noiune

Noiune is a fictional river in the fantasy setting of the Liora archipelago, often depicted as the longest waterway on the main island of Valara. The name appears in the lore as an ancient Vethari term revived by later cartographers and storytellers.

The river rises on Mount Tiris in the central highlands, flows southeast for roughly 210 kilometers, through the cities of Keld and Brin, and forms a broad delta near the coastal plain before entering the Celestine Gulf. The river's course creates fertile floodplains that support villages and trade networks.

Hydrology: Noiune experiences seasonal discharge tied to snowmelt and the northeast monsoon, with spring floods depositing nutrient-rich silt. The river is known for occasional sudden floods and for a narrow, fast channel in steeper sections.

Ecology: The Noiune valley hosts reedbeds and willow groves, supporting species such as the noiune river otter and the silver-scaled fish, both described in local natural histories. Human settlements rely on the river for irrigation and freshwater.

Cultural and historical significance: In traditional narratives, the river is considered a boundary between the world of mortals and the realm of spirits. Festivals celebrate the river’s floods with processions of lanterns and boats. The Noiune is a common setting in Liora folklore and regional maps in canonical guidebooks.

In fiction and media: The Noiune appears in several novels by A. Merin and is a common backdrop in the Liora Campaign Sourcebook for tabletop RPGs, where it serves as a major trade route and adventure locus. See also: Liora, Valara, Celestine Gulf.