Saldrees Island

Saldrees Island is an island in the Northwest Sea of Mespan. The name Saldrees comes from the name the original inhabitants gave themselves (Zaldrīzes Ānogar).

### Original Inhabitants

The Saldrees, as they are named in the Common Tongue, are a queer people. Apparently, they have lived on the island for thousands of years, before any other race visited it. While they have a culture that could be perceived as savage in some aspects, as a people they have never quarrelled with any of the settlers. This can be attributed to them already mostly inhabiting the mountainous areas of the island. Only Saldrees that have been ejected from the communities sometimes caused trouble for the settlers, attacking travellers and stealing livestock. Nowadays this is very uncommon. Incidents are being reported very rarely, and only very nearby the mountainous area. If a traveller is looking for Saldrees, they should look for the city of Borash, deep within the Eagle Mountains (Eglie Blēnon). Saldrees are not used to visitors, but are not unwelcoming either. The biggest problem will probably be speech. Saldrees speak what sounds most like a mixture between Draconic and Common, and only the traders are likely to know Common.

When visiting the Saldrees, do not be surprised by their savage customs. Displays of strength are commonplace, and individuals that are not deemed strong enough to help out the community are banished. Be aware that these individuals will still be stronger on average than many a traveller. The Saldrees mostly survive on meat. Mountain goats are their most common meal, but other animals are also on the menu. Creatures that are seen as highly intelligent are not often on their menu, but a hungry Saldree will not care all too much.

Saldrees can be said to look most similar to goliaths, though they bear significant differences. Standing at 9 to 10 feet tall, they are significantly taller than their supposed kin. They also show scales on parts of their body. Their hands, feet and chest are covered in scales. These scales show the same colours as their skin, which can differ between deep magenta, dark gray or black hue. Children are rarely seen, but always have glossy, rust-coloured scales and skin. They also have extra scales in their necks, which stands up when they get excited, similar to a Cobra. These scales are always violet of colour. Other physical characteristics are large teeth that are almost fangs, webbed hands and the semblance of tails. Saldrees cover their large bodies in tattoos. In the first reports, these were the only things that cover their bodies. Nowadays most Saldrees wear straps of clothing covering their genitals, except for on festivals. This does mean that the difference between gender (if there is any) is impossible to tell.

### The Known History of Saldrees

#### The original Settling of Saldrees

The settlers first came to Saldrees Island around seven hundred years ago. The island had been known to exist by fishermen and shady traders, as well as common criminals, running from the law. The official settlement was done by the human Lomos Longstrider, in the name of the Divine Empire. He planted his flag on the place where currently the Town Hall of Longstrider stands. The Divine Empire, in that time, was proud of itself for accepting creatures of all races. Therefore, the stance towards the native inhabitants was friendly. The Saldrees, as they came to be named, returned this attitude. The lack of quarrel can likely be attributed to the difference in desired resources. The Divine Empire saw the island mainly as a number to add to their ranks. The Saldrees did not possess any valuable resources, nor did they make large sums of gold by trade. The Divine Kingdom therefore decided to exempt them from any taxes. The settlers on Saldrees Island also had less issue than expected with the Saldrees. The resources desired by the settlers were the lands, the fish and the wood, where the Saldrees only resided in the dangerous mountains. No wars have been fought between the Saldrees and the settlers, small amounts of trade have blossomed. The Saldrees bring the horns, pelts and meat from the mountain goats and other game. In return they receive different colours of ink for their tattoos.

#### After the Divine Empire

After the collapse of the Divine Kingdom, Saldrees Island was not claimed by any other power. The lack of natural resources and difficulty to reach and control the island made it too much effort for any people. This has caused it to become a community governed by only itself. A popular place for tax evaders, criminals and traders for illegal goods, it is seen by some as a lawless place.

### Geography

There are only five towns worth noting on Saldrees Island, excluding Borash, the city of the Saldrees. The other notable locations are The Last Stride, Death Road, Blackhook Lake, the Eagle Mountains, the Lentori Desert and the Western and Eastern Green Mountains.

#### Towns

##### Longstrider

The largest one is Longstrider, named after the settler who officially discovered the island. Positioned on the southwestern part of the island, it is seen as ideal for trade. This is also the reason why it has become the most populous town on the island.

##### Eagleton

Eagleton, located at the southwest edge of the Eagle Mountains. The lands around it are the most fertile ones on the island. Combined with the river nearby, Eagleton has grown into a medium sized town. It is also the place where criminals are sent into the deathly Eagle Mountains.

##### Blackhook Village

Blackhook Village is a small town near the southeast of the island. It is located near two rivers leading to Blackhook Lake, which is situated closely to Borash. Its main source of income is through trade with the Saldrees.

##### Eastraton

Eastraton is a small village located at the far east of Saldrees Island. It borders the unnamed river, as well as the Eastern Green Mountains. It is mainly a place for fishermen and lumberjacks. It trades mostly with Blackhook Village

##### Lumbrome

Eastraton is a small village located at the bottom of the Western Green Mountains of Saldrees Island. It borders the unnamed river, and is mainly a place for fishermen and lumberjacks. It trades mostly with Longstrider

#### Important Locations

##### The Last Stride

The Last Stride is a large singular mountain. It is estimated higher than all mountains in the Eagle Mountains. The name derives from the death of the first official settler of the island, Lomos Longstrider. Longstrider and his party managed to climb the mountain and placed the flag of the Divine Kingdom there as well. Lomos Longstrider died of a fall on the way down however. The mountain was named in honour of him, The Last Stride. It is not inhabited by intelligent creatures, like the Saldrees. Many Saldrees do visit the mountain and its many caves however. It is considered a rite of passage into adulthood.

##### Eagle Mountains

The Eagle Mountains are not named for their large number of eagles, but for the name in the Saldrees language, Eglie Blēnon. The Eagle Mountains are largely undiscovered, due to their dangerous nature and the apparent lack of valuable resources. Saldrees have inhabited the mountains for possibly thousands of years and do not seem to own any valuable gems or materials. The scarce number of missions started by settlers also didn’t yield any significant results. There are little sources of water, most of them underground. These scarce sources are often highly contested by the beings living in the mountains. Travellers have to watch out for nearly every rock, as well as cast out Saldrees trying to survive.

##### Lentori Desert

Surrounded by the Eagle Mountains, the Lentori Desert is a mysterious place. Few parties of travellers make it through the mountains, even fewer wager a trip into the desert. Those that do, don’t report a lot. Most reports claim that nothing but sand and some animals were seen until the water ran out. Skinchangers have tried using vultures to scout the desert, but they lose contact over the vast distances. It is said that Saldrees are able to traverse the desert.

##### Death Road

Death Road is the name of the road between Longstrider and Eagleton. The name is more ominous than the road, which is regarded as pretty safe. It comes from the punishment for the worst criminals. These people are escorted down this road from Longstrider to Eagleton, where certain death awaits them when they are exiled into the Eagle Mountains.

##### Blackhood Lake

Blackhook Lake is the lake signalling the end of the Eagle Mountains in the south. The origin of the name Blackhook is unknown. The lake is known to be very, very deep however, just like the rivers that flow from it. This leads experts to think that it is a very old lake. It is used for fishing, though more as a hobby. The actual fishermen go out to sea.

**The Green Mountains**

The Western and Eastern Green Mountains are actually a connected forest. They are called mountains because they are so dense and hard to go through. Lumberjacks make a decent living from the forest. While there are some dangerous animals sighted, the forest is not regarded as especially dangerous. Most likely the animals stay away from the two ends, where the lumbercamps make loud noises.

### Saldrees Culture

#### Law

Despite being seen as a refuge for criminals, the Saldrees Islanders do not appreciate or tolerate criminals on their lands. While your deeds before your arrival do not matter, crimes on the island itself are punished severely. The harshest punishment is to be transported to Eagleton and sent into the Eagle Mountains, naked and bleeding. No returns have ever been reported. It remains a paradise for creatures on the dark side of the law, with its lack of regulations on what is traded in its ports. The laws are loose, but punishment is harsh.

#### Politics

Each town is ruled by a council, chosen by the people on a yearly basis. These elections are held on a yearly basis, by throwing rocks in the kettles of the ones that put themselves up for election. While this seems highly susceptible to corruption and manipulation, there are no scandals related to this recorded. Possibly because the law enforcement is very strict in relation to fraud, possible because the ones in power write the records.