Sia Zendylhia

Sia Zendylhia is a large island in the Targotian Sea. It is wholly owned by the Zendylite Empire, and is the location of the spiritual capital of the Empire, Col Zendyl.

Geography

The island was shaped almost entirely by the activity of Mt. Mazzaresh, the massive volcano that dominates its center, in the first six centuries following the Targotian Cataclysm, with its last known eruption occuring in 613ATC. As a result, much of the island is rugged, rocky, and mountainous, with patches of dense jungle.

Natural Resources

Sia Zendylhia and its immediate satellites are abundant with stone and ores, owing to the extensive volcanic activity of their formation. High-quality timber for building is a bit more limited in supply, and is difficult to transport over the rugged terrain; therefore, it is more often imported from Sia Coren or elsewhere.

The western portion of the island, across the Seabridge isthmus, is the only known source of the ore from which Bloodsteel was derived. These mines have been abandoned since the outlawing of Bloodsteel in the late 27th century ATC.

Though the island itself is resource-poor in terms of game, the Targotian Sea surrounding it is teeming with life; this, combined with a limited amount of agriculture in the vicinity of Col Zendyl itself, makes the population of Sia Zendylhia self-sufficient.

History

Sia Zendylhia was first discovered in 562ATC, when it was mentioned as having been sighted at a distance by a Targotian ship exploring Sia Coren out of Col Shaphel. It was not until 611ATC, however, that an actual expedition was mounted to explore the island, naming it Sia Targonorva (trans. "New Targos Isle") and establishing a semi-permanent outpost. This settlement, which had by then grown into a small but bustling town, was destroyed when Mt. Mazzaresh erupted in 613ATC, and the Targotians abandoned further attempts to settle the rugged island for four centuries.

In 1010ATC, Zendyl's First Expedition charted the coast of Sia Targonorva but did not land, finding it to have grown by over twenty percent compared to the 7th century maps.

Zendyl returned in 1011ATC for his Second Expedition, landing at what is now called the Bay of Heste on the southern side of the east half of the island. There he built a semi-permanent fort and spent the winter with his flagship's crew.

Zendyl's Third Expedition returned again from 1012-1014ATC, during which time he began the construction of Col Zendyl and the Baz Hesteran.

Alternative Name(s)

Formerly known as Sia Targonorva

Type

Island

Location under

Targotian Sea

Included Locations

• Col Zendyl

Ruling/Owning Rank

Triarch

Owning Organization

Zendylite Empire

Related Ethnicities

• Targotian/Zendylite