Mundumbra

The portal from which the Maddisons passed through to Altierra in the year 556. It was located on the island of Isla Arbojan.

Etymology

The name comes from the merging of Mundo (world) and Umbral (threshold). It was named in 458 when it was first discovered and the memory of the original portal, Tierrapuerta, was lost.

Location

The Earth end of the portal lay within Portian House on Dartmoor, a building constructed by Seferina and Garavito when they passed through the portal in 458. The house was built to protect the Earth end of the portal.

In 556 when the Maddisons passed through, the Earth end of the portal was a crack in the wall of a cellar, its true identity unknown to Isabel Navarro who was the owner. Its appearance was as if some of the brickwork in that wall had fallen away to create a small tunnel.

On the Altierran side, the portal resembled an animal's burrow beneath a flattish boulder in the interior highlands of Isla Arbojan.

History

458: Discovery

In the year 458, the Mundumbra is first discovered when a girl of seven or eight in Devon climbs through after following an animal. She was taken in by wanderers who mistreated her. She ran away and was seen disappearing into what appeared to be a burrow. A boy was sent in after her but did not return, and the wanderers moved on, assuming both were stuck and dead.

The boy reappeared two weeks later, was captured by the Guardia and taken to Rocosa.

The High Priestess of Isla Arbojan at the time was Marivel; the Arch-Priestess was Agraciana. Marivel had only been High Priestess for one year so she was uncertain and followed Agraciana in all matters. It is discovered in winter so a message ship was sent from Arbojan to Alta but nothing else happened that year.

459: The first volunteer

In the spring, Agraciana sailed from Alta to see the Mundumbra. It was guarded. A trooper passed through and returned soon to report on the what he found. He reported that he was away for no more than an hour although it was seven hours to the waiting Altierrans. Another trooper is sent through with orders to return immediately and there appeared to be no time differential.

460: Securing

A Priestess (Seferina), a Guardia officer (Garavito) and some Bestia are sent through to secure the Earth side of the Mundumbra and prevent more people from that side passing through. Anyone who knows of the Mundumbra is either sent away or killed to hide any knowledge of it.

464: Knowledge is lost

Agraciana dies early in this year, aged 75. A few months later, Marivel dies from a disease, aged 70. The only people now who know of the Mundumbra are scattered around Altierra so it is forgotten.

556: Rediscovery

When the Maddisons pass through the Mundumbra, all who knew of the portal have died. Only written recordings exist in Alta. After rescuing their sister, the Maddisons returned through the portal and found that over 63 years had past. They decided to stay permanently in Altierra and filled in the Mundumbra so that its location was lost and usage impossible.

Images

The Earth-side entrance in 556

The Altierra-side entrance in 556