Kingdom of Malkariss

Appears In: Mattimeo




This huge underground realm is ruled by Malkariss and sits beneath Loamhedge's ancient ruins, under a copse on the Great South Plateau. An earthquake devastates the land and causes the Abbey buildings to collapse, with some stone chambers remaining untouched. At one point in time Malkariss moves in with his Blackrobe Rats army and takes over, enslaving young woodlanders with help from Slagar. Its entrance, a stone step with carved mice on it, is concealed by foliage. One of these carvings is taken by the Old Rabbit as a talisman, and he later gives it to Matthias who uses it to open the entrance and reveal stairs that lead underground (these stairs are most likely the remnants of the Dormitories or Attic). The actual kingdom features many mazes, caves, tunnels, and arched caverns that are all connected by steps to a large stone ledge in its centre. Upon this ledge stands a gigantic limestone statue of Malkariss with a mouth full of rock crystal teeth used by Malkariss to bark out orders from a secret place. Caverns and tunnels are lit by torches, rocks and walls hold mica and crystals, and one tunnel leads to a wall carving depicting chained woodlanders and the statue surrounded by rats. This carving is actually a door and the statue's left paw conceals a latch that, when opened, takes one to a secret exit that is formerly Loamhedge's well. At the bottom of the kingdom is where slaves (who are guarded by the terrifying Wearet) are kept and forced to carry huge stones to pulleys that lift them to the upper levels. The entire place collapses when Matthias and Orlando destroy the limestone statue, and after becoming a valley all evidence of Loamhedge's existence is hidden.