Xerosa "Thornblade" Isles
"On this isle, history has been made. Victory and defeat, heroes and villains, despair and hope, all in one legacy. The thornblade is our symbol, it is who we are and what we believe as we raise our weapons high. Beauty in battle, the pain in the pretty things, life that grows from worthy death. No matter how far we fall, we rise again. Xerosa!" - Azuris Xerosa, Fates Hand member & heir to the Xerosa line
To the north east just off the shores of Hornibyr lies one of the oldest provinces of the continent. Having been established generations before the rise of Fate’s Hand by the Xerosa family, somehow the isle itself has remained and stayed together against time and trial since its revival and freedom from the rule of a mindflayer hive. It has had many names over the centuries, but in the last few hundred years into modern times, it has settled into the moniker of “The Thornblade Isle” as an homage to the Xerosa family crest of a sword wrapped by the stem of a thorned rose that blossomed at the tip. A sentiment of beauty in battle with honorable intent. The family still governs the isle within its parliament, leaders, and tacticians each in their own manner, leading the isle to be known to produce some of the best warriors and mercenaries of the Ashirmic lands.
Culture and Values
Those of the isle hold strongly to a sense of honor. It is in everything they do, from housemaking to crafting to the more common profession of fighting. There is no good battle without honor held in every action taken and every swing of a sword or drawing back of a bowstring. And if it is not a good battle then it was one not worth being fought. The people of the isle have for centuries fought for causes of freedom from oppression, provision for those in need, and expanding their knowledge of battle tactics and weaponry. Aside from warriors, craftsmen and traders are held in high regard as well seeing as the island has less ability to sustain itself on its own provisions and is always in need of more things to be made. Those who do good hard work with their hands are those most honorable, and they are led by example by the Xerosa family from generation to generation. While it hasn't changed drastically over the eons, the things that have shaped it most are the leaders from the Xerosa lineage down the line. They might all be from the family in one way or another, but they each had their own personalities and ways they influenced the people. So, you'll find quite a lot of variety in architecture in different areas that kept it from whichever leader and era. There are also commonly canal roads out towards the edges of the isle. It is also a decently mix populace since there's so much coming and going of different people from all over wanting to be trained there in combat. some stay and some don't. But it has always been and likely will always be just a little elven-dominated from its earliest days. The most common things you'll find are training areas of all kinds from archery ranges, sword grounds, hand-to-hand dojos, etc. They're everywhere. Also rose bushes, though the favored color is white or red. This comes from the Xerosa family crest, the symbolism of a white rose, and the red for the blood spilled by honorable combatants. Good taverns, a love-hate relationship with the people of Hornybyr and their fight-happy asses, regular minor festivals for any number of reasons that usually celebrate some great historic act of someone in the family or a prominent figure from the isle.Geography, Flora, and Fauna
Most of the isle is flat and surrounded by low hills and valleys broken only by regular streams and waterways that come in from the ocean. These waterways are often used to transport things easier into the isle from the coast as required and host a mixture of both salt and freshwater fish that make their way up from Ashborne and in from the Cyan Sea. The only other real wildlife left are birds and small game.Political Structure and Economics
The head of the isle is always one of the Xerosa family as per tradition, but outside of that, the rest is ruled by democratic military style governing officials who have proven themselves by their actions and strength in the valued areas of the people. There are most often a seat of up to half a dozen that sit beside the Xerosa heir, and larger groupings of lower ranking leaders after that. The isle's main export is simply the training and provision of fighting adept individuals for whatever means necessary. In return other places come in with the supplies that the isle is in need of that they themselves cannot provide.
The current head of house Xerosa is Zelberion Trym-Xerosa, a middle aged half goliath of formidable might with any weapon in hand that she can possibly throw if her opponent makes it too far from her reach. She has been known to be a woman of few words, wise in action, and has a real liking for imported brews from Tankard Town.
by Unknown
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