Island of Midden
The birthplace of two faiths
The Island of Midden is located in the Central Sea in the continent of Magnus Prime. It is considered the birthplace of the Magi people, but it is also a holy land for others as well, and consequentially, has seen many wars. The isle of Midden is the largest island in the archipelago of Midden. It is believed that the angels, when creating the world, formed the island of Midden first, and when they returned to live among the people, Midden is where they chose. It is from Midden that the world of Middengeard gets its name.
Geography
Facts About Midden
Vess
8522 sq mi
10,094,000
Midden is a volcanic island, formed by the still active volcano at its centre, Mount Cradle. The coast line is a mixture of high rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. It has a mainly tropical climate and biome, apart from a small area on the east side of Midden where there is a desert in the shape on a circle.
There is yet no explanation as to why this circle of desert exists in an otherwise tropical and fertile land. This desert is known as Aya's Fall and is named after Aya the slave girl who reportedly destroyed it when gifted magic beyond her comprehension.
To the west, the nearest country is Malagal, where the head of the Cosmos faith, the Vochay, is based. To the east is Zimbistro, which also claims religious rights over Midden.
Ownership
Presently, the isle of Midden is under the Magi rule of the Kingdom of Midden. However, there have been many times in history where Midden was under the rule of Zimbistro. The countries of Malagal and Zimbistro regularly fight over the island, with periods of expelling one nationality or another from the land. There have been times where both Midites or Malagalese lived there alongside Zimbistries but these periods often resulted in civil war. The last of these periods was just after the second world war, but since the third, it has been Midites and other members of Magnus Prime only.
Religious Importance
The isle of Midden is so desired because for both the people of Magnus Prime, and the country of Zimbistro, it represents the beginning of life and their religions. For Magnus Prime, which follows the Cosmos faith, it is where life begun for all human kind, and more importantly, it is where the angels created the Magi and thus is the land where every ruler in Magnus Prime is descended from. It is important for Zimbistro because they believe that just after a war where Zimbistro lost Midden, one of their people was kept there as a slave, Aya, and she was the daughter of God. For her good words and deeds, she was executed, thus starting their religion.
In The Angelus
The island of Midden is mentioned 334 times in the Angelus. It is believed to be the first land mass created when the angels Naurvine and Hepzibah carved the land and the sea to make the world. After making the world, Larimus came down and began to mould the shape of man from mud, which is said to be the alluvial mud that flows from Mount Cradle. People come to the base of Mount Cradle to bathe in the mud. Torval, the angel of fire, created Mount Cradle and referred to as his template for all volcanos and a monument to the power of fire.
When the angels returned to enjoy life amongst people, it was to Midden that they returned. Here they immersed themselves in society, working and living amongst the people. When they came to leave, twenty two people were chosen to be gifted magic by the angels. These people would become known as the Magi, and the gift was aether, the force that powers all technology in Magnus Prime.
In the Zah'rain
In Zimbistro they believe that a single god gave the world their daughter, a girl called Aya, who lived on the isle of Midden. She was humble and tried to teach others her humility and love. Her teachings inspired so many that they began to worship her, despite her insistence that they should not. When the Magi rulers of Midden discovered that the people were worshiping a simple girl over them, they had her arrested and the city of Vess, the capital of Midden, broke into a riot. The rulers took the girl out of the city and executed her in the jungle. God was so upset the rulers had killed their daughter that they destroyed all the jungle in a mile radius around the site.
Comments