Gunung Ratnala (ˈɡu.nuŋ ratˈna.la)
"Gunung Ayuwana was the center of the world, and connected the realms of the gods and mortals. Now that it has been broken by Rangdayan, I fear for us all."
Gunung Ratnala is a broken mountain, left behind by the eruption of Gunung Ayuwana. Once the highest mountain in the Great Ring, it remains the highest point on the island of Semvhu. Prior to the eruption, its name meant "Life-Giving Mountain", and many Phaṇin believed it was the center of the cosmos, and the linchpin connecting the Physical realm to the Spirit Realm and the Dream. It's sacred name was lost with the peak itself, and it is now called Gunung Ratnala, the Burning-Jewel Mountain.
A World-Shaking Eruption
In 3776, Gunung Ayuwana erupted. It was the largest volcanic eruption ever recorded, and the mountain lost over five thousand feet in height. The explosion could be heard across the Southwestern Region, and the column of smoke and ash was like a pillar reaching the sky. Ten thousand Phaṇin died in the initial blast, and more than eighty thousand died in the weeks and months that followed. All vegetation on the island was destroyed, blown away by violent winds created by the eruption, and uprooted trees were washed into the sea to form enormous rafts of ash and wood. No buildings were spared, and falling ash blanketed Kanluranan and beyond. Falling embers started fires on nearby islands and ships, and a cloud of toxic gas sickened everyone in sight of the mountain.
In the months that followed, many believed that the eruption marked the end of the world itself. Dark clouds persisted over the Great Ring, and the sun grew faint and cold. For more than a year, the world was touched by an unnatural chill, and crop failures led to widespread famines while snow fell out of season and further south than ever before. Even the fish were not spared - the ash poisoned the waters near Semvhu, and it was years before the ocean recovered.
An Act of War
The Phaṇin blamed the goddess Rangdayan, saying that a monstrous beetle of flame, born from her breath, burrowed into the mountain’s heart. When it reached the core, Gunung Ratnala was born in devastation. The leaders of the Persatuan Phaṇin used this event to revitalize their war against the Jatayu, and the destruction of Gunung Ayuwana has justified doing whatever is necessary to kill the dark goddess of Gili before she can find another way to destroy the world.
Notable Spirits
Prior to the eruption, Gunung Ayuwana was the home of Meru, a god of plants and life, who blessed the island with fertile soil and abundant life. But the Phaṇin believe that Meru was destroyed by the creatures of Rangdayan, and only the god's corpse remains. Instead of a life-giving god, the Phanin believe that a great and bloated beetle of fire and stone squats within the heart of the mountain, slowly gathering the strength for another eruption and tending the eggs that will be ejected when that happens. No one can say how long it will be before the beetle is able to complete its task, but if it is allowed to continue, the devastation could be far greater the next time.
Geography
Gungung Ratnala is located in the northern portion of Semvhu, among several lesser peaks. It was once a cone-shaped volcano, but now the mountaintop is a vast caldera with a central lake that steams in the cold air and is hostile to all life. The slopes of the mountain are covered in trees, although none are older than two hundred years when the eruption obliterated all nearby life. There are still few large animals that live among the mountains, and the most common animals are insects and birds.
Geographic Details
Location: Southwestern RegionLatitude: 20.6 degrees North
Longitude: 31.64 degrees West
Elevation: 9,350 ft
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
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