LGDND - Arcean Archipelago
From BluWiki
Situated nearly 1,100 miles west of Estis, the Arcean Archipelago encompasses nineteen islands of varying sizes and stretches over 900 miles of ocean. In addition to the larger islands, the chain also includes many smaller islets. The majority of these smaller bodies are uninhabited rocks that serve little purpose beyond making navigation through the archipelago more treacherous.
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Islands
The entirety of the Arcean Archipelago is considered a single Imperial Territory by the Republic, but the initial surveyors from Arcum divided the chain into three separate island groups. The names here are those given to the islands by the Republic; the native names have long since fallen out of common use.
Central Isles
The six islands of the Central Isles are located in relatively close proximity to each other and positioned somewhat centrally in the chain as a whole. The Central Isles generally consider themselves to be the center of commerce and culture for the entire Archipelago, although inhabitants of the other island groups have been known to disagree.
(listed from East to West)
Lithenur, Perevum, Dunelm, Barcino, and Isca are collectively known as Arcea Minor.
Western Isles
The Western Isles begin one hundred miles northwest of the Central Isles and continue for approximately 500 miles in a relatively straight line. These islands are smaller than their cousins to the East and are generally composed of flatter, more consistent terrain. Their sparse populations and distance from Estis leads most to consider the Western Isles a rural, backwards region.
(listed from East to West)
Of the seven Western Isles, only Iterna and Bureum are less than fifty miles apart. Euresea and its many rocky islets forms the Western boundary of the archipelago.
Eastern Isles
With the exception of Nilisia, which forms the Easternmost boundary of the archipelago, the Eastern Isles are all located within a region less than 150 miles across and about 100 miles Northeast of the Central Isles. Because of its relatively close location to Estis, Nilisia acts as the Republic's seat of power in the region and enjoys the least autonomy of any of the islands.
(listed from East to West)
Climate
The climate of the Arcean islands varies significantly from region to region and is influenced most heavily by the Southwestern trade winds. The Central Isles take the brunt of the precipitation carried by the winds, leading to generally damp, rainy conditions along their Western and Southern shores. The Eastern Isles consequently enjoy a drier climate due to their position on the leeward side of the rocky, mountainous Central Isles. The Western Isles tend to suffer from the most severe and tumultuous weather patterns, although the constant and steady flow of ocean air produces a relatively consistent and comfortable year-round temperature.
Inhabitants
The Arcean islands are home to a wide variety of civilizations, each with a rich and distinct history and culture. Scholars from Arcum believe human habitation of the chain may have begun anywhere from 800 to 1000 years prior to the founding of the Republic. The presence of Estisian wildlife, including numerous species previously believed to be extinct, is a strong indicator that at least some of Arcea's settlers may have originated there. A few historians even believe that the Eastern Island civilizations may very well be closely related to Ancient Arcum's founders.
In addition to its human inhabitants, Arcum is home to a number of other humanoid and goblinoid species. Written histories from multiple communities on Arcea and the islands of Arcea Minor suggest the presence of at least three distinct Dwarven civilizations. Artifacts found in the Hammerpeak Mountains and towns along the Hammercrest River lend credence to these sources. Historians remain unclear on the fate of these civilizations, however, and the reason for their relatively sudden disappearance is a hotly contested issue in many Arcuman academic circles. Many of Arcea's historians also recorded contact with a sea-faring Elvish civilization, although it is unclear whether they were native to the islands or simply traders from more distant shores.
Of more immediate interest are the numerous subhuman races which make their homes primarily amongst the Central Isles. Arcea's mountain ranges shelter tens, possibly hundreds, of Orc and goblinoid tribes. Attacks on large-scale human settlements are rare, but constant warring amongst the tribes and occasional raids on trade caravans make any sort of long-term operations in these areas extremely dangerous. Mining in the Hammerpeak Mountains suffers most severely and the loss of shipments, miners, and even entire mines is considered part of the price of doing business in the region.
Many other races call the isles home as well and non-human races are a normal, accepted sight in the larger cities and towns. Dwarves and Elves are most common, but Gnomish and Halfling communities exist in the larger cities as well. The presence of these non-human races is most common among the Eastern Isles and least common on the human dominated Western Isles.
The Republic's Influence
Although the Republic claims the entire archipelago as a lawful Imperial Territory its influence over the region, in practice, is fairly minimal. Many of Arcea's kingdoms and city-states have been left to their own devices and are generally only noticed by the Senate when a tribute payment arrives late or too light. Magistrates are often assigned to large and wealthy cities to enforce the will of the Senate, but generally they are little more than glorified tax collectors.
Nilisia, being the Easternmost island in the chain and physically closest to Estis, is the seat of Arcuman's power in the region and enjoys significantly less autonomy than the rest of the islands. In contrast, the Western Isles are treated as uninteresting and backwards by Arcum, if their existence is acknowledged at all. Tributes on the Western Isles are generally managed to a single Magistrate who usually oversees collection from a more civilized location.
