The Pearlescent Isles

This land was founded by the Thalassian, and the family would use their namesake and choice travel as their prime design for their heraldry. They would eventually become well known with trading with the humans of Lordaeron and Stormwind, even letting them visit the isles as a resort for spring and summers. House Pearlsail lives on with Lady Zera Pearlsail but she is the last legitimate of her heritage. The heraldry colors are mixed with the pale white of a pearl and deep blue like the ocean from the seafaring family. The isle was made up of one large isle with three smaller isles stretched up northwest of it.

## History

### Founding

A chain of isles west of the Westfall by a few miles out, it was founded roughly 6,000 years ago by Julyle Pearlsail, during their charting of the outer rims of Quel'Thalas waters. It was seen as a land of waving snow, with the abundance of rare white lilies that grew upon the meadows. Julyle would find a small valley upon the mountain range here that would become the estate of the Pearlsail family. Built upon the mountain side, it would have protection except from the front that high silver-laden walls would reinforce any weaknesses.

### The Lily Grove

After roughly 5'000 years of peaceful trading, and harvesting of the isles, new technologies were getting the best of it as many outside countries demanded much from the isles. During this time, some of the workers and citizens started missing upon the isles. This grew a panic upon the House, who sent their personal military out to investigate, only to find that is was the dryads, kidnapping their people.

They were astonished and knew of their kindness towards all life, but time was not of the essence and Lord Tyrius Pearsail was a prideful elf. There would be countless fights upon the forests, spanning in the various isles until they would find the den upon the backside of the mountain of the main isle. There the militia found a dryad, by the name of Calrondillos, who served as the leader of the forest spirits there. He was much different as his body seemed mangled by nature, twisted in dark reddish thorns and he was pale as a ghost.

He would fight off the men, using dark magics to fend them for hours. Alas, his reign was ended by the captain of the guard but not before he could have his last laugh, letting the men know they wasted their efforts coming to the den, leaving their Lord defenseless. Captain Pellinel would arrive back to find his Lord mangled up the throne, with branches and thicket growing from his person. A dire fate and dark tale still told to the family of the Pearlsail. After the tragic events, they would remember this day in the Springtime near the end of March, the 28th in fact. To celebrate nature and protect it, always staying humble to their lands.

### Fall of the Pearlescent Isles

In this tale, it was a bit anticlimactic as the isles were untouched during the darkest times for the Quel'dorei. They Scourge ravaging their homelands, only the rightful family was destroyed. In the Aftermath, many of the workers and residents of the Isles returned back to Silvermoon in hopes to rebuild their society. Lady Zera would give the island under her cousin's hand, until she felt the need to return and reclaim her throne.

## Culture

For most of the chain of isles, it is quiet and serene, with that familiar mystical energy that the Eversong Forests would emit when walking about. The commonfolk that would work for the duchy and various villages were happy folk, mixed now with both human and elf alike, being quite welcoming to travelers and giving them such exciting details of the isles before them.

Many revere the isles as a place of pilgrimage with it's beautiful mountain ranges and noticeable meadows of the pale lilies, like a sea of white. Some Priests would come here even from human hamlets, to meditate on life, with the countless milestones and beautiful architecture built over the milennia.

The citizens of every town treat each other like brothers and sisters, as they never shared war or hatred towards another despite the misgivings out in the political worlds of their true homes. The trading of gossip and new findings upon the isles would spread like wildfire, which caused the occasional bar fight and celebrations. Twas only when the Scourge attacked when the love began to break apart as if it was someone else's fault for this pain.

The boars of the land are plentiful and vary much differently then their kin to the west as they bear symbolic patterns upon their fur, which would given the name of Swirlboars. Some locals would agree these beasts would provide a speed that matched with the lynx of the forests, as if they controlled the winds themselves. The magical properties of their pelt provided much warmth during the cold months, as the harsh blizzards and snow could not stick upon them.

The main namesake of the island provided a pull towards the surrounding shores of the isle, thankfully they built upon a reef system, swimming with life and clams. The amount of pearls that were found were mostly adorned for the House, but much was given to help represent their kindness to their fellow towns nearby, the biggest one ever found actually sat in Gildhollow as the weight was too much for a boat to travel then, it became it's own monument then.

Many would come to these isles though due to it's silent winds to play their melodies, and which many of the Pearlsail would train their kin in orchestra. Lady Zera the most recent of the House would be the last to ever play in the meadows before the Scourge attack.

### Religious Beliefs

Just like many of their kin, they believed in the Light and when they began working with humans, they would join upon their order of the Church of the Holy Light. They would still hold monuments in the region with depictions of the sun and stars, but with the isles being close to Stormwind, they would hold much love for the tenants upon the Light.

### Local Holidays

**The Lily Grove Festival**- As the tale was told of the lord who perished for his pride and ignorance towards the islands plight, now everyone celebrates the spring time at the end of March with gifts to the nearby forests and meadows, with sing and dance, and parties of grandeur!

**The Gildbash-**Gildhollow will run a large fishing competition every summer around June, in hopes of getting a heavy supply for the coming weeks as well as find a new champion angler for the isles! Free drinks for the top 3 winners! there is also a fishpie eating contest for those who can stomach it!

**The Solstice Festival-** During the winter months, the isles are quieter than usual as travelers don't come as often and crops are staled from the cold. Yet during the end of the year, the locals from all the isles gather and trek up the great Shimmer mountains behind the Opaline Keep, to a monument built by astromancers to study the stars and the great sun.

There everyone drinks the infamous Marlin Mixed cocktail that is a refreshing but spiced drink to warm the spirits. Tell old stories of great heroes before and witness the sunset upon the horizon up top. And some say a good omen appears like a new shining star, or the aurora borealis!

## Economy & Resources

The largest island held bountiful meadows, which some were exchanged into farm fields, carrying various plants taken from Eversong, Elwynn, and Stranglethorn to grow. They would hold a special attribute here on the isle with having speckled white dots upon them. First thought of as an ailment, everyone soon realized it was the blessing of the isle and the magic within, giving the taste and value of crops an extensive upgrade. The locals usually grew Bloodthistle, along with the various berries and grapes for the nearby vintner in Opaline Keep. Their infamous wines and cocktails were only found upon the isles due to the wild mix of ingredients chosen and secrecy of them.

The seafood was the usual course of food since it was a chain of islands, most of the denizens able to catch themselves. Only a few small creeks and rivers split upon both Opaline Isle and Thas'Danas combined. The main schools of fish found about the isle would be Rainbow Fin Albacores, Giant Sunfish, and most notable Sunscale Salmon. along with the mussels and various other critters on the nearby reefs, everyone loved clams as much as finding their beautiful pearls within.

The pelts and meats on the isle would be minimal as the local wildlife were not as bountiful as their land loving neighbors, only letting hunting happen during the autumnal season. Although due to Thas'Danas being on a ley line point, the critters and creatures share magical aptitude in their bodies, making them more valuable in trades outside.

One of the more valuable resources is the dragonhawks that hatch on the Screeching Cay, that are bred for companionship or war. They are quite well-adjusted for any travelers wishing to buy or trade them.

The most valuable asset on the isle that even caused a cautionary tale are the Pale Lillies as their magical properties alone were revered as holy to the people of the isles. Used in potions, recreational smoking, even as a new shade of white for dyes, this plant was one of the most pristine goods that many wanted from all over, but the people of the Pearlescent Isles are quite protective over them and only take some in moderation for trading and using.

## Settlements

### Opaline Keep

The home of operations and living for the Pearlsail family, it sat between the mountain range on the main isle. This capital land was a sight to see with the silver-laden walls and pale stone built that constrasted to the greenery amongst the warm isle. The Castle would sit the farthest as there held the bustling town down the hill, a marketplace with roads leading right down to port Azurewing. The whole of the main isle would share a similar name, Opaline Isle, as most of it's fields were for tilling and relaxing upon the white lilies. A small entanglement of jungle would stretch behind the backside of the mountainside that held much ancient nature and dryads with a large den that dug into the rocky hill.

### Azurewing Port

The first port created during the founding of the Pearlescent Isles, it actually was the original captial for the first two centuries until they moved inwards of the isle.

### Crooked Atoll

The smallest of the isles, it is more or less the land bar that stretches from Opaline Isle to Thas'Danas. It was more of a swampland, burying most of it's trees into the waters, the forest here looked dead and a mist usually covered this stretch of land. Some tales speak of whispers coming from the land bridge and a dangerous beast that lives in the thicket. There was a stone bridge built to stretch all the way to the next isle, yet most chose to take boat to Gildhollow on the east side.

### Thas'Danas

Was the second largest Isle, being the main source of food for the duchy. Enchanted boar and lynx lived upon the lands as well as roaming Dragonhawks. It's forest spanned from the Crooke Atoll up to the outskirts of Gildhollow to the eastern shore, with verdant and golden leaves it would be a sight to see from the ocean. Many would come to these forest during the Autumnal months to gather the leaves with their special magical properties. There was an ancient bough here that sat upon a powerful leypoint, which helped give life to this island in particular.

### Gildhollow

Carved out the cliffside to the east of Thas'Danas was a beautiful port town that used the ancient roots of the forest and the metalwork from experience to create a bright and bustling city. Many fishermen and travelers would come to see the ancient ley mines that sat straight in the middle of the town way. Many fishing competitions would be held here as rare unforeseen catches would be made from the nearby ocean.

**Solumndale**

A human settlement to the north, they were given land a millennia ago after the Troll Wars, Lord Ignael Frassman had saved a beautiful mistress of the Pearsail family, marrying in and given honor to live near their holds. It bordered on the northside of the forest, surrounded by it's beauty, you would find it along the pathways as you would take their dragonhawks to reach the Screeching Cay. As for many of the denizens here they were given duty upon the nearby mountains to find more deposits of metals for their known jewelcrafting abilities in the city.

It was remarkable in itself with their stained-glass windows and shining gems upon many of their homes, it even led back to the Opaline Keep, which was adorned with the azure and ley gems for protection.

### The Screeching Cay

The third largest isle, it is not possible to get to the island by simple foot as it's rocky cliffs held upon all sides, some of the locals would nickname it the Pearl crown from the resemblance of a crown. If taking a flying mount to the isle, it would dive deep into a luscious valley with washed out canyons, and untouched springs within as this isle was the top of a dormant volcano.

The isle gets it name from two reasons. One being that it is the main hub of dragonhawk training from hatchlings to being used for the military or commercial use. The second being the steam that spits out the mountainside every other day, letting out piercing sounds almost like a rocket firing.

## Notable Places

**The Hot Springs of the Screeching Cay,** as most would explain the isle is the top of a dormant volcano, with many geysers sitting upon the tops, spewing gas and waters that keep the jungle within it quite humid and wet. Travelers would come here to relax on the quieter days in the hot waters and watch dragonhawk families fly about the isle, hunting the various birds and bugs about.

**The Pale Astrolabe-** A monument upon the peaks of the shimmering mountains, that helped during the winter solstice festival as well as help ancient astromancers with their studies in the night.

**Shimmering Mountains**- The rocky range that extended most of Opaline Isle was given such a name as the sunlight hitting the peaks would glitter about, shining down to the towns below with such grace.

**Wicked Grotto-** The center of the Crooked Atoll, known for it's foul stench and unwavering dark thicket of mud and dead trees.

**Lily Grove-** Through the valleys of the mountains behind Opaline Keep, lie a secret den of dryads once corrupted and angered but now live quietly in peace.

**The Pale Hills**- Most notably of the land are the meadows of shimmering color and most absurdly white as if it had lightly snowed upon the land. Located on Opaline Isle.

**Farmland**- Many small hamlets upon the isles, where serfs and citizens still hunt and till the crops for Silvermoon.

**Mount Beryllian-** The evergreen mountain stick out from atop the forest of Thas'Danas, most use it's tunnel to get to Solumndale.

**Canary Forest**- Once you leave the Crooked Atoll, the distinction is enormous with bright yellow and verdant trees towering about, with a sweet smelling breeze to be rumored.

**Solumn Woodlands**- On the other side of Mount Beryllian are the treacherous landscapes, not because of the hills, but the large lynx preying about!

**The Twin Hollows**- The main mining sites to the west of Solumndale where much of the valuable jewels come to the economy.

**The Tuskarr Cliffs-** Along the south side stretching up to Gildhollow the land hangs over the oceans from hundreds of feet, and notably there would be one large statue of a Tuskarr Elder, who may have lived here long ago.

## Houses

Only two notable houses lived upon these small isles, that being House Pearlsail and House Frassman.

### House Pearlsail

The Quel'dorei namesake, that is used upon the isle and governs what was traded amongst the isle. It was ofcourse the most powerful house with both it's religious names and magisters in the mix. Most born with known pale skin, compared to their more fair skinned brethren, some deemed them angelic in nature.

### House Frassman

A human holding, they were given lands during the Orcish wars for their duty and honor to the Pearlsail family. Helping bring in connections with the Stormwind city-states to the south as well as bearing some of the finest jewelcrafters to be known in both human and elven cultures.