Manok (arch. Menioq) is a small island 1100 km west of mainland Anrel. It is a regular stopping port for the trade between Anrelplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAnrel Isles

Anrel [ANN-rel], or the Anrel Isles, is the most northerly island group in the Natorn Archipelago. It consists of three major islands and numerous smaller ones. The largest, colloquially if infrequently called Mainland, is divided between the kingdoms of Trésard and Narette. The island HM, Vetth and Ororr, particularly for hardy traders willing to risk heavy open seas rather than risking the coast of Hartheraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHarthera

The Hartheran Union, commonly named Harthera, is an imperialist maritime nation state dominating the northeast of Anásthias. It is one of the two great powers of the modern epoch, arguably the most technologically and militarily powerful nation in the world, only matched by the vast size and wealth of its neighbour, viridOrorrMEOrorrOrorrOrorrOrorr.

Manok is part of a direct trade route between the Anrelian port of Por Muel and the Vetthi city of Mezain. Manok is 1110 km or about 6 days sailing west of Anrel, with Mezain a further 4000 km, about 21 days sailing. The traders are primarily of the Vetthi Merchant Navy, due to their skill and superiority in long distance sea travel. Some hardy Anrelian merchantmen do make the long and potentially dangerous crossing, but most prefer the easier route of island-hopping the Natorn Archipelago and either trading in Hartheranplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHarthera

The Hartheran Union, commonly named Harthera, is an imperialist maritime nation state dominating the northeast of Anásthias. It is one of the two great powers of the modern epoch, arguably the most technologically and militarily powerful nation in the world, only matched by the vast size and wealth of its neighbour, viridOrorrMEOrorrOrorrOrorrOrorr ports or following the coast to Ororr.

The Manokiya are of Old Aralsic stock with a distinctive languageplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigLanguages

List of human languages and dialects, contemporary and extinct.

Language

language

This is in a series of articles about Languages and Communication.

topics sidebar cult1 that is not intelligible to any other Aralsic language speakers. Nevertheless it has been greatly influenced by traders from Anrel, and consequently has many loan words from Reidan and Vetthiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigVetthi language

The Vetthi language is a modern language in the Issid language family, spoken in the home islands of the Vetthi Republic and parts of the Guree Isles.

Language

language

This is in a series of articles about Languages and Communication.

There are also significant ex-patriot communities in Ororr, Harthera and Hesjbagaaia.

languages vetth.

They are considered to be insular and reserved, happy to welcome traders to the port city, but hostile to visitors venturing further inland.

Manok was formed millions of years ago by an extinct shield volcano, giving it a roughly domed shape. The dome collapsed, leaving a circle of craggy peaks. The landscape was deforested of virid vegetation by human settlers millennia ago, and is now mostly green moorland on the coastal slopes, with greenplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigGreen

The Green Kingdom of flora and fauna includes humans, mammals, birds, whales, greenfish, and most green plants and crops cultivated by humankind. woodland on the mountain slopes and thickets of viridplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigVirid

Referring to the Virid Kingdom of flora and fauna, toxic to human life. shrubs in the deep interior. Greenplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigGreen

The Green Kingdom of flora and fauna includes humans, mammals, birds, whales, greenfish, and most green plants and crops cultivated by humankind. trees are vital for fuel and ship-building, but these are under pressure, and deforestation is a constant threat. The climate is cool and damp, much like northern Anrel, and its principle industry is fishing, since the surrounding seas are rich with greenfish and other green marine life. Dried fish and fish oil are the only exports, so the stink of rendered fish lingers over much of the coast. There is subsistence farming, though the soil is thin and mostly suited to awm, but the green hills are well suited to herding ovors. Meat, milk and blood from domestic animals, plus the abundant green fish species are the island's staple foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are prized luxury imports.

In ancient epochs when sea level was lower, the island was much larger. What remains was once the hinterland of the ancient Thalsic city of Hemanus, claimed to be one of the seats of the Godmen. The town of Rieve is said to have been built around an ancient oracle, the island's only attraction. The oracle is still attended by group of priests called the Chresimoy, dedicated to interpreting nebulous messages in answer to questions from fee-paying visitors.

After the rise in sea level after the Beryl Epoch (c.3000 BME), the pressure on resources led to deforestation and a near total collapse of the green agriculture and human society. After a five hundred year dark age, civilisation was only rebuilt after the reintroduction of green species by Reidan settlers from Anrel.

The island is a collective of self-governing communities, each led by headmen, who represent their community in the Island Moot. Full moots are open to public view, and take place in the Mutspen, an area of paved stones just outside the capital, Rieve. In modern times full moots are only convened for the most important announcements and debates, most regular meetings happening in the greater comfort and privacy of the Moothall in Rieve.

Rieve is ruled by a collective of Merchant Lords who elect a leader amongst themselves. The leader serves for as long as they maintain enough support, after which they are invariably deposed. In former times the Lords were mostly of Reidan descent, but today this distinction is long lost.

Many Lords of Rieve have attempted to declare themselves king of the entire island, but the irascibility of the islanders has made these kings being very short-lived. No “kingdom” has ever outlived its king.

The half ruined fortress southwest of Rieve has become an Anrelian mission house led by the Rinesti, attempting to promote education, law and Hexactic values. The house is noted for its learning, and in particular for the faded opulence of its baths, fed by volcanic springs. The fortress was built by King Goul the Silent, an aspiring ruler of the island noted for his weasel words. His tongue was torn out before his palace was completed, and he was bricked up alive inside.

The baths are patronised by travellers in return for a donation to the Rinesti, who assure visitors of the health benefits of the hot natural springs.