Rivers

A young hael looking over the River Burr (Thain) in the Marran Empire.

The Cartographers’ Guild is responsible for maintaining maps of the world’s rivers. While individual regions, people, or nations may have their own names for rivers, the Guild makes certain to categorize them by their composition: many rivers are not just their length from stream to sea, but instead travel through the center of Mondevai many times in their endless loop. These five rivers have outpours across the surface of Mondevai, and are usually denoted first by their official name then with their local, regional name below it.

Connected since prehistory with the afterlife, most cultures in the world still send their dead downriver to receive judgment and/or reincarnation. Many bodies do not make it to their alleged final destination and instead return undead to the surface, buoyed on uplifts to terrorize the population of unsuspecting towns many hundreds of kilometers away. Further, rivers in Mondevai are often not suitable for humanoid consumption. Beyond the threat of undead from those connected to uplifts, the toxic nature of many rivers is yet another impediment to inland living.

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Uplifts and Downfalls

The non-Nemic rivers of Mondevai make several loops through the center of the world as they descend and resurface along their paths. No true source is known for these four rivers, but it is certain that they are connected along their route – the returning undead prove it. Great uplifts – upward, swiftly flowing water – disgorge the water from the Shadowfell upon the surface of Mondevai. Maelstroms of hollow, swirling rapids called downfalls suck the rivers back down into the darkness.

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Major Rivers

River Dara

This acidic river is notable for its preserving properties. Undead in this river do not decay as quickly as other rivers. Long-term health effects are not well known by the Guild, but the nations it flows through, Ethasadril, Ginwil, and Zantaashi, have reptilians with a slightly lower lifespan than those of the same race.

River Thain

Bitter and unpleasant, the River Thain is not particularly dangerous even if many prefer to seek other drinking sources. The river is known as the Ajord in Turath and the Burr in the northern Marran Empire. It also flows through Tiban, Haelink, and Ginwil, making it the river with the longest documented length on Mondevai. Much of its length is braided, giving it a reputation as a slow, placid river.

River Iilikos

A river of alternately sweet and sour characteristics, the Iilikos is definitely poisonous to the humanoid population of Mondevai. It flows through Echolst in Ethasadril, where it is known as The Tines, as well as Krace and Haelink.

Xime River

Salty, metallic river with well-documented health effects. Not safe for the general population without purification. The enclaves at Isamarr and Tamarr are notable for their aqueducts upon this river. The Xime River is present in the Marran Empire, Tiban, and Ethasadril.

Banik Rivers

Superstition aside, rivers without an uplift at the source are typically free of detrimental properties. These rivers, known as Pure by the Átheists, have no noticeable detriment to drinking them and are valuable fonts of fresh water to inland populations. These rivers are denoted as Banik, but often left to their regional names on maps.

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Superstition and Religion

An artist’s rendition of the meeting of the rivers, just before a soul reaches Muericho.

All rivers flow to Muericho, or so the poets say. In any event, most rivers flow from above the surface down, down through the Underdark where they reach the Shadowfell deep below the surface. The dead are sent via these currents to reach their judgement at the hands of Banikon.

It is possible to tell a river's destination from a slight taste in the water if one is keen enough of tongue. Banikon's, it is said, taste like the blood of the fallen. Iilikos' taste of milk- but whether sweet or curdled one never knows beforehand. Dara's taste of a sweet cider or bitter vinegar, slowly changing over the harvest and planting seasons. Thain is said to have the slowest rivers, meandering along as though honey or molasses, and Nemo, the lord of the Vigils, has perfectly balanced rivers with astoundingly total lack of taste.

The Átheists don't hold faith in deities, but instead put their faith in Rivers, both physical and spiritual. Shrines where rivers join are common in northern Letier, where Átheists are more prevalent.