Encyclopaedia Elyden Updates Vol 12 (Aquariia)

Here's the 12th Encyclopaedia update for your perusal, based on my recent map of Aquariia.  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 by looking for the  'Encyclopaedia Entries' tag.    If you have any queries about any of the following entries, please don't hesitate to ask :)

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ABBISH: Mtn. in the E of Aquariia, forming an extension of the Black Mountains.

ADTUH: farming settlement in the S - W of Aquariia (Pop. c. 5,000).

ALBALI: city in the N - W of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra. As recently as 900-years-ago there was another settlement by the same name, about 10-miles N - W of the present city, along the then-coast, though the dwindling of the Sea of Liakarra saw the city abandoned and  resettled farther S, to what had become part of the course of the r. Isarra, where the present city is located. Today it is a major industrial centre (Pop. c. 50,000).

ALBULAAN, CULT OF: rel. prevalent in Aquariia known for the importance it places in the twin moons Siella and Arakhamé. The symbol of the cult - the twin moons, Red in front of Ivory, features in the ntns. flag. See Vol IV: Religions and Cults.

ALEGI: settlement in the c of Aquariia, 49-miles E of the capital in Morr Isakhana, along the course of the r. Beldat (Pop. c. 10,000).  

ALGED: small f. in the S - E of Aquariia. 

ALNAIR: fortified city in the c. E of Aquariia, known for its iron mines (Pop. c. 40,000).

ALSHAM: coastal city in the S of Aquariia known for its mercenaries (Pop. c. 15,300).

ALSHAT: r. in the S - E flowing W for 320-miles from sources in the W-face of the Black Mountains, before meetings its dstributary, the r. Beldat, itself a tributary of the larger r. Isarra.  

ALTAGER: city in the c S - E of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra. It is a major centre of textile production (Pop. c. 48,000).

ANACHA: 1. city in the S - E of Aquariia, overlooking the estuary of the r. Allamar. It was the capital of Aquariia whilst under Parthisan rule, though was moved to Morr Isakhana following the ejection of Parthis in 3140 RM. One located long wetlands, the modern city is half-a-mile inland, with its harbours maintained at great coast (Pop. c. 68,0000)

2. Fortress 15-miles S - W of the eponymous city, guarding the entrance into the estuary of the r. Allamar. The fortress was once situated on an isl. though it became part of the mainland around 3100 RM as the Sea of Liakarra retreated. 

AQUARII: 1. (Lit. ‘people who dwell near the water’). Originally used in reference to mythical water-dwelling creatures, though with the rise of the empire and the encountering of new people, it instead came to be applied to a race of men discovered by the Korachani empire in c. -600 RM, living between Gnoth and the Black Mtns. 

The people of Aquariia were well-known to Parthains since at least 100 RM and were well-known for their coastal cities and beautiful lagoons, all of which have since been lost to the dwindling of the Sea of Liakarra. The Aquarii were known for their Theocracy, and though this was lost with the coming of the Korachani people in c. 13 RM.

2. Mil. caste in Aquariia, descended from ancient freed slaves who remain as a caste apart from others. Fro this caste are drafted soldiers who fight in Aquariian armies and serve as well-disciplined and paid mercenaries. 

AQUARIIA: ‘the Realm of Aquariia’.ntn. in W Llachatul. See Vol III: Extant Nations and Realms.

ARACHA: settlement in the N - E of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Hyacha (Pop. c. 6,000).

ARKAB: observatory-city in the c N of Aquariia, at the foot of the Nunaki Mtns. The city is situated atop a large mesa and is accessible via a single wide man-made bridge from the hills to the S (Pop. c. 72,000)

ARKALUH: small fortified settlement in the N - E of Aquariia. It controls the pass leading S to the Temple-city of Summar (Pop. c. 6,000).  

ASCELLIA: settlement in the N of Aquariia, known for its tin mines (Pop. c. 4,000).

ASTER: 1. Small narrow sea in S–W Aquariia, forming part of the Sea of Liakarra. It was once far larger, stretching N - E as far as the extant city of Mira.

2. Coastal fortress guarding the entrance into the sea of Aster in the S - W of Aquariia. 

3. city in the delta of the r. Isarra. It was the site of the first uprisings against the Parthisan occupiers late in 3021 RM (pop. c. 34,000).

BEDRAQR: settlement in the S - W of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarraa. The settlement maintains a cadre of trained Atr. whose work is to stop the Atr. tainted region of Cushanur, located to the S, from spreading (pop. c. 4,000).

BELDAT: r. in the E of Aquariia, flowing W for 330-miles from sources in the Black Mountain, before joining its distributary, the r. Isarra.

BELDCHA: settlement in the S - E of Aquariia, known for its cotton production (Pop. c. 7,000).

BELDUH: settlement in the c E of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Alshat (Pop. c. 4,000).

BLUE EYE, the: lighthouse and once-coastal tower in the S of Aquariia, once guarding the entrance into the N-most reaches of the sea of Liakarra and the lagoons of Tabernacea. The tower was located on an isl. though the retreat of the Sea of Liakarra left it landlocked, and it is now 35-miles from the coast, abandoned and near-collapse.

The eye after which it is named was once used to reflect light across entrance into the sea of Tabarnacea, and is long since-gone, taken by Cyhlagharri raiders in c. 3400 RM, and now crowns the Palace of Tyraghon in Cyhulir.

BOLTUH: major fortress in the N - W of Aquariia, guarding the basin that lies along the border between Aquariia and Gnoth. 

BOS: r. in the N - E of Aquariia, flowing W for 455-miles from sources in the Nirshaad and Situla Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Isarra.

BUNDA: settlement in the N - E of Aquariia, along the course of the r.  (Pop. c. 8,000).

CEPHANIA: small city in the c. of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra. It is known for its rice production (Pop. c. 18,000). 

CULT OF ALBULAAN: see Albulan, Cult of.

CUSHANUR: Atr. tainted region in Tabernacea in the S - E of Aquariia. 

DORSAN: settlement in the c of Aquariia along the course of the r. Beldat (Pop. c. 8,000).

DOXAMELES: sparse scrubland in the c E of Aquariia.

DUNCHA: small city in the c. E of Aquariia, known for its iron mines (Pop. c. 20,000). 

EKHYSSA: observatory-city in the c W of Aquariia. It is one of few sch cities remaining in extant Aquariia, its original observatory now fulfilling the role of an administrative centre. It is famed for its ancient library and astronomical texts (Pop. c. 42,000).

ERODUH: settlement in the N - E of Aquariia (Pop. c. 3,000). 

GIEDUH: settlement in the c of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Zhush (Pop. c. 6,000). 

HABERUH: observatory-city in the far N - E of Aquariia (Pop. c. 38,000).

HAN: coastal settlement in the S - E of Aquariia, facing S across the estuary of the r. Allamar (Pop. c. 5,000).

HILAQR: geometric maze-like structure in the c. of the Rasalagh badlands to the N of Aquariia. The maze is labyrinthine and filled with hewn bridges, tunnels and dead ends. It is expansive, covering some 200-square-miles, and its source is unknown.  

HILARRA: r. in the N of Aquariia, flowing S for 420-miles from sources in the Black Mountains, before meeting its distributary, the r. Isarra.

HYACHA: r. in the N - E of Aquariia, flowing for 535-miles from sources in the Black Mountains, before meeting its distributary, the r. Isarra.

HYADUH: settlement in the N - E of Aquariia (Pop. c. 7,000). 

HYDOR: coastal settlement in the S - W of Aquariia (Pop. c. 8,000).

ISARANNA: wetlands in the c S - W of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra.

ISARRA: 1. the shallow dry valley that dominates the interior of Aquariia. The valley was, as recently as 3000 RM a part of the then much-larger sea of Aster (itself an extension of the Sea of Liakarra), though the slow retreat Elyden’s seas led to an advance of its coastline, leaving much of Aquariia’s coastal cities devastated and landlocked. This in turn led to the growth of the r. Isarra, the course of which increased by around 200-miles.

2. r. flowing for 1,110-miles S - W through Aquariia from sources in the Black Mountains, before emptying in the sea of Aster.

KAEUH: 1. Small fortified city in the far N - E of Aquariia, guarding one of many passes into the deep Black Mountains, guarding the region from outcast attacks (Pop. c. 20,000).

2. Fortress in the far N - E of Aquariia, , guarding one of many passes into the deep Black Mountains, guarding the region from outcast attacks.

KASTRA: sparse woodlands dominating the border between E Gnoth and W Aquariia.

KAUS: settlement in the S - E of Aquariia, known for its cotton production (Pop. c. 6,000).

LAHOSHUR: Atr. tainted region in the c N of Aquariia.

MANUBRA: observatory-city in the c N - E of Aquariia, built on a flat-topped hill (Pop. c. 138,000).

MIRA: small city in c Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra. It was once a coastal city, though the diminishing of the Sea of Liakarra over the past millennia has seen it become landlocked, now 250-miles from the coast. Today it is a major industrial centre in Aquariia (Pop. c. 20,000).

MORR ISAKHNA: capital city in Aquariia (Pop. c. 410,000).

NASHIR: settlement in the c N - E of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra (Pop. c. 5,000).

NIRBULA: city in the N - W of Aquariia, close to the border with Gnoth (Pop. c. 30,000).

NIRSHAAD: mtn. in the N - E of Aquariia, forming an extension of the W-face of the Black Mountains.  

NUL UMELARA: ancient obsidian tower, forming part of the Umelara wall that once stretched for over 160-miles in the c N of Aquariia, located in the Atr. wastes of Lahushur that have evelopped the base of the tower in a red flesh-like substance that holds it together. The wall as well as the tower are now ruined. A second tower, Son Umelara exists on the N-reaches of the wall. Little is known of he walls origins or where the obsidian, whish is otherwise unknown in all of Aquariia, was sourced.

NUNAKI:  1. Mtn. range to the S of the Black Mountains, forming a border between Aquariia and Gnoth. 

2. small city in the c N - w of Aquarria. It is known for its metal industry, processing raw iron (Pop. c. 20,000)

OBSERVATORY-CITY: cities in Aquariia common in the period between c. 900 - 1300 RM, characterising the period prior to the Parthisan colonial rule, which began in 1206 RM. Such cities evolved naturally from the observatories that were built in the north of the ntn. as the Cult of Albulaan became popular following the decline of the Cult of Life and Death the Knights-exile brought with them from Korachan. As the importance of the cult increased, settlements appeared around the most important observatories, and these eventually became the main cities of Aquariia. Other observatories were built in isolation to replace those that became city-centres, which had evolved fulfil the role of church, governmental structures, libraries and universities. 

Parthisan rule brought with it a decline in popularity of these cities, though some, such as Arkab, Ekhyssa and Manubra, remain populated to this day, their central observatories (as they are still called) still in use. 

OKUH: city in the c S - E of Aquariia along the course of the r. Zhush (Pop. c. 42,000).

OKUL: settlement in the c N - E of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Zaurall. It is known for its logging and hunting (Pop. c. 8,000).

PRAETORIANS: see Praetorians of the Road.

PRAETORIANS OF THE ROAD: Aslo just ‘Praetorians’. mil. police-force in Aquariia, originally appearing in c. 900 RM to guard the frequent food caravans that moved resources from rural settlements in the S to the observatory-cities in the N. The force remains active to this day, where it has various branches, including city watch and border patrol. 

RASALAGH: expansive badlands in the N of Aquariia, stretching into the domains of the deep Black Mountains. The region is noted for its mesas and stark mushroom-shaped rock-formations.

RASCHA: settlement in the S - E of Aquariia, known for its cotton and textile production (Pop. c. 10,000).

RUGABAH: small city in the S - W of Aquariia (Pop. c. 15,750)

RUKBA: small city in the c N - E of Aquariia, at a fork where the r. Hilarra meets the r. Isarra (Pop. c. 20,000).

SABIK: coastal settlement in the S of Aquariia, overlooking the Sea of Liakarra (Pop. c. 20,000). 

SADACABIA: small fortified city in the N - W of Aquariia, close to the border with Gnoth, along the course of the r. Achamoth. It has a small giganri population, some of which are exiles from the realm of Gnoth (Pop. c. 17,200). 

SADEMALEK: fortified settlement in the c S–E of Aquariia, forming part of a trade route E with Ataraxia across the Harab pass between the Toliasor and Black Mtns.  (Pop. c. 10,000).

SITULA: mtn. in the N - E of Aquariia, forming an extension of the W-face of the Black Mountains.

SKAHAT: small fortified city in the S - W of Aquariia, 17-miles from the border with Gnoth. Its main industry is logging and it is known for its falconry (Pop. c. 18,000).

SKELERIELL: ‘the Stone Window’. Monument in the E of Aquariia hewn from a large mesa inside which is an ancient temple, reaching deep beneath the Black Mountains. Undeciphered hieroglyphs line the walls as do the tombs of ancient princes whose names are unknown. 

SON UMELARA: ancient obsidian tower, forming part of the Umelara wall that once stretched for over 160-miles in the c N of Aquariia, located in the S foothills of the Nunaki Mtns. The wall as well as the tower are now ruined. A second tower, Nul Umelara exists on the S-reaches of the wall, in the Atr. wastes of Lahoshur. Little is known of he walls origins or where the obsidian, whish is otherwise unknown in all of Aquariia, was sourced.

STONE WINDOW, the: see Skeleriell.

TABERNACEA: 1. Ancient shallow sea dominating Aquariia before c. 3000 RM. The waning of the sea became noticeable in c. 2500 RM and continued to 3100 RM, after which it dwindled and disappeared, leaving behind brine pools and salt flats. It was once home to many harbours and ports, most of which are now deserted, reclaimed by the land.

2. Region in the S of Aquariia once occupied by the eponymous sea, but  now reduced to brine pools and salt flats. It is shunned by most and few settlements can be found there.  

TALITH: ruined city in c S - W of Aquariia, 50-miles from the present coast. It was once a coastal city, though became landlocked following the retreat of the Sea of Liakarra.

TALLUH: 1. l. In the c of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra

2. Wetlands surrounding the above l. in the c. of Aquariia. 

3. settlement in the c of Aquariia, along the course of the r. Isarra. It is known for its cultivation of rice (Pop. c. 8,000).

TANIH: settlement in c S Aquariia, abandoned in 2756 RM following the retreat of the Sea of Tabernacea.

TUBRUH: settlement in the S - E of Aquariia, known for its cotton and textile production (Pop. c. 4,500).

URGALA: 1. extensive cave-system in the c S - E of Aquariia, known for its vast subterranean r. 

2. Ancient cavern-temple in the c S - E of Aquariia, in the eponymous cave-system. The temple is largely ruined, its hewn statues and walls covered in moss.

YADPRIA: coastal settlement in the S - W of Aquariia, overlooking the bay of Aster (Pop. c. 18,000).

ZAURALL: r. in the c E of Aquariia, flowing W for 370-miles from sources in the Toliasor and Black Mountains before meeting its distributary, the r. Isarra.

ZHUSH: r. in the c S - E of Aquariia, flowing W for 410-miles from sources in the Revasor and Toliasor Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Isarra.