The Shining Islands

The Shining Islands are on the opposite side of the globe from the Main Continent, and they were created when the Celestials hurled The Forgotten Powers deep into the heart of Voktegård in The First Age. They are called the Shining Islands because the humans who live there gild their Temple and government buildings in the capital city of Haven, leading to the misconception (i.e. Sailor's Tale) that all the buildings in the Shining Islands are made of gold. The Shining Islanders' name for their own nation is "Birthplace", because this was where humans first evolved on Voktegård. The residents of the Shining Islands are almost entirely their own citizens, Solbrun and Svart people. The Shining Islands are a theocracy, ruled over by the High Priest of their idiosyncratic faith, Rafal Beneficus.

Faith in the Shining Islands

Some Shining Islanders become Circle of the Land or Circle of the Shepherd Druids. Many are Beast Master or Swarmkeeper Rangers. The highest leadership of the Temple are Oath of Devotion Paladins.


When asked to explain their faith to non-islanders, this is the same story that is always given:

Long ago, the Crimson Heavens bled into Mother Voktegård. The Blood of the Stars Wounded our Mother, and She has never healed. The Crimson Heavens sent wardens to watch over the Wound, but they did not truly love our Mother, for they were not Her children. In time, our Mother grew new children called humans to protect Her and love Her and care for Her other children who could not defend themselves from the Tears of the Crimson Heavens. So it was then, so it is now.

Locations

Capital: Haven


Other places of interest: elemental gold mines, elemental quartz mines, coffee farms, Coicís farms, paradisiacal tropical islands, Mount Tertoculus


The nine major islands of the Birthplace have proper names, but mostly only Shining Islanders know them or even acknowledge that there are nine eight distinct cultures that merged into one nation over the last several hundred years.

Note from the Temple Office of International Affairs: There was an error in the initial writing of this article. There is only intelligent life on eight of the nine islands in the Birthplace.

Laws

The Shining Islands hold to the Four Accords. In addition, they keep "The Sacred Law": any inter-planar magic, summoning of Shadow Creatures, or carrying of Tainted artifacts onto Shining Islands soil are punished by immediate death. There is a special "priesthood" of paladins called the Sentinels of the Birthplace dedicated to detecting these things, and anyone disembarking at the Haven port must attest that they are not Tainted and carry no Tainted artifacts in a Zone of Truth. However, it is not just Sentinels that punish those who violate this law. All Shining Island citizens are expected to take lethal force to those who violate the Sacred Law, and there is a monument in Haven's square to a little girl that died taking the life of a Tainted Sorcerer in The Fourth Age.

The creation of basements, cellars, bunkers, or any digging beyond 4 feet is considered a violation of the Sacred Law as well.

Economy

In the Shining Islands, gold coins are still the standard and PHB prices are normal. Land is technically owned by the Temple, but Shining Island natives are allowed to live on their families' ancestral lands without any taxation or fees. Non-natives pay rent to the owners of whatever Inn or resort they live at or visit. Businesses can be owned by citizens, but a tithe offering goes to the Temple. Trade is regulated by the Temple, and those who cheat the Temple of their tithe are investigated, tried, and forced to pay a fine. If they cannot pay it then they must work it off in the gold mines.

Type

Geopolitical, Country