Hydrask Isles

Located off the eastern coast of Mahador, just south of the equator, the island chain separate the illynian sea to the north from both the Sea of Storms and the Asderaani Sea to the south. The archipelago is composed of 3 main islands surrounded by countless smaller island, islet, atolls, sand bars, and other scraps of land, that together form a large arc, spanning more than 1000km along its lenght, making it the world's second largest archipelagp, after the one in south Osian. The main islands, and even some of the smaller ones have numerous active and dormant volcanoes, as well as many rivers and lakes, all hidden under incredibly thick jungles. The calderus sea separates the archipelago from the continent, and its largest volcano, Mount Kimali, is located in its centre.

Climate

Because of its position near the equator, and being on the western side of the largest ocean in the world, the islands are subject to a tropical equatorial climate, with hot and humid temperatures lasting throughout the year, punctuated with regular and abundant rainfall. In the sea of strorms, just south of the archipelago, tropical cyclones are common, but most of them only scrape the southern coast of the islands, before deviating south and hitting the mainland instead.

Mount Kimali and the Calderus Sea

Mount Kimali is a large Volcano located at the western end of the archipelago. It is one of the most well known locations in the world, thanks to its explosive history, and because of an unexplicable phenomena that can be best described as a magical storm. Indeed, a large and thick swirl of black green and blue clouds spins on itself over the mountain into a large cyclone, the centre of which seems to be located directly above the mountain's summit. Hurricane force winds and swarms of lightning surround the mountain, making any kind of exporation impossible. Adding to the mystery, rumours circulating in nearby ports talk of a massive dragon, seen flying amidst the storm.  

Frequent Volcanic Eruptions

However, mount Kimali is far from the only volcano in the island chain. The archipelago actualy contains 21 known volcanos, most of which are periodicaly active, which is how they were discovered. However many scholars argue that its possible there are more of them, who are just dormant. These eruptions destroys parts of the islands's jungles, but these regrow remarkiply fast, much like the jungles of the Xejukan Wilds, so much so that after a few years, evidence of an eruption are all but erased.

The islands are home to many exotic native species, not found outside of the region. The waters to the south of the islands are famous for their brightly coloured coral reefs, full of tropical fishes. The beaches are home to crabs, sea birds and turtles, while the jungles have abundant Emandine Trees, which forms most of the canopee in not only this region, but also along the Basilisk coast on the mainland. These jungles are inhabited by many wild creatures, with the most famous of them being the Hydrask, which gave its name to the Islands.

First Age

The islands were first discovered by the kingdom of Vakaan, the preceedor state to the modern kingdom of Asderaan, during the first age. Because of the extremely hostile fauna there, no inland exploration was undertaken and no settlement were founded.

The Long Winter

The catastrophic eruption of mount Kimali, in the year 2206 bc largely destroyed the mountain, as more than 80% of its mass was pulverised. In its wake, a large and deep crator formed around a much smaller mountain. That crater was quicly filled up with the water of the ocean around it, creating the Calderus sea.

The Second Age

The islands were rediscovered by Asderaan, as well as by the kingdom of Dorema, well into the second age. However, they also found that they were now inhabited by numerous tribes of Lizardfolks, who agressively defended their homeland against any attempt by these kingdoms to establish colonies. This dynamic changed around 500 bc when The Carathengian Empire, based in south-east Arros, expanded into the region. Small forts and outposts located on the Basilisk coast and the islands themselves quickly grew into triving merchant cities, as they served as pit-stops for the numerous ships trading back and forth between both continents. Unfortunatly, the islands proved to be a haven for pirates as well, who began disrupting the regional trade. Both Asderaan and Carathenga directly cooperated with each other to keep them at bay for most of the next 500 years.

The Fall/Age of Chaos

During the Fall, the Carathengian empire collapsed from within as the blight spread throughout its territory. Meanwhile, the kingdom of Asderaan plunged into a decades long period of civil war and unrest, meaning that the pirates basicaly had free reign over the islands and the waters around them. Soon, they took over the abandoned fortified port towns left behind by the Carathengian Empire.

Third Age

The pirates have really only grown in power since, even as the kingdoms of Asderaan and Nhaggoria teamed up to curb their influence, which forced them to band together into the Pirate confederacy, which currently occupies parts of the eastern edge of the archipelago. The rest of the region remains wild and unexplored, thought the islands's coasline have been extensively charted. Lizardfolks still live in most of the islands, and regularly attack and raid the border of the Pirate confederacy.