The Island of Denilou (Thergerim: denilou, "sacred land"), also called the "Iron Realm" is an isle in the midst of the Adanian Sea far to the southeast of the mainland of the Sarvonian Continent. Once an uninhabitated island it was discovered in 1317 b.S. by Brok Strongarm, a dwarf of the Mitharims who set out to reach the famous Ylaoth Khirril'drumm, the Isle of the Glimmering Stones, as described in dwarven myth. The isle indeed offered many riches, especially gold and diamond mines were dug. The dwarves who settled there founded a great underground city called Toll Brok'Baroll, which is one of the greatest dwarven cities ever built. Since the year 292 b.S. refugees from the Sarvonian Wars, in fact members of all civilized races of the continent (humans, elves, dwarves and halflings), landed on Denilou as well. After several skirmishes during hundreds of years of co-existence with the native dwarves, the four races of Denilou eventually managed to co-operate peacefully.

Picture description. The Mitharim dwarf Brok Strongarm discovering the "sacred land", Denilou. As you can see on the ship design, Brok used an Avennorian barek on his voyage with the Mitharim coat of arms on the sails. Image by Quellion.

Location. The Island of Denilou is part of the Sarvonian Continent, though it is located far off the mainland, in the SE. Its rather isolated position obviously has prevented a discovery earlier than 1317 b.S. and is still the reason why the inhabitants of the isle prefer to keep to themselves instead of trading with merchants from the mainland.

Description. Denilou is a large island, even larger than the whole Stratanian province at the Sarvonian mainland. Denilou features various different and interesting landscapes, ranging from a large desert to the west, the so-called Hol'Dispor (Thergerim: Hol'Dispor, "Desert of the Lost") and swamps to the east, where some renegade dwarves have made their dwellings, to massive mountain chains all over the eastern part of the island (Thergerim: Rutromerons, the "Rutromerons" or "tall-rocks"). To the northwest, where the sea elves of the Alé'lón (Styrásh Alé'lón: "Singing Wood") have their primary domain, one can find their wonderful forest/sea dwellings along the Efferin river, a magnificent view indeed as the elves of the Alé'lón are said to be the most versed tribe all over Caelereth regarding the construction of gigantic wooden structures in the sea and over the arms of the Efferin. Wood elves also live in the southeastern part of the isle, at the tropical forest of VoholCaor (Thergerim: VoholCaor "far-off hills"), humans mainly to the north and northeast, where the most important human town is Balferos, a great central trading post for all races. Humans living there are especially renowned for producing weapons and clothmaking.

Picture description: The famous statue of Brok Strongarm guarding the entrance of Toll Brok'Baroll. Pic drawn by Quellion.

The most prominent construction however on Denilou of course is the great undergroud empire of Toll Brok'Baroll (Thergerim: Toll Brok'Baroll, lit. "under Brok-Father"), with thousands of tunnels leading deep into the earth, harbouring the dwarven Mytheron clan (probably derived from the plural of the word "mithten", meaning "iron"). In their empire the dwarves are mainly mining for ores like iron, silver and gold. Especially iron can be found at various places at the Rotrumerons Mountains, which also is the reason why Denilou is often refered to as the "Iron Realm". Nearly all mines throughout the island are connected to the great empire of Toll Brok'Baroll. Every dwarven clan lord of the empire has the status of being a living legend, just like Brok was a legend already during his lifetime. The clan lord of the Mytheron dwarves represents the spirit of their famous founder, who discovered the island and gave their lives a new purpose.Thus the empire was constructed in his honour and the translation of the term Toll Brok'Baroll with "under Brok-Father" also is due to the fact that an enormous statue of Brok was erected in the center of the isle, near the main entrance to the realm, reminding the dwarves of Brok's deeds and unforgetable character. The statue was hewn from the rock of the Rotrumerons Penegrinuth, and has a size of more than 200 peds, resisting wind and weather for more than two and a half millenia by now. Hundreds of dwarves worked over several years for the statue's completion, showing Brok on the lookout for new lands and adventure, a symbolic gesture, representing the character of the Mytheron quite well. It is said that the gigantic statue still exists and that every now and then dwarves from all over Santharia (especially from the clan of the Mitharims) leave the continent every hundred years, though they usually do sea travelling only reluctantly, in order to pay tribute to the famous figure of Brok Strongarm. The statue is also a common topic for artists to depict whenever they happen to stay for a while in the "Iron Realm" of Deni'lou.

Magic by the way is something you won't find much on Denilou as it was forbidden by the superstituous dwarven authorities hundreds of years ago. Only elves may use magical means to a certain extent, but open use in front of dwarves is still interpreted as a major offence.

Climate. While there are tropical conditions and even terrific storms to the south as well as extreme hot conditions to the southwest at the desert of Hol'Dispor, the climate to the north is rather moderate. Though there may be heavy rainfalls from time to time, the sea elves of the Al'már'dár very seldom are in danger of being flooded.

Flora. Still to be added.

Fauna. Still to be added.

Myth/Lore. There are still many dwarves living on Denilou who believe in the myth of Ylaoth Khirril'drumm, the Isle of the Glimmering Stones, and are convinced that Denilou is this isle with masses of gems hidden deep below the surface, hidden long ago by the dwarf-lord Urtengor. One only needs to dig deep enough, they say. Well, maybe this is the reason why the underground realm of Toll Brok'Baroll is still expanding - but will the dwarves find their desired glimmering stones down below?

TIME TABLE OF THE ISLE OF DENILOU THE AGE OF AWAKENING (YEARS 1.655 B.S. - 822 B.S.) 1317 b.S. The Dwarf Brok Strongarm leaves the Sarvonian Continent Changing Winds. In the Month of the Changing Winds the adventurous son of the Mitharim's Clan Lord Ulderon Willful, with the name Brok Strongarm, leaves the rich mines of his father at Kor Mithrid overnight without any word to his fellow-dwarves. He takes only a handful of his most loyal companions with him on his long journey trying to cross the Adanian Sea in the hope of discovering the long forgotten Ylaoth Khirril'Drumm, the Isle of the Glimmering Stones, as described in the myths of the ancient dwarven lore and even in the elven Cárpa'dosía: the isle on which Urtengor, the Forging God, made all the wondrous gems before he was forced by the other gods at the beginning of time to hide their beauty from the eyes of the living beings so that they would concentrate on the Thoughts of Avá and not on her appearance on Caelereth. Other rumours say that this is not the only reason for Brok's fast departure: Brok, who is in his ninties, at the dwarven Age of Choosing, indeed has no intention to marry but wants to become rich and famous just like his father. As he doesn't like the idea of just inheriting the throne of the Mitharims and can not cope either with the many female dwarves who look up to him just for his outstanding appearance, Brok decides to steal away from such "decisions of the simple minded" (quotation) and heads for the east to make his fortune. The Discovery of Denilou (Brok's Island) The discovery of Denilou Dead Tree. According to the records of Amalgin Starreader, a dwarf accompanying Brok on his long journey, it in in the month of the Dead Tree of the same year when Brok's ship lands on an island which is uninhabitated and which the dwarves later call Deni'lou ("Sacred Land"). Although the Mitharim dwarves indeed find rich mines of every kind of gems and ores Denilou was not the land of Brok's dreams, the secret earthen realm of Urtengor, the domain of the highest dwarven god. Brok Strongarm and his dwarves settle on Denilou, Brok even meets his obligations and chooses a dwarven wife.    1302 b.S. Brok leaves Denilou But one year after Brok's son is born (bearing the name of his father) Brok looks for new adventures. He still is obsessed with the idea of discovering Urtengor's riches so that he tries to convince his fellow-dwarves more than once to leave the island again in order to head for Ylaoth Khirril'Drumm which he guesses somewhere further to the north-east. Due to many reports of different sources it is said (although never satisfactory confirmed) that one day Brok leaves the island alone in a rowing boat convinced that his strong arms will suffice to carry him to the Isle of the Glimmering Stones - Brok is never ever seen again. (But in fact there is an ending to this story, at least in Santharian mythological tombes: The myths of the Mène'téka which are well known by the Santharian dwarves claim that Brok in fact finally reaches his goal and lands on the isle consisting only of diamonds, gold and silver. Unfortunately the greed of Brok turns out to be his destruction: Unable to find water and food on the small isle he dies lying in the midst of his glimmering dream...)    1202 b.S. Flourishing Denilou: Brok II. new Clan Chief On the discovered island life prospers and exactly hundred years after Brok's departure his son becomes the new clan chief. Brok's successors tries to honour the strong leadership of their former companion by erecting an enormous statue of Brok Strongarm in the center of the island at Toll Brok'Barrol - the underground empire which is named after the dwarf. It is said that the gigantic statue still exists on Denilou and that every now and then dwarves from all over Santharia (especially the Mitharim) leave the continent in order to pay tribute to the famous figure of Brok Strongarm.    ca. 827 b.S. Erpheronian Contacts with Denilou The Erpheronian Drak Stormlord makes one of several lengthy exploratory trips from his base at Gillwin. On this one he happens to find the Island of Denilou. There his charisma wins over even the suspicious dwarves. One younger son of a clan by the name of Wilvong becomes enchanted with the stories of the mountains of these new islands and journeys to them by himself.    823 b.S. The Dwarf Wilvong returns to Denilou The dwarf Wilvong returns to Denilou on one of Drak's ships and convinces some of his younger cousins to journey with him back to the Mountains of Learc on Quios. THE AGE OF THE BLOOD (YEARS 822 B.S. - 50 B.S.) 292 b.S. The Coming of the Races to Denilou Pherán'Ephtaerín After a long and stormy voyage the people fleeing from Carmalad after the orcish invasion finally reach the isle of Denilou under the guidance of the elven captain, the Aellenrhim Pherán'Epthaerín (in the human tongue called "Tree Whispers"). The remaining fleet crashes on the cliffs of the island and only a small quantity of the original number of fleeing people survive, managing to get to the shore where they eventually arrange their living with the progeny of the famous dwarf, Brok Strongarm who settled there a thousand years before. THE AGE OF REBUILDING (YEARS 1.062 A.S. - 1.144 A.S.) ca. 1.129 Shop Treaty between the Mitharim and Ciosa A treaty is negotiated by the Mitharim Kuan Kasthomin, Earthguide, and a foundation set up in order to procure a permanent retainer to secure the Oltgyr Vradvo (Mitharim Hundred Year Pilgrimage). The responsibility for having a ship always in good sailing order is passed down in the Avennorian family of Harooming, human merchant traders from Ciosa, and the bargain has been satisfactorily met on both sides to this day.

	"The Discovery of Denilou (Theme of Denilou)", composed and performed by Ralrok Format: MP3, Length: 6:15, Original Title: "Realm Island" from the album "The Iron Realm". Click here to download the song, use right-click and "Save as..." (5.73 MB).