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 Sarafina 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 child in Devon climbs through after following an animal. The High Priestess of Isla Arbojan at the time is Marivel (aged 64); the Arch-Priestess is Agraciana (71). 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 is sent from Arbojan to Alta but nothing else happens that year.

459:first volunteer

In the spring, Agraciana sails from Alta to see the Mundumbra. It is guarded. A volunteer passes through and returns soon to report on the what is found.

460:securing

A Priestess (Serafina, 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: rediscover

When the Maddisons pass through the Mundumbra, all who knew of the portal have died. Only written recordings exist in Alta.