Isle of Thanes
The Ilse of Thanes lies south west from the continent of Sorrowel across an expanse of sea called Dragon Pass. The pass acts as a means of transportation and trade between the continents and is the primary reason that both continents know of each other’s existence. Even further west from the isle is the Southern Nexus separated from the island by Sailor's Run a backdoor trade route within the Serpent Sea that is tapped into by multiple kingdoms and empires across the world. The shoreline of the isle is a tall cliff face with large jagged rocks that cut the violent sea as it crashes ceaselessly against the white rock. Atop the cliffs are rolling plains of tall grass that stretch across the island from the northern tip until it breaks at the tree line of a large southern forest. The eastern shore of the isle is unique in that at its center a narrow inlet river carves into the rocks and empties further inland into a large freshwater lake at the center of the island. The lake is encased by tall cliffs that climb roughly 60-70ft, capped with mossy tall grass and a sprawling city, the lake is called The Lake of Kings by the natives of the island while the city is skjoldsjø, it is the geopolitical capital of the island and as well as its population center. The Ilse of Thanes is the fourth continent of the Farlands and is the smallest only having one kingdom within its borders, this kingdom is called Sorlige meaning (Southern Island) in the tongue of the Sorligs. The kingdom is ruled by a High King of The Isle but the land is broken up into four Provinces, beginning in the center of the island with Hovestad, the capital kingdom of the Sorlige and the seat of power for the High King, moving south the geography turns from rolling plains to a dense woodlands peaked by a mountain range that runs parallels to the islands southern shore called The Storm Breaker Mountains, the northern side of the mountains are home to Fjellvjern the lords of iron and war, this kingdom is home to the largest population of warriors on the island and is also the center of iron and steel production within the island. Further south is the province of Sorfelt, it is the smallest of the kingdoms but oversees the isle’s animal needs ranging from cattle to pigs, sheep, goats and even horses. They are also the primary source of wood on the island which makes them one of the most valuable kingdoms on the island.
Geography
The island is large enough to have a more temperate climate with roughly three seasons, Fall, Spring, and Winter, though depending on the region of the island the seasons intensity can vary. The isles geography is that of a raised island, its cliff shores make its plains a windswept and cold environment, even in the spring the winds make it that the temperature still calls for furs. The northern and central regions of the island are masses of rolling tall grass hills and plains dotted with streams, light woodlands, and creeks that fertilize the land and give shelter from the constant winds of the island. The central plains of the island are marked by a unique landmark, a freshwater lake enclosed by high cliffs that flows into a long river which cuts through the island and dumps into the angry sea at the islands rocky eastern shore. The cliffs are roughly 60-70ft in height and are shear faced, while the water below is surprisingly calm, making a very strategic and unique place to make a settlement. Moving further south the central plains continue until they cut abruptly at the tree line of a dense woodland only opening further south at the feet of a large mountain range that runs parallel to the southern shore of the isle, called the Storm Breaker Mountains. Beyond the mountains the forest lightens into a patchy lightly wooded plain that stretches to the very edge of the southern cliffs
Fauna & Flora
The isle is home to a variety of animals and plants ranging from trees and grasses to cattle and sheep. In means of domesticated animals the isle is home two a species of cow roughly 5ft in height and weighing between 1,600 and 2,700 pounds between males and females. The bulls have long, ribbed horns that curve back behind their heads and then loop until they face forward again, their fur ranges in color from an off white, to light brown and in some cases black or dark brown. The cows have a thicker, coarser coat than the males, they are hornless but do grow small bumps at the back of their head which is a sign of maturity. These cows are the primary source of meat and milk for the sorligs, they number in the hundreds and are primarily kept in the large southern ranges of Sorfelt. Along with the cows are species of sheep and goat, the sheep are of a similar shaggy coat to the cows but the sheep wool is far softer and shorter by comparison, the rams have straight, short horns that plunge sharply behind their heads. The goats are only distinguished between male and female by the presence of small udders on the female’s stomachs. Both male and female goats have large ribbed horns that curl upwards in a tall thin spiral coming to a point at the top, the horns themselves are roughly a foot and a half in length and are black in color. Lastly a species of fur covered pig was brought to the isle by the dwarves of Crannglas in the Green Mountains of Sorrowel. These pigs are more like boars than domesticated pigs, they are large and burly with long rough fur and long pointed tusks that sprout from their mouths, they are largely herbivores but have been known to eat meat when food is scarce during the winter months. For crops the isle is home to several grains such as wheat, oats, and barely, as well as a score of vegetables like potatoes and turnips. Along with this the island is host to a large population of trees from the southern Mountain Pine to the northern Alpine Willows that dot the countryside.
Many wild beasts still roam and lurk in the less habited parts of the isle, the most prominent of these wildlife are the Feldeer, they are larger and have thicker pelts than typical deer, they stand roughly 60 inches in height and weigh between 705-730 pounds. They are primarily light brown in color with large white patches running along the backs of their legs and the bottoms of their chests, in the spring months their large normally pale white antlers are covered in a red mahogany colored velvet which they rub off before the winter. They are a migratory species; they can be found in the large open fields of the north and central plains in the spring and fall months only for them to slowly retreat into the southern woodlands come winter. Along with the is a handful of squirrel, chipmunk and mouse species that can be found all over the island, from the Red Squirrels in the southern woods to the Pale Mice that live in the homes of Skjoldsjo. Moving to the more dangerous beasts is the fabled King's Wolf or Storm Wolf, they have lived on the isle since the first High King of Sorlige, it is even fabled that the first High King was raised by a female Storm Wolf, which lead to them being known as King's Wolves, the wolves are large standing roughly 4-4.5ft in height and weighing somewhere from 180-260 pounds. They are distinct in their fur pattern, their base coat color ranges from a patchy greying light brown, to jet black, slate grey, or even pure white, but no matter what color their base it they all share one common mark atop the brow pf their heads is a discolored patch of fir in the shape of three lightning bolts that form into a crown. These wolves follow the migratory pattern of the Feldeer and can be found all around the isle preying on just about anything they can find, despite this they are considered a sacred animal by the Sorligs and are sacrificed during certain druidic rituals throughout the year, the pelts of the legendary white King Wolves is a symbol of power for the High King and all candidates for the high king position must have their own pelt before becoming eligible for being the high king. Above the wolves on the food chain is a species of brown bear called Storm Breaker Bears or Fear-ithe (man-eater), these bears are enormous and are the apex predator of the isle, standing roughly 5ft at the shoulder and weighing between 1,500- and 2,000 pounds. Their coats are thick and dark with an ebony or dark brown coloration between males and females of the species. They dwell in large caves in the Storm Breaker Mountains and prey on anything they can find be it sorligs, feldeer, or berries and roots, the males are fiercely territorial and mothers are even more fiercely maternal, killing anything that gets even remotely close to their young or their territory. They are feared by the sorlige culture to the point that there is a legend of a bear named mørkejeger ( Dark Hunter), he was said to be the largest of his kin standing well above even the largest of the other bears, he would enter villages and towns under the cover of darkness and devour the inhabitants before the dawn came. It is said that his appearance in a kingdom is the foulest of omens meaning a brutal winter or disaster is close approaching. Legends say that he dwells in the darkest reaches of the deepest cave under the Storm Breaker Mountains, atop a mountain of skeletons.
Natural Resources
The timber from the southern forests is used by the northern kingdoms to build homes, ships, and commercial buildings, while the animals are used for their milk, meat, fur, wool, and horns. From the southern mountains comes tons upon tons of iron ore, and crude steel from the many mines operated by the Fjellvjern kingdom, along with this the isle is home to several mercenary groups for hire during times of peace on the isle. From the port city of Skjoldsjo comes one of the largest assortments of naval vessels in the world, along with the many different crafted goods of the isle such as baskets, furniture, and simple tools. But the largest of the resources on the isle is their grains and vegetable production from the rolling fields of the northern plains, thousands of pounds of barley, oats, wheat and grain, along with hundreds of potatoes and turnips are delivered across the island every year.
History
The Ilse of Thanes was not discovered by the rest of the world until the seventh High King of the isle launched forth from the eastern shore with an impossibly massive armada of ships and thousands of warriors at his back. He surged forward like a terrible storm of war and bashed his fury against the stone walls of the dwarves of the Green Mountains in Sorrowel, after a 5 year campaign which ultimately failed the High King realized the strength and honor of his foe and agreed to peace creating and alliance that has lasted centuries. Since then many other campaigns and trade expeditions have been undertaken by the successor kings of the isle, leading to the Ilse of Thanes being recognized as one of the four main continents of the Farlands.
Tourism
There are several key landmarks within the Isle of Thanes, the most notable of these is The Lake of Kings, it is the largest and most sophisticated of the cities on the island and is the main point of housing for all foreigners who enter the kingdom. The lake itself is not that impressive, the true wonder lies in the city that was built into the cliffs and atop their heights, large dry docks line the interior of the cliff walls, they appear as massive nooks in the side of the cliff, that stack three high in some parts of the walls and run back into the rock dozens of yards (95 yards, 285ft) , it is said that each nook can fit up to three full longships from with roughly 20ft of space between each ship, the higher nooks have heavy wooden cranes that lower the ships into the lake when the time comes for them to go into service. Each nook is different with some acting as repair centers and others acting as full shipyards carved into the cliff side, the interior of these dry docks is reinforced by great steel reinforced wooden beams some 10ft in thickness. Moving above the dry docks is the sprawling city of skjoldsjø, it is an ancient city has seen many a cruel winter, its people are hardy and stoic until you get them indoors around a fire, there they come alive, singing, dancing, and telling songs of bravery, glory and woe that could shake the bones of any with a spark of adventure in their eyes. The crown jewel of the city is the Grand Mead hall of Heltsal, used by the High King of Sorlige to house war meetings and celebrations of all kinds, it is the largest building in the city and has several other lesser halls that connect to it. Moving out of the city into the less populated portions of the island we have another of the unique landmarks of the isle, the God Stones are located in the northern hills of the central plains, they are a collection of twelve upright stones aligned in a circle that perfectly mirrors the passing of the seasons, the stones have the long faded faces of unknown figures craved upon them. Each stone face is different from the others and each one is imbedded with a different color clear stone that when the sun hits shines a beam of light upon a small stone altar at the center of the stones. No one knows who craved the faces into the stones or even how the stones were put there in that perfect order. The Sorligs believe that the gods placed those stones to remind them that they are with them and that they are watching always.
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Island
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