Tyrus

**Tyrus** is the largest island in the Azal Sea. It is located off the northern coast, separated from the mainland by the Boraspos Strait.

## History

Tyrus was part of the traditional homeland of the Samarians, who inhabited the island and the steppe to the north. The Samarians were displaced by the arrival of the Thydians, who migrated from the fringes of Eastern Euteria. The Thydians settled the eastern part of the island. The Therosians expanded into the region at the same time sometime later, stemming from an area north of the Pethesilean Sea.

Tyrus was known to the Ancient Delliks as Tauria. The island was heavily colonized by the Delliks, with dense clusters found along the southern and northwestern coasts, around the area of the Boraspos Strait. Colonies were founded on the Tyrian and Thydian sides.

### **Early history**

Tyrus was inhabited by four main groups of Samarians; the Mastounos and Mordos in the west, Galatus in the centre, and the Padagi in the far south of the island. Thydians inhabited the east and north. Some of the Samarians intermixed with the Thydians and were known as Padothydians/Thydopadagians.

### **Dellik settlement**

The ancient Delliks were the first to name the island *Padagos* after the Padagi. As the Padagi only inhabited the mountainous region of southern Tyrus, at first the name Padagos was used only to this southern part, but later it was extended to name the whole island. Dellik settlements were concentrated along the south and northwestern coasts.

The earliest Dellik colony on Tyrus was Nikandros, built on the convergence of the Boraspos Strait and the Gulf of Kossan. Nikandros was built on Mount Kebes, a hill on the southern side of the strait. This colony was quickly followed by Boraspos, built on the eastern entrance of the strait on the Bay of Phosakos. Over the next several centuries the Dellik city-states began racing to establish new colonies in the northern Azal Sea.

### **Peomid Empire**

The Peomid Empire expanded to Tyrus during their campaign against the Thydians. They managed to capture the southern and western parts of the island. As the empire began to crumble the natives revolted and successfully ousted the Peomids from the island.

### **Kingdom of the Pontonians**

The Peomids were conquered by the Acropolites, who formed a vast empire spread across Eastern and Southern Euteria. After the death of the emperor, the empire fractured into competing rump states. One of these states was the Pontonian Kingdom, based in Heremetria. After being repeatedly assaulted by the Thydians, the inhabitants of Tyrus were forced to request the protection of the kingdom. After less than 100 years of Pontonic rule, the Tonans defeated the kingdom and annexed its possessions, including Tyrus. As a reward for their efforts in subjugating the Pontonians, Tyrus enjoyed substantial autonomy as the Boraspian Kingdom, a client state of Tona.

### **Boraspian Kingdom**

The Boraspian Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Samarian Boraspos, was an ancient Dello-Thydian state located in northern Tyrus and southern Therosia. It was the first true Dellenistic state in the sense that the mixed population of Thydians, Delliks, Samarians, and adopted the Dellik culture and civilization.

The renowned prosperity of the kingdom was based on wheat, fish, and slaves. The kingdom was positioned at an advantageous geographical crossroads of the north, east, and south. Established trade routes to the Sargonian were already established by the Delliks, who passed their knowledge onto the kingdom. The Boraspians maintained their independence for centuries, becoming the longest-lasting Tonan client kingdom.

## Geography

Tyrus is the largest island in the Azal Sea. It is situated in the northern part of the sea, bordered by the Strait of Boraspos to the north, the Gulf of Kossan to the west, the Bay of Phosakos to the east, and the open Azal Sea to the south.

Western Tyrus is largely hilly and slopes down towards the sea from the east. It benefits from precipitation brought down from the north across the Samarian plains, giving the region adequate rainfall and promoting fertile soil.

### **Climate**

Tyrus is located within the temperate and subtropical regions. It is characterized by diversity and the presence of microclimates. The northwestern parts of Tyrus have a continental climate with short, cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Cities along the northwestern coast tend to have a more moderate climate year-round, owing to the effects of the Gulf of Kossan. The central mountainous area ranges from continental in lower elevations, to subalpine in the area around the peaks. The eastern portion of Tyrus is dominated by a cold, semiarid climate with hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The southern regions of the island have a Mediterranean climate with very mild winters and moderately dry, hot summers.

The climate of Tyrus is influenced by its geographic location, relief, and influences from the Azal Sea. The southern coast is shielded from cold air masses coming from the north, and as a result, has milder winters. Maritime influences from the Azal Sea are restricted to coastal regions; maritime influences are weak in the interior of the island and does not play an important role.