The Sacred Lands

The Sacred Land, also known as Nora Territory or the Savage East, is an independent territory belonging to the people of the Nora tribe. The Sacred Land is considered sacred because its territory is protected by mountains, which the Nora tribe worships as their Goddess, All-Mother. Nora law normally forbids members from leaving the Sacred Land - those who do become exiles (the only exception to this rule being Seekers). The territory outside of the Sacred Land is called the Tainted Lands, as it is beyond the sight of All-Mother.
The Sacred Land is home to several towns and villages, including Mother's Heart and Mother's Crown. The Embrace is an area of the Sacred Land that is protected by a ring of mountains and a series of gates. The majority of the Nora reside within it, as it is isolated from the more dangerous machines.

History

The Sacred Land was the region closest to the ELEUTHIA-9 facility, and therefore became home to the first new humans once they left the Cradle. After an unknown period of time, this proto-tribe would split in two following the discovery of ancient texts inside ruins of the Old Ones by Araman; while some saw the potential that the texts held, others hated and feared them. As a result, Araman and his followers were exiled from the land. The exiled ones would eventually settle in the west and become the Carja tribe, whereas the ones who stayed behind would become the Nora.
As the spirituality of the Nora progressed, they came to believe the Mountain they came from, which they referred to as "All-Mother," was the origin of all life, and that the surrounding land was blessed. The region closest to All-Mother became the Embrace, the central region of the tribe. Due to their spiritual beliefs, the Nora left the wilderness relatively untamed, taking only what they felt they deserved and needed.

First Carja Invasion

Remembering how they had been expelled from their origin land, and prejudiced against the matriarchal nature of Nora culture, the Carja tribe would refer to Nora lands as the "Savage East." In an effort to "spread civilization," Sun-King Khuvadin attempted to colonize the Sacred Lands. However, the Nora fought off the attempts, leading Khuvadin to abandon his efforts, opting instead to create the settlement of Daytower to monitor the Nora.

Red Raids

Like most of the nearby tribes, the Sacred Land was attacked during the Red Raids on the orders of the Mad Sun-King. While the Nora were able to keep the Carja from reaching the Embrace, the village of Mother's Vigil was destroyed, and many Nora were either butchered or taken to the Sun-Ring for sacrifice.
Following the end of the Red Raids, the Nora chose not to return to Valleymeet, which was lost during the war. Instead, they decided to let it serve as a buffer between the Sundom and the Sacred Lands, neither fully Carja nor Nora. Fittingly, the valley became open to outlanders and Nora, allowing peaceful inter-tribal interactions for the most time in the Nora's history.

Territorial Boundaries

The current northern boundary of the Sacred Land is Mother's Crown, according to Marea. The Nora do not guard anything past Mother's Crown, but they do allow tribespeople to go to Hunter's Gathering and Valleymeet Hunting Grounds.
It seems the Nora and the Carja are in agreement that Daytower is the eastern edge of Carja territory and that Valleymeet will be treated as Nora territory by the Carja, even if the Nora do not inhabit it. The river that flows from Devil's Grief could be the current border of the Sacred Land.
The exact boundaries are more difficult to tell for the Sacred Lands than for other tribal territories, because there are no Nora patrols since the War Party massacre.

Notable Locations

• Mother's Cradle
• Mother's Crown
• Mother's Rise
• Mother's Watch
• Mother's Vigil (abandoned)

Alternative Name(s)

"Savage Lands" or "Savage East"

Type

Territory

Included Organizations

• Nora

Owner/Ruler

High Matriarchs

Owning Organization

Nora

Related Reports (Primary)

• After Action