The Shattered Isles
Standing about 10 miles out in the Sunset Sea from Kurata, the Shattered Isles form a natural barrier to the western shores of Zami Ramal. Inhabited primarily by hardy dwarves and gnomes, the isles are quarried extensively for shellstone. This precious resource is traded for essentials such as fresh food, clothing, tools and gold. Craftsmen on the isle are also known for fine jewellery and gem-cutting. The Islanders do not live luxurious lives and when times are hard in Kurata, they are extreme on the Islands. Living on the fine line between poverty and sufficiency, the people are tough and patient, able to plan for and endure great hardship with little complaint or suffering.
Demographics
The majority of Islanders are dwarves, with about one-fifth gnomes. All workers are members of guiilds, usually Stoneworkers or Tinkerers.
Government
A small barracks houses a nominal garrison of Port Guards to ensure that trade flows smoothly and piracy is prevented.
Defences
The Port Guard patrol the small harbour village, on foot and in small sailboats which escort the trade galleons to and from the islands.
Industry & Trade
Most adult Islanders are employed in the quarry, cutting, dressing and finishing stone. Some specialists carve bespoke sculptures and other building requirements such as roof points and gate finials. The majority of gnome Islanders are Tinkerers who create jewellery and small tools and mechanisms to order.
Infrastructure
The main feature of the islands is the pair of vast open-cast quarries that supply shellstone to all of Zami Ramal. Homes are tightly packed around the small harbour along with the barracks and the Trade House. Plenty of common items are imported in exchange for shellstone and fine jewellery.
Guilds and Factions
The Stoneworkers Guild require that all quarry employees are members of their guild. The Tinkerers Guild similarly enforce membership of their guild by those who work in gems and precious metals.
History
The Shattered Isles were found to be inhabited shortly before the walls of Kurata were built. Subha Al Waz made an expedition there with his party and discovered that the dwarves ejected from the mountains had settled here to mine precious metals and gems. Their homes were built from the now famed shellstone and were sturdy and always cool, and thus began the industrial scale export of the resource. The Guild membership is enforced to ensure that all workers are paid properly and can control their working days, so as not to be exploited and to effectively ration the supply of the stone.
Architecture
Most homes are built from shellstone bricks, along with palm roofing, wooden poles and awnings and some newer constructions are carried out in mud bricks.
Geography
The Shattered Isles were formerly fully submerged beneath the sea and show evidence of having been a coral reef or a set of deep sea vents, though all volcanic activity ceased millenia past.
Natural Resources
The best known and most traded natural resource is the shellstone from the quarries. However, other metals and gems are often unearthed along with the stone.
Type
District
Population
2500
Inhabitant Demonym
Islanders
Related Materials
In Zamian architecture - the libraries of Hajdib and all the little temples - the details, the carving of stone, become necessary because the light is too strong to help you very much. You have to enrich surfaces. The desert reduces form to its simplest nature. There is no need for gargoyles or flying buttresses in the desert.
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The island sounds to be fairly poor despite their dealing with precious resources such as gemstones and gold, could you elaborate on why this is the case? Otherwise a cool article.
A good point. I think of it as an isolated set of islands were little grows and almost all normal requirements must be imported, while the precious stone and gold items are exported at a price fixed by the guild, a minimum wage if you will. But yes, you'd think that the dwarves and gnomes would be better off. I will have a rethink and edit the article. Cheers for your input!