The Tempete Archipel

Tempete Arcbipel is located in the northern section of the Saline Sea, just northwest of the continent of Westenra. Each island possesses a formation of rock, saline-rich soil, mud, and saltwater. layered, by one degree or another, with volcanic rock eroded through millennia of sea water and intense storms. Some of these islands bear soil, but resources are scarce compared to those on the mainland.It consists of nine varying-sized islands, with the largest spanning around 250 square kilometers (96 square miles), called Seldefer Island. As the most populated island in the western part of the archipelago, it hosts the towering Saline Citadel, where the Salted Steel tribe rules with an iron fist. On Seldefer Island lies a large lake of saltwater, known as Salted Steel Lake, surrounding the towering structure. Outside the lake is a plain of mud and jagged rock that carries a town spanning from every edge of the island. The remaining eight islands are around 50-100 square kilometers (20-40 square miles), named Port Lemont, Jardin, Lenmont, Valenmont, Nanzon, Tempete Yeux, Volage, and Adverse. Port Lemont and Jardin, the smallest of the islands, rest parallel in the southern region with the most fertile soil. In a triangular pattern, Lenmont, Valenmont, and Nazon rest near the center and are buried in eroded rock. Tempete Yeux and Averse lie in the eastern region, with the latter closest to the main continent of Westenra. In particular, Tempete Yeux is the second largest island with the flattest geography compared to the rest of the archipelago. Averse Island is home to the strategic defense point of the Kingdom of Owenar known as Averse's Landing.

With most of the land covered in eroded rock, there is little space for vegetation. The existing fertile soils support basic crops for the population, such as olives, grapes, and seeds. Outside of crops, spider grass, salted moss, and Saltwood trees cover the remaining landscape. In particular, Saltwood trees are renowned for their rich sap, which has rejuvenating and culinary qualities. Although not as apparent as in the Saltwood Forest, these trees have been effectively harvested for lumber by the locals, as they can recover very quickly from logging by the neighboring tribes. Apart from these species, some bug species have managed to reside on the islands, such as marshworms who burrow into the island's mud, salted leaf bugs who grip the bark of trees against heavy winds, and western flies who plague the island's residents. They colonize the scarce soil and vegetation on the islands but are easy prey for the variety of birds in the sky.   The most dominant part of the archipelago's ecosystem is its native birds. The islands serve as a convenient resting point for birds that migrate across the Saline Sea, adapting to the rough winds that can propel them into the sky with relative ease. Combined with the region's relatively predictable climate, it conveniently serves as a landing ground for at least four species of birds. One of these birds is the native Salted-Beak Sparrow, a marvelous creature that has learned to carry rough winds beneath its wings to enable high-speed travel, reaching speeds that rival even the white-stream falcon. The latter is a falcon that attains great speed through wind magic. It leaves a trail of white smoke that gives it its name. While they rely on momentum, the Estenra vulture boasts strength and endurance. This race of carnivorous scavengers from the eastern continent of Ixala can travel vast distances across the ocean and possesses strong talons that can tear through bone. They attack weakened prey and steal local fish from the island's residents. The saline pelican feeds on marine life gathered from the ocean's surface. As they lay their nests on the archipelago, most of their adult life is spent traveling the Saline Sea, hopping from land point to land point for rest. The largest and most dangerous among the birds is the thunder eagle. Hailing from Thunder Bastion in the continent of Forodren, these magical birds live, eat, and reproduce high above in the storm clouds. Their magical affinity to lightning allows them to constantly be in flight without exhaustion, as their diet consists almost entirely of electricity and electrically charged meat. Able to absorb lightning bolts and redirect their diluted charge against their prey to season their meal with electric currents that remain inside the body. They follow the path of storms created by the Thunder Bastion that glides across the Saline Sea towards the Tempete Archipel. Their eggs are carried on their partners' backs, where the newborn learns to fly the moment they exit their shells. The thunder eagle is most certainly the largest bird species in Ixala.   Small in number, the species that live off the land adapt quickly to the archipelago's stormy weather. For instance, the western rat lives off the local crops and any scraps left behind by the human tribes. Originating from the Central Plains of Westenra, these animals colonized these islands as unwanted passengers in sailing ships. Populating all nine islands of the archipelago are human communities formed into factions. They consist of the Salted Steel tribe, the Storm Bears, the Cursed Timber tribe, the Couperet de Baleine, and the Kingdom of Owenar. The latter uses Averse Island as a defense point against the neighboring faction, who are unified under the Salted Steel tribe. Their citizens work as fishermen, ship craftsmen, and raiders. Relying on a diet of small crops, fish, and birds, forming a system of government where its unifier is its absolute ruler. To quell the significant thunderstorms that come to the islands, the tribes developed storm-resistant houses of solid stone and lightning rods to catch dangerous lightning strikes.

A volatile temperature and weather regime characterizes the Tempete Archipel. Storms are a near-constant feature, with only brief periods of calm interrupting the turbulent conditions. Summers bring humid air, while winters are marked by cold, persistent rain. Rainfall is typically intense, often accompanied by strong thunderstorms and significant ocean rainfall, all driven by heavy winds. Notably, the thunderstorms possess a wild and magical quality, originating from the lightning-attuned lands of Forodren, further emphasizing the dramatic weather patterns of the archipelago. At the peak of these storms, it is considered dangerous to be standing out in the open as lightning strikes in quick succesion.

Name	Type	Description
Thunder Eagle	Carnivorous Magical Bird	Lightning attuned yellow birds from the Thunder Bastion. Massive in size and deadly up close
White-Stream Falcon	Omnivorous Magical Bird	High-speed and wind-attuned bird that leaves trails of white smoke. Found in an array of naturally colored feathers.
Salted-beak Sparrows	Herbivorous Bird	Aerodynamic black-feathered birds that soar above the tree canopy. Originating from the Saline Sea Isles
Estenra Vulture	Scavenger Bird	Large grey birds with high-level endurance and strong features.
Marshworms	Insect	Mud-swimming worms that mix nutrients into the soil
Salted Leaf Bugs	Insect	Camouflage bugs that hide in branches to safely reproduce.
Western Fly	Insect	A swarming insect with a black body that scavenges decomposing organic matter

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Name	Type	Description
Saltwood Trees	Coniferous Trees	Autumn leaf trees that contain enriched tree sap with a variety of natural uses
Spider Grass	Flower	Spider-like plant that spreads quickly through the soil bed. The most common vegetation.
Salted Moss	Flower	Saline-rich moss with a green and white hue.

In the year 83, after the Dark Ages (ADA), seeking to restore the lands they lost, the Salted Steel tribe launched an invasion against the Kingdom of Owenar, attacking the continent's western region. This war was short-lived, as the combined strength of heroes in the Saltwood Forest and the naval prowess of Queen Lauren Owenar overwhelmed the tribe's sea raiders. Falling back in defeat, the tribal leader, Seigneur Alderic, concluded that ending the tribe's desire for conquest was for the betterment of all. He saw the islands as the only home they needed, isolating their faction entirely from the affairs of the mainland. Despite this declaration of peace, many tribesmen attempted to raid neighboring continents for several centuries, slowly reigniting their desires for conquest and the return of the tribe that once ruled Westenra.   In 497 ADA, a sudden change in leadership occurred as the founders' bloodline had been severed by insurrectionists, leading to the rise of a new tribal lord, Signeur Caecilius, a cold and bloodthirsty tyrant who ordered the amassing of a great army that would take centuries to complete. By the year 900 ADA, they had formed a massive force capable of instilling fear in any faction they deemed an enemy, stoking fears of conflict throughout the Kingdom of Owenar. When Prince Talon raided a former Salted Steel tribesman's home in Arcshire, it was all that was needed to spark the fires of the Second Salted Steel War in 979 ADA. The unified tribes, with their centuries-long militarization, invade every corner of Westenra, including the lands of the Dwarven Clans. After 11 years of endless bloodshed, the Salted Steel tribe again fell back in defeat. However, rumors have risen that the tribe did not show their full strength in the war, and their attacks were only a means to weaken the Kingdom's defences for a future conflict. What that conflict is, no one truly knows. What is known is that those who reside on the islands are still a formidable and unpredictable danger.