The Stormring

**The Stormring** is the known world of the Shadows & Storms book series. It is a collection of islands and archipelagos that is surrounded by the Storm Wall, a massive and impenetrable barrier that encircles all the oceans of the Stormring. There are two groups of known inhabitants of the Stormring: the Dwellers, who are the human inhabitants, and the Scarbs, who are a race of beings who preceded the Dwellers. The major power in the world is the King's Islands, which is a realm of over one-hundred and twenty islands under the reign of the King. Outside of the King's Islands, there are few central authorities, except for the Cove, which is a hub for pirate activity in the Silent Sea.

Legend has it that the Stormring was created by the Storm Makers, gods who forged the storms. The Storm Makers also created the Dwellers and the Scarbs. They created the Scarbs first in order to labour for the construction of the islands from the sea, before creating the Dwellers, who were destined to inherit the Stormring in its entirety. This belief has led to a social structure in which the Scarbs are inferior to the Dwellers, with most Scarbs having been exiled from the King's Islands many centuries ago.

## The King's Islands

As the largest authority in the Stormring, the King's Islands exert significant power across the world. Their armadas are unquestioned in their strength and the Pirates of the Cove have had to become expert in evasion. The islands and archipelagos that form the King's Islands are each ruled by feudal lords, who swear fealty to the King. The islands have diversity in climate, culture, and inhabitants, especially across the north / south divide. The islands to the north are significantly closer to the Storm Wall and so are wetter, greener places. They are temperate and have lots of wildlife, while the islands to the south, being closer to the centre of the world, are dryer and more barren.

The current King is Efros IX of the House of Murcia. He came to the crown nine years ago following the death of his father, Mannos III.

### Heartholm & the Capital

The capital city, Margrave, of the King's Islands is situated on the most central island in the entire Stormring, Heartholm. The island is above average in its size and is home to two cities: Margrave and Drymouth. Margrave is home to the Storm Palace, the home of the King and the Royal Court, and is a city of over one-hundred thousand people. It's a dense city that sits at the foot of the Ashmount, a large volcano. Connecting Margrave to Drymouth is the dried out bed of a large river, which has become a sunken road for traders and travellers trying to reach the sea. Anybody seeking to reach the capital, unless braving the barren tundra of Heartholm, must first go through Drymouth. Drymouth is home to most of the population of Heartholm, around nine-hundred thousand people, and the entire population of the island is supported by regular shipments of meat and grain from the northern isles, due to its geography being inhospitable to agriculture and grazing.

There is no lord of Heartholm, merely the King who rules from Margrave. There is a petty lord in Drymouth, who is elected by the many traders and merchants of the city. The current Lord of Drymouth is Hanni Habble - he belongs to no noble house, a common occurance in Drymouth.

### Greenholm & the Northern Isles

Greenholm is the largest island in the Kingdom and is also the greenest. It's temperate and it rains regularly, making it an extremely green place. Greenholm itself is home to a large forest, which is said to be home to mystical forest creatures. Greenholm castle is a mighty keep, designed to fortify against raids from Pirates. Tartown, which is a settlement of fifty-thousand, sits outside of the castle and comprises most of the urban population of the island. Most of the population, however, is in the islands farmlands and grazing grounds. The island produces a massive food surplus, making the Lords of Greenholm essential allies to the Kings at Heartholm.

The current lord of Greenholm is Lord Kamari of the House of Tartary.

The Northern Isles themselves are a wider collection of islands that surround Greenholm. Many of them have their own specialism, with some specialising in barley and wheat, while others specialise in rearing chickens and pigs. The Northern Isles are each home to at least one garrison for ships, a leftover reality from previous wars.

### The Cudstone Duchy

The northernmost island in the Kingdom, Cudstone is home to a secularist population. As the island that is closest to the Storm Wall, it is said that the populations of Cudstone have become disgruntled with the Storm Makers and, at the start of the story, has rebelled against the King on religious grounds. The island is no larger than Heartholm but is significantly more inhabitable. Farmlands divided by rivers, many large enough for ships to reach into. However, a strange current circles the island. Many call it the Cudstone Moat, which makes it very difficult for ships to reach the rivers on the islands. As such, it has never been a big trading island and is significantly more isolated than the Northern Isles.

In their rebellion, they have proclaimed themselves the Cudstone Duchy, led by the mysterious Grand Duke.

## The Silent Sea

The Silent Sea divides the King's Islands with the