Refuge
Considered a haven for the degenerates and lowlifes of the world, the island of Refuge sits within the genter of the Lake of Tears. Anyone who reaches it's shores is considered saafe and immune from the laws of any neighbors, but may never leave. A complicated and often dangerous society has developed here, especially as new generations are born here, seemingly trapped.
Culture
The language and culture of the island of Refuge is very much a creol; a rough intermix of all of the various cultures that arrive here and interact in such a confined space. It can be very confusing at first, finding those with whom one can communicate effectively, as well as habitate.
Demography and Population
The island takes in all kinds, provided one can make it there. Although no census has ever been taken of the island, rough count and estimates have been made, and the best guess given is that there are currently about 300,000 residents of the island.
. With so many of the island being Goblins, it is thought that they were the islands first inhabitants; a place for them to build a safe society, if they could, or at least provide a location by which they could destroy themselves an each other without risk of collateral damage.
The island or Refuge saw a substantial increase in it's population during and following The Triumverate War. At first, the influx was Tieflings, children born of rape by demons. It was risky even being alive as a half-demon, and so many parents fled here with their children, at first, and later teenage or adults coming here on their own, with no other place to be. Although the migration has slowed in the generations since, the world is still not openly friendly to them, and so they still hold an unusually high population here, compared to most of the world.
The second rush of migrants into Refuge, one that is still ongoing, is that of Orcs. As The Intransican Empire grew, so did their military might and genocidal zealotry. No Orc is safe in any place Intransican soldiers can step foot on. Though many stop in the first neighboring border nation that they can, some more firm of mind, or just paranoid of spirit, continue going as far as they find it feasible, bringing themselves here.
The largest grouping of Humans in Refuge hail from Khartoum, escaping criminal prosecution, or as political refugees, speaking out against the King and his government. Like with the other races, humans come from everywhere, but this is the most common case. Like in many places, humans are so used to being the most populace of an area that they assume that they run the show, a fact that they quickly are disabused of on arrival.
Though Elves are the least likely to arrive here, their lifespand being several times larger than any other species provides a greater population than would otherwise exist. Though some think of them are too prim and proper, as if they're collectively too good to deserve being in such a place, most are reluctantly thankful for their presence and their service. They are the most likely to be literate on the island, and their diaries or even personal memories serve for the greatest account of any history of the island. It is through them that any real understanding of the island before the Triumverate War can be preserved or remembered.
Though Elves are the least likely to arrive here, their lifespand being several times larger than any other species provides a greater population than would otherwise exist. Though some think of them are too prim and proper, as if they're collectively too good to deserve being in such a place, most are reluctantly thankful for their presence and their service. They are the most likely to be literate on the island, and their diaries or even personal memories serve for the greatest account of any history of the island. It is through them that any real understanding of the island before the Triumverate War can be preserved or remembered.
Territories
The island meausures about 100,000 square meters in size, roughly in the middle of the Lake of Tears. With exception of the Bastard Isles, thought to be uninhabitable, Refuge is the largest island of the world, and likely the oldest to have been inhabited. Although not an ocean island, it still receives heavy rainfall, with slight more on it's eastern and southern coastlines. The weather is consistenyl comfortable and warm, before factoring in the wind off the coastline. With that warmth and wetness the island can generally be thought of as a tropical jungle biome, though sizable portions have been cleared out for proper habitation of the residents.
Military
There is no military to speak of here on Refuge, and is explicitly forbidden in the arangements made by the Treaty of Tears. The only thing that has kept the various armies or navies of the surrounding states from taking the island for themselves has been that there is little value gained for the cost.
What passes for armed forces on the island are city watches; volunteer forces patrolling the various settlements for any rulebreakers or the like. Such forces have come and gone multiple times, as there is no permanent body to support them, and have often been corrupted by those still wishing to do wrong on the island. Such attempts are made easier by the watch being a job taken without any compensation or salary.
Religion
The common religion here is The Phoenician Church. Although clerics or ministers of any religious persuasion are rare, prayers to the Sixth of Six Sisters and Goddess of Mercy are common, along with the message that anyone can be given mercy. Prayers and dedications to the other Gods and Goddesses are intermittent. The most common, behind Phoenicia, are the other Six Sisters, for having created the various species that inhabit the land, and much of the world as they understand it. Predictably, respect for Mastro, God of Justice is not found in any part of the island.
With clergy on the island being so exceptionally rare, what services or dedications are found here are performed either by memory, or with creative new interpretations, as the residents see able and appropriate.
With clergy on the island being so exceptionally rare, what services or dedications are found here are performed either by memory, or with creative new interpretations, as the residents see able and appropriate.
Foreign Relations
The surrounding nations are all wary of Refuge, and consistently at a tenuous peace. While they are generally appreciative that their worst and lowest are self-selecting to leave their nation and go be someone else's problem, many have a paranoid fear that they may rise with enough people and power to strike back against any of the inland cities. Most also have a few among their worst offenders who escaped into Refuge that they wish they could get back in order to ensure that proper justice is done, rather than leaving it to a bunch of thieves, debtors, and murderers to police their own.
The distrust is mutual, and even more intense at times for the residents of Refuge towards the surrounding world. Something went wrong for anyone to be here, and often times that carries with it a grudge against their homeland; justified or not.
The distrust is mutual, and even more intense at times for the residents of Refuge towards the surrounding world. Something went wrong for anyone to be here, and often times that carries with it a grudge against their homeland; justified or not.
Capital
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Barter system
Currency
Refuge has no official currency of it's own, but will happily take and exchange any of the currencies of the surrounding states. People often arrive on the island poor and destitute, and so more often than not, goods and services are brokered through bartering.
With the increasing number of Orcs in the island community, a rule has been made that has been generally agreed upon in the communities that have been founded; no coinage from the Intransican Empire. Too much blood has been spilt by them, and too many Refugees come in at their hands to accept the emperor's face as valuable coinage.
Location
Neighboring Nations
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