Islands
The salt of these shores, the fish beneath the waves - these are our tresures. - the fisher king before his execution
Geography
Islands is a small archipelago and the nearby coastline, with frosty coastal waters between the Islands. After resurfacing, much of the islands were covered in ice, creating the ice bridge to the Tunnel lands. This ice bridge had connected the islands and the Tunnel lands for centuries. However, in 7th century, the ice started becoming unstable during the summer heat, forming great cracks, limiting passage to the short spring time, in between the harsh winter snowstorms and the great cravices formed in the summer. However, in the 10th century, the Sixth Tuat arrived at the ice bridge, finding it gone, the great glacier having broken off and disappeared. Currently, there is a channel seperating the Tunnel lands and the Coast, isolating the Tunnel lands from the Empire even more.
Ecosystem
Islands have a sparse grass cover, having a small layer of silt covering the bedrock of the islands. As such, most of these islands have a limited number of animals and tree cover. That said, the coast is connected to the dark forest, a land full of beasts where no human should stray, for not too deep into the forest, the border is marked, where the Empire land ends and the Durge begins. In such a way, the coast is often considered as a part of the Islands, as both the plants and the animals are similar in the inhabited areas.
Ecosystem Cycles
The islands ecosystem has a very different cycle depending on the season. In spring, preperation is done for the summer, with great ponds created to trap fish and salt water, as well as using the warmth to work the wood and making boats. In summer, the fish are plentifull, and the fishermen work the seas, pulling nets trying to catch enough to sustain them for the year. In fall, the people create great rafts to move timber to the islands. In winter, ice covers the sea, allowing the humans and animals, as well as beasts to cross the ice. Because of this, the timber moved in fall is used to both create great walls and protect the settlements.
During summer, many birds migrate to the Islands, allowing for a feast to those with good hunting skills.
Localized Phenomena
The dark forest and the disappearence of the ice bridge both are curiosities of the region. Many apothecaries and hunters have explored the edges of the forest, and many have perished. But those who have survived have brought back stories of many different beasts, claiming that this forest is the breeding ground for the most dangerous of the beasts - the ripper beast. The great trees with their unique wood texture are widely used in boats due to their apperent resistance to water. As for the disappearence of the ice bridge, it is unknown what caused this, with all scholars suspecting, yet fearing it to be due to great magic.
Climate
Islands have a cool climate, with temperatures freezing during the winter. The islands usually face strong cold winds coming from north west, cooled by the northern ice caps. It occasionally rains, with cloudy weather most of the time.
Fauna & Flora
Islands are full of many small critters, many of which burrow into the soil, thriving over the summer months and moving about during the winter. A common herd animal is the smal furg - a furry fat critter, having a slick fur coat.
Natural Resources
Islands lack the ubiquity of the vaults unlike the other regions. The timber from the dark forest, along with the salt harvested from the ponds make for the most of the goods traded with other regions. For self subsistance, fishing is prefered along with limited farming and herding.
History
- 10 - First settlement is founded at the End of the Ice bridge called Bek.
- 14 to 25 - First expedition establishes multiple settlements within the Islands. Many splinter groups are lost forever.
- 38 to 42 - Second expedition travels through the Islands, recruiting volunteers.
- 48 to 50 - The news of the tragedy of the second expedition spreads across the Islands.
- 76 to 80 - The famine of small cold
- 77 to 78 - The third expedition travells through the Islands
- 84 to 86 - Great migration to the Heartland
- 260 to 261 - Empire conquers the Islands (Vellis)
- 399 - The wife of Aurus Vellis the I crosses the Ice bridge and is never seen again (Bors)
- ...
- some time during the 7th century - Cracks are found in the ice bridge (Konders)
- ...
- 882 - Sixth Tuat reports that the Ice bridge is missing, along with Bek (Gunnigsens)
- 894 - The warlord of the Sixth Tuat executes the fisher king
- 899 - Sixth Tuat finds the Great Vault Hidden beneath the Ice
- 935 - After the death of the warlord of the Sixth Tuat, a succession crisis begins
- 935 to 954 - Conflict of the Salt lords
- 954 to 972 - Reign of the Salt lords
- 972 to 981 - Terror of the living dead
- 981 - A new warlord named Davo becomes the leader of the Salt lords
Tourism
Islands are a rare destination for any, only serving as a trade stop from ships moving between Tunnel lands and Port. Lacking any sites of importance, its main source of travellers consists of those coming for trade or those who need to pass through the region.
Alternative Name(s)
Coast, Shiplands
Type
Archipelago
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Contested By
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