Encyclopaedia Elyden update #21 - Sepahaunat

Here's the 21st Encyclopaedia update for your perusal, based on the map of Sepahaunat. 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 :)

I've made a PDF of the entries for ease of reference, this can be found at the end of the page.

__________________________________________________ 

AETONIA: also ‘the Eternal City’. City in the N–W of Sammaea, to the S–W of Sepahaunat. It has existed continuously for millennia, as far back as formal records or legends of the area permit, waxing and waning variably over time, at times being a metropolis, at other little more than a caravanserai.

Today, it is a small settlement, surrounded by the crumbled ruins of what was before, housing a large caravanserai, market where wayfarers can trade, and is noted for its expansive library, with recovered tomes from its myriad histories, rescued from the ruins, housed in a subterranean vaulted treasury (Pop. c. 1,000).

AGUA: small coastal city in the isl. of Har Qalam, in the N of the Principality of Sepahaunat. The city is built atop an ancient marshland that was once known for disease and death. Those days are long behind it, and it is now a harbour linking the isl. with the mainland (Pop. c. 14,800).

ALEW: coastal city in the W of the isl. of Har Baqri off the N - W coast of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. The city is known for its shipyards and its harbour, and it is the main city on the isl. (Pop. c. 120,000).

ANIS: bay forming the far S - W of the Sea of Anipterra, in the N - W of Sammaea, off the E-coast of the Principality of Sepahaunat and Enith.

ANTHIRQA: small city in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. 

AQARATH: major city in the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea, on the periphery of the delta of the r. Nephila. It is a major agricultural centre and is home to the regions main rel. Of Sybarr.

AQRAHA: city in the S of the Principality of Sepahaunat, along the course of the r. Jebed Dhush (Pop. c. 25,000). 

AQRAPH: coastal city in the S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It is a major producer of cattle (Pop. c. 42,000).

AQUILL: coastal city in the N - E mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It overlooks the bay of Zelel and is a major harbour in the N of the ntn. (Pop. c. 39,200).

ATHURAPH: main city in the isl. of Har Farrash, in the Principality of Sepahaunat, 325-miles N - E of the coast of mainland (Pop. c. 40,000).  

BACCAL: major currency in the N - W of Sammaea, originating in the influential mercantile city of Bacalusia. It rapidly spread through trade across the Ivory Road and spread as far W as the Principality of Sepahaunat, and E to Sagittaria and is relatively common beyond that,with moneychangers dealing in the currency not unknown in the Korachani empire. 

BEH ZAIDA: major coastal city in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahanuat in the N - W of Sammaea. The city is infamous to outsiders due to the large golem-like construct that stands over the city. The golem, named Zaida, is regarded as a guardian of the city and it has become a mascot of sorts amongst its inhabitants, and can be seen from most parts of the city and for miles around. The city is largely isolated from the rest of Sepahaunat by the Iqekhabra Mtns. and it is the main city in the small headland W of the Mtns. (Pop. c. 80,000).  

BEZZAYA: city in the S - E of the Principality of Sepahaunat (Pop. c. 40,000).

CAPRIZANT: 1. F. dominating 400-miles of coastline in the N-W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, W of the Iqekhabra Mtns. It is known for many earthquakes and geysers, as well as a few volcanoes, mostly dormant.

2. Active caldera in the c N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It has been studied by volcanologists, but little is known of its patterns. The hollow is near-constantly filled with magma, which at times is known to erupt. Its last major eruption was in 3642 RM, when it levelled miles of f. all around it.

DAHAAMAAN: expansive Mtn. chain in the N - W of Sammaea. The Mtns. are noted for the large schism, known amongst Korachani explorers as the Dissention, that run along its W-face. 

EQARHAA: city in the W of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. The city is a major industrial centre and is known for its iron foundries (Pop. c. 50,000).

ETHAHASH DAYA: lush grasslands dominating the c. of the Principality of Sepahaunat.

FANTEAPH: settlement in the W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, W of the Iqekhabra Mtns. (Pop. c. 8,500)

FUMIFICIA: small city in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, 40-miles S of the Caprizant Caldera. The city is downwind of prevailing winds from the N and is often covered in smoke from the caldera. Those who can wear masks over their mouths to help against smoke. Those who cannot are prone to coughing and death from prolonged exposure to smoke inhalation is common (Pop. c. 17,300).

GUARUSH: settlement on the isl. of Hal Jakall, in the Principality of Sepahaunat, 525-miles N - E off the coast of mainland (Pop. c. 8,500).

GUELEAPH: city in the S of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea, at fork where the r. Jel Harath meets its distributary, the r. Jebed Dhush. It is a mil. centre in the ntn. And many high-ranking members of its mil. are born there (Pop. c. 50,000).  

HADAMAPH: Small coastal city on the isl. of Har Jakall, 435-miles N - E of the Principality of Sepahaunat (Pop. c. 15,500). 

HALCYON WATERS: shallow waters off the E-coast of the Principality of Sepahaunat, just S of the city of Wahhad. The coastline and waters are particularly beautiful and have been the subject of Sepahaunati art and literature for centuries. 

HAOJAQ:  fortified settlement in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, W of the Iqekhabra Mtns. It is accessible across the Mtns. through a seasonal pass. When the pass is closed in winter months, contact with the rest of the ntn. Remains possible but travel time is greatly increased. The settlement is known for its caravanserais and hostels that house merchants and other travellers in winter (Pop. c. 5,000).

HAR BAQRI: S-most of the four major isl. forming the archipelago of Sepahaunat.

HAR BROQA: 1. isl. 6-miles N of the mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat, and controlled by same ntn. 

2. Coastal settlement on the above isl. Its main industry is the production of unguents and perfumes used by those who tend to the idolons of the church of Sybarr (Pop. c. 5,000). 

HAR DOHAQ: isl. off the N - W of the ntn. of Sepahaunat.

HAR ERABH: settlement in the S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It was an isl. but as sea levels decreased it became landlocked and part of the mainland (Pop. c. 10,000).

HAR FARRASH: one of four major isl. forming the archipelago of Sepahaunat. 

HAR GHAQAR: Sybarri temple on the isl. Of Har Farrash, to the N mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It was once an isl. itself, though found itself part of the larger isl. in c. 2500 RM following the lowering of sea levels in the area. The temple is inhabited by ascetics of the rel. who spend most of their days in a drug-induced stupor to help them seek enlightenment.

HAR JAKALL: N-most of four major isl. forming the archipelago of Sepahaunat. 

HAR QALAM:  one of the four major isl. forming the archipelago of Sepahaunat.

HAR SITTAR: Monastery of the Night Sisters in the N - W of Sepahaunat. Once an isl. Off the N - W coast of Sepahaunat, it is now part of the mainland due to the lowering of sea levels in the past millennium. Originally chosen for its seclusion, the monastery remains isolated and remains under the aegis of the Night Sisters to this day. 

HAZAROT: (B. 3922 - D. 3982 RM) Prince and former ruler of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N - W of Sammaea. He was succeeded upon death by hus daughter, princess Jemmahala.

HEBA: r. in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat. The city of Wahhad is situated along its banks. 

HEZERA: settlement in the S of the isl. of Har Baqri off the N - W coast of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea (Pop. c. 8,000).

HIRQABA: major fortress in the W far S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. The fort is the base for the W armies of Sepahaunat and guards its W border from foreign attentions. 

HIQMET: settlement in the W mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N - W of Sammaea. It is a major producer of raw iron and is known for its large iron mines (Pop. c. 10,000).

IDANAPH: major city in the c of the mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N - W of Sammaea. The city serves as a link between the otherwise isolated cities W of Iqekhabra Mtns. and the more populous E and is known for its markets and caravanserais (Pop. c. 138,000).

IDOLON: holy figures in the rel. of Sybarr that is prevalent in the Principality of Sepahaunat. These figures are treated like living reliquaries - they spend their days in gilded glass cases as the object of veneration and are kept in a persistent euphoric state through the administering of opiates. Each major settlement in Sepahaunat has at its centre such a figure, which is guarded at all times. 

IQARHOT: (B. 3224 - D. 3291 RM) founding prince of the Principality of Sepahaunat, which was first recognised as a ntn. in 3259 RM. 

IQEKHABRA: Mtn. range in the N - W of the mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat.

IQHSHAV: Mtn. range in the Principality of Sepahaunat, running along the W-coast of its mainland. The region is volcanic and prone to earthquakes and is relatively uninhabited.

ISQAR: small city in the S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. Its primary industry is copper mining (Pop. c. 20,000). 

JAM ARREQ: also ‘Plains of the Roah’. Expansive plains in the north of the Sepahaunati peninsula known to be one of the last refuge of the large flightless Roah birds. Some settlements in this region train the birds as fleet-footed mounts.

JEL HARATH: r. in the S of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea, forming part of the border with Sathaii. It flows for 280-miles E from sources in the Dahaamaan Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Jebed Dhush.

JEBED DHUSH: r. in the S of the Principality of Sepahaunat, flowing for over 1,000-miles N from various sources, before meeting its distributary, the r. Nephila.

JEMMAHALA: (B. 3967) Princess and ruler of the Principality of Sepahaunat. She inherited the throne of Sepahaunat in 3982 RM, following the death of her father, Hazarot.

JIDKA: 1. Long narrow bay in the N - W of Sammaea, off the W-coast of Sepahaunat, in the Sea of Batyae.

2. coastal metropolis in the W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N–W of Sammaea, overlooking the Sea of Batyae, at the base of the Sepahaunati peninsula. The city is known for its catamarans and its exotic cuisine, which consists of many delicacies and exotic fruits imported from the E of Meniscea. Its primary industry is metalworking and it has multiple manufactories dedicated to various aspects of metallurgy (Pop. c. 500,000).

JOK HALLAR: major city in the c S of the Principality of Sepahaunat, at a fork where the r. Jebed Dhush meets the r. Nephila. It is the centre of the church of Sybarr and is home to seven idolons, which are guardians of the city. As a coming of age ritual amongst the city’s youth, they are given the choice of picking one of the idolons as their patrons. It is also home to a large university where young zamindars study (Pop. c. 175,000).

KAURUSH: settlement on the isl. of Har Farrash, in the Principality of Sepahaunat, 120-miles N - E off the coast of mainland. Its major industry is logging (Pop. c. 7,200).

KEMAQ: coastal settlement in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the region of Lehlav (Pop. c. 7,250).  

LEGED: region in the E of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It is located along the S-bank of the r. Nephila and is a major producer of opiates, which are used in rituals of the Sybarri rel.  

LEHLAV: region in the E of Sepahaunat, in which the capital city of Tazayil is located. It is one of the more densely-populated regions of the ntn. outside of the Nephila delta.

LIBRARY OF ZODD: ancient tower, now partially collapsed, in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N - W of Sammaea. The tower and the adjoining subterranean library are attributed to an unknown Fourth Age culture. The ruins have been explored and many ancient artefacts and books have been retrieved and many chambers are thought to remain undisturbed to this day. 

LUDH: city in the far N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, overlooking the Bay of Qam. Through various events over recent years, it has degenerated into a lawless place that has become forgotten by the government at large and has been self-ruling for the past 3-decades (Pop.c . 40,000). 

MOSQUITO COAST, the: colloquial name for the shoreline of the delta of the r. Nephila in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It is so named for the insects, amongst them mosquitos and midges, that infest the region almost year round.

NAKOSSAN WATERS: shallow waters off the E-coast of the Sepahaunati peninsula, covering over 16,000-square-miles of coastal shelf. The waters are known for their many reefs and abundant sea-life. 

NEPHILA: expansive r. in the N - W of Sammaea flowing for 1,800-miles from sources in the Santorean Mtns.  Its delta is in the Principality of Sepahaunat, and provides rich nutrients for crops that grow there.

NIGHT SISTERS, the: penitents of the Ivory Moon. Based in the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea, the sisters seek penance by shunning the light of the Ivory Moon, and are thus known as the Night Sisters. Isolationist, its sisters are only ever seen on nights when the Ivory Moon is new, and sometimes travel to towns seeking alms and donations. Little is known about them and even the natives of Sepahaunat shun then. They are not related to the rel. of Sybarr that is dominant in the region.

QAM: large bay in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, forming part of the Sea of Batyae. 

QAM RON: also ‘the Crater City’. Once a city of vice and Sin in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat, the city was destroyed by a freak meteorite strike in 3444 RM that left the city in ruins and its inhabitants dead. A single survivor went on to fund the church of Sybarr, and would become the first idolon of the rel.   

QARAQHIM: settlement in the Leged region of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It is one of many producers of opiates in the region (Pop. c. 8,000).

ROAH: fau. Giant flightless predatory bird once native to most of the N - W of Sammaea, though now dwindling in numbers and now found largely to the W of the Surrach and in Sepahaunat, and its many isl. where they have largely escaped the slow death that befell their continental kin than once dominated the Sammaean mainland. See Vol II: Reghon Haghorin.SASHAR: coastal settlement in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the region of Lehlav (Pop. c. 10,000). 

SATHAII: 1. also the Spire-City. Expansive city built around a mesa in the S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It has districts and shanties that expand from the base of the rock-formation, with structures built atop the mesa being either rels., municipal or ancient, often carved into the bedrock itself with vast catacombs stretching beneath the city. The city shares a name with a ntn. to the W, and it is thought that the two were once culturally linked before the rise of Sepahaunat in 3259 RM (Pop. c. 31,000).

SEBAQ: small city in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the delta of the r. Nephila. Its main industry is the growing of rice (Pop. c. 17,500).  

SEPAHAUNAT: (Dem. Sepahaunati) 1. peninsula and archipelago off the N–W-coast off Sammaea, forming a barrier between Sea of Batyae in the W and the Sea of Anipterra in the E. The land is volcanically and geologically active and is renowned amongst explorers for its exotic appearance and the many cracks, vents, chemically-active lakes, geysers and lava flows, particularly along its W coastline. Earthquakes are also relatively common.

The land is fertile and rich in both flo. & fau. and its most dominant feature is the r. Nephila, whose delta covers some 25,000 square-miles and is home to thousands of species of animals.

2. Also ‘Principality of Sepahaunat’. ntn. in the far N - W of Sammaea, dominating the above peninsula. It emerged 3259 RM following the conquests of the warlord Shemayak in c. 3130 RM of kindreds that populates the E-reaches of the peninsula following the fall of the pirate city of Tazayil in c. 2500 RM. Today it is known for its conscript armies.  See Vol III: Extant Realms and Nations.

SETTERUSH: settlement on the isl. of Har Farrash, in the Principality of Sepahaunat, 120-miles N - E off the coast of mainland (Pop. c. 14,600).

SHEMAYAK: (B. c. 3090 - D. c. 3150 RM) warlord who in c. 3130 RM united the disparate city-states that inherited the failed pirate city-state of Tazayil, becoming the patriarch of the royal family that would go on to rule the Principality of Sepahaunat, which was founded in 3259 RM. He is remembered fondly today as a hero and bringer of peace and stability to the region.

SYBARR, CULT OF: main rel. in the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. The rel. makes copious use of opiates in its rituals, and it’s holy figures, called idolons (living saints who are revered like reliquaries) are kept in a trance-state through intravenous feeding of opiates. The church was founded in 3444 RM following a meteorite impact destroyed the city Qam Ron. A single survivor would go on to fund the church and become its first idolon. See Vol IV: Religions and Cults.  

TALATT: major fortress in the S - E of the Principality of Sepahaunat. The fort is the base for the W armies of Sepahaunat and guards its W border from foreign attentions. 

TAMMAN: small city in the S - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. Its primary industry is copper mining (Pop. c. 20,000). 

TAPH: small city in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the delta of the r. Nephila. Its main industry is the growing of rice (Pop. c. 14,500).

TAZAM: language that originated in c. 2000 RM, during the height of the pirate-city of Tazayil. It remains today as the main language of Sepahaunat.

TAZAYIL: city in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat, in the N–W of Sammaea. Once an independant pirate stronghold that terrorised the coast of N - W Sammaea, the city and its outposts became landlocked by c. 2500 RM, by which time it had diminished in power and influence, leaving a power-vacuum in the area.

In c. 3130 RM the warlord Shemayak united the various kindreds and warring groups that had emerged from its ruin. Within a century, the city had been repopulated, and the surrounding Lehlav region was brought under his control. The influence of Tazayil grew from there and its armies brought the entire Sepahaunati peninsula together under its banner. In 3259 the name of Sepahaunat was officially recognised as the name of the ntn. For the first time, and Tazayil became its capital (Pop. c. 1,100,000). 

THANDAPH: small city in the c S of the Principality of Sepahaunat (Pop. c. 17,500). 

TONNAK: small coastal city in the N - E mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat (Pop. c. 14,200). 

USHAPH: settlement on the isl. of Har Qalam, in the Principality of Sepahaunat, 130-miles N - E off the mainland (Pop.c. 6,000).

UMEAPH: small city in the Leged region of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It is one of many producers of opiates in the region (Pop. c. 12,000). 

VAROTU ATOLL: expansive atoll off the E-coast of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It is the largest of many such atolls that are located in the so-called Nakossan Waters.

WAHHAD: small city in the E of Sepahaunat, just 10-miles from the coast. Along the course of the r. Heba 

YANNAH: settlement in the Jam Arreq region in the N - E mainland of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It is famed for its Roah trainers (Pop. c 10,000).

YENARUSH: city in the region of Leged in the E of the Principality of Sepahaunat in the N - W of Sammaea. It is the hub of the opiate manufacture in Sepahaunat and is wealthy (Pop. c. 40,000).

ZAIDA: ancient gigantic immobile golem that towers over the city of Beh Zaida in the N - W of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It is thought to have at one time been capable of independent motion, though is now immobile. Despite this, it is active, and it is believed that an ancient siphon engine, possibly attributed to the Demiurge Nyarloth, lies within its chest, still working, purifying the air. 

ZAMINDAR: nobility in the Principality of Sepahaunat, similar to patricians of the Inner Sea region. They are landowners, similar to feudal lords, who lease their land to tenants who work them and pay their rent as a percentage of produce grown.

ZELEL: bay in the N - E of the Principality of Sepahaunat. It forms part of the coastal shelf known as the Nakossan Waters.