Once an important outpost of Númenor in the Inner Sea, the land of Anârikê (Ad? "Land [of] Eagles?) could be divided into three major regions: the coastal lands south of Bûlkhyades; the Ered Harmal; and the eastern lands stretching to Kôdya, which were heavily forested. The river Krîs, also called the "Gold Shining River", formed the clear frontier between these regions for both geographic and historical reasons tied to successive migrations and invasions throughout the Second Age.
Olyas Krîs was a semi-arid peninsula west of the southern reaches of the Ered Harmal. It projected roughly two hundred miles into the Bay of Ormal from the Middle-earth mainland. Dry hills dominated its central and southern quarters, while forests lay along its eastern border.
Kythor (El. "River Coast Land") lay between the rivers Krîs and Alturay, the latter also marking the frontier with the Vûlmaw realm. In contrast to Olyas Krîs, Kythor was less arid, received somewhat more precipitation, and supported more diverse plant life. Fortified cities and villages were far more numerous than in Olyas Krîs, probably because of fear of pirates and incursions by the Vûlmaw. The capital city, Kadar Abar-narîk (Adûnaic Ad. "Citadel of Iron Eagles"), stood at the mouth of the Krîs in a formidable natural harbour spacious enough for a fleet. Sea currents near the river’s mouth — the Sea-storm Gulf — were difficult to navigate, so only expert captains sailed there. Wrecks were frequent, and the main commercial routes to this central Anârikê city ran by land. Near the Krîs’s source the mines were very rich, yielding primarily gold—the most important ore in the bay—and nearby districts produced iron as well. Ore was hauled downriver on rafts by reclusive bargemen clans who remained on friendly terms with the few Kuorind elves that survived in the coastal temperate rainforests.
Anârikê was one of several Ârûwanâi realms in the South. It considered itself a major power in the Bay but was less haughty than most other regional states. Its traditional enemies were the men of Sakal an‑Ina, while its favoured allies were the realms of Bellakar and the Lynerian League. Anârikê was ruled by a king, a hereditary office held by the ruling elite of partly Ârûwanâi stock. The realm was founded by Lôkhuzôr, son of Khôrahil the Storm King, together with his Númenórean and native supporters, to resist the effects of Khôrahil’s brutal rule in the region.
Regions and Rivers[]
Acá Gap Alturay Ansici East-Road Forest Krîs Krîs Kythor Olyas Krîs Rocky Pass Ûshnâg
Settlements and places of note[]
Aelinost Akalaî-Zay Azrukadar Dar Inyalôni Ishtô Ishtya Kadar Abar-narîk Ishtya Kîrlôni Kylur Nîn Ost Angkoronian Pelmarië Pelnatey The Sea Way Shalnarie Ûrezagan-Kadar
Notes[]
The geography described for "Sakal an-Khâr","Zurghor", "Sunum", "Anarîkê" etc. does not seem to allign with the MERP map developed by Pete Fenlon. Most likely the Fan-module writers used an expanded map drawn by Thomas Morwinsky for Other Minds Magazine.
References[]
- Gazetteer of Endor, by Gabriele Quaglia and Eric Dubourg ©2003 (Guild Companion)
Editorial Note: This entry contains speculative or fan-based material — such as fanon, fanfiction, or theory constructs — that may not be directly supported by canonical texts. Interpretations offered here are part of the NNCA’s speculative corpus and should not be mistaken for primary Tolkien sources.