Hethmora

This article is part of the Ardai canon.

Hethmora

Demonym	Hethmoran
Languages	Eiconian Vahian Kuodic

Hethmora ( listen) is a large volcanic landmass in the Mondozean, halfway between Nuro and Topei. Initially uninhabited by humans, it was later settled and fought over by various powers throughout history, including the Eicons, Norvenes, Quodi, Swastrians, Bataignens, Topeians, and Vahians.

Names

• Azunic: Haythmur
• Barba: Himur
• Bataignen: Bruyère
• Irian: Chaïmour
• Kovik: Nummi
• Norvenian: Heiðland
• Old Eiconian: Mòinteach
• Roenish: Hedeland
• Siudic: Moinfra
• Solcian: Hethmora
• Topeian (mainland): Huangdi
• Topeian (insular): Hisumua

History

Antiquity

Hethmora was undiscovered for much of history. Pennesios makes no mention of the island in his Voyages. It may have been visited by the Solcians, as ancient Solcian shipwrecks have been found off the island's south coast. Prior to the discovery of Dromonds' Deep, some historians speculated that the Lost Armada could have sailed to Hethmora. Solcian coins have also been found on the island, but these were probably brought by later explorers. The name Hethmora itself is a Solcian term, which the geographers Plaulian, Vicevelus, and Calanni used to refer to a distant, cold land to the north of the Empire. Although that land was presumed by later scholars to be Hethmora, it more than likely referred to Norvenia, a place definitively known to the Solcians.

A volcanic eruption in Hethmora led to a period of devastating winters that strongly affected the Solcian Empire in the mid-6th century, as well as the rest of the world.

Settlement from the West

Monastic Eicons

The ruins of a monastery on Hethmora. Eican monks were the first known settlers to reach the landmass, arriving in small numbers throughout the 9th century.

The earliest-known settlements on Hethmora were built by Eican monks around 825 CE. The Eicans constructed impressive cliffside monasteries, ruins of which still survive to this day. The seclusion of Hethmora made it an ideal locale for deep meditation, but that would change with the coming of raiders from the north.

Northerners

Norvenian sailors visited Hethmora throughout the 9th century and met with isolated groups of Eicons there, according to traditional accounts. Norvic peoples began settling Hethmora in earnest in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, with the largest such migration led by Eltic Wind-King, over-chief of the Ganns and the Vesti. They were followed by the Roens and Koviks in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Modern period

Great Wars

• Battle of Furnacefort

Geography

Sunderland

Rife with volcanic activity, the stark Sunderland is inhabited by a hardy people: the Sundermen, descendants of exiles and outlaws from east and west who came to inhabit the scorched, ever-changing landscape. Current major settlements include Onagil and Temton.

Karo

The name of the more temperate midlands comes from the Vahians, who first came to the region in the 14th century. Mount Karo is an active volcano and the namesake of the province. Karo is dominated by round mountains such as these, as well as crystal blue lakes and great pine forests.

Major settlements

• Ashfort
• Bleakfort
• Furnacefort