Difference between revisions of "Belkondíl"

Traditionally, Belkondíl is considered to include all of the southwestern corner of [[Elondor]], west of the [[River Besokan|Besokan]] and the [[Gulf of Seligon]] and south of the [[Reknayan Mountains]] and the [[River Ilathw]]. It is surrounded by sea on three sides, the [[Timesthe]] (including the Gulf of Seligon) in the east and southeast and the [[Runion]] in the west and southwest. The main defining geographical feature, however, are the rivers Cëlac and Brethan, the cradles of Olgish culture, the former entering Belkondíl from the western Reknaya near the city of Lágon and passing many of its most important landmarks, the latter rising from the Lemmi-Dirith in the forest of Kali-Tonin and meandring through the heath of Orinion before forming the Brethan Delta south of the Imban Forest. Both ultimate flow into the White Sea, a large bight between the peninsulas of Corbin and Noldorin, at the boundary between the southern and eastern seas. The two river valleys are separated by the Olgish Highlands, a mountain range part of the Variscan Belkondilic Mountains. Other major mountain ranges and forests include the Rouningwood, where Dúrith the Elder is said to have discovered the Language of the Forest and subsequently invented sorcery, Kali-Tonin, including Lemmi-Dirith and the well of the Brethan, the Besokian Woods, the mythical Forest of Corbin and the Harking Hills of Orinion.

Belkondíl is the core land of [[Lonsorigi|Olgish legend]], and many of its cities and landmarks have a great historic significance in Olgish culture. [[Ortûlék]] itself, the fabeled point of origin of the Olgs, Genes, and Auls and later seat of the [[Second Kingdom of Belkondíl|Kings of Belkondíl]], is part of its heartland, located in the plain of the same name on the western bank of the Cëlac between the [[Rouningwood]] and the forest of [[Kali-Tonin]]. The two other major Olgish royal seats are located not far, along the course of the Cëlac: [[Lágon]], afoot the mountains on the northern edge of Belkondíl, capital of the mythical [[First Kingdom of Belkondíl|first Olgish Kingdom]] and a major political player even into Lécaronian times, and [[Soskilón]], the epicentre of [[On the Relationship between Olgish and Soskish Culture|Olgish-Soskish contact]] and capital of [[Lécaronian Empire|Lécaron]] after Ortûlék was abandonend during the [[King's Plague]] of E.B. 1326.

Early Olgish society is based around the [[Olgish Clans|clan]] as basic unit of social and political organization. Claims of high kingship and local territorial rule exist but are restricted to a mostly ceremonial and symbolic level. Only after the Olgish Clan Wars, the first truly territorial dependencies form; this form of organization is strengthened during the Iilish occupation and eventually solidified in the first historical Kingdom of Belkondíl under Enethin of Ortûlék, who divides the lands included in his claim (not all of which eventually pledge their allegiance and are incorporated into his kingdom) into 13 counties, which remain the main unit of geographical division even into imperial Lécaronian times. Each county is ruled by an Earl or Countess (MOlg. ''Corwin'', ''Corwina'', from the old term for a chieftain), who reports directly to the King (later a secondary title borne by the Lécaronian Emperor) and can bestow lower-level fees to vassals in their own right.

* '''Tarébras''' (capital Belkison), stretching eastward from Belkison along the Ilathw, at times reaching Cas Gennwr the Dôkob, including the southern part of the territory of Wertian culture and language. Fully part of the Kingdom of Geran after the Geranian War, with Belkison provisional capital L.R. 686‒703.

* '''Lágon''', traditionally considered a city state but granted various territorial powers, mostly of the northwestern Rouningwood.

* '''Nerrid''' (capital Singrall), northern half of the Edhennín east of the river Nellac, including the western part of the Besokian Woods and Nendrem Tinar in the Golim Sound. Later, the largely autonomous and mostly Soskish-inhabited Oakshire, itself including the valleys of Tár and Pár, is also nominally appended to this county. The heavily contended-for Isle of Golim is at times also considered a part of Nerrid.

* '''Atrissar''' (capital Talis), the open land west of Ortûlék and the upper Brethan, westward up to the coast, including the ancient battlefield of Arnim-Sowen and the Brethan well at Lemmi-Dirith. Split into Northern and Southern Atrissar after the Geranian War, Southern Atrissar remaining with Lécaron.

* '''Ortûlék''', the plain of Ortûlék, including the sacred hill of Ortûlék and the convergence of Cëlac and Äroïn. Governed from Soskilón, the Earl of Ortûlék a minor title of the royal family.

* '''Gërrun''' (capital Iliston), the southern half of the Edhennín stretching along the Gulf of Belkondíl. Most fertile county and granary of Belkondíl.

* '''Mairn''' (capital Acainn), the Mairn archipelago west of Atrissar and Orinion. Main area of Brethanian language and culture.

* '''Orinion''' (capital Molbewín), a vast territory west of the Brethan of roughly the extent of the mythical Orinion, homeland of the Brethanians, including Narn Aran, the Imban Forest, the Harking Hills with the mining town of Eres, and the [[Tár-Noldorin|Noldorinian]] peninsula, the last refuge of the [[Noldorinians|Noldorinian people]] before the complete disappearance around the 15^th century B.E.B.

* '''Lécaronian Palatinate''' (centred on Soskilón), formed from the ancient county of Ton (a name going back to the Iilish occupation), the area under directly authority of the Lécaronian Emperor, including the Forest of Kali-Tonin, the northern tip of the Olgish Highlands, and the Estermarsh.

* '''Gliron''' (capital Gëlenem), comprising most of the Cëlac and the land to its west south of Soskilón, including the southern part of the Olgish Highlands, the city of Tinnas, Cëllar, the Tardennin, Irin's Bay, and the Cëlacmouth.

* '''Morineb''' (capital Mor Nostim), the traditional country of Morineb, east of the Cëlac, south of the Glírob, and north of Corbin. In the east bordering the Gulf of Belkondíl, the Gulf of Seligon, and the Timesthe.

* '''Corbin''' (capital City of Corbin), the peninsula of Corbin and the island of Kerrvaryn. Homeland of Corbian culture and language, long independent from the rest of Belkondíl. With the grey gate, this county includes the main entry to the White sea from the east, and the harbour cities of Corbin, Arenys, and Everyn are located here, some of the most important ports in the trade with Seligon.