Glum

"I'm alone. I don't want to be alone - they told me they would always be here. What happened to them? Where are they? Why am I alone?" - Heard from within Tom Cloinne, translated from Old Ostrov

Glum is a small island in the Arcaibh Islands, just to the east of Motha. It is linked to the larger island by a natural causeway, and another causeway links it to the island of Uan to the south. It is a tiny island, and completely uninhabited. The only landmark of note is the ancient mound at the center of the island that the locals know as Tom Cloinne, the child's mound. 

Notable Spirits

The only spirit of note on Glum is the one contained within Tom Cloinne. Tom Cloinne predates the coming of the Dòbhran to the Arcaibh, and even the coming of humans to the Great Ring. Nobody alive today can say for certain when or why it was built, although many people have theories. What is known is that something persists in the mound. It is hard to hear, but if you press your ear to the mound, you can hear a small voice, like that of a very young child, talking to itself in a language not spoken in this part of the world for millennia. The voice sometimes dissolves into sobbing, and few can bear to listen to it for long. Attempts have been made to open the mound, but without success - under the layers of grass and soil is a structure seemingly made of solid stone that has resisted all efforts to crack it. Most people avoid the mound, both in person and in their thoughts.

Geography

Glum is tiny, with a long stretch of sandy beach around the perimeter, and grass growing over the rest, including Tom Cloinne, the mound in the center of the island. It is linked to Motha and Uan by natural causeways.

Ecosystem

The islet is covered in tough grasses, and several birds make their nests there. It has no trees, and the most common animal to be found is the sheep that are pastured there. The shore has a variety of crabs and shellfish, and some locals will fish from the causeway.

Climate

Glum's climate is similar to that of the rest of the Arcaibh - cold and harsh, with foggy summers and autumns. Some say that the fog lingers longer on Glum than in other places, but it is otherwise unexceptional.

Natural Resources

Glum is not known to have any special resources - the grass is good for the sheep, and the beaches are good for fishing. Spiritually, it is the landmass closest to the exact center of the Arcaibh which may make it significant for any rituals regarding the archipelago as a whole.

Maps

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  Glum

Type

Island

Location under

Arcaibh Islands

Geographic Details

Location: Northeastern Region
Latitude: 59.9 degrees North
Longitude: 74.61 degrees East
Average Elevation: 9 ft
Highest Point: 30 ft (Tom Cloinne)
Lowest Point: 0 ft
Area: 0.21 sq mi