Spiral Isles

> *"Divided by circumstance, united by experience."*
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The **Spiral Isles** isa chain of islands and is a major territory located within Avashesh. The territory consists of four different islands, all within close proximity to one another and separated by the Valkarn Sea. The four islands are named Haven, Emperica, Volkeris and Eden.

## Overview

The Spiral Isles was founded sometime after the Divide had occurred; how the islands came to form is unknown, as divine intervention was unlikely involved. Some believe that they simply came to form this way, or were shifted about by some sort of tectonic device. The isles seem to derive their name from the circular formation that the islands are gathered in, all surrounding the center island, Haven.

## Government

All islands aside from Haven and Emperica work off of a traditional democracy; voting is held on an annual basis, allowing citizens to vote on elected officials and who they want in office. Government positions range from governors and senators to local mayors for smaller districts. Emperica is ruled by a monarch of sorts, or a self-proclaimed one. The details concerning this ruling body is somewhat scarce but few have tried to work out the details. Haven is controlled by the president of the Spiral Isles, and by extension, the ruling body is in fact the entirety of the company HEAVEN. They act as the law of the Isles and as the governing force within Haven's district. While the president of the Isles has ultimate say in any matters, they seem to allow a modicum of independence to the differing territories, rarely involving themselves in interpersonal affairs.

## Culture

Culture seems to be largely derived from the pre-Divide world, with most of the islands having heavy influence from North American and Western European countries, particularly the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Over the several generations that have passed since the creation of the Spiral Isles, the four islands have leaned towards a dominant English language, though with region-specific accents and dialects. While this unified culture has largely come to reflect the current landscape of architecture and politics, the major exception is the northern island of Eden; rather than Western Europe, Eden draws more from Eastern Europe in its culture.

## Technology

Overall technology seems somewhat preserved from the pre-Divide world, thanks to the intervention of HEAVEN. However, given the state of the world, technological advancements tend to be geared more towards combat and security rather than things with more practical applications. Powerful armaments and armor are commonplace, especially towards the inner island. Some places are more advanced than others. The island of Haven houses the terraformed city of Neo Haven, able to thrive in an otherwise arid and hostile climate. Volkeris uses gas-powered skybarges to safely cross the hostile desert that spans the island. The island of Eden has their technology more focused on sea-based ventures, with submarines and metal-plated ships that can break through the ice floes in the Arctic Sea.

## Territories

### Haven

The center island is Haven. Acting true to its name, Haven is a sanctuary in the cold vastness of a post-Divide world. Mostly wastelands and mountains, the main attraction of Haven is the city of Neo Haven; a walled bastion that thrives in defiance of the hostile environment surrounding it. As well as being the capital of the Isles, Neo Haven is home to the ruling faction of the nation, HEAVEN.

### Emperica

Perhaps once it had been a good place, but Emperica today is nothing more than a den of rogue and thieves. Mysterious happenings tend to localize themselves here, especially within the boundaries of the two major settlements. While not beset by monsters like the other islands may be, rumors spread that this is because the real monsters are those who populate the cities, suggesting that none of them are human. The capital of Emperica is the dark and gothic cityscape of Limbo City.

### Volkeris

As the west island of the Spiral Isles, Volkeris represents both the best and worst of what most had come to expect in the post-Divide era. Much of the island is covered in a vast desert, which is most often inhospitable and full of dangerous creatures, including the fearsome Ocularan Worm. Traveling by foot would be suicide, which prompted Volkeris to evolve by developing their technology to new heights. Floating barges and sky ships regularly ferry people across the desert terrain. The capital of Volkeris is the walled city of Veidle; a beacon in the harsh world.

### Eden

Situated to the far north of the Spiral Isles, Eden is a land steeped in heritage and culture. Even before the Divide brought the world to what it is today, the lands that preceded Eden were considered to be a place that celebrated everyone and everything. In the current age, that still holds very much true, yet the harsh climate and atmosphere has molded the Edenians into a reclusive, yet proud bunch. The capital of Eden is the port town of Norfang.