Fursten Isles

"By Carithos' Guiding Hand"

## **Overview**

The **Fursten Isles** are a small number of islands which centre around **Furwood Island**. The land is apart of **The Realm Of Athinikas**. The location itself is characterized by its big ***Furwood*** (*Custom Spruce*) *trees* which are local to the city, and its large urban sprawl which is overgrown and lush. The northern island is named the **Dawn** **Island** in the *north,* the *south-western* island is called the **Vulcan** **Island**, in reference to the local volcano, and the final island is called the **En Valdius Island**. **Furwood Island** hosts the vast majority of **Fursten's** population, whilst the **Vulcan islands** host most of **Fursten's** splendor and economy. The **Vulcan Islands** also are home to **Neu Vedrin**, the economical and gambling hub of **Athinikas**.

## **History**

### **Foundation**

Beginning as a small settlement, The **Fursten** Isles was founded by the **Von Vulpes** family, who immigrated from **Plagos** alongside **Adino Von Vietca** to aid him in created the **Republic of Aetheria**. After the death of the founders, the settlement was lightly directed by **Adino**, before it was given to **Fae Von Vulpes** to govern once she turned 19. In attempts to be better for her parents, **Fae Von Vulpes** developed the settlement to a town, and from a town into a city.

> For It Is My Family Who May Laid The Bedrock For A New Wonder Of The Nation, Yet It Is The People Who Forged It From The Ashes Of The Old World, The Rotting Ruins Of Fallen Empires, And The Squabble Of Bygone Generations, That Destines Us To Become The Harbinger Of A New And Prosperous Age.
>
> - Fae Von Vulpes

### **Katsuken Integration**

As of *September 2023*, the town of **Katsuken** was integrated into the **Fursten Isles**, after its former leader, **Bunyipita**, resigned from his duties. He now lives in a small house on the isle, retired. After its integration into **Fursten**, **Carithos** transformed the **Katsuken** peninsular became a set of islands, forming an archipelago dividing **Montroig** and mainland **Athinikas**.

This incorporation into the isles spiked controversy between **Montroig** and **Aetheria**, due to the **Montroigian** belief of the lands being theirs. This has caused disputes both with **Aetheria** and **Ashai**. This was resolved *November 2023*, in which the king, **Asortil En Valdius**, sold **Furstenite** land without the permission of **Fae Von Vulpis**, loosing three quarters of the isles, causing a cold rift between **Fae** and **Asortil**.

### **The Montroig Land Deal**

Before the deal, **Fursten** comprised of the **Furwood** **Island** in the centre, the small **Foundation Islands** in the south, the **Dawn Island** to the North, the **Island of Tanagra** to the west, and the Vulcan islands to the south-east.

The land deal sold the **Island of Tanagra**, the **Foundation Islands** and one of the **Vulcan Islands** to **Montroig**. This was done without the knowledge or approval of **Fae Von Vulpes**, who was justifiably outraged that she had not been consulted about the negotiations.

Before the purchase, **Fursten** owned a small portion of the **Island of Tanagra**, which was the nations name for the island that **Amarillo** was founded on. **Tanagra** In **Thae** meaning 'together', as was the aim of many **Furstenites** was for **Montroig** and **Aetheria**, **Amarillo** and **Fursten** to be together as one. At the time of purchase, what little land claimed by the town is known at the **Tanagra corridor**, and was home to very few people and a defensive wall, built to withstand a foreign attack.

### **Flag**

The **Fursten** Flag was created before its official integration into the **Second Republic of Aetheria**. Whilst it was informally apart of the **First Republic**, **Adino** sought fit to work With **Fae** to make its merge official. After its integration, the city flags were outlawed in order to promote unity amongst the **Aetherian** people. Yet have since been revitalized under the reign of **Asortil En Valdius**, to a limited degree.

The flag was designed to represent the **Furstenite** people's plea to be officially seen as Aetherian, and as a stage of their integration into the **Aetherian Republic**. The flag was designed by a local Furstenite, who explained that the blue was to be representing the unity with the **Aetherian** brethren. The white symbolized purity of the people, and the green symbolized the lush lands of the **Furstenite** people. The gold represents the wealth and prosperity to which **Fursten** provides to its citizens.

When appointed to govern her family's town. **Fae** returned the flag, only to be scrutinized by **Adino Von Vietca**, and the design shelved until the reign of **Asortil En Valdius**.

## **Points of Interest**

### **- Central**

**Central** is the heart of **Fursten**. At its centre lays the **spawn** and the fountain which at the top is a statue dedicated to the **Lunaist & Eclipsian** God Of Life, **Carithos**. Surrounding the mural, many homes scatter the land, and a **clock-tower** rises amongst the skyline. It is rumored that below the fountain lays the beating heart of Carithos herself, yet there is very inconclusive evidence to this theorem.

### **- Port Noble**

Home to ships and merchants alike, **Port Noble** is a hub for trade and commerce amongst the **Kushite Sea**. It ships all across the **Kushtite Sea**, and supplies the common **Furstenite** with products and livestock from the local trade hub on **Dawn Island**. Common exports of **Port Noble** include, but are not limited to, wool, **Furwood**, and **Carithusian Crystals**.

### **- St Vulpes Cathedral**

The massive cathedral, lays as a beacon to the power of the city's matriarch, **Carithos**. Built into an active volcano, the site is home to the religious service and upkeep of **Eclipsian** **Furstenites**. Beneath the main cathedral sits the archives, which contains a collection of **Rathnir's** many works of literature. The site also houses many of the city's dead. Nobility are buried in the graveyard, whilst underneath the Cathedrals foundation, rests a maze of **catacombs** for the majority of the cities dead.

### **-Government Building**

(Also tba, however will host treaties and political meetings)

### **- St Epitchian Church**

**St Epitchian** is a holy site amongst **Eclipsian Furstenites**. The quaint church, provides solace to those who cant make the pilgrimage to St Vulpes Cathedral, and houses the dead of many family generations.

### **- Stirling Castle**

The structure is a lush and overgrown **castle**, which acts as a final point of defense. The castle itself is reserved as the home of the current **Notarius**. The castle grew from the ground, and formed right in-front of **Fae Von Vulpes** when she was merely 8 years old, forming her local home.

## **Furstenite Eclipsism**

### **The Beginning**

Before the modern day settlement of **Fursten**, the **Pre-Furstenite** people lived within a barren **desert**. Until one day **small sprouts** sprung from the desolate landscape. Within a week, **rains** brought new rivers to the land, a month, and the previous desolate landscape became a **lush utopia** to be.

The land was further settled and a sprawling city as its known today was developed. Whilst the city centre was chosen seemingly at random, it is believed that the living heart of **Carithos** herself lies deep underground, below the structure. Many **Furstenite Eclipsians** point to the sudden and rapid development of the land to support mass life as proof that **Carithos** herself wished for people to inhabit the space, however amongst many **Eclipsians** outside of the **Isles**, the general consensus is that this is not to be the case.

### **Carithusian Crystals**

**Carithusian Crystals**(*Amethyst Crystals*) are the city's **source of power**. **Furstenite Eclipsians** believe the **crystals**, which dot the isles, were a gift from **Carithos**, for loyalty and devotion to the care-taking of the land and their **dedication** to upkeep of the local flora. The **Crystals** themselves have been, since the first settlement, **harvested** and used within **civilian technologies** such as factories and **airships**, with rumors of **potential military applications**.

## **Geography**

**Fursten** is located in the **northern Zhaitker region** of **Haven**, in southwestern **Rathnir**. Its people enjoy a tropical climate, as cold winds from the **Kushite Sea**, travel downward, before reaching the boarders of **Montroig**. **Fursten** itself is separated into a small set of islands which reach from the **Kushite Sea** to the **Zhaitker Gulf**. The terrain is very **hilly**, and at times **mountainous**. The **Vulcan Islands** see frequent geological activity, because of the local active volcano, **Mount Vulcan**.

**The Fursten Isles** boarder **The Federal Republic Of Montroig**, and its towns **Amarillo**, **Terroja**, and **New Baldia**.