Difference between revisions of "Islands of the Shimmering sea"

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Under construction

Iracal Island

Danger: Normal
Sub zones: Mount Litocoro, Torin city
Inhabitants: Under construction

Iracal Island lies in a very unstable zone of Felarya. As a result, it is surrounded by a sort of bubble of distorted space, time, and light. This field, is significant enough to make the island appear a lot smaller than it actually is. The radius of the field is said to reach a considerable distance around the island. Passing through the field to leave, or land, on the Island can have unpredictable and possibly dangerous effects. Some have reported a change in age ranging from 10 to 20 years, while others have vanished completely. These fatals occurrences are actually rare, but it's enough to deter the natives from tempting fate too much and to attempt to escape the bubble, especially considering they still have to cross waters patrolled by hungry Chlaenas just to reach the field. This has led many people regarding travel involving Iracal Island as a one way trip. At least once a year the entire archipelago is shaken by "White Storms," a phenomenon that can be likened to flying directly through a luminous hurricane. During those White Storms, a blinding white light fills the entire sky and it becomes nearly impossible for a person to see even 2 meters in front of them.

To the south east of the island stands the massive mount Litocoro and Torin city. The northern part is covered by a large forest, while the south give way to plateaux and highlands. Iracal Island has seen many battles between Sphinxes and Harpies. The latest war between them has started long ago, and is being fought over the summit of Mount Litocoro, the highest point of the island.

Mount Litocoro

Danger: Normal
Inhabitants: humans, harpies, dryads

The tallest of Iracal Island's mountains, culminating at nearly 3 kilometers above sea level, Mount Litocoro has been the site of many battles between Sphinxes and Harpies. Litocoro's great size and virtually flat top make it an ideal location for giant avian predators to call home. Many signs point to the mountain's flat summit being somehow unnaturally formed, spurring much speculations about its origins. The two feuding races have come to view its ownership as a symbol of dominance. The harpies are definitely in control though, with a strong presence in Torin city at the summit, where they have been living among its humans inhabitants for years. The climate around this mountain is surprisingly soft and temperate, allowing culture although winds blow fiercely

Torin city

Danger: Low
Inhabitants: humans, harpies

Torin flag

under construction

Torin is a city with a large population of humans and an uncertain number of harpies, both giant and human sized. Surprisingly enough, the two species manage to coexist in a relative peace and mutual understanding today, even if their relations were riddled with tragedy and mistrust in the past.

for the two species on opposite ends of the food chain but they eventually learned to coexist.  It can even be said that the Harpies now consider the Torinian humans to be part of their flock, though some Harpies have had to be banished after giving into their predator instincts and eating a citizen or two, and some humans from the older generations still harbor deep resentment towards the Harpy occupation— some of these humans hold seats on the City Council.

While many harpies leave the city limits and take up residence on the surrounding regions, they still consider Torin their home so it becomes hard to gauge the number that come and go on a daily basis. The massive city walls are guarded heavily by both humans and harpies from the many predators that roam the island, especially the airborne variety.

The humans first came and founded Torin as a small but heavily fortified city. They lived by the rule of King Cretes Torin until the day where a giant harpy named Ourana ascended from below to claim mountain's peak, having grown tired of fighting the Sphinxes over the lower areas. She was followed  shortly after by more harpies. The Torinians valiantly tried to defend themselves but the battle was unfair and they were devoured in large numbers. This could have well been the end of their civilization, but Ourana had others plans for them, deciding to spare the survivors. Her fellow harpies didn't questioned her as her leadership was very strong. At the end of the day, humans were allowed to stay within the walls of the city and were granted a protected status. In exchange for protection, the citizens became enslaved to Ourana and the other harpies, having to meet their every need. As for those that were put out of the city, they were declared prey and most were immediately devoured by the Harpies.

Over the next hundred years, the humans and harpies of Torin endured a tumultuous coexistence. Harpies are not known for being kind, especially towards prey. However, thanks to Ourana and her unsual mindset, as well the harpies' loyalty to Ourana.

But most of all, both species found a common enemy in the sphinxes

For the most part, the Harpies are aloof and the Torinian citizens govern themselves. They have maintained some small semblance of their old way of life; rebuilding their schools and even their judicial system. Yes, even in a harpy occupied city, humans still prey on humans. Punishments for criminal misdemeanors are usually in the form of fines and jail time. Felonies are punishable by expulsion from the city, where the criminal will have to descend the mountain side to seek safety in another city below before the harpies find him/her during their hunting. In the event of a more serious offense, which are very rare, the criminal is given the death penalty; in which case a harpy usually requests to be the executioner. Another way harpies occasionally contribute to human society is they will escort workers outside the city to allow them to work. These duties are divided equally among the harpies and they don't like them much, but Ourana's instructions are carried out to keep chaos from disturbing the order which keeps their flock strong against the Sphinxes. Not so surprisingly, during these times a worker or two may "mysteriously vanish" while on the job

The first century together since the invasion of Harpies was especially tumultuous for the two species on opposite ends of the food chain but they eventually learned to coexist. It can even be said that the Harpies now consider the Torinian humans to be part of their flock, though some Harpies have had to be banished after giving into their predator instincts and eating a citizen or two, and some humans from the older generations still harbor deep resentment towards the Harpy occupation— some of these humans hold seats on the City Council. Because of the number of close relationships with harpies, most Torinians have a different view of what constitutes a predator. They tend to define a predator as a creature that kills callously, with no consideration of whom it kills. Because the harpies of Torin and Mount Litocoro have shown a reluctance to eat Torinians, even if it's only out of respect for Ourana, they are not typically viewed as predators; the fact that the harpies still eat humans and other humanoids doesn't have any significance.

uneasy relation pred/prey

The inhabitants of Torin have devoloped a tight knit flock mentality under the leadership of the quiet, yet intimidating, harpy Ourana. They have become protective of each other, though the humans and harpies have endured quite a few growing pains from their originally clashing cultures.

A highly militaristic and tough society, the Torinians pride themselves on being able to produce exceptional and fierce warriors. The military governs nearly every aspect of their society; national security, law enforcement, medicine, education, construction, engineering, sanitation, and agriculture are all handled by enlisted members. At least one child out of every household must enter military service at the age of 11 or 12. In the military academy is where Torinians age 11 through 18 gain a higher level of education than that which is available to non-enlisted citizens, and they are prepared to move into various official occupations after graduation.

The people of Torin pride themselves on being able to produce exceptional warriors and it is most likely because of this strength that they were spared rather than devoured when Ourana's flock descended upon the city almost 300 years ago.

[Heads of State]

With the deaths of King Cretes and his son Prince Rhodes, the people of Torin threatened to lay down their weapons and let the attacking Sphinxes destroy their city unless Ourana and her flock left. To avert a complete collapse from within, Ourana relinquished some of her control over the citizens; promising to honor the requests made by a group of people chosen by the Torinians to speak for them..

Ourana has been the central figure of authority in Torin for over a century. She is known among the Torinians as a ruler who's aura "burns hotter than the fires of Tartarus." It's very easy for people to be overwhelmed by this imposing aura upon meeting her for the first time, but those feelings usually subside when they hear Ourana speak in her surprisingly calm and soft voice. Having been raised by Sphinxes and absorbed much of their culture, Ourana has uncommon values for a Harpy and she imposes those values on her flock with her most senior flock sisters Priscilla, Ailo, and Harriet by her side. While she could have been described as cold-hearted and oppressive in her early years as ruler of Torin, the Torinians believe that she's had a change of heart over time and may even harbor regrets over her past actions, namely dragging the humans into her conflict with the sphinxes.

The City Council Led by General Cornelius Torin, a descendant of King Cretes Torin, this elite assembly of military members specializing in warfare, engineering, medicine, education, economics, etc hold Ourana to her promise to give the people a voice, and not abuse her power and authority. While the Council is made of military members, they do not become councilors via simple promotion; councilmen and councilwomen are voted into position by peers in their respective fields. Councilors hold their seats until the next election which takes place once every 5 years. It's entirely possible that a person could be reelected to indefinite consecutive terms, as is often the case with the most trusted senior members. If a councilor fails to perform his or her duties satisfactorily, their peers can arrange for a vote to put a new councilor in their place until the end of the 5 year term, but those peers must first justify the change to the other seat holders.

(Repeat of above)

The Torinian military governs nearly every aspect of their society; national security, law enforcement, medicine, education, construction, engineering, sanitation, and agriculture are all handled by enlisted members. At least one child out of every household must enter military service at the age of 11 or 12. In the military academy is where Torinians age 11 through 18 gain a higher level of education than that which is available to non-enlisted citizens, and they are prepared to move into various official occupations after graduation. The people of Torin pride themselves on being able to produce exceptional warriors and it is most likely because of this strength that they were spared rather than devoured when Ourana's flock descended upon the city almost 300 years ago.

[Heads of State]

With the deaths of King Cretes and his son Prince Rhodes, the people of Torin threatened to lay down their weapons and let the attacking Sphinxes destroy their city unless Ourana and her flock left. To avert a complete collapse from within, Ourana relinquished some of her control over the citizens; promising to honor the requests made by a group of people chosen by the Torinians to speak for them..

Ourana has been the central figure of authority in Torin for over a century. She is known among the Torinians as a ruler who's aura "burns hotter than the fires of Tartarus." It's very easy for people to be overwhelmed by this imposing aura upon meeting her for the first time, but those feelings usually subside when they hear Ourana speak in her surprisingly calm and soft voice. Having been raised by Sphinxes and absorbed much of their culture, Ourana has uncommon values for a Harpy and she imposes those values on her flock with her most senior flock sisters Priscilla, Ailo, and Harriet by her side. While she could have been described as cold-hearted and oppressive in her early years as ruler of Torin, the Torinians believe that she's had a change of heart over time and may even harbor regrets over her past actions, namely dragging the humans into her conflict with the sphinxes.

The City Council Led by General Cornelius Torin, a descendant of King Cretes Torin, this elite assembly of military members specializing in warfare, engineering, medicine, education, economics, etc hold Ourana to her promise to give the people a voice, and not abuse her power and authority. While the Council is made of military members, they do not become councilors via simple promotion; councilmen and councilwomen are voted into position by peers in their respective fields. Councilors hold their seats until the next election which takes place once every 5 years. It's entirely possible that a person could be reelected to indefinite consecutive terms, as is often the case with the most trusted senior members. If a councilor fails to perform his or her duties satisfactorily, their peers can arrange for a vote to put a new councilor in their place until the end of the 5 year term, but those peers must first justify the change to the other seat holders.

Iracal Island; Humans: The Tribe of Lost Ones

The battle that saw Torin City conquered by Harpies ended with the humans that refused to submit to Ourana either be eaten on the spot or exiled. Most of those who were put out of what was left of the city were initially believed to have been eaten by the predators of the wilderness, but it is now known that many of those humans have survived. The Tribe of Lost Ones is what they call themselves, but in the neighboring villages and cities of Iracal Island they are most commonly called barbarians.

The Tribe of Lost Ones are nomadic in that they constantly pick up and move but they have been known to return to past locations to settle. Their presence is one that all traveling humans and the like should be mindful of because they survive not only by hunting, but by ambushing the ill-prepared and robbing them blind. Like other tribes in Felarya that are fighting for survival, the Lost Ones are not above capturing travelers and using them as decoys to escape predators.

Of course, the tribe would like to avoid predators in the first place; the tons of stolen weapons and artifacts can only help them so much. It probably goes without saying but the Lost Ones know the wilderness very well and they are physically fit to a person, fit enough to outlast many predators in a chase even. Another approach they've taken is camouflaging their scents by following behind Kensha Beasts and covering themselves in the material (fur and/or other material) the canines leave behind. By doing this the tribe has often been able to fool predators into thinking they were not humans.

Still, even given all this it seems unlikely that this tribe of exiled men and women could have survived for as long as it has. It may just serve as a testament to the power human spirit and what they can accomplish with the will to survive, and plenty of good luck of course. On that note: Somah, the traditional God of fate and karma, is still worshipped as the primary deity by the Tribe of Lost Ones (or a slightly tweaked version of Somah that better fits the Lost One's way of life), unlike in Torin City where Somah has been usurped by King Torin and is barely acknowledged anymore outside of his "Fire mark" which is typically included in traditional artwork or where tribute is paid to the city's history somehow.

Gaieochos Island

Danger: Normal
Inhabitants: mermaids

Located east of Iracal Island, Gaieochos Island is unique for the unusual nature of gravity there. Though it still pulls straight down by default, it also has forces that pull in other directions but only affects objects or surfaces that are in contact with the islands surface. In other words, it is possible to walk up the side of a tree or even on the ceiling of a cave. Once contact is lost with those surfaces, however, the default force of gravity will pull one to the ground in a hurry. The island is also known for the Seidon Rises, the only "waterrise" of Felarya. In this bizarre phenomenon, the water flows from the ocean and straight up the side of this steep cliff, just like the opposite of a waterfall. It creates a majestic and unusual sight, very rarely seen in the universe. Mermaids are known to be very fond of the place, playing in those strange, inverted currents.

• Credits to gt500x for many ideas to develop Iracal Island, and for the aieochos Island idea.