Varameno (pronounced vah-rah-MEH-no) is a remote island in the northwestern Wounds. Long home to various Fanakara peoples, especially the tribes of the Re-Hara, more recently the deposed former shield-queen of Harv Taruhm, Ramn, arrived with her loyal followers to the island, where they have begun establishing a new base of power from which to retake her throne.
Geography
The now-dormant mountain peak of Varameno rises high above the surrounding seas, all sloping up to a water-filled caldera in the center. Tropical forests thrive in the rich, ashy soil of the island, which is covered in palm trees and other foliage. The climate of Varameno is warm to hot year-round, with variation throughout the wet and dry seasons.
Though none approach the size of Varameno, many small islets and uplifted reefs can be found surrounding the island as well.
Varamenu is roughly 1900 miles north of the Chain, 2600 miles east of Ha-Rase-Metu, and 2000 miles southwest of Phersu.
History
Megalithic shrines, quite reminiscent of those constructed by the Basharma of Phersu, can be found near the caldera on Varameno - it is unknown if these were built by a now-vanished subgroup of the Basharma or by a related giant people.
While the Fanakara have resided on Varameno for centuries - the island was once the easternmost territory of the Rasharekan Empire at its height - the dwarves are much more recent arrivals. When shield-queen Ramn was deposed by Ruvodk in Y9951* the exile-queen and her loyal family and courtiers fled north and east across the Na-Gaesa Ocean, where they settled on Varameno. There they established the caldera-side settlement of Aurrean and began to build a new fortress from which to rule until such time as they can press their claim on the Grievous Islands once more.
Inhabitants
Semi-sedentary Fanakara tribes account for most of the population of Varameno, largely humans and half-elves, with a considerably smaller dwarven population that almost entirely resides in Aurrean. Passing Fanakara and Keleta-Ru nomads and traders somewhat regularly stop at Varameno.
Notable settlements on Varameno include the following: