According to legend, the Sea raised the isle of the king Iol, desiring him for a husband. Iol took the land, but did not return her love, earning her as the enemy. She has vowed to break the isle she once raised up, and seeks to destroy his children, the Iolish. Divided into eleven Tella, the Iolish live and war with each other. They hold their island in a sacred love, but fear salt water as their ancient enemy.
Ioland has four mountain ranges. The word Ail means mountains in Old Iolish. The mighty Ail Meloch, which were raised by Baíth as barrows for Iol and his sons, stand at the very east of the island. The Ail Kelrose rise above the wide green fields of western Ioland. The Ail Tuenta are smaller than the first two, and are the shortest range of true mountains on the isle. The short, ugly hills of Ail Bolam are said to have been mountains before the hero Mathred flattened them. though they do not attain the height of foothills, the Iolish continue to call these hills mountains.
Though they fear the wild sea, the Iolish do not fear fresh water. They do not distinguish between lakes and rivers, and the rivers which run to and from lakes often share the same name. The word Aglach (ag-LACH) means sweet water in Old Iolish, which is fresh water.
Aglach Ulmo is the only river which does not share its name with its source. The Lulled Water, Aglach Salam, gathers in a great lake in the center of the isle, but when water runs to the sea it grows tumultuous, being fordable only at the mouth or at the very source. A singular bridge crosses the frothing water.
A number smaller islands lay just off the coast of Ioland, though only the bravest or most foolhardy of the Iolish have ever landed on their shores. Tach is the Iolish word for these smaller islands. The twin isles of Tach Fel and Tach Oll are populated by wild men who hold no Tella.
With a low pastoral population, Ioland has only two cities, and only one at a time. The oldest was Aerrelsalam, a walled city which sat on the banks of the lulled water. The second was Teldrim, built at the mouth of Aglach Ulmo.
Michael Frutig 