Erechóreb

Locator Map showing Erechóreb in relationship to the Greater Pallathantic

The isle of Erechóreb is the second largest in the Pallathantic Sea after Nymentho. Erechóreb is the homeland of the Yophenthean people whose forebears ruled most of the Greater Pallathantic Region during the Yophenthean Empire. Even after their diaspora throughout their former empire, the isle is still held in great esteem by humans claiming Yophenthean heritage and those who observe the Arathracian Sun Religion. Humans today from the isle are Erechórebese which includes the ethnically diverse Goldenlings and Dramutes. There are virtually no elves on the island as they emigrated from the island in the tenth and eleventh centuries, most going to Nymentho.

Map of Erechóreb and neighboring islands

Geography and Climate

Erechóreb is well over 300 miles wide (480 km). The two greatest peaks are the active volcanoes, Mount Thríant and Mount Prasthorre. The close-lying isle of Erethrob is part of Erechóreb culturally and politically. Erechóreb receives abundant rain in the winter and some rains in later summer to early autumn. The peaks and high mountains of the island receive light to moderate snowfall in the winter. The climate is cool in the winter and warm in the summer and fairly humid. Thick forestation hugs the slopes of the mountains on the northern half of the island. The longest river is the Calithew that passes through historic Yophénthë.

Erechóreb is almost equally distant from the coast of Barathorn, the coast of Ambrinqua, and the coast of Zarajove (Danona). The great isle is bounded by the Pytharnian Sea to the north, the Yophenthean Sea to the west which separates it from the Island of Nymentho, the Golden Sea to the east that separates it from Pytharnia, and the Siulian Sea to the south which is regarded as part of the greater Pallathantic Sea which separates Erechóreb from the isle-continent of Danona. Thus communications by seaship are essential to the commerce and politics of Erechóreb, even today in an age of titancraft vessels of air. The Erechórebese merchant marine voyages throughout the Pallathantic Sea, the Memnosian Sea, and the Mathareusan Sea. Rhafyx is the greatest sea port on the isle, followed by Samachta to the south which serves the Holy See.

Topography

The middle lands of the island are most mountainous, rising to the two volcanic peaks, Mount Thríant and Mount Prasthórrë which anciently were worshiped as gods. Magdeologers believe the entire island was formed by volcanoes. The hilly lands south of the mountains are called the Tireathiain Hills. The land of Glamondir is largely flat. Secreted among the hills is the long body of water called Lake Siordinnid which was thought in ancient times to be haunted by elves. The plains north of the mountains towards Rhafyx are largely forested. The Rhafycian Sound is an ideal sea port, protected by a tongue of land from the surf.

Governments

Main articles: Kingdom of Erechóreb and Holy See of Yophénthë

Flag of the Kingdom of Erechóreb

Flag of the Holy See of Yophénthë

Two states govern Erechóreb. The greater portion is subject to the Kingdom of Erechóreb the capital of which rests in the city of Rhafyx. The Holy See of Yophénthë is governed from the ancient city of the same name. The state of the Holy See is relatively small and surrounded by the Kingdom of Erechóreb save for a short span where it touches the sea.

Arathracian Religion

Main article: Arathracian Religion

See also: Arathracian Church

The state religion of the Kingdom of Erechóreb is the Arathracian Church and it is ecclesiastically subject to the Holy See of Yophénthë which is the spiritual capital of those who practice the tenets of the Erechórebese Arathracian Church.

Arathracian Sanctuaries

See also: Arathracian Sanctuary

There are several Arathracian Sanctuaries on Erechóreb including Aireannaftha, Erithraigonuha, Imsirc, Naffadast, Taithonsoliar, and Errigaidha Nava. Erechóreb is famous for more such sanctuaries than any other country in the world.

Capital Cities

Rhafyx and Yophénthë are the two capitals of the island. Other major cities include Bembasule, the birth city of Saint Aireánnau, Thirion, and Samachta.

Yophénthë

Main article: Yophénthë

The Holy See of Yophénthë is largely urban and swells with gardens, parks, villas, and domed temples from ancient and recent times. The enormous palaces of the late empire are crumbling yet awesome to behold in the outskirts of the old imperial city.

Rhafyx

Main article: Rhafyx

The city of Rhafyx contrasts with Yophénthë. Rhafycians love modernity and despite restrictions on magecraft, Rhafyx brims with its own wizard minority. The best titancraft manufacturers on the island can be found in or near Rhafyx. The royal palace of the Holy Kingdom of Erechóreb also rests in Rhafyx. The largest titancraft factories on the island are in Rhafyx.

Neighboring Countries

Erechóreb's closest neighbors are the Archduchy of Asbardy to the east and the Commonwealth of Xsys to the west. The close-lying island of Erethrob is under the domain of the Kingdom of Erechóreb and shares the same language and many of the same customs as the main island. Historians believe the migrating Goldenlings first landed on Erethrob before continuing to Erechóreb.

See Also

• Arathracian Church
• Chronology of Erechóreb
• Erechórebese Language
• Erethrob
• Goldenling Tribes of Erechóreb
• Pallathantic Sea
• Yophenthean Empire