Brethan

The River Brethan (olg. breth-an 'the flowing') is one of the two great rivers of Belkondíl, beside the Cëlac. It is the most significant body of water west of the Olgish Highlands and considered the 'mother river' to the western Olgish clans, the Brethanian Olgs.

Course

The Brethan rises from the highlands of Lemmi-Dirith and the western end of the forest of Kali-Tonin. Heavy confluence of mountain streams strengthens the river early on and significantly contributes to the Brethan's great size despite its relatively short course of only 13 Olgish leagues. Exiting Lemmi-Dirith, it traverses the moorlands rising west towards Arnim-Sowen. This section of the river is the most discontinuous, with countless meanders and cut off bends; only further south, in the Gap of Ton does the course stabilize. Off the north-western peak of the Olgish Highlands, the river enters a broad plain, the Fields of the Brethan, which draw southward to Narn Aran, the only major crossing of the Brethan. From here onwards, its course becomes increasingly obscure, only for its first bit followed by the N. III Aran, before it turns away, first crossing the forest of Imban, where it receives its major influx from the Olgish Highlands, and finally forming a delta into the White Sea.

Cultural Significance

As one of the two eponymous rivers of Belkondíl, the 'Land by the Rivers', the Brethan prominently features in Olgish folklore and literature, albeit not as popularly as the longer and more accessible Cëlac. As one of the three primary rivers created by Awol (the others being Cëlac and Besokan), it is considered the remnant of Kána's tears as they flowed into the ocean after the fall of the old world. After the division of Olgish clans into two major groups, the western groups, which settled in the less fertile region beyond the Olgish Highlands, is commonly named after this river, the Brethanian Olgs, and their language, Brethanian Olgish.