Chalkós (xalˈkos)

"It's out of the way, but there's no better place to buy copper."

— an Aethry merchant

Chalkós is one of the largest islands in the Southeastern Region. It is sometimes included as a part of the Kaphtor Islands, due to most of the population being Kaphtori. However, it is quite remote from the rest of the group, as the closest other Kaphtor island is Ypsilós over three hundred miles to the west, a distance almost as wide as the rest of the group. The Kaphtori Aethry of Nisi typically exclude it from their maps of the Kaphtors, as they do not care to designate their island as the second-largest of the archipelago.

Chalkós was one of the furthest islands to be conquered by Hundaru of Telmun and made a part of the Telmunic Empire, and that impacts the island to this day. There are Telmun communities that persist from the days of the empire, particularly in the southwestern coastal region, and the largest city on the island, Lidir, was founded by Hundaru as a port for his navy. Today, the port is a busy trade center, especially in copper.

Notable Spirits

The island of Chalkós has many gods, but the most notable are those associated with the lighthouses. While the Ring of Light has thousands of lighthouses around the Great Ring, there are more lighthouses and lighthouse gods on Chalkós than on any other island, including those that are much larger (excluding their off-shore islands). The island has seventeen lighthouses built along the coastline, each with their own priesthood of Lightkeepers and their own genius loci. It is sometimes called the Small Ring, and is seen as Hundaru's first attempts at expanding the Ring of Light after he was convinced of its utility by the priests of the Fáros Óneiro. The largest and best known of these is the Fáros Paphia, which embodies the goddess Paphia. She holds dominion over the bonds between entities, and seeks to bind people and communities together, weaving histories and stories from their relationships. Petitioners to Paphia seek her aid in creating and mending bonds, and also in bringing those whom they care for back to them.

Geography

Chalkós is dominated by two mountain ranges which embrace a central plain. The Chálkina mountain range dominates the western portion of the island, and there are dozens of copper mines located in this region, producing more than two-thirds of the copper exported from Chalkós. In the northeast are the Achaian mountains, a narrow range that overlooks the sea. Several of the island's lighthouses are located in these mountains.
The central plain of the island is known as the Pediáda, and is the agricultural breadbasket of the island. The Pediádon River winds through the region, descending from the northern mountains to empty into the sea; the port of Lidir is at the mouth of the Pediádon.

Ecosystem

The mountains and plains of Chalkós have numerous species of plant and animal that are not found elsewhere in the Great Ring. The golden deer can be found in the forested hills, and the local Chalkós cedar is considered by many to be the best wood for stringed instruments. The plains are heavily cultivated, with wheat, barley, grapes, and olives being the most common crops.

Climate

The island has a warm and arid climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Rain is typical only in the winter, and snow is restricted to the high mountain regions.

Natural Resources

Copper is the primary resource that Chalkós exports, and it is the largest producer of copper and copper goods in the eastern half of the Great Ring. It is also known for its excellent wine and olive oil, as well as musical instruments made from Chalkós cedar wood.

Type

Island

Location under

Kaphtor Islands

Included Locations

• Chionos
• Lidir

Geographic Details

Location: Southeastern Region
Latitude: 34.33 degrees North
Longitude: 54.07 degrees East
Average Elevation: 240 ft
Highest Point: 7,372 ft (Chionos)
Lowest Point: -16 ft
Area: 3,572 sq mi