The Guardians

This group of islands rise a couple of hundred feet out of the Mercator sea just off the coast of eastern stereos near the town of Guardston. The largest, Sentinel Island, is home to a small settlement that receives food from the small harbor at Guardston. The islands grow smaller as they stretch north, and are not largely inhabited, save for the occasional hermit.

Geography

The islands rise hundreds of feet out of the ocean, with steep rocky cliffs. Some inlets have small gravel beaches, but the shores are typically rocky with fallen boulders. Sentinel Island has a small wharf on the shore-side of the island protected from the harsh waves of the open sea. The islands themselves protect the main shore of Eteros from some of the largest storm surges, and weaken storms on their way shoreward.
What these islands are especially known for are their stupendous views both that they themselves provide, or as people gaze back at the cost of Eteros from the high cliffs. Shrines have been built on these islands to thank the gods for their natural beauty.

Fauna & Flora

Seahawks inhabit the caves of the rocky cliff faces, while todean blade stalk the waters around the islands. Thick-furred Valar have been brought to Sentinel Island by the settlers. A rare species of small Archar also inhabit these islands and feed on the mosses the grow on the rocks. The harsh weather makes it hard for many things to grow here, but there are some species of flower that reside on the rocky islands, and in the spring the islands can be covered in tiny white and yellow flowers. Finally a special kind of tree grows on the larger of the islands where soil is sufficient. The Guardian Juniper grows begins as a small bush and begins to grow scraggly branches. However, these trees are very susceptible to winds because their branches are somewhat thin; therefore, they grow in a way that makes them appear as though they are being swept by a harsh wind off the open ocean. They will form a teardrop shape with the tail facing away from the wind, and a gnarly trunk to hold them in place. Some trees can have multiple roots leading to multiple groups of branches forming multiple teardrops. The sap from these trees is a known fungicide and insecticide, and is also used in ship-making for its strength seeing as any structural deficiency in the tree would be catastrophic in high winds.

Natural Resources

The islands have little in the way of natural resources, with fishing and farming being their major exports. However, the islands are often visited by travelers wishing to take in the spectacular views from the cliffs, as well as to the see the Guardian Junipers.

Type

Island

Location under

Eteros