Selig (ˈzeːlɪk)
Selig is the southernmost island in the Volksland island group, and the southernmost point in the Norður Islands. It is the location of the Lustro Lighthouse, which is tended by the last remnants of the Smok people who dominated the island before the Clarati destroyed or drove out nearly all of the Zmei from the Great Ring. The Smok make up only a small portion of the island's population, which is mostly humans from the Ðuring ethnicity. The Smok and the Ðuring have come to live in relative peace on Selig, and are bound together by their shared worship of Dadźbóg, the Smok god of the sun, and his son Balðraz, god of the Lustro Lighthouse and prince of mirrors.
The largest settlement on the island is Zlotomünde, at the mouth of the river Zloto. It is on the southern end of the island, and the Lustro Lighthouse marks the entrance to Zlotomünde's harbor. For many vessels, it is the first port of call when entering the Norður Islands, and the last when leaving for the Ynys Archipelago. In recent years, it has has an influx of Pozoj refugees from the Empire of Vlast who refused to live under the rule of Nabijač, and have sought shelter in the closest Zmei community to the Korabovi Islands.
Notable Spirits
The patron deity of Selig is Dadźbóg, the god of the sun. He is one of many sun gods who are worshipped in the Great Ring, and is embodied by the sunlight that falls upon the island as much as by the sun in the sky. When the Clarati came to scour all the Kikipua and Zmei from the Great Ring, Dadźbóg sheltered as many of the Smok as he could, and crafted an illusion that the island was empty.
Later, when the Ðurings immigrated south from Slesvig and established communities on the northern shore of Selig, Dadźbóg advised his people to befriend and support the humans, leading to a partnership that persists to this day.
The physical representation of the bond between the Zmei and humans of Selig is the Lustro Lighthouse. Like all the lighthouses in the Ring of Light, Lustro has a patron deity. In this case, Dadźbóg filled the mirrors of the lighthouse with his light, and from it was born the god Balðraz. Balðraz is a shapeshifting god, who manifests as both a human and a Zmei, but is always glowing with a warm light in any form. He is called the prince of mirrors, and the light from the Lustro lighthouse looks like the first rays of dawn when seen from a distance. The Keepers of Lustro are made up of both human and Zmei priests, and their close association has helped the two species to maintain close and friendly relations on Selig. One interesting fact about the Lustro is that it bestows an enchantment on any mirror that reflects its light; the surface will capture the light and continue to emit it for a time after it is no longer reflecting the lighthouse. This effect lingers for a period equal to the time the mirror spent capturing light, and the Keepers of Lustro frequently place mirrors where they will be exposed for years, using them to illuminate anywhere they desire with warm sunlight.
Geography
Selig has long sandy beaches and rolling hills. The longest river on the island is the Zloto, which winds its way southward between the hills before reaching the shore on the southern coast. The highest point on the island is known as Molg, and it is a flat-topped hill that the inhabitants use as a communal cemetary. The island is long and thin, with a length a little over 26 miles, and averaging about six and a half miles wide.
Geographic Details
Location: Northeastern RegionLatitude: 50.75 degrees North
Longitude: 46.78 degrees East
Average Elevation: 7 ft
Highest Point: 184 ft
Lowest Point: -20 ft
Area: 172.2 sq mi
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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