. c. 1,053,000).

SENEROKH: rock-cut tombs in the W-face of the Isurus Mtns. in the far E of Kharkharadontis, thought to date back to the Fourth Age. 

SENNET: settlement in the S of Rhinocoloura. It is known for its production of Myrrh (Pop. c. 4,000). 

SHIBBETH: 1. l. along the course of the r. Shibboleth, forming part of the border between Rhinocoloura and Ethistonith. 

2. Isl. in the eponymous l. The remains of many dead merills can be found there, some thought to date back to the Third Age or earlier. 

SHOAR: roughland basin in the far N of Rhinocoloura. It’s N-most reaches, along the spine of the Oggaden formation, form part of the border with Aethios.

SIBALLA: l. in the c N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. In antiquity, the l. was the site of a sizeable Merill city, which today lies ruined, above the shorline of the l. Which has diminished in size over the years.

SIRI RAH: long Mtn. range in Rhinocoloura, stretching across its c-lands for over 300-miles. 

SOLOM: 1. Peninsula, around 65-miles long, in the S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, protruding S into l. Akasm 

2. fortified coastal city in the far north of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, situated along the eponymous peninsula in l. Akasm. It is home to mil. forces that patrol the l. and the waters of the r. Shibboleth, as far N as the city of Paraeta. 

SOMALAN: r. in the E of Rhinocoloura, flowing N - W for 270-miles from sources in the Ugostauth Plateau, before meeting l. Nohehun.

SOSNYX: small fortified city in the E of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 12,000). 

SOTH DESOTA: also ‘the Living Idol’. A stone colossus carved from a rocky pinnacle in the W of the Upper Danosoth Mtns. in the S of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, not far from the shore of l Akasm. Local legend names the being the colossus depicts as Zsanacha Atthat, an otherworlder cursed to wander Elyden for eternity. The legend is linked to reports of strange dreams that haunt the sleep of those who rest close to the colossus, echoing with memories of a thousand different lives.

SOTH HAMMOMAR HANIHIL: ancient cleft in the N–W of Rhinocoloura, in the N- E of the duststone formation Imoror. The place is said to have been made when the Demiurge Rachanael smote the body of an otherworlder to the ground during a battle in the Third Age. The incorruptible body of the Illithamé is said be imprisoned in the area, where it is endlessly tortured by corrupted plagi and Aehari.

SOUDAL: 1. Plains in the N - W of Rhinocoloura. 

2. Settlement in the N - W of Rhinocoloura. It straddles the course of the r. Apena, and operates a ferry that links the city of Parahadai with the rest of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 4,000). 

TADAT: settlement in the N - E of Rhinocoloura. It is known for its ochre production (Pop. c. 6,000). 

TARUULA HAAL: major Atramentally-tainted region in the N - E of Sammaea, around the border between the far E of Kharkharadontis and the W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura.  The region was once dry scrubland, though what flo. once lived here have become warped by the presence of the Atramenta.

TATRASAN: Mtn. range in the S - E of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, forming part of the natural border with Pnessa. It forms part of the expansive Ethistoni Highlands. 

TEMPLE OF THE IDOL OF BAPHOMET: ancient ruined temple in the N - E of Rhinocoloura, near the confluence where the r. Saradar meets the r. Dakhan. The temple was constructed in c. -450 RM by nomads who decades earlier had found the Idol of Baphomet, thought to have been lost for centuries. 

THIAMIT: mud-fortress in the far N–E of Rhinocoloura, close to the r. Apena, bordering the Plateau of Khunrath to the S and the plains of Aromur. Possibly library? 

TIGAR: ancient capital of one of three prefectures of Erinakh Laur (present day Rhinocoloura). The city was attacked by Korachani forces in 817 RM and razed, never to be resettled. The capital was later moved to the city of Sarad Ryx. 

TROANT: settlement in the N - E of Rhinocoloura (Pop. c. 8,000). 

TYRANON: ruling halfbloods of the city of Hazor in Rhinocoloura from 2965 to 3470 RM. Descended from the otherworlder ruler Neander, only halfbloods of the 1st and 2nd generation made up its raks, and were each given control of various territories across the empire. Following the death of Neander and the deposing of his family from the leadership of Neandara in 3470 RM, the Tyranon and Agornon castes were executed, with the remnants exiled S, ending their influence on Rhinocoloura.

UGOSTAUTH: large arid plateau region in the E of Rhinocoloura, adjoining the W-most reaches of the Growing Mountains of Mulciber. It is rocky and barren, characterised by flat-topped mesas, and by most accounts is considered a desert, though some amount of rainfall tends to occur in the W-most reaches, resulting in a short-lived seasonal r. that flows N, joining up its parent, the r. Somalan. The plateau is renowned for its many teratorns, which are a common sight in the region, seen circling above travellers.

VARAHON: ruin of a major imperial city in the colony of Marchosia in what is now the N - E of Rhinocoloura. 

WENNAN: r. in the c W of Rhinocoloura, flowing W for 300-miles from sources in the Siri Rah Mtns. before meeting its parent, the r. Shibboleth. 

XARADH: wetlands in the c N - W of Rhinocoloura, along the course of the r. Shibboleth. The wetlands occupy some 1,500 square-miles and encompass around 140-miles of the course of the r. Shibboleth, as well as the confluence where its tributary, the r. Wennan meets it.  

YEHHAN: city in the N of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura, that until 2945 RM was the centre of a large conurbation of which it was capital. Shifting cultural trends saw the capital moved from Yehhan to Obeah in 2899 RM. The city is known for its late-generation halfblood population, descended from Hazori royalty that was exiled from Neandara in 3469 RM following the storming of its capital in the wake of its otherworldly ruler’s assassination in 3462 RM (Pop. c. 40,000).

ZELET: badlands region in the S - E of Rhinocoloura, forming its S - E-most border with Pnessa.

ZOTHAGOT: settlement in the c W of the territories of Ethistonith in Rhinocoloura. It is a major breeder of camels that are used in trade in the region (Pop. c. 8,000).