The Summer Islands

The Summer Isles is vastly different from the rest of Exdora. While technically a province of the greater kingdom The Summer Isles enjoys a much more lax oversight from the crown than the rest of the kingdom. The Summer Isles describes all the islands off the coast of eastern Exdora in both the Summer Sea and the Reaving Tides. It borders Corazan, Perlane, and in its farest reaches Vas’Ternia and Atardec. Not every island belongs to the Summer Isles, some closer to shore such as those along the Halcyon Coast of Corazan belong to the closer landmass and some northern isles remain under Vas’Ternian control through sheer stubbornness.

The two largest islands in the Summer Isles are that of Cemlin and Summerset. Before the isles joined the kingdom these two islands served as the seats of power for two powerful city states. From Somerport and Del Ralgo these two cities controlled almost all of the Summer Sea until it was defeated by High King Andrus’ navy and agreed to join the kingdom. Although the island's power was decentralized after being conquered by Exdora the strict hierarchies of the inland did not fit the power structures of the isles. Where the inland maintained strict hierarchies based on bloodlines and heraldry the islands were structured around trade and wealth.

There is little rank difference between the nobility of the Summer Isles. Those that serve in crown appointed positions are known as Sealords and its is more a title that proclaims their wealth more than political power. Most Sealords occupy a lesser position of power than even Margraves from the inland. However, not all Sealords are equal and rather than the crown granting positions of power they are taken, through wealth and manipulation. In some ways the looser hierarchies of the Summer Isles create a much more dangerous political environment than the inland. The schemes of the Sealords don’t have to face as much oversight from the Crown or the Order which means that more often than not their plots become very violent.

Plenty of trade passes through the Summer Isles from both inland Exdora and lands beyond. Somerport is the largest port city in all of Exdora and sees vessels from the inland, the southern Kingdom of Havenrock, the Valley of the Seven farther to the south, and lands across the Barren Tides, Veng’Shoa, Drag’hal, Ravonia, and the Ebony Coast. Because of the amount of wealth that moves through the Isles piracy is a constant issue so the Summer Sea is heavily patrolled by the Royal Navy. However, the numerous islands in the Barianton Strait and the Far Reaches provided cover for pirates and raiders, enough that the Royal Navy have never fully succeeded in gaining full control over the waters.

Due to the distance from the inland the religious control that Unica has over the Summer Isles is very lax. Many faiths are worshipped openly in the Summer Isles unlike in the inland. The most popular are the Disciples of Anonat who worship a great fish deity who bestows upon those that see it with great luck and fortune. There are still those that follow the religions of the inland, although much more rare, and those that follow foreign religions from across the waves. Sea priests of the Evertide, the Emerald Monks of Veng’Shoa, even worshippers of the Evereye from distant Drag’hal. Many foreigners walk the docks and port streets of the Summer Isles, some choosing to settle permanently while others are just passing through never to return.