The Twilight Shoals
The Twilight Shoals
The Twilight Shoals is an archipelago situated on the eastern half of the Solar Hemisphere. Bathed in perpetual twilight, the kingdom serves as a massive mercantile and trade way station between the Solar and Umbral Hemispheres.
Geography, Flora, and Fauna
The Twilight Shoals is composed of five larger islands and a host of much smaller islands scattered throughout the Gladil Sea. Most of the islands are all connected to each other, or at least one other, island through various sandbars and shoals. Although there are many boats and ferry's that travel through the Gladil sea to bring people from island to island, it is possible to walk from island to island if the correct sandbars and shoals are chosen for the journey. While relatively flat and close to sea level, the various islands have some larger hills and even mountains, though they are few and far between. The most striking aspect of the Twilight Shoals, however, is the plant-life, which grows in vibrant shades of purple and lavender, as opposed to green. While most of this plant life is similar to what is seen in the rest of the Solar Hemisphere, these plants have adapted to the specific light that perpetually shines on the shoals, making them better able to absorb the orange and reds. Most green plants are unable to grow well in the country, and only the very rich can pay for the special needs green plants require.A Brief History
The Twilight Shoals were founded as a kingdom in 824. Prior to that, the islands were controlled mostly by local mercantile lords in the ports of each island. Even before unification, the Shoals served an essential function of providing trade access between the Umbral and Solar Hemispheres. As such, the Church of the Slumbering Goddesses provides several large and many smaller divine crystals to the Shoals and its various city-states as both a reward for ensuring the Church's trade interests were maintained as well as to incentivize trade in the Shoals. As each city-state grew in power, there became more and more unrest between the various islands and merchants, which each attempting to outdo the other, which led to a destabilization of the economy. In a bid for power and to restore trade, the merchant Theofania Gisla through deals and, when necessary, force, attempted to unite the islands under one ruler. What should have been a long and drawn out affair, was cut short, when the Church decided to back Gisla's goals. A merchant's council was formed of the former city-states to monitor and control trade of the newly formed Twilight Shoals, with Theofania named Queen in the capital city of Vriacester. Although the members of the Merchant's Council has changed over the years, the council still serves an integral part of governance of trade in the Twilight Shoals. The Gisla line has maintained the throne since the unification, with the current Queen Margaret holding the throne.
Founding Date
824
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Official State Religion
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