The World of Culcannagh
Culcannagh is the continent on which my queer low fantasy romances are set. A friend once described it as being "to the left of Earth," which is a great description. It draws inspiration from post-Roman Britain and Ireland, Central Asia, and medieval France and Spain. It's a diverse, sprawling place of multiple nations, states, cultures, languages, religions, and governments.
I like to imagine Culcannagh as the daydream of a medieval serf, a place where war, famine, and plague are largely things of the past, religion is liberating rather than oppressive, and society is egalitarian and compassionate.
I like to imagine Culcannagh as the daydream of a medieval serf, a place where war, famine, and plague are largely things of the past, religion is liberating rather than oppressive, and society is egalitarian and compassionate.
Nations
Hafonlea
Hafonlea lies in the south of the continent. Its people are deeply religious and its culture is matriarchal, with governing power passing through sisters and wives rather than to daughters and sons. Water is central to Hafonlea's culture and economy: the coasts are heavily populated as opposed to the moors and marshes of the interior, and its people are supported by a bustling sea trade with the other nations. It is home to the Highmire, a peat bog that is thousands of miles across, in which landed women are sunk; the Weiwald, the landing site of the first inhabitants of the country; and the Fenblack, an impenetrable swamp on the border with the Mornhalle. Its people are largely practitioners of the Little Faith.
Once, Hafonlea encompassed the lands now known as the Suralle, but the Suralle seceded 2,000 years ago after a bloody war. The two countries are divided by the hilly, remote region known as the Anantai.
Hafonlea maintains a centuries-old alliance with the Mornhalle, and there is frequent intermarriage between the landed people of both nations. The gentry of the country style themselves "of Hafonlea," never staking claim on any particular land or house, to indicate equality with the common people.
Hafonlea lies in the south of the continent. Its people are deeply religious and its culture is matriarchal, with governing power passing through sisters and wives rather than to daughters and sons. Water is central to Hafonlea's culture and economy: the coasts are heavily populated as opposed to the moors and marshes of the interior, and its people are supported by a bustling sea trade with the other nations. It is home to the Highmire, a peat bog that is thousands of miles across, in which landed women are sunk; the Weiwald, the landing site of the first inhabitants of the country; and the Fenblack, an impenetrable swamp on the border with the Mornhalle. Its people are largely practitioners of the Little Faith.
Once, Hafonlea encompassed the lands now known as the Suralle, but the Suralle seceded 2,000 years ago after a bloody war. The two countries are divided by the hilly, remote region known as the Anantai.
Hafonlea maintains a centuries-old alliance with the Mornhalle, and there is frequent intermarriage between the landed people of both nations. The gentry of the country style themselves "of Hafonlea," never staking claim on any particular land or house, to indicate equality with the common people.
The Mornhalle
The northernmost nation in Culcannagh, the Mornhalle's terrain is vast and varied, from the mountains of the east to the steppes and high plains of the north and west, and the primordial North Wood in the far northeast. The powerful river Ffionea cuts the country in two and is the major artery of trade from the high country out into the sea. The Mornhalle is governed by thanes, and the vast majority of the population descends from the original Mornal clan, who originally settled the land from the west. A significant minority in the country is the Falish people, the former inhabitants of a northern archipelago called Fala, who fled south several thousand years ago to escape the ravages of an encroaching glacial period.
Four hundred years ago, during a turbulent political era on the continent, the Mornhalle began a lasting alliance with Hafonlea which persists to the present day. Like Hafonlea, its primary religion is the ubiquitous Little Faith, though the Old Falish religion and various folk traditions are also widespread, especially in the northeast.
The northernmost nation in Culcannagh, the Mornhalle's terrain is vast and varied, from the mountains of the east to the steppes and high plains of the north and west, and the primordial North Wood in the far northeast. The powerful river Ffionea cuts the country in two and is the major artery of trade from the high country out into the sea. The Mornhalle is governed by thanes, and the vast majority of the population descends from the original Mornal clan, who originally settled the land from the west. A significant minority in the country is the Falish people, the former inhabitants of a northern archipelago called Fala, who fled south several thousand years ago to escape the ravages of an encroaching glacial period.
Four hundred years ago, during a turbulent political era on the continent, the Mornhalle began a lasting alliance with Hafonlea which persists to the present day. Like Hafonlea, its primary religion is the ubiquitous Little Faith, though the Old Falish religion and various folk traditions are also widespread, especially in the northeast.
Cartouzh
The oldest, westernmost, and largest country on the continent is Cartouzh, a vast, sparsely-populated cold desert. Its primary population centers are its six great walled cities: Va Ira, Va Minu, Va Qal, Va Famon, Va Tair, and Va Asa. The River Oriender makes the land in the extreme north arable, but agriculture elsewhere is scarce, and Cartouzh maintains a rich trade with its fellow nations, exporting wine, pottery, metalwork, and textiles.
Cartouzh was the first part of the continent to be settled some 4,000 years ago. Its founders brought the Little Faith to Culcannagh, and Cartouzh is home to numerous religious orders and theological academies. Its cities are governed by parliaments; some of the finest statesmen and politicians in the continent's history have come from Cartouzh.
The oldest, westernmost, and largest country on the continent is Cartouzh, a vast, sparsely-populated cold desert. Its primary population centers are its six great walled cities: Va Ira, Va Minu, Va Qal, Va Famon, Va Tair, and Va Asa. The River Oriender makes the land in the extreme north arable, but agriculture elsewhere is scarce, and Cartouzh maintains a rich trade with its fellow nations, exporting wine, pottery, metalwork, and textiles.
Cartouzh was the first part of the continent to be settled some 4,000 years ago. Its founders brought the Little Faith to Culcannagh, and Cartouzh is home to numerous religious orders and theological academies. Its cities are governed by parliaments; some of the finest statesmen and politicians in the continent's history have come from Cartouzh.
The Suralle
Once the easternmost enclave of Hafonlea, the Suralle is now an isolated monarchy with little diplomatic connection to the rest of the continent. The royal family is notoriously insular and mistrustful, and the political situation in the country has deteriorated significantly over the centuries. The southerly great houses of Hafonlea maintain tenuous communication with the Sural government, but the ruling parties are in constant flux and the government is widely considered unstable and untrustworthy.
Some of the oldest and most enduring myths and legends in Culcannagh originate in the ancient Suralle, including the legend of Velusine, and potentially the Hannet stories.
Once the easternmost enclave of Hafonlea, the Suralle is now an isolated monarchy with little diplomatic connection to the rest of the continent. The royal family is notoriously insular and mistrustful, and the political situation in the country has deteriorated significantly over the centuries. The southerly great houses of Hafonlea maintain tenuous communication with the Sural government, but the ruling parties are in constant flux and the government is widely considered unstable and untrustworthy.
Some of the oldest and most enduring myths and legends in Culcannagh originate in the ancient Suralle, including the legend of Velusine, and potentially the Hannet stories.
Sychclif
A coastal city-state in the southeast of Cartouzh, Sychclif is home to dozens of religious orders, universities, libraries, and cathedrals. While the majority of its inhabitants are adherents of the Little Faith, there are robust communities of other religions, and interfaith study is a cornerstone of the Sychclif academic experience.
In the sea to the south lies the island of Genlowen, home to an ancient abbey and fisher church most famous for being the dwelling place of Sts. Hrena and Maliyam.
A coastal city-state in the southeast of Cartouzh, Sychclif is home to dozens of religious orders, universities, libraries, and cathedrals. While the majority of its inhabitants are adherents of the Little Faith, there are robust communities of other religions, and interfaith study is a cornerstone of the Sychclif academic experience.
In the sea to the south lies the island of Genlowen, home to an ancient abbey and fisher church most famous for being the dwelling place of Sts. Hrena and Maliyam.