High North
Northernmost continent, about 1/3 the size of Senm. High north is a mountainous continent near the planet’s equator; its climate is mostly subtropical, with some arid regions along the coasts. Some High Northern nations include:
- Darr: Small landlocked nation consisting largely of mountainous rainforests. Formerly matriarchial, now egalitarian, although with some vestiges of matriarchy remaining. Its capital is Arrebaia, a stone city built on a mountain plateau.
- Menchey: Small landlocked nation bordering Darr, more arid. Formerly patriarchial, now egalitarian, although with some vestiges of patriarchy remaining. Historical enemy of Darr.
- Tokland: Small coastal nation bordering Menchey and Darr.
Senm
Largest continent, to the south of High North. Climate ranges from subtropical in the north to arid and arctic in the south (the continent occupies the southern hemisphere and overlaps the southern pole of the planet). Some Senmite nations/cities include:
- Sky-in-Shadow: Eventual name of the city-state that is the Arameri home city, and the seat of the Nobles’ Consortium. Location of most events in the Inheritance Trilogy. The palace is known as Sky throughout the trilogy, but the city below is known by different names at different times. In The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms the city is called simply Sky, like the palace. (Sometimes “Sky-the-city”, as opposed to “Sky-the-palace”.) In The Broken Kingdoms, the city’s official name is still Sky, but denizens have begun to refer to it as Shadow, since most of the city is heavily shadowed by both the canopy of the World Tree? and the Tree’s stories-high roots. By the third book the city has in effect become three cities: Shadow, which refers to the city on the ground level; the Gray, a small community of upper-middle-class crafters and lesser nobles who dwell atop the Tree’s roots; and Noonbright, the collection of mansions and other structures built directly onto the Tree’s trunk by the city’s wealthiest denizens. The whole city, palace and all, is now called “Sky-in-Shadow”. Areas in Shadow (seen mostly in bk2):
- Wesha: West Shadow
- Easha: East Shadow
- The Promenade (in Wesha; a traffic circle with a paved area, where pilgrims gather and artists, buskers, etc., gather to sell to them; several of the city’s key buildings are located here, including the Wesha White Hall)
- The South Promenade (in Wesha; another circle with a poorer view of the World Tree, and which receives fewer visits from pilgrims)
- South Root (in Wesha; a poverty-stricken neighborhood which receives the least light in the city)
- The Shustocks Junkyard (in Easha; near the carters, carriagemakers, and blacksmiths of the city; where many large items are discarded such as carriageworks, rotted lumber, etc. First claimed as territory by the godling Dump, later Lil.)
- Ancestors’ Village (in Wesha; a gathering-place for the city’s homeless population)
- Nimaro: Small country on a peninsula at the southern edge of the Senm continent. Given to the survivors of the Maroland after the destruction of their continent. A sleepy agrarian nation. Language is Senmite, although a minority attempts to preserve Maro, their original language. The people of Nimaro have dark brown skin and tightly-coiled hair. One of the few non-Amn ethnicities to occupy the Senm continent (the other is Teman).
- Tema/the Teman Protectorate: Large confederation of countries and city-states at the northern edge of the Senm continent. Ruled by the Triadice, a trio of noble families who rotate leadership and collaborate on foreign relations. Language is Teman. The people of Tema have tan to brown skin and “sharpfold” eyes (i.e., epicanthic folds). One of the few non-Amn-related ethnicities to occupy Senm. (The other is the Maroneh.)
The Islands
To the east of Senm, a volcanic archipelago. Easternmost portions of the archipelago were close to the Maroland, and the people of those islands have a markedly different culture, darker skin, and curlier hair than those of the western islands.
- Ken: Largest of the islands, at the western end of the chain.
- Irt: Nation occupying half of a largish island.
- Uthr: Nation occupying the other half of the Irtin island.
The Maroland
Lost continent, once to the southeast of High North. Smallest continent. Climate was subtropical-to-temperate. A place of great beauty and biodiversity; the first humans evolved here, then spread westward. The first Arameri home city was here, before the continent was destroyed by Nahadoth. For several centuries afterward the area where the Maroland had been was prone to underwater earthquakes/tsunami that made sea travel treacherous. Colloquially called “Maro”.