Kiamo Ko

Kiamo Ko is the ancestral home of Fiyero, the Prince of the Arjiki tribe in both the novel "" by Gregory Maguire, and "Wicked the Musical". It located is in the Vinkus, and it is where Elphaba goes in the end of the book/musical to confront Dorothy. It is also speculated that this is the same castle where the Witch is killed in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz".

The Vinkus is governed by several clans, led mostly by men, Kiamo Ko is the stronghold of the ruling family of the Arjiki tribe. During Fiyero's absence from Kiamo Ko, his wife Sarima spends most of her time inside the castle, guarding her sons Manek and Irji, in the fear that the rival clan leaders may kill them. Her daughter Nor goes mostly unnoticed, although Sarima does seem rather affectionate toward her. Sarima's five sisters, named Two through Six, also live at the castle, although they deeply resent Sarima. It is to this fortress that an earthly sorcerer brings a powerful spellbook called the Grimmerie for safekeeping.

After Fiyero's murder, Elphaba, with whom he had been having an affair, goes to Kiamo Ko to seek the forgiveness of Sarima. Sarima refuses to listen to Elphaba's story, but allows her to stay indefinetly, along with her purported son, Liir. During her time at the castle, Elphaba sets up a workshop in one of the towers, finds the Grimmerie in a wardrobe in the attic, and learns how to fly the broomstick given by Mother Yackle.

While Elphaba is visiting her sister Nessarose, the Wizard's guards invade the castle and kidnap Sarima, her children and sisters. All of these captives are excecuted while in custody, except for Nor, who is later revealed to be alive at the end of "Wicked" and the beginning of "Son of a Witch". After this, Elphaba takes over the running of the castle, along with Liir, Nanny, her old guardian, and Chistery, a snow monkey who later becomes one of her Winged monkeys. Kiamo Ko has apparently been abandoned since the death of the Witch, besides the presence of Chistery and Nanny. Liir also briefly returns to Kiamo Ko midway through "Son of a Witch".

Kiamo Ko is considered a 'mountain fortress' in the book "Wicked", because of the steep mountain slopes which surround it. In the wintertime, it is extremely isolated because of dangerous winter storms. Kiamo Ko rarely sees any villagers, and the motto reigning over the castle is "We don't turn anyone away."