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Altierra: The World Beyond the Portal
Altierra is a theocratic island civilisation founded by settlers from our world. Governed by a sacred hierarchy of Priestesses and shaped by the religion of Divara, its society is structured, ritualised, and deeply stratified. It features in the novel The Snow Beyond the Wall by Laira Greenbank.
Geography
Altierra
Altierra is a world that is mostly occupied by sea. The explored areas of Altierra consists of three major islands with numerous smaller ones. They all lie between the approximate latitudes 30° north and 60° north.
Alta
Alta is the middle island in size but is considered the most important because it housed the Tierrapuerta, the original portal where the English and Spanish settlers passed through from Patagonia. It houses Casando, the primary cregan and home of the Arch-Priestess. Zero longitude is measured from the location of the Tierrapuerta.
Isla Arbojan
Isla Arbojan is the smallest of the three main islands and the last to be settled. The cregan on the island is Rocosa. Isla Arbojan is the home of the second portal to be discovered, the Mundumbra, and is where the Maddisons entered Altierra.
Veridia
The largest of the three islands, Veridia was named Greenland by the English because, compared to Alta, it was less mountainous and had a better climate. The cregan there is called Granhía and is set inside a large bay unlike the other cregans which are on the coast. Veridia is not known to contain any portals.
Las Islas Perdidas
islands which are close to the Triad are considered part of the neighbouring island, but there are some which are so distant that they are treated separately. They are known collectively as Las Islas Perdidas whose name means "the lost islands".
Religion
Divara
Divara is the religion of Altierra, followed by all inhabitants and controlled by the Priestesses. It consists of five gods/goddesses and was created by Aldonza de Bracamonte soon after the Spanish arrived in Altierra.
The name is a fusion of Divina (Divine) and Vara (Rod/Staff, symbolising authority).
Illarion
Illarion is the religious order that consists of the Priestesses and Handmaidens. They live primarily in cregans.
The name is derived from iluminar (to illuminate, from Latin illuminare).
There are four castes in Illarion:
History
Culture
Principle Characters
The Maddison family
The four Maddison siblings are the protagonists of the novel The Snow Beyond the Wall. They consists of David, Susan, Meg, and Emily. Their parents are Richard and Caroline Maddison.
The great-aunt of the Maddisons and the owner of Portian House is Isabel Navarro.
Local Altierrans
The Maddisons' local friends include Alucio, Fabra and Raf. A hostile encounter is with Madesto from Peyrol.
At Rocosa
The High Priestess at Rocosa is Jesenia, her deputy is Socorra. One of the Handmaidens is Laritza. The leader of the Guardia is Marshal Valdez. Among the Bestia at Rocosa are Brisa, Nena, Toia, and Vila.
At Sometria
The inhabitants at Sometria include the head Handmaiden Tutor Maricella and the Iniciador Farago.
Fiction
The Snow Beyond the Wall
The Snow Beyond the Wall follows the story of the four Maddison siblings when they pass through into Altierra.
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