Seýnin Isles

Hundreds of islands spread over the entire southern coast of Verh'Un make up the region of the Seýnin Isles. The islands are generally warm, with bountiful flora, fauna, cliffs, rocks and hills. Each island hosts its own unique ecosystem, providing a different set of crops or materials depending on the climate, ground and waters.

Each inhabited island is ruled by a Duke or Duchess and acts independantly for all matters regarding the island itself. Although each duke has to abide by a few global rules, they are each mostly left to their own customs. These islands together have unified into an alliance, collectivelly known as the Seýnin Isles.

King Frederick von Hearthgraze is seated in the capital city of Forh'Have, keeping the peace and balance between the varied island provinches, which do not always see eye to eye.

## History

In the year 3311 of the Second Era, the islands broke out in an intense conflict of naval warfare. Temporary alliances and mutual threats had kept the peace between the islands up until that point. The conflict was ignited by the arrogance of insulted nobility, each conflict escalating the previous, throwing almost all islands into war.

Eventually, one faction gained the upper hand. Utilizing graceful diplomacy and precise military liberations, they gained the favor of the smaller, weakened settlements. Building forward from that, they used strategic supremacy to defeat their foe. Eventually, most islands were conquered.

A sudden change of leadership in the year 3318 shifted the balance of conquest to unification. Each vassal island was given independance, with promise of an alliance. This proved successful, as each island retained their original culture and customs, but gained the support and trade of their neighbours. Meanwhile a single, unified military kept the peace against pirates. Over years time, every island provinche joined the alliance voluntarily.

## Alliance Law

While each island has their own customs and laws, all abide by the Alliance Law as defined by the current ruler of the Seýnin Isles. Changes to the Alliance Law can be opposed by any Duke or Duchess, providing them diplomatic means to prevent abuse of the absolute rule of the monarch.

While the Alliance Law is quite detailed, providing rules for many aspects of island life. The internal rules dictate things such as crimes such as theft, murder, fraud, smuggling, going into detail as to what goods are illegal. It also very clearly states that any form of slavery is illegal, and that any employee must be free and capable of breaking free from their current employer, within reason.

Most of the external rules are about matters such as naval trade, piracy, code of conduct against other nations, use of military resources, shipping routes.

Each island has additional laws and rules based on their own culture. Certain goods may be legal on one island, while they are seen as contraband in another.

One law present in most islands, yet not all, is about legal duels. When two individuals wish to battle to the death, they may do so under specific circumstances, and must abide by battle rules determined and agreed upon beforehand. Even though most duels are accomplished by very official means, as long as enough trustworthy witnesses can vouch for both duelists willingness to battle each other, and no collateral damage was caused, any outcome is deemed legal.

## Baleful Sea

In the middle of the Seýnin Isles lies the Baleful Sea, open waters avoided by all ships, both trade, military and pirate. All sailors in the area are deeply superstitious about the Baleful Sea, believing the depths to hide horrifying monsters. Few foolish enough to actually travel across the Baleful Sea are ever heard of again.

## Kahniran War

The Seýnin Isles are at war with the Kahniran Empire, the battles fought being of the most intense scale in all of Verh'Un. The Seýnin Isles is the desert empire's most powerful opponent, but neither can make any ground with a proper offensive. The islanders have great trouble fighting their battles in the desert sands, while the Kahniran Empire navy is far outmatched by the Seýnin Isles.

The war has reached a stalemate, and has been in one for over a decade. Both sides are looking for something with which to win the war.

The Seýnin Isles is the only nation who is actively trying to fight their way all across the desert, to the capitol of the Kahniran Capital, in order to stop their atrocities forever.

## Pirates

With most military resources spend on the front lines, less attention is given to the many pirates roaming the waters between the islands. Many islands are unoccupied by civilization, and any could host a hidden haven for pirate ships.

The civilized islands are largely left to fend for themselves against the plundering pirates. Trade ships are rarely leaving port without mercenary escorts. Most Dukes and Duchesses are displeased with the lack of support, but recognize the need for defense against the Kahniran invaders.

## Seýnin Isles Settlements

The Seýnin Isles are home to many thriving settlements, each bustling with a varied population. It is one of the most densely populated nations.

### Forh'Have

A massive and diverse capital city covering an entire island. Harbors, ports and shipyards reside on all sides. A fleet of fishing, commerce and military ships are present at all times. Forh'have contains a viaduct water and cargo distribution system. The waters flow down from a fresh water spring atop the steep mountain cliffs in the centre of the island. Cargo is distributed along these channels in small boats.

Forh'Have is the seat of the king, the palace constructed along the highest peak of the mountain.

### Storshell

A large harbor city with vast shipyards, situated safely in a closed off bay. The most renowned military academy is located here, training new sailors for the navy every day. It's surrounded by heavy industry of lumber and metalworks. The whole city is oriented towards the construction of new ships.

### Lastioulles

A very old, cultural oriented city. It's built on top of shallow water, littered with hundreds of tiny canals. The luxury of life is high here, many citizens enjoying a aristoratic lifestyle. Renowned artists, guilds, colleges, politcs and diplomats of any kind make their home here.

### Rimound

A city build around the end of the river streaming down the Gravkin Hills. It is a diverse port city, with a lot of farmland around it. While it used to be one of the main trade hubs for anything going to and from the mainland to the islands, it's focus has shifted heavily to military due to the war with the Kahniran Empire.

### Ladfallon

A city with a massive port, it is the main connection between the Isles and the mainland, with massive amounts of import and export. It recently shifted to being the hub for all supplies leading to the warfront. It has the highest military presence of any city in the Seýnin Isles.

### Pook's Watch

City settled entirely on a tall cliff peak, overlooking the bay all the way to the Kahniran Empire coast. It's built on top of an ancient elven city. Both the ancient and current city keep watch over the mainland of Verh'Un. It is the core of naval command for the war with the Kahniran Empire, managing the blockade preventing Kahniran ships from leaving their ports.

### Cewiom

An academic and magic focused city, built on the edge of a heavily forested island. Cewiom is where mages, researchers, inventors and alchemists of the highest renown gather in prestine colleges in order to conduct their research. The island is home to many experiments, away from prying eyes. It is dangerous to wander the woods alone, as one can easily step right into an active experiment. The Arcane Magistrate ensures proper use of the land and keeps the colleges from competing too fiercely.

### Juridge

A city built on two islands, connected by giant stone bridges. It is situated in an extremely heavily jungle environment, constructed between giant twisting roots and trees. A lot of vertical structures use the natural growth as support, and the economy has grown largely around harvesting, consuming and experimenting with the exotic flora and fauna present.

### Other Settlements

**Wodsin** is a small forest town near Forh'Have, providing a small harbor and a significant amount of lumber.

**Vale's Rest** is a peaceful town of halflings. They stay out of most politics of Seýnin Isles, and they are largely left to live their quiet lives.

**Verh's End** is a small village of fishermen, overlooking the Infinity Sea. There's always been rumours of merfolk goods being smuggled through it.

**Teix** is a farm village belonging to Lastioulles, known for it's obsession with sheep. They host an annual sheep-rearing contest, and competition is oddly fierce.

**Lelin** is a small harbor trade hub for the outlying cities. A favored spot for escort mercenaries looking for protection jobs. Many trade ships pass by here, especially to the Bronze Harbor in Gravkin.

**Nae'Fiir** is a distant town of Wood Elves, which openly welcomes humans and is an official part of the Seýnin Isles. Many elves see the town as a succesful hybrid between the Vul'Taeryni and Seýnin.

**Sanside** used to be a savanna town, but has been completely converted into a military outpost from which the landside warfront is commanded.

**Ianosh** is a town of proud humans, built on a small island from their mainland, a giant bridge connects the two and their outlying farms. They value their independance.

**Gobberstone** is a town hub surrounded by many farms. It's been suffering many raids from a large number of goblins, which have settled in the woods on the island.

**Grashlow** is a small village belonging to Juridge. It is surrounded by vast plains of extremely tall grass, which in itself is a great resource for cattle feed.

**Wexion** is an outpost of Forh'Have, from which many official expeditions are gathered and sent into the Wilds. Exploration of the wilds is a dangerous but rewarding venture, as there are many ruins filled with treasure.

**Rotiip** is a faraway harbor of little interest. It's distance to any civilization makes it favorable by anyone looking for a place to escape and lay low. The harbor itself acts as a lookout for any Wildland ships, or anything else traveling along the eastern coast.