Bone Islands

This archipelago that stretches off the southern coast of Galladia is sparsely populated by peoples from the Forests of Gallis, and is under the rule of The Emerald Throne. No major cities stand on these islands, but small settlements dot the shores of these psuedo-volcanic isles.

Geography

The northernmost island is known as Arbard, which roughly means the land of trees. The coast is made up of small pebbles and in some places large boulders. This quickly gives way to a forest of trees. The southern most islands retain tall, active volcanoes, while volcanoes on the northern most isles are now quiet and forested. The southern three islands are barren and cold most of the year. Storms often rack the southernmost islands. The second island in the chain has become known as an outpost for pirates and nefarious characters to gather. They often pray on the shipping around the bone islands, as well as stranded ships.

Climate

While all of the islands are covered in temperate forests, the further south one travels the more rugged and sparsely forest the islands become. The final island in the chain is quite small, volcanic and cold. While Arbard would be generally hospitable to settlement, few people inhabit the island. The second island in the chain, Gallard, has a more Mediterranean climate.

Fauna & Flora

Whitewoods are known to grow on Arbard along with a species of pine tree and various other unique plant species not found on the main land. Deer inhabit the forests here as well as a small species of bear, although its numbers are few. Archar and Arbaq also inhabit the forests of this island.

Natural Resources

Timber has long been harvested from Arbard and its stands of hardwood trees. The Mediterranean climate on Gallard, along with volcanic soils and ocean breezes make it a prime region for wine growing. While the output is small, the product is prized by nobles and among the major courts of the realm. Otherwise little else is known to be useful on these islands.

History

Not much is known of the history of the islands. While the ruins of an Alarim settlement slowly decay on Arbard, few records remain of this place. Some believe it to have been a small trading post, but others report mysterious workings at play in the hollowed out buildings. This has given the island a reputation as being haunted, and few people live on the island today. Those that too, have been stereotyped as superstitious and strange, although for some merchants this is of little consequence as long as their gold is good.
The remoteness of the islands, and their strategic location at the confluence of the Silver Ocean and Narrow Sea, make the Bone Islands an ideal places for pirate den's. Efforts at eradication of the issue have been futile, with thick forest concealing any buildings, and countless inlets lagoons surrounding all of the islands.

Tourism

Scholars sometimes venture to the islands to observe the strang flora and fauna, as well as Alarim ruins, but little else is worthy of visiting.

Type

Archipelago

Location under

Galladia

Contested By

• Emerald Throne