Vethra

Vethra is a fictional archipelago and province in the world of Eldheim. It comprises about sixty inhabited and numerous uninhabited islands located in the southern sea, with its capital and largest city, Lyris, situated on the central island. The name derives from ancient Vethran words for “light at the shore.”

Geography and environment: The archipelago features a warm, tropical climate with a mosaic of coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and cloud forests. The central island hosts a dormant volcanic cone. Biodiversity includes the silver-petrel, the emerald sea turtle, and the dusk-drifter moth. The Vethra Marine Reserve protects nesting sites and migratory corridors.

History: Human presence dates to early maritime cultures. Vethra later came under the Branthian Kingdom and, in the modern era, joined the United Confederation of Eldheim. It gained autonomous provincial status in the mid-20th century and maintains a distinct regional identity while participating in federal governance.

Governance and society: Vethra has an elected provincial council and a governor; external affairs are managed through the federation’s ministries. The official language is Vethran, with minority languages spoken in coastal towns. The population is concentrated in Lyris and a few port cities, with education and health services organized by regional agencies.

Economy and culture: The economy relies on fishing, eco-tourism, shipbuilding, and sustainable energy projects. Cultural life centers on maritime heritage, including lacquerware traditions and wind-instrument music. The annual Festival of Lanterns celebrates sailors, biodiversity, and communal resilience.

Notable features: Protected mangrove tracts, the Caldera Ridge on the central island, and the lantern-lit harbors that characterize Vethran towns.