The Five Isles
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Gateway
After the ascension of the Champion who became the first Emperor, and the overthrow of the Lord of the Abyss, peace reigned on the Isles of Man, who took as their new name the Isles of the Keeper in homage to the Emperor's mandate. And leaders were chosen for each of the Isles, named as thus after their specialties: the Isle of Mists, the Isle of Draught, the Isle of Green Fields, and the Isle of the Guardians.
The capital island of the Isles of the Keeper is Gateway Isle, upon which rests Gateway Castle and the city of Crossroads. A bustling center of trade and a meeting place for all who live in the Isles, it is the primary residence of the Emperor, and each ruler of the four Isles surrounding it have a residence there as well. Five towers top the castle - the Tower of Mists, the Tower of Draught, the Tower of Green Fields, the Tower of the Guardians, and the Imperial Tower, where the Emperor and his family make their home.
Draught
The Isle of Draught is a rocky land with few patches of fertile soil. What verdant fields are found are employed in the growth of herbs, spices, and alchemical ingredients. The peoples of the Isle of Draught have a long history of intellectual study, and the Isle boasts a much vaunted Healer's College, where students are trained in advanced healing and surgical techniques. In addition, those on the Isle of Draught are learned scientists. Also on their isle is located the Academy of the Sciences, where studies in navigation, astronomy, mechanics, and alchemy are taught.
The Isle exports chemicals and compounds with various effects - they are known to trade with the Isle of the Guardians for potions that strengthen steel; cause fires to burn hotter, longer, with less fuel; and adhere to leather to strengthen it for use as armor. They trade such herbs as can be used as spell components to the Isle of Mists, and in return, purchase certain magical items and sundries that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of their alchemical studies. In exchange for food, meat, and draft animals, they trade with the Isle of Green Fields potions to increase crop yields, and healing compounds for the care of sick animals. With all of the isles, the Isle of Draught trades the services of those healers trained at their College.
Green Fields
The Isle of Green Fields is considered by all to be the most beautiful of the Isles of the Keeper. Rolling emerald hills and thick canopied forests make up the sprawling island duchy. The land boasts many gifts that the Empire shares in — herds of horses and cattle graze freely through the northern area, while the southern section of the island flows with fields of wheat, barley and oats, as well as crops of corn, soy beans, and wild rice (near the inland lake). The edge of this area also boasts carrots, beans, peas, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelon, turnips, potatoes and other rooted vegetables. The remainder of the island is heavy with forests, providing lumber for the Empire. The people of this area are hard workers with a vast knowledge in farming as well as animal husbandry. Some tales go so far as to place their ability with dogs and horses into the realm of the spiritual.
The Isle provides the empire with its main staples of harvested vegetables, grains, meat and dairy products, and animal byproducts such as leather and furs. Green Fields' trade with Mists includes the exchange of food for magical aid in strengthening and protecting their crops and food animals, as well as the pride of Green Fields - their horses. Trade with Draught includes the exchange of food and meats for the talents of the Draught healers, as well as potions and ointments to increase the productivity of their farms. From the Guardians, the Isle of Green Fields receives farming tools of metal needed to harvest their crops in exchange for their trade.
Guardian
The Isle of the Guardians is a hard place, grey and forbidding. Mountainous at its center, most of the beaches of the Isle are little more than plains of black basalt. As one moves inland, the mountains grow higher and starker. While those closer to the coast are host to pine trees and scrub forest, the higher mountains at the center of the island are home only to snow and the hardy citizens of the land. There are few areas of arable land on the Isle of the Guardians, and little that could qualify as grazing, leaving the people to focus on two things: battle and preparing for battle.
Home to the warriors and Knights of the kingdom, the main product of the Isle of the Guardians is iron, and from there, steel. The mountains that dominate the countryside are riddled with various ores, mined and worked by the smiths who are some of the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom. Swords, armor, knives, arrows, maces - if it can be used for battle, it is produced by the Isle of the Guardians. In addition, these clever workers of metal forge farming tools and implements for construction such as axes, scythes, hammers, and nails. More important, though, are the people. Trained from an early age in the use of the weapons the Isle produces, the citizens of this island are warriors, and many take service in the Emperor's household as Knights of the Empire.
The Isle of the Guardians trades with the Isle of Draught for chemicals to strengthen steel and make fires burn hotter, and healers for their injuries; the Isle of the Mists for spells to work into their weapons; and the Isle of Green Fields for food to keep up their strength, horses to carry their men, and beasts to draw their wagons. In return, they supply the realm with weaponry and protection, selling their services as warriors to those in need of a blade and standing ready should the Gateway ever fail. Household guards for each Duchy come from warriors trained on the Isle of the Guardians, as do the Imperial Knights.
Mists
The Isle of Mists protects the 'Breath of Imperium', which is the source of all magic in the Isles of the Keeper. Named for the light fog that seems to lie across the lower regions of the island, Mists is a beautiful land of rolling green hills upon which grow a variety of odd plants and animals. The common belief is that the 'Breath of Imperium' is the fount of all magic and from it are born such creatures as the unicorn and pegasus, as well as the horrors of the griffon, wyvern, and darker beasts of lore. Each person born on Mists is embued with one of the three magical essences of the 'Breath of Imperium' in the form of Spellcaster, Elementalist, or Illusionist (see +news magic). The most powerful of the mages takes the name Mogur Imperius for the extent of his reign. At the time of his death, the Mogur Imperius chooses his own successor.
The isle exports magic to the other islands in the form of scrolls and magical items. They are known to trade with the Isle of Guardians magic that will aid them in battle on land and at sea and in return lay claim to the metals and forges of the island. They often trade with the Isle of Draught, exchanging items to enhance their studies in return for the pure herbs and plants to create components for their magic, as well as the herbs needed to purify the water of Mists. Trade with the Duchy of Green Fields includes foodstuffs, meats and vegetables and in turn Mists provides that Duchy with magic to determine bloodlines of animals, detect and cure disease, and strengthen crops through the harsher months.
