THE LATHES

Upper and Nether Avonshire, Siburyshire, Crownburyshire except Mowe Valley (Hds. Shipton, Moway, & Upper, Mid & Nether Modale).

The name (OS. Æfillium < Es. Afillion, ) means "the land of apples", and has probably been the name of this region long before the Mystgallians arrived. Originally Avillion was the name of the fertile lands between the rivers Avon and Wren, the Avillion Evens, in Upper Avonshire, and this has always been the heartland of the lathe, the centre of apple growing and the production of the Somerish cider, the muist. In Avillion is also, according to legend, where the first Mystgallians, from what is today Christiana, finally settled and the seed, to what is now Somery, was sown. Avillion was the first region referred to as a lathe. Plenty of historic sites can be found all over the lathe, including one of largest stone circles in the country, close to Kirstwall, UA.

Adj: Avillish
Inh: Avillian

Winstershire, Willowburyshire, Mowe Valley (Hds. Shipton, Moway, & Upper, Mid & Nether Modale) in Crownburyshire, Ewst south of the Ewe.

The name (OS. Suðerewnland), which can often be heard pronounced as if written Syland, simply means "the land south of the river Ewe". This river has for a long time been an important border, and its valley was once one of the most fortified in the country. Rows of forts at regular intervals can still be seen on both banks of the river. The heartland of the lathe is the Wednesbury Emnet and the Weden/Ush Valleys. Its largest cities include, apart from Winster, its former capital, also Willowbury, which boasts with the largest number of half-timbered houses in the country. The Old Town, situated on a peninsula created by the two rivers meeting in the city, has a very old atmosphere. Also Willowbury was from time to time the home of the thane's court, and the castle is very well preserved.

Adj, Inh: Sutherewish

Melstershire, Erset, Ewst north of the Ewe.

The name (OS. Norðerewnland), which can often be heard pronounced as if written Noyland, obviously means "the land north of the river Ewe". Consequently the lathe covers - apart from modern Melstershire and Erset - the part of Ewst that lies north of the Ewe. Prydwirth, the old capital of the lathe, is a beautiful town, with several historical buildings, representing virtually all styles and ages. The wellpreserved ancient thane hall is well worth a visit.

Adj, Inh: Northerewish

Ombridgeshire, Emmerset.

The name (OS. Scirdofre < Classic Estron Tirdwfr; Modern Es. Diéuthûl) means "waterland" and would refer to the lakeland to the far west, which was once the heartland of the lathe. This was soon moved eastward to the confluence of the Omma and Emmer rivers. In Lathe Shirdover, as well as in Lathe Shirleith and Lathe Farnset, is where the Estron language stayed alive the longest. Wister was its first capital, then known as Annith (Mod. Es. Anié), until the thane moved his court to Ombridge, Cl. Es. Pont Arwith (Mod. Es. Bons Aluíe). The tradition of Estron woodcarving lives on in the lathe, and "lovekeys" are popular souvenirs.

Adj, Inh: Shirdowrian

Farnset & Orchid Islands.

The name (OS. Færnsæti) is of obscure origin. The popular interpretation is "the far settlement", while others say it's the "land of the travellers". Whichever is right, it is the most remote lathe, seen from Avillion, and it could be seen as "the far side" of the peninsula, for the settlers coming from the west. On occasions the Orchid Islands are counted as a separate lathe, but it has been under the same rule as the Malgary Peninsula for a larger number of years than not. The name is probably a misinterpretation of the Estron name of the islands, The Islands of the Kestrel (E. Ynysoedd Yr Cudyll).

Adj, Inh: Farn

Morentwyshire, Willset.

The name (OS. Scirleoþ < Es. Tir Leth) means "the north country", and the lathe was together with Shirdover and Farnset the last stronghold of the Estron language. Its former capital was Morentwy

Adj, Inh: Shirleithian

Cornantshire, Sireset.

The lathe got its name (Es. Deullew), sometimes used in its older Somerish variety Tweylowe (OS. Twegenleo), from the two lions in its coat of arms, which it took over from the thane family of the same name, which traced their ancestry back to a line of legendary Estron princes. The heartland is the Sire valley and the area around Elfish Bay. Just outside Strawton are the remains of Tregwellt, the former seat of the thane, where, according to legend, king Ierll of Deullew welcomed the first settlers of the Summer Clan. The coast to the north and the Cornant valley, also known as Dwimmerdell (OS. Twegnmerdel, 'the valley of two lakes') was colonized by the Daylwenians and later incorporated into the lathe.

Adj, Inh: Daylwenian

Washfordshire, Marthenshire, Campshire.

The name is most likely taken from the river by the same name, whose valley is the heartland of the lathe. The etymology of the name is obscure, but it is probably of Estron origin. The lathe had two main parts: True Mar, roughly covering today's Washfordshire and Marthenshire; and Camden Mar, centred around the estuaries of the rivers Cam and Dewre. The thane had his court in Marthen, while Camden Mar was ruled on his behalf by a stead thane seated in Campton.

Adj: Marrish
Inh: Marrian

Bramleighshire, Lynnestshire except Hd. Troswy.

Lynnest (OS. Hlynnesæti, 'the settlement on the river Lynne') originally consisted of four parts, True Lynnest, i.e. what is now Lynnesthire, and the three districts or deans that now make up Bramleighshire, Dunne Netherdean (basically the Dunne valley south of Overgreen Wold), Dunne Overdean (the upper Dunne valley), and Whilden (centred in the valley of Whill) (these three districts are represented by the three clovers in the present coat of arms of Bramleighshire).

Adj:Lynnish
Inh:Lynnian

Shire Elvery except Hds. High Elvendale and Lean; Ledgwickshire except Hds. Swindawe, Brunneigh & Highop; Suthershire, except Hds. Sweighmond, Highmond & Craydawe; Hd. Troswy in Lynnestshire.

The name (OS. Elferig) simply means "the land by the river Elven". The heartland developped around the Elven estuary and Windross Bay, but later the people of Sutherfold, i.e. the land centred around The Ledge, and the valleys of the rivers Blake and Dill, subdued themselves to the thane in Eamouth.

Adj: Elverish
Inh: Elver

Hds. High Elvendale and Lean in Shire Elvery; Hds. Swindawe, Brunneigh & Highop in Ledgwickshire; Hds. Sweighmond, Highmond & Craydawe in Suthershire.

The name (OS. Suðer Troie < Es. Troed (Dogleth)) means "the southern foot (of the mountain)", stating its position to the south of the extending western range of the Angel Mts., as opposed to Norther Troy, to the north of it. This part of Somery was for a long time divided into more or less independant mountain earldoms, roughly corresponding to the present hundreds: Ishilder (Highmond), Bren Awyre (Sweighmond), Creidôl (Craydawe), Bryniog (Brunneigh), Aeres-Leonfolde (High Elvendale/Lean), Swyndôl (Swindawe) and Eaghlyn (Highop). Tywold (covering the hundred by the same name) is sometimes also counted among them. As time passed the area took on a federative appearance, looking more like the other lathes of the peninsula, until it was, as the last signing lathe, united with the others to form the Reevery of Somery. Swindawe has always had some authority over the other earldoms, being the see of the local hierophant. Of the Swyndôl Holy House of Worship now only ruins remain. Near Highmond are the Edrannashan caves, where cave paintings up to 8,000 years old were found in the 240s. Nowadays only scientists are allowed to see the actual paintings, but a museum has been built, as an exact copy of the main cave, showing the most famous series of paintings, including the winged hammer.

Adj: Suther Troydian
Inh: Suther Troyd

Dellswyshire

The name (OS. Norðer Troie < Es. Troed (Leth)) means "the northern foot (of the mountain)". The lathe has always been a bit isolated from the rest of Somery, although thanes of Avillion have claimed supremacy over it from time to time in the course of history.

Adj: Norther Troydian
Inh: Norther Troyd