Places in the Realm of the Elderlings

This article details the locations featured in Robin Hobb's fictional world, The Realm of the Elderlings, featured in her books The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy.

Cities

Jamaillia City

Capital of the southern empire of Jamaillia, it is described as decadent and rotten, with a burgeoning slave trade. It is a city of gleaming white and appears on the nation's flag. The Satrap of Jamaillia resides in the palace here.

Bingtown

A trading city to the south of the Six Duchies. It is built on the Cursed Shores. The Bingtown Traders that inhabit it are the descendants of criminals and younger sons given land grants by Satrap Esclepius. The Bingtown traders are kin to the Rain Wild Traders and have strong trading ties. The Liveship Traders series takes place here.

Jhaampe

The capital of the Mountain Kingdom. Jhaampe is mentioned in the children's rhyme about wise men who travelled to Jhaampe town and what happened to them. Jhaampe is an inconstant city, made up of few permanent buildings. It is comprised of many areas for the nomadic mountain people to camp in, stay for a while, then leave again. There are a number of beautiful gardens which are tended by everyone in the city. Among the permanent buildings in the mountain capital is the palace, home of the Sacrifice of the Mountain Kingdom. This was made - or rather, 'grown' - by selecting a central tree, and planting several saplings around it. These trees are pulled in towards the central tree as they grow. When large enough, the tops of the trees are bound together and stripped of branches. The structure is then covered with barkcloth and coated in a kind of clay. This is painted in bright colours, often yellows, oranges and purples. Completed, the palace looks much like a closed tulip or crocus.

Buck Keep

The capital of Buck and home to the royal family. Built on the coast, the site upon which Buck Keep is built has always been one where people have built their homes. It became a stronghold when the OutIslander who became King Taker captured and fortified it. The original Keep was made of wood. However, over time, pieces were steadily replaced with stone. Around the Keep is Bucktown.

Trehaug

A treehouse city in the Rain Wilds and the largest city belonging to the mysterious Rain Wild Traders, Trehaug is built above the ruins of an ancient Elderling city. Because of the corrosive nature of the Rain River, Trehaug is actually constructed several feet above ground level - it is a city of complex tree-houses, supported by the forest through which the Rain River runs.

Trehaug is inhabited by the mysterious Rain Wild Traders, kin to the Bingtown Traders. The Rain Wild Traders wear veils due to disfigurements that are the price paid for living on the banks of the Rain River. The Rain Wilders recover magical goods from the buried city which they then trade with their Bingtown kin. This trade has led to them gathering a large amount of wealth.

Frengong

A lost Elderling city, Frengong was buried in some sort of ancient disaster. Its ruins are the foundation of Trehaug, the city of the Rain Wild Traders. The Rain Wilders search the city for ancient treasures which they sell. The ruins are awe-inspiring (due to the glimpses the give of the Elderlings' civilization) but also threatening (due to the straightforward dangers of earthquakes, and the more complex dangers of dabbling in another civilization's magic).

The trade in magical goods has made the Rain Wilders wealthy, but the dangers that accompany it leave them vulnerable.

Kingdoms

The OutIslands

The icy islands located to the north of the Six Duchies. Their geography is unknown as they are not depicted on any Six Duchies maps. The feared Red-Ship Raiders hail from the OutIslands. The OutIslanders refer to their kingdom as The Gods' Runes.

Jamaillia

A theocratic empire to the far south of the Six Duchies. Jamaillia is a kingdom that prides itself on being the source of all culture and wisdom in the world and indeed, its denizens regard everyone else as barbarians.

Jamaillia's ruler, the Satrap, is considered a living embodiment of the god Sa on earth. The Satrap's power is so expansive that the empire is often referred to as a satrapy. The current Satrap is Satrap Cosgo.

Chalced

Chalced is south of the Six Duchies and is ruled by a duke. It is a warlike state built on a slave economy. It raids along the edges of its neighbors, the southernmost duchies of the Six Duchies, Shoaks and Farrow and they raid back in turn. It asserts that all the land along the Cursed Shores, including the city of Bingtown is under its jurisdiction.

Mountain Kingdom

Located to the west of the Six Duchies, The Mountain Kingdom is not a true kingdom but a loose confederation of many tribes and nomads ruled by a "Sacrifice", a sort of servant-leader. The tradition of Sacrifice began with one woman who functioned as a sort of a judge or wise woman; able to settle disputes between the varying tribes of the mountains. The Sacrifice of the Mountain Kingdom lives in the city of Jhaampe. The word Sacrifice is taken quite literally when referring to the Sacrifice of the Mountain Kingdom, with numerous occurrences throughout their history of various Sacrifices giving up everything, even their own lives, to serve and protect their people.

The Six Duchies

Bearns

The northernmost seaside duchy. Ruled by Duke Brawndy, until his death, and then by Duchess Faith. The main castle is Ripplekeep. Bearns's folk are notable for being the most warrior-like of the Six Duchies folk.

Buck

The duchy located below Bearns. The royal family resides here, in Buckkeep.

Rippon

The duchy located below Buck. Ruled by Duke Kelvar. The main city is Neatbay.

Shoaks

The southernmost duchy. Ruled by Duke Shemshy.

Tilth

The northern inland duchy. Ruled by Duke Ram

Farrow

The southern inland duchy. The main city is the illustrious Tradeford.