Southland (Shannara)
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The Southland is a region in the Four Lands, the fictional world where Terry Brooks' Shannara series is set.
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[edit] Overview
The Southland is inhabited mostly by men. It was largely divided until the Federation took it over in a series of military campaigns after the passing of the Druids. The largest city of the Southland is the Borderland City of Tyrsis. Other cities include Varfleet, Leah and Kern. It also contains the village of Shady Vale, where Shea and Flick Ohmsford were raised. Natural landmarks include the Mist Marsh, Duln Forests, Runne Mountains, and, most notable, the Rainbow Lake, along with three rivers flowing into it: Silver, Mermidon, and Rappahalladran. The Southland is separated from the Northland by the Dragon's Teeth Mountains. It reaches as far as Lower Anar and Wolfsktaag Mountains in the east and Irrybis Mountains in the West. The southern part of Southland does not have a clear border because it is unexplored and scarcely populated below the Kingdom of Leah.[citation needed]
[edit] Places
[edit] Silver River Country
The Silver River Country stretches from the point where the Silver River flows into Rainbow Lake to the point where it reaches the Anar forests. It is the home of the King of the Silver River, the last faerie creature in the Four Lands apart from Uhl Belk.
[edit] Locations
[edit] Callahorn
Callahorn is the country north of the Rainbow Lake and between the Irrybis Mountains and the Mountains of Runne. It is known as the Borderland because it borders the Dragons Teeth Mountains and the Northland. Before the fading of the Druids and the attack of the Federation, Callahorn was a country of its own. For years, it protected the rest of the Southland from the Northland. At the time of the Third War of the Races, Callahorn stood virtually alone against the attack of the Warlock Lord's armies.
[edit] Kern
Kern is an island city on Mermidon River northwest of Tyrsis. It was constructed so that it would be protected naturally by river and plateau. It was a widely diverse commercial center and perhaps the only place in Southland where people all the major races resided. Kern was burned by the armies of the Warlock Lord. Fortunately, its entire population was evacuated to Tyrsis before the attack. Kern was rebuilt by the time of The Elfstones of Shannara.
[edit] Tyrsis
The border City of Tyrsis is the largest city in the Southland and the capital of Callahorn. It is home to the legendary Border Legion, the army protecting Southland from frequent Gnome raids; and the People's Park in front of the palace of kings of Callahorn. The Sword of Shannara was placed in the Park after Shea Ohmsford used it.
The Federation took control of Tyrsis at the same time when Callahorn became a "protectorate". During the time of The Heritage of Shannara, Par Ohmsford and his brother Coll took the Sword of Shannara from the Park with the aid of Padishar Creel and Damson Rhee. In The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Tyrsis and Callahorn are free from the Federation and protected by the Free-born, but are fighting to keep it with the aid of the Elves on the Prekkendorran Heights.
[edit] Varfleet
Varfleet is a city in the northern part of the Southland. It was one of the few places in the Southland that the Federation did not keep under strict control.
[edit] Kingdom of Leah
- See also: Leah (Shannara)
The Kingdom of Leah is situated in the Highlands south of Rainbow Lake, and thus the people of Leah are often referred to as Highlanders. The Sword of Leah, which was made to defend against magic at the time that Rone Leah had possession of it, hails from the royal family of Leah.
[edit] Shady Vale
Shady Vale is a village in the Duln Forests where almost all the Ohmsfords who play a major role in the fate of the Four Lands hail from, beginning from Shea Ohmsford and his brother Flick.
[edit] Geographical features
[edit] Duln Forest
The Duln Forest is located West of Rappahalladran River. It's major feature is isolated community of Shady Vale. It is border in the North and the East by the Rappahalladran River
[edit] Mist Marsh
The Mist Marsh is a barely passable swampland west of Leah. Foul creatures dwell there making it dangerous, more so at night.
[edit] Rainbow Lake
The Rainbow Lake is the largest body of water in the Four Lands. It is located in the middle of Southland. It is widely used for fishing. Three Rivers flow into it: Silver, Rappahalladran, and Mermidon.
[edit] Mermidon River
The Mermidon River starts in the Rock Spur mountains in the Westland. From there it flows east passing through PyKon. Kern is located on the Mermidon river. It also separates the Mountains of Runne from the Dragon's Teeth. Few tributaries feed it along the way. It changes its direction from eastward to southward in the Mountains of Runne, flows past Varfleet and empties into Rainbow Lake from north. Before Kern was burned the river was used as a commercial pathway between Kern and Varfleet.
[edit] Rappahalladran River
The Rappahalladran River flows through southern part of Southland separating Duln Forest from the Highlands of Leah. It empties into Rainbow Lake from the south. A tributary with an unknown name (some say that it is part of the Rappahalladran river therefore bearing same name) flows into it from southwest. Origin of the Rappahalladran river is unknown because it flows from the unexplored land south of the Southland.
[edit] Silver River
The Silver River flows through the Eastland and empties into Rainbow lake. It is home to the legendary Faerie, The King of the Silver River, who has helped the Ohmsfords several times.
[edit] Runne Mountains
The Runne Mountains are the only mountains in the Southland. They are located either side of the Mermidon River valley, between Varfleet and Rainbow Lake.
