Places in the Realm of the Elderlings
Encyclopedia
This article details the locations featured in Robin Hobb
's fictional world, The Realm of the Elderlings, featured in her books The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, The Tawny Man Trilogy and The Rain Wild Chronicles.
Jhaampe is an inconstant city, made up of few permanent buildings. It comprises many areas for the nomadic mountain people to camp in, stay for a while, then leave again. There are a number of beautiful gardens which are tended by everyone in the city.
Among the permanent buildings in the mountain capital is the palace, home of the Sacrifice of the Mountain Kingdom. This was made - or rather, 'grown' - by selecting a central tree, and planting several saplings around it. These trees are pulled in towards the central tree as they grow. When large enough, the tops of the trees are bound together and stripped of branches. The structure is then covered with barkcloth and coated in a kind of clay. This is painted in bright colours, often yellows, oranges and purples. Completed, the palace looks much like a closed tulip or crocus.
Trehaug is inhabited by the mysterious Rain Wild Traders, kin to the Bingtown Traders. The Rain Wild Traders wear veils due to disfigurements that are the price paid for living on the banks of the Rain River. The Rain Wilders recover magical goods from the buried city which they then trade with their Bingtown kin. This trade has led to them gathering a large amount of wealth.
The trade in magical goods has made the Rain Wilders wealthy, but the dangers that accompany it leave them vulnerable.
Jamaillia's ruler, the Satrap, is considered a living embodiment of the god Sa on earth. The Satrap's power is so expansive that the empire is often referred to as a satrapy. The current Satrap is Satrap Cosgo.
Robin Hobb
Robin Hobb is the second pen name of novelist Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden who produces primarily fantasy fiction, although she has published some science fiction....
's fictional world, The Realm of the Elderlings, featured in her books The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, The Tawny Man Trilogy and The Rain Wild Chronicles.
Jamaillia City
Capital of the southern empire of Jamaillia, it is described as decadent and rotten, with a burgeoning slave trade. It is a city of gleaming white and appears on the nation's flag. The Satrap of Jamaillia resides in the palace here.Bingtown
A trading city to the southeast of the Six Duchies. It is built on the Cursed Shores. The Bingtown Traders that inhabit it are the descendants of criminals and younger sons given land grants by Satrap Esclepius. The Bingtown traders are kin to the Rain Wild Traders and have strong trading ties. The Liveship Traders series takes place here. Recently Bingtown was able to gain large autonomy from the rule of Satrap Cosgo.Jhaampe
The capital of the Mountain Kingdom. Jhaampe is mentioned in the children's rhyme about wise men who travelled to Jhaampe town and what happened to them.Jhaampe is an inconstant city, made up of few permanent buildings. It comprises many areas for the nomadic mountain people to camp in, stay for a while, then leave again. There are a number of beautiful gardens which are tended by everyone in the city.
Among the permanent buildings in the mountain capital is the palace, home of the Sacrifice of the Mountain Kingdom. This was made - or rather, 'grown' - by selecting a central tree, and planting several saplings around it. These trees are pulled in towards the central tree as they grow. When large enough, the tops of the trees are bound together and stripped of branches. The structure is then covered with barkcloth and coated in a kind of clay. This is painted in bright colours, often yellows, oranges and purples. Completed, the palace looks much like a closed tulip or crocus.
Buckkeep
The capital of Buck and home to the royal family. Built on the coast, the site upon which Buckkeep is built has always been one where people have built their homes. It became a stronghold when the OutIslander who became King Taker captured and fortified it. The original Keep was made of wood. However, over time, pieces were steadily replaced with stone. Around the Keep is Buckkeep Town.Trehaug
A treehouse city in the Rain Wilds and the largest city belonging to the mysterious Rain Wild Traders, Trehaug is built above the ruins of an ancient Elderling city. Because of the corrosive nature of the Rain River, Trehaug is actually constructed several feet above ground level - it is a city of complex tree-houses, supported by the forest through which the Rain River runs.Trehaug is inhabited by the mysterious Rain Wild Traders, kin to the Bingtown Traders. The Rain Wild Traders wear veils due to disfigurements that are the price paid for living on the banks of the Rain River. The Rain Wilders recover magical goods from the buried city which they then trade with their Bingtown kin. This trade has led to them gathering a large amount of wealth.
Frengong
A lost Elderling city, Frengong was buried in some sort of ancient disaster. Its ruins are the foundation of Trehaug, the city of the Rain Wild Traders. The Rain Wilders search the city for ancient treasures which they sell. The ruins are awe-inspiring (due to the glimpses they give of the Elderlings' civilization) but also threatening (due to the straightforward dangers of earthquakes, and the more complex dangers of dabbling in another civilization's magic).The trade in magical goods has made the Rain Wilders wealthy, but the dangers that accompany it leave them vulnerable.
The OutIslands
The icy islands located to the north of the Six Duchies. Their geography is unknown as they are not depicted on any Six Duchies maps. The feared Red-Ship Raiders hail from the OutIslands. The OutIslanders refer to their kingdom as The Gods' Runes. It is not actually a unified country, with each clan enjoying significant independence.Jamaillia
A theocratic empire to the far south of the Six Duchies. Jamaillia is a kingdom that prides itself on being the source of all culture and wisdom in the world and indeed, its denizens regard everyone else as barbarians.Jamaillia's ruler, the Satrap, is considered a living embodiment of the god Sa on earth. The Satrap's power is so expansive that the empire is often referred to as a satrapy. The current Satrap is Satrap Cosgo.