Encyclopaedia Elyden updates Vol 8

Here's the 8th Encyclopaedia update for your perusal!

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.  
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AANIME: city in the c W of Tzallrach, in the wooded region of Okoner. It is a major source of wood for the capital (Pop. c. 14,500). 

ABASAK: settlement in the S of Tzallrach, known for its lodestone mines that penetrate vertically into the hard stone of the area (Pop. c. 2,800).

ABEBA: small city and surrounding settlements in the N - W of Tzallrach known for its wine production, notably the vintage known as Summer Flower, which is popular across Tzallrach (Pop. c. 10,000).

ABUAYA: basin on the W-coast of Tzallrach, enclosed by the Kandon hills. The basin is noted for its many streams and central marshlands that lead to the waters of the Broken Lands. The marshlands are relatively fertile and have been worked for the past few centuries, since the region was revealed by the retreating waters of Elyden.

ACHOR: canyon in S–E Tzallrach, between the Mtns. of Maulimm and Kararta Mtns. The region is known for its flaking red scab-like rocks and shallow caverns peppering the canyon walls.

ADASIBA: r. in the E of Tzallrach, flowing for 460-miles W from sources in the Maulimm Massif and Nadaira Mtns. before meeting with its distributary, the r. Arelli. 

ADUGALLA: r. in S Tzallrach flowing W for 300-miles from sources in the Odontwe and Litani Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Chien. 

ADUGANA: l. in the S of Tzallrach, forming part of the course of the r. Adugalla.

AGATHIS: large cave-riddled mesa in N–W Tzallrach.

ALEMMA: city in the S of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Arelli. It is a major agricultural centre in the region, with fields stretching up and downstream for many miles (Pop. c. 18,200).

AMADIA: (dem. Amadian) wet, warm forest in N–W Tzallrach, bordering S Malan, populated by an indigenous people known as Amadians who are less advanced that their fellows in the S. They acknowledge and worship both the Fir. and Atm. but do not use either in a sign of reverence.

AMADIAN: people who inhabit the N of Tzallrach. They are a simple pastoral people who have little to do with contemporary Tzallrachi politics. 

AMAIMON: (B. 3942 – 4007 RM) charismatic, relatively long-serving ruler of Tzallrach. His death was marked by much politicking in the Tzallrachi court, ending with the then Diarch of Moetia taking the crown.

AMAR ELET: also ‘the Spire  of Alliances’. Tower in the S of Tzallrach situated at the pass between the Hebat and Kararta Mtns. It once guarded the S-most borders of Tzallrach, though as the borders moved farther S it became less important, and now houses guards that protect passage along the pass. 

AMEMARAN: wetlands in the far N - E of Tzallrach, along almost 200-miles of the course of the r. Baelli.  

AMEME: major fortress in the far N - E of Tzallrach. It overlooks the Nehomian valley N, into Malan and guards the border there.   

AMUANNA: major city in the far N of Tzallrach, close to the border with Malan. It is a major presence in the region and home to a large contingent of the Tzallrachi army, which patrols the border. It is also known for its lion breeders, known as alamaki (Pop. c. 65,000).

ANARCH: hereditary title of regional rulers in Tzallrach and Tethysia.

ANATHA BAETYL: in Tzallrach rel. a lion goddess of war. and strength. Is also a power in the city of Baalbeth, where she is a patron deity.

ANTARES, NOMARCH OF THE WEST PLAINS: (B. 3976 RM) champion and Nomarch of the W region of Tzallrach.

ARACHAI: city in the c S of Tzallrach, in the Lurium Plains, situated at the fork between the r. Arelli and Ussama. It is a major trade city in the region, ferrying goods from the N and E W along the r. Arelli to Simhaparran (Pop. c. 55,000).

AREL: city in the region of Lurium in the W of Tzallrach, in the delta of the r. Arelli. Though the region of Lurium arid, the delta surrounding the annual deposits of the r. Baelli are extremely fertile and the city enjoys good agriculture and trade thanks to trade that moves up- and down-stream (Pop. c. 12,000).

ARELLI: r. in Tzallrach flowing S - W for 1,140-miles, from sources in the Argent and Maulimm Mtns. before emptying in the Sea of Ventha. It is one of the main r. in Tzallrach and many industrial cities are located on its banks.

ARI, CHAMPION OF CHAR MÂTHI: (B. 3981 – 4008 RM) Female banneret, fought for Tzallrach during the Great War, fending off Venthiri attacks, dying in single combat against Hetepheres the Strangler.

ARIEH: coastal isl. city in Tzallrach, overlooking the cliffs of the Boiling Sea. The city originated in c. -1000 RM as a land-locked caravanserai in the W of ancient mainland Tzallrach. By -600 RM it was under the control of the Nathi kingdom and served as a N fortress to its troops. Following the Laviid Dissolution that saw Nath and Tzallrach sundered, the fortress was abandoned, allowed to fall into ruin until after the Cataclysm of Khamid, where it remained, overlooking the newly-formed cliffs of the Boiling Sea. It was repopulated in c. 2000 RM, from where it has since overseen travel across the E Boiling Sea (Pop. c. 9,000). 

ARINAMA: bridge city in c W Tzallrach along the fork between the r. Baelli and Iziami. Given its location, it has become a hub of trade and travel in Tzallracah. It is also noted for its numerous scholars and sages, amongst which the most noted are those of the Lodge of the Firmamentians (Pop. c. 13,000). 

ARIOCH, DIARCH OF MOEITIA: (B. 3971 RM) Onarch (ruler) of Tzallrach. One of two Nomarchs of the clan of Moeitia who tamed the lion Valefar, who remained his companion. He played a significant role in the unfolding tale of the Great War and led the defence against Venthiri armies during the Siege of Char Mâthi. He wielding the shield Sunseeker, the gunblade Barrakh and spear Backbreaker almost exclusively throughout the war, earning him the moniker ‘Barbarian King’ amongst Korachani troops. He was crowned Onarch of Tzallrach in 7 RMe, after uniting the clans of his homeland during and following the Great War.

ASEBE: fortress in the far S of Tzallrach, overlooking the border with Krem. 

ASSEL NASSA: small city in c Tzallrachh, along the the fort where the r. Adasiba meets its distributary, the r. Arelli (Pop. c. 10,000). 

ATASSA: small city along the course of the r. Baelli in c Tzallrach. It is a major link between the c-cities, including the capital in Lusitania, and the S cities, including Arachai, Balbeth, and Simhaparran via the city of Masansu, 110-miles to the S (Pop. c. 10,000).  

ATTAS, BAY OF: narrow bay in the far S of Tzallrach, between the Hebat and Kararta Mtns. The bay and its environs are known for their earthquakes and frequent landslides into the water.

BACKBREAKER: Spear wielded by Arioch, the Diarch of Moetia; later Onarch of Tzallrach, Arioch.

BAEL: 1. L. in c W Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli in the Krishtul wetlands.

2. small city in c W Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli, 

BAELLI: also ‘the Blood River’. R. in Tzallrach flowing S - W for 1,900-miles, from sources in the Dauraent and Argent Mtns. before meeting the wetlands of Krishtuli and eventually emptying into the Gulf of Lusa. It is a major r. and has been the centre of culture in Tzallrach for centuries. Its common name, the Blood River, is from the rich minerals found in the water, which give it a reddish tint.

BALA CTHAR: city on the banks of the r. Chien in the far S of the Lurium plains in the S of Tzallrach. It is characterised by its open-air caravanserais that were once the gateway into Krem, though have now been superseded by the city of Haleb Rhothl in the S. Today the caravanserais have mostly been converted to orchards where Lurium grapes are grown and used in the production of fine wines. 

The town serves the Great Road, linking Tzallrach with the E of Llachatul, including the W settlements of Turcar and Cuth (Pop. c. 16,000).

BALBETH: fortified coastal city in the S - W of Tzallrach that overlooks the Torrent of Karrock and controls the massive natural harbour that houses the Tzallrach fleet, at the mouth of the r. Chien. The city is home of the cult of Anatha Baetyl (Pop. c. 800,500).

BALBETH, BAY OF: bay at the mouth of the r. Chien, or around 100-square-miles. The metropolis of Balbeth dominated the bay, at the end of which is a large lighthouse.

BAMETE: small city in the c of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Arelli (Pop. c. 7,300).

BARBARIAN KING: Korachani name for Arioc, the Diarch of Moeitia. The name is derogatory and intended to draw upon heathen prejudices prevalent in Korachan at the time. 

BAY OF ATTAS: see Attas, Bay of.

BAY OF BALBETH: see Balbeth, Bay of.

BAY OF STEZA: see Steza, Bay of.

BELAISA: city in the c E of Tzallrach, W of the Argent Mountains. It is a source of good quality granite that is used in municipal structures throughout Tzallrach. The city is surrounded by ancient spent granite quarries, some of which are thought to date back to the Third Age (Pop. c. 17,400).   

BEQAA: l. in the S of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Chien. 

BIDIKE: temple in the c S of Tzallrach, to the E of the region of Odontwe. The temple is dedicated to Anatha Baetyl.

BLOOD RIVER, the: also ‘Baelli’. r. flowing W from Argent Mtn., through S Malan into Tzallrach.

BOSI: r. in the c S of Tzallrach, flowing for 320-mile N - W from sources in the Kararta Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Ussama, itself a tributary of the r. Arelli.  

BOTUM: royal title in Tzallrach and, prior to the Cataclysm, also Khamid. Due to the martial cultures in which Botums live and their position as the daughters of Nomarchs, they are traditionally warrior-princesses, who serve in the Mil. before they are granted true royal status amongst their people.

BOUIKA: harbour on the S - W of Tzallrach, at the mouth of the r. Nather. It exists to ship processed and raw iron N to the Tzallrachi metropolises along its W-coast (Pop. c. 3,000).

BRAHIM: 1. Isl. off the W-coast of Tzallrach. 

2. Settlement on the eponymous isl. off the W-coast of Tzallrach. Prior to the Cataclysm of Khamid the settlement was a great metropolis, known far and wide for its fine limestone and marble monuments and great palaces. It was known for its philosophers and warriors. Today it is a diminished city on the edge of 50-ft. cliffs overlooking the Sea of Venath (Pop. c. 4,000).

CHARGE OF HONOURB: the final charge of the Honourb in Tzallrach, during the Great War.

CHAR MÂTHI: native name for Tzallrach.

CHARA PASS: only major route cutting across the S of the Argent Mtns. between Tzallrach and the Turcar desert, leading eventually into Tethysia.

CHIEN: r. in the S of Tzallrach, flowing for 625-miles, from sources in the Litani and Hebat Mtns. before emptying into the Torrent of Karrock.

CHIEN DA, the: in the rel. of Tzallrach a sun dei. worshipped by most. Its tenets are strength and power over darkness. Chien Da, also embodies a cyclical nature of life and entropy – the material is not forever; life decays, gives way to new life. Similarly, Chien Da as the sun is a cyclical dei. – night gives way to day, but over the longer span of time, it too is a decaying power that will be extinguished by death, after which a new form of life will rise.

CHIEN RAPIDS: course of the r. Chien that goes on for some 65-miles, known for its rapids and waterfalls, making it impossible to navigate.

CIRCLE SQUIRES, the: mil. order in Tzallrach with roots dating to the days of the Venathi empire, and the circle of lieutenants of Labaisingh. 

CITY OF LIGHT, the: see Lusitania.

COL OSSA: Mercantile city in Tzallrach, situated along the r. Liathar. It is a major source of trade with settlement in the N and E of Tzallrach.

COUNCIL OF DIARCHS: in Tzallrach, an annual gathering of all the anarchs and diarchs, where matters of import are discussed. In antiquity the Fir. practice of Wikkjaz was used to conjure the spirits of dead diarchs to oversee important decisions, though the practice has since fallen out of favour due to changing perceptions regarding the way the dead are treated.   

DALION: mystery cult of Atms. in Tzallrach, that rose c. 500 RM, possibly after repeated sporadic contact with imperial missionaries.

DIARCH: Tzallrach regional rulers, so named as they embody the dichotomy of secular and rels. power amongst their people. The title can be used for rulers of small tribes and large cities.

DIARCH-FAMILIAR: in Tzallrach, title of the five regional lords, more commonly known as Onarchs.

EBODGE: settlement in the c of Tzallrach, linking the city of Belaisa with the more c cities in the River Lands (Pop. c. 3,000).

EMERASH: settlement in the W of Tzallrach, in the region of Karissina (Pop. c. 2,750).

ETUNDU: 1. Large isl.-chain off the W-coast of Tzallrach, composed of 5 major isl. and dozens of smaller isl. That are collectively known as Etundu. The retreat of Elyden’s seas has left this archipelago connected in a ring, with only a few navigable straits leading into the shallow inner sea.

2. Fortified settlement on the major isl. of the Etundu chain, overlooking the shallow inner sea at the chain’s centre. The region around the fortress is Atr. active, and is a centre of research on the subject (pop. c. 1,600).

FEMERE: small city in the c N of Tzallrach, known for its iron mining (Pop. c. 8,000).  

FICHIM: (B. c. 100 – 450 RM) Tzallrach champion who killed the Lion King Labaisingh in battle in 151 RM.

FOREON: within the art of Fir. a sphere whose Shapers are adept at exerting force and pressure through thought alone. An uncommon sphere, most practitioners are itinerants who wander the isles of the Broken Lands searching for the ruins of the Seminary of Foreons, which was once a centre of learning for those of their ilk. Foreons are most common in Tzallrach, where they are influential public figures, comparable to the master architects of other cultures, their abilities used in the aid of public projects. Where available, they are used in warfare to great effect. See Vol IV: Spheres and Types of Shaping.

FORSAKEN MOUNTAIN, the: see Kararta. 

FULMIN: town in the c of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli (pop. c. 10,000).

GAP OF SHUL: see Shul, Gap of.

GARDENS OF THE DEMIURGES: in the myt. of Elyden, the Gardens of the Demiurges are regions in the extant world that are thought to be directly created by one or more Demiurge.  

GHOST MOUNTS, the: see Litani.

GULF OF THAATA: see Thaata, Gulf of.

HADON BATTA:  ancient region in the c of Tzallrach, thought to be a fabled Garden of the Demiurges. Presently a plains, it is around 5,000-square-miles in area and is filled with thousands of stone spires and minarets, most now ruined and toppled. The region is of little value to most and is home to a great variety of flo. and fau. 

HALEB RHOTHL: major city in STzallrach. It is known for its wide thoroughfares that are shielded from the tropical sun by great red awnings and its large mil. presence. 

It was originally a Tethysian colony, established in c. 2200 RM RM, due to rich copper reserves there, though was abandoned by c. 2900 after the depletion of its quarries and effects of the seas’ waning in the area. Its ruin was later taken over by the Kremi, and it defected to Tzallrachi rule in c. 3510 RM. 

It was once a coastal city, known for its cavernous harbour and the overhanging cliffs that protected it, on which were stood its palaces and temples, overlooking the Gulf of Thaata. Today it is 6-miles from the coast, its old harbours now a necropolis (pop. c. 80,000).

HALL OF THE DEAD: see Mausoeum, the.

HAMAWE: coastal city in the S - W of Tzallrach, overlooking the Torrent of Karrock. It is known for its fleet of fishing trawlers that ply their trade S (Pop. c. 18,000).  

HEBAT: Mtn. range in the S - W of Tzallrach, forming an extension of the far larger Argent Mtns. The region is rocky and incredibly old, marked by treacherous terrain and weathered granite cliffs and canyons, of many hues.

HECHARI: War. Elite foot unit in Tzallrach. Individuals serve as leader of conscripted troops.

HIKARE: 1. Ancient Tzallrachi king. 

2. Sphinx in the E of Tzallrachi named after the eponymous king, though likely dating back to the early mortal ages and possibly created by a Demiurge. The sphinx was monumental in size, no less than 8-miles long.

HIWOTA: coastal fortified city in the W of Tzallrach (Pop. c.15,000).

HONOURB: mil. rank in Tzallrach, famed for their lion-mounts and devastating charges. Though they were traditionally equipped with lances and long-hafted cavalry axes, today they carry rifles and gunblades. 

HOSOSH: wetlands in the N - E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli covering some 2,599-square-miles.

IAPET: in Venathi (and, later, Venthiri and Tzallrachi) myt. the son of a union between a god and a mortal woman who sailed S–E, disappearing in search of his divine father. The Iapetan Sea is named after him. See Vol II: Legends and Folk Tales from around Elyden. 

IAPETAN SEA: Sea to the S of the Torrent of Karrock, bordered by the ntns. of S Tzallrach, W Cuth, N - E Naareth, E Saragos, and S Venthir. It is known for its very high tides and is named for the legend of the divine-born son Iapet who sailed S - E in search of his father. 

IDOAZA: city in the N of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli. It is known for its irrigated streets and r.-side canals (Pop. c. 20,000).

IDOWME: fortified settlement in the c N of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli. Its main source of income is the trade up- and down-stream of pig iron (Pop. 5,000).  

INGOL: savannah in dominating the c basin of Tzallrach, from the Mtns. of Khun in the N, to the Undarran hills in the S. It is known for its ancient Fourth Age ruins, most of which are sunken in the dry earth.

ISIA: sunken ruins in the savannah of Ingol, c. Tzallrach.

ITORA: coastal fortress in the far W of Tzallrach. 

IZIAMI: r in Tzallrach, flowing S for 550-miles from sources in the Kandon highlands, before meeting with its distributary, the r. Baelli.

KALELLA: city in the E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Liathar (Pop. c. 18,000).

KAMAHL: coastal hills in the W of Tzallrach, N of Undarra.

KANDA: l. in the W of Tzallrach, within the region of Abuaya. Its W shore is bordered by steep cliffs that lead to the W-most reaches of the Abuaya basin, while its E-shore is flat, leading to the Abuaya marshlands.

KANDON: 1. Sickle-shaped hills in the W of Tzallrach, enclosing the Abuayan basin. The hills are rocky and cover an area of around 11,000-miles.

2. settlement in the W of Tzallrach, in the region of Abuaya, along the N - E shore of l. Kanda. Its main industry is agriculture and it is in control of the many smaller settlements in the region that subsist off the marshlands (pop. c. 13,000).

KARAR: r. in S Tzallrach, flowing for 450-miles from seasonal sources in the Kararta and Argent Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Ussama. Its waters are rich in mild Fir. properties, possibly from the lodestone deposits in the region.

KARARTA: mtn. range in the S of Tzallrach, running for some 250-miles long, between the Hebat Mtn. in the W and the Argent Mtns. to the E. The Mtn. is renowned for the severe earthquakes that dominate its lands, all the way to the coast and the Bay of Attas. 

KARISSINA:  wet scrubland in the W of Tzallrach. The region is noted for its wildlife, though its most characteristic feature is is the narrow deep slot-canyons that pepper this expanse, some of which lead deep into fissures that link to the Boiling Sea and the Sea of Ventha.

KAURIDIA, BOTUM OF SHERA: (B. 3980) Tzallrachi botum (warrior-princess) who fought in the Great War in the Siege of the Temple of the Chien Da.

KHABBAQU: (B. c. 3970 RM) Tzallrach demagogue, active during the time of the Great War.

KHALEB: small fortified city in the N - E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Namelli. It is known for its mercenary tradition, particularly its bodyguards, who are trained to a high level, the services of which are sold across the lands around the Dark Sea and are noted for their loyalty (Pop. c. 10,000).

KHUN: a rugged highland region in N Tzallrach, covering some 45,000-square-miles of area and forming an extension of the Argent Mtns. in the N of Tzallrach. Its brownish-red rocks are a geological protrusion of the Argent Mtns. and are noted amongst natives for the near-labyrinthine winding of its valleys and canyons.

KRISHTUL: expansive wetlands in the c W of Tzallrach covering some 50,000-square-miles. It is fed by the r. Baelli, noted for the varying saltiness of its waters, which range from salty in the far W to fresh-water in the E, close to the r. 

His. the region was large l. though the Cataclysm of Khamid in 101 RM destroyed the W-most rim that separated the l. from the Sea of Ventha, leading to the l. draining into the Sea of Ventha, through the Gap of Shul. 

The r. Baelli sees enough water and silt deposited in the region to keep it wet and fertile, and it is a haven to wildlife, though the soft earth has rendered useless to support cities.

LABAISINGH THE STRONG: (B. c. 80 – D. 151 RM) The Lion king of ancient Venthir, rode a chariot drawn by five lions, said to be symbolic of his strength. Was the last of the Venthiri Asanate rulers, and under his control Venthir became an empire. At its largest, his empire stretched W into Nárthel following victories there in 132 RM, S to present day Sarastro and E into extant Naareth. Labaisingh’s true prize was always Tzallrach, which had since the rise of Venthiri civilisation been seen as a sister-land to Venthir. Never resting, he followed his victories in Nárthel with an assault into Tzallrach. A terrible war of attrition ensued, lasting two decades till 151 RM, when pressure from the growing Korachani empire in the W and Labaisingh’s defeat against the Tzallrachi halfblooded champion Fichim ended Venthiri dreams of empire. 

Following his death, Korachan was quick to action, annexing most of Venthiri land for itself, leaving Venthir an embittered place, at least until the rise of Hetepheres the Strangler in 361 RM. See also Hetepheres the Strangler, Queen of Venthir; and Venthir.

LABYRINTH OF KAMAHL: large stone-hewn maze in the W of Tzallrach, in the plains of Kamahl. It was once a part of E Khamid, though following the Cataclysm in 101 RM, remained attached to the Tzallrach mainland,and was appropriated as such. Its purpose, if any, is unknown, though it was once connected to three pyramids (swallowed by the Sea of Ventha during the Cataclysm).

LALIA: fortified settlement in the W of Tzallrach, 30-miles N of Lusitania. It is known for its clams and pearls (Pop. c. 3,000).

LALLITH: small coastal city in the W of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 7,750). 

LAVI: ancient pylon in the S - W of Tzallrach, thought to date back to the Fourth Age. It is famed for the tangle of thick desiccated vine-like roots that wind around it, protruding from the ground at its base.

LEONTINE MARTYRS: org. Knightly order in Tzallrach.

LEVAR: settlement in the S of Tzallrach, situated along a fork in the r. Chien. It’s crest is a pair of lions (pop. c. 10,000).

LION HERESIES, the: civil war that shook the ancient Nathi kingdom that dominated the region surrounding the Torrent of Karrock (encompassing what are now Venthir, E Nárthel, E Sarastro, W Cuth, and most of Tzallrach and the lands that made up what is now the E Dark Sea and Broken Lands, which at the time was all land). The Nathi kingdom was one of the first large civilisations to rise in the wake of the Shadow War that marked the end of the Fourth Age and the Fading that followed. The ntn. rose quickly, and dominated the shores of the Iapetan and the Dark Sea, but the land became the target of a charismatic self-professed ‘Lion Prophet’ in c. -400 RM, who created a schism in the kingdom, empowering slaves and serfs, which revolted in the N. This led to a powerful civil war now known as the Lion Heresies, which eventually caused the shattering of Nath in c. -300 into several small states, the most powerful of which would later become Venath.

LIONHOME: common name for Tzallrach (native name Char Mâthi) in Llachatuli lands outside of the Korachani empire. The name honours of the lands’ strong his. with lions and its heavy use of leonine iconography in its art.

LIONHUNT: coming of age ritual in Tzallrach, where young men would traditionally leave their tribe and spend a week in the wild. Together, they would hunt a lion to prove that they can work together and serve their tribe. As numbers of wild lions have dwindled in the region this tradition has fallen out of favour, and has been replaced by a longer trek that teaches self-sufficiency, and cooperation. The trek ends with the hunt of a large herbivore, which will feed them for the return home.   

LISEDI: 1. isl. off the W-coast of W Tzallrach. It is the W-most territory of Tzallrach. 

2. Isl. fortress in the far W of Tzallrach, guarding the waters of the Sea of Venta. It is the W-most inhabited area in Tzallrach.

LITANI: also ‘the Ghost Mounts’. Rough Mtn. peak in the S of Tzallrach, N of the Hebat Mtns. It is base is known for its strange root stacks, created through wind erosion and the roots of long-dead dead plants that hold together pillars of soil, after which ancient Tzallrachi burial mounds are fashioned.

LURIUM: dry savannah and scrublands dominating the S part of Tzallrach. It is home to various flo. and fau.

LUSA, GULF OF: gulf off the W-coast of Tzallrach, covering some 2,200-square miles. It is the mouth of the r. Baelli, and is known for its bountiful waters.

LUSITANIA: also ‘the City of Light’. Capital of Tzallrach, and one of few notable settlements in the region of Krishtul. It is situated on the steep hills E of the r. Baelli, though a considerable wooden stilt district has emerge to the W of the r. over recent decades, where the majority of its farmers and fishers live (pop. c. 740,000).

MAKELLA: small city in the c W of Tzallrach. It is home to the Circle Squires, a mil. order common in Tzallrach (Pop. c. 10,000).

MAR ISS: also ‘the Shelf’. Region of grey plateaus and cliffs in N Tzallrach, to the W of the region of Amadia.

MARABOUT: Mil. rank in Venthir and Tzallrach, denoting highest-ranking guardians of coastal towers around the Torrent of Karrock.

In the Korachani empire the rank was adopted by the administration of the Korachani empire in Venthir, though came to take on the role of a caretaker or warden, more than that of an active commander.

MASANSU: small city along the course of the r. Arelli in c S Tzallrach. It is a major link between the S cities, including Arachai, Balbeth, and Simhaparran, and the c-cities, including the capital in Lusitania via the city of Atassa, 110-miles to the N (Pop. c. 8,000)

MASEGI: small city in the W of Tzallrach, 12-miles W of Lusitania (Pop. c. 7,000).

MAULIMM: highland area in Tzallrach dominated by harsh near-impenetrable ridged plateaus.

MAUSOEA: small fortified settlement in S–WTzallrach. It emerged to serve the needs of the Hall of the Dead and provides many guards and funerary priests to serve the Mausoeum, which is less than a mile S of the settlement (Pop. c. 4,200).

MAUSOEUM, the: also ‘Hall of the Dead’. Necropolis in W Tzallrach, where spent rulers and members of their families are laid to rest, their bodies gilded, clad in their best armour for all eternity. The hall is constructed roughly in the middle of a 100-mile-long basaltic plug, which in antiquity served as a border between the people of Tzallrach and Lerach.

METANOIA: fortified settlement in c Tzallrach, along the shores of the r. Ussama (Pop. c. 4,000).

MOETIA: large city in the far W of Tzallrach (pop. c. 80,000).

MT. GUMUL: (21,000-ft.) highest peak of the Argent Mtns. along the border between S Tzallrach and W Turcar.

MT. LITANI: (8,810-ft.) highest peak in the Litani Mtns.

MT. SUNDA: (10,200-ft.) highest peak of Hebat Mtns. in c S Tzallrach.

MUBASI: small city in the c S of Tallrach, along the course of the r. Bosi. 

MUSSAR: sea in the far S of Malan, forming the N - E-most part of the Boiling Sea, and a division between N - W Tzallrach. 

NABBIL:coastal settlement in the S - W of Tallrach (Pop. c. 10,000).

NABIL SADDA: ruined sun-temple in the S of Tzallrach, dating back to the early years of the Fifth Age. 

NADAIRA: Mtn. in the far E of Tzallrach, forming a W extension of the Argent Mountains.

NAMELLI: r. in the N - E of Tzallrach, flowing W for 450-miles from sources in the Khun, Usiara and Argent Mtns. before meeting with its distributary, the r. Baelli.

NATHER: 1. r. in S Tzallrach, flowing for 150-miles from sources in the S-face of the Hebat Mtns, to the Bay of Steza, E of the Parai Deis isl.

2. Small fortified city in the S - W of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Nather. The settlement is in control of as many as a half-dozen smaller satellites that mine iron in the region. It processed the raw iron and ships the produce S to the harbour of Bouika (Pop. c. 8,000).

NAURU: settlement in the S of Tzallrach, known for its lodestone mines that penetrate vertically into the hard stone of the area (Pop. c. 2,000).

NBASA: small city in the c S - W of Tzallrach, serving as a link between  the cities of the Lurium plains and the River Lands to the N (Pop. c. 8,000).

NDISA: fortified coastal settlement in the W of Tzallrach, 35-miles N of Lusitania (Pop. c. 3,000).

NMASA OLA: major city in the c E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Adasiba (Pop. c. 42,000).

NNAKANNA: 1. Isl. off the N - W coast of Tzallrach. 

2. isl. city off the N - W coast of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 18,000).  

NOLAN: title common in Venthir, Tzallrach and Sarastro generally used in administrative purposes. The title was originally a Mil. rank, though changes in culture saw its use migrate to a civilian use. 

NOMARCH: hereditary title in Khamid, the Broken Lands, Tzallrach and Tethysia. Originating in Khamid. It is now common to Tzallrach and Tethysia, as well the few isl. where Khamidian government remains in the Broken Lands.

NUN: body of water dominating the S of Tzallrach, and forming the N-most part of the Iapetan Sea. It is characterised by the Parai Deis isl. and the steep coastal mountains of the Hebat Mtns. and the Pthassal’oss.

OBIA: isl. off the far W-coast of W Tzallrach, N of Lisedi.

OBIHADDAR: Fir. region in the S of Tzallrach, home to deep lodelith deposits (useless on an industrial scale), and many incredible caverns and rock-bridges that would be impossible in other lands.

OBO: settlement in the c N of Tzallrach, known for its iron mining (Pop. c. 2,000).  

ODONTWE: karst formation in the c S of Tzallrach, N of the Litani Mtns. 

OKONER: wooded region in the far N of Krishtul, just S of Karissina.  

OKOROBO: settlement in the c N of Tzallrach, known for its iron mining (Pop. c. 2,000).  

ONARCH: ruling title in Tzallrach. During the Great War the Onarch was Amaimon, though following his death and the events of the war, Arioch, the Diarch of Moeitia was crowned Onarch.

OPEIANNA: small coastal city in the far N - W of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 8,000).

OSOEME: coastal settlement in the S of Tzallrach, N of the Pthassal’oss Mtns. overlooking the Bay of Attas (Pop. c. 3,800).

OSOS: settlement in the S of Tzallrach, at the N-most point of the Bay of Attas (Pop. c. 4,000). 

OTUTU: isl. off the W-coast of Tzallrach.

PANTHEON OF NAHORIA: ancient ruined temple dating back to the Nahorite empire in what is now the far N of Tzallrach.

PARAI DEIS, the: Chain of beauteous isl. along the S - W coast of Tzallrachi, in the waters of Nun. he isl. are famed for their beauty and though a few small coastal settlements pepper them, they are relatively untouched by civilisation, though a few ruins, presumed to belong to the early Fourth Age, can be found there. 

PERUN OF FULMIN: (B. ? – 4007 RM) Shaper, native to the town of Fulmin in N Tzallrach. Fought Barrak in the Great War on the plains of Sammanus in the City-Kingdom of Caria in the Haréshk, where he two killed each other in a duel in 4007 RM.

PILEI: (Plr. Pileia) org. Concubines and sex-slaves (often shapers and taken from foreign lands) found in harems. Though technically slaves, most pilei enjoy rights many free people in Tzallrach do not and after retirement (early twenties) often rise to positions of power in temples and governmental administration. Pilei are used to extend royal bloodlines when the offspring of some noble families fail to produce heirs. A few seek exile and become outlawed shapers living on the fringes of society. These fallen pilei are ostracised and often hunted.

PILLAR OF WHISPERS: stone pillar, like a tapering sliver of sharpened flint, around 20-ft. High in the N - E of Tzallrach. Those who place their ears to the stone are said to hear whispers and murmurs that, when the Arcane Tempers are waxing, can be understood to be pleas and dirges. Local legends claim that the stone is a gaol where the spirits of those killed by justicars were imprisoned in the days of the Demiurges.

PLAINS OF GLASS: flat desert in the c S–E of Tzallrach, so-named for the fine sands in the region and the way that they reflect light, which is akin to glass. The sands are also notorious for their mirages its sand fused into glass after the lightning that strikes the region near year-round.

PTHASSAL'OSS: Mtns in the far S of Tzallrach, originally acting as a border between it and Krem. Their S-face is influenced by the Fir. region of Obihaddar.

RIVER LANDS, the: name for the more densely populated area of c coastal Tzallrach. The name is derived from the two major r. that flow through it, namely the Baelli and Arelli, and their many tributaries, as well as the wetlands of Krishtui. 

SABAR SULA: ancient lion-headed collossi on the isl. of Otutu, off the W-coast of Tzallrach. The collossi date back to before the Cataclysm of Khamid and are relics of ancient Tzallrachi life.

SALEDU: coastline in the S - W of Tzallrach, overlooking the Torrent of Karrock. Its waters are shallow and dangerous to navigate against the flow of water from the S.

SALEI: small fortified coastal settlement in the S - W of Tzallrach, 25-miles S - W of the city of Balbeth. It is a major producer of grain and barley (Pop. c. 5,000). 

SCIACACHIA: city in the c N of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Sciachi. 

SCIACHI: r. In the c N of Tzallrach, flowing N - W for 340-miles from sources in the Argent Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Liathar, itself a distributary of the r. Baelli. 

SENKA: board game common to lands S–E of the Dark Sea, including Khamid, Tzallrach and Krem. See Vol II: Games and Passtimes of Elyden.

SESSA: fortified settlement in the c N of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Baelli (Pop. c. 4,000). 

SEYADI: r. in the E of Tzallrach, flowing S - W for 310-miles from sources in the Khun Mtns. before meeting its distributary, the r. Liathar. 

SHELF, the: see Mar Iss.

SHYHTUM: Heady beer common in Khamid and Tzallrach. See Vol II: Alcohols of Elyden.

SHUL: ruined city in the far W of Tzallrach. It once bordered the W-most reaches of l. Krishtul, though was destroyed in 101 RM by the Cataclysm of Khamid, which also led to the draining of the l. into the sea of Ventha.

SHUL, GAP OF: geological gap created by the Cataclysm of Khamid in 101 RM that led to the draining of l. Krishtul into the sea of Ventha.  

SIBUSASA: fortified city in the S - E of Tzallrach. It is a major link with the scattered oases and settlements of the Turcar Desert. It is home to many mercenaries who serve as guards for the trade caravans that cross the Chara Pass (Pop. c. 7,000).

SIMHAPARRAN: large city in the W of Tzallrach, flanking the mouth of the r. Baelli. It is a major port and, alongside Balbeth and Lusitania, is one of the gateways for both trade and travel into Tzallrach (Pop. c. 80,000).

STEZA: 1. major isl. And surrounding archipelago to the S - W of Tzallrach, covering less than 500-square-miles and forming the W-most region of the Parai Deis. 

2. Only major settlement on the eponymous isl. Its culture is little different to that of Tzallrachi classical civilization and nobility is noted for paint the upper half of their faces in red ochre to symbolise their link with nature (Pop. c. 10,000).  

STEZA, BAY OF: bay in the S - W of the Parai Deis and distributary of the r. Nather. 

SUDEUBA: settlement in the S of Tzallrach. Its main industry is iron-mining.

SUMMER FLOWER: wine produced in the region and city of Abebe in the N - W of Tzallrach. See Vol II: Alcohols of Elyden.

SUNDERED EARTH: also ‘the Separation’. Region in W Tzallrach, directly S of the Broken Lands. The land in this region is broken into clefts; remnants of the Cataclysm of Khamid. Earthquakes are common here, as are collapses of coastal shelves into the sea, which are rebuilt by occasional volcanic outbursts along the coast.

SURUAZA: small coastal city in the far N - W of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 10,000).

SUSADA: l. in the c E of Tzallrach. It is noted for the large isl. at its centre.  

SWERTHA, WITCH OF BLADES: (also witch of swords, the sword hag). B. 3974 in Tzallrach, powerful Fir. adept in spheres aiamancy and pahhurism, with fair martial skills. Born Ia Pahaelan, the only child of a regional anarch who encouraged her Fir. abilities. In 3990 RM her father was assassinated, his rule overthrown by rivals. Cast out in the deserts of E Tzallrach, she wandered for years, an opportunistic mendicant nursing a thirst for what was rightfully hers. Her powers matured, her resolve tempered by a harsh life, she returned to her home in Arel in 3999, slaying those who deposed her family (who she learnt were of Venthiri blood), blanketing the stairs of her ancestral palace with their flayed skin. She ruled Arel for 3 years, a short reign of fear, ended by her wanderlust. 

In 4002 RM she travelled to Venthir, adopting the moniker of witch to instil fear in the people of that land, preying on those who would oppose Fir. though not shying from working with the empire on occasion. She was her own agent during the Great War, travelling to Tzallrach in 4007 RM, helping the allied cause. She spoke during the Second Great Council, but did not concede to the Highborn Lessor Koios’ conditions, and departed with others who did not agree to the terms, who nonetheless fought for the E. 

TADASA: fortified tin-mining settlement in the c E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Liathar (Pop. c. 3,800).

TAMARAT: fortified settlement in the N - E of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Seyadi (Pop. c. 5,000).

TEMMA: city in the S of Tzallrach, along the course of the r. Chien. It is a major agricultural centre in the region, with fields stretching up and downstream for a dozen miles (Pop. c. 14,800). 

TEMPLE OF THE CHIEN DA: Largest of the Tzallrachi Ziggurat temples dedicated to their sun deity Chien Da, located within the city of Balbeth. It was the centre of a prolonged siege during the Great War.

TEMPLE OF UNDARRA: see Undarra, Temple of. 

THAATA, GULF OF: small sea, filled with picturesque isl. in the far S of Tzallrach, to the east of the Sea of Nun. Its waters are shallow, and will likely disappear entirely within decades, as the seas of Elyden continue to withdraw.

TITIRA: fortified settlement in the c E of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 4,000). 

UDON: 1. Small isl. off the W-coast of Tzallrach. It is known as a prison to political dissidents and those who betrayed the ntn. 

2. Settlement and major prison on the above isl. In W Tzallrach. Most prisoners are sent here for life-sentences, and they spend their lives in dungeon-cells that see little light. Most die of malnourishment within 10-years of their imprisonment.

UNDARRA: Hill in the c S of Tzallrach, reaching 275-miles E from the coast. The region is dominated by weathered granite buttes, many of which are topped with verdure. The Temple of Undarra, is situated on such a butte. 

UNDARRA, TEMPLE OF. temple in the c S of Tzallrachi, situated atop a large granite butte.

USSAMA: r. in the S of Tzallrach flowing W for 920-miles, from sources in the Argent Mtns., before meeting with its distributary, the r. Arelli. For a 250-mile stretch, the r. casses through the canyon of Achor.

UTAND: settlement in the c S of Tzallrach, at the fork between the r. Karar and its distributary, the r. Ussama. It is acts as a hub for the refining of lodestone mined S, to the E of the Kararta Mtns. before being shipped downstream, to Arachai and Simhaparran, where it is traded away. The city is famed throughout Tzallrach for its engineering of the banks of the r. Karar near its peripheries (Pop. c. 20,000).

UZABE: major fortress in the far N of Tzallrach, 35-miles S - E of the city of Amuanna. It guards the N border against Malan.

UZANIA: coastal settlement in the N - W of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 3,000). 

UZATLLA: city in the N of Tzallrach, in the far S of the region of Abuaya (Pop. c. 12,800).

VALEFAR: 2. In Tzallrach, the Lion-king, steed of the Moeitian Diarch Arioch, said to have the heart of a man. The last of the Diarchs’ quests, the great lion-king was tamed in 3989 RM and remains his companion to this day.

VARASS, THE BOILING CAVES: large coastal cavern-system in the W of Tzallrach, S of the Gulf of Lusa, and forms part of the Sundered Earth. Its waters are constantly bubbling and steaming from geological activities below.

VENTHA: sea separating Venthir from Tzallrach. The sea was once far smaller than it is today, as much of what is today the Boiling Sea, was created through the unexplained calamity known as the Cataclysm of Khamid in 101 RM, before which it was all land.

Once, two main passes lead into the sea: the Strait of Saor in the N (still used to this day, though contested by Lalaun and Baost); and the Torrent of Karrock in the S.

WAMARAIA: fortified settlement in the S of Tzallrach, dedicated to the research of the Fir. phenomenon that has led to the formation of abundant lodestone deposits in the region (Pop. c. 8,000).

WHITEMANES TOMB: final resting place of the Tzallrachi, champion Zuleica Whitemane.

WIKKJAZ: (lit. ‘one who wakes the dead’). A rare form of Fir. where a shaper returns a spirit to a vessel, either its own or an alien vessel, usually real, though sometimes artificial). It is comparable to a lesser form of the klados that is practiced by the lhaus. It was prevalent in ancient Tzallrach, where Fir. once called upon their ancestors to oversee the annual Council of Diarchs.

YAWA: fortified tin-mining settlement in the c E of Tzallrach (Pop. c. 3,500).

YUUA: sea strait in the far N - E of the Boiling Sea, between N - W Tzallrach and S Malan.

YUUAZA: small coastal city in the far N - W of Tzallrach, controlling the entrance into the Sea of Mussar (Pop. c. 20,000). 

YUUNA: dry f. in the S of the Forest Kingdoms of Malan, bordering with the N of Tzallrach. 

ZAREN: fau. 5-horned even-toed ungulate common to Venthir and Tzallrach, though their numbers have diminished greatly since the desertification of their habitats. See Vol II: Therops.

ZITA: settlement in the c S of Tzallrach, along the pass between the Litani and Hebat Mtns. (Pop. c. 3,000). 

ZULEICA WHITEMANE: (B. ? – D. 3862 RM) Tzallrachi paladin and Fir.who in 3857 RM undertook the quest of the Leaden Throne; her objective, to slay the Undying Machine. Zuleica defeated the champion Nailla Beatrix, though later died of her injuries against other guardians of the Sepulchral Palace outside the temple of Jupiter Belus. Her body was carried N during the 3rd Shadow March of 3862 RM, where it eventually returned to her home in Simhaparran, outside of which it is buried and guarded to this day.