The Gemstone Archipelago

This collection of islands surround the World's Crown, the largest mountain in the realm. They are all tropical in climate, be it deserts, jungles, palm trees, barren sands, or a combination of all of the above. Each island (at least the ones that have been explored thus far) is rich with precious stones and gems, along with rare herbal medicines. Many independent researchers call The Gemstone Archipelago home because they are free to work independently of any government or college. This can become a blessing or a curse. Some come to these islands to help sick people, while some strike riches for the own well-being. Others still come to seek dark magics long-abandoned or to enslave the same people who just wanted a home without prying eyes.
There are six main cultures that exist within the thousands of small islands scattered around the World's Crown.

The Cultures

The Natives

The first and most obvious are the natives to the area of the Gemstone Archipelago. Similar to the Eferians, the natives of these islands live their lives as nomads and migrators. They move from island to island, and their many subfactions can be hard to tell apart by outsiders. There are natives on almost every island in the region, and their influence touches everything in the Archipelago.

The Merchants

The second group is the merchants. These are people from all over Illica who are unified in their pursuit of wealth. Whether that be the wealth of trading their supplies at port, or the discovery of wondrous treasures in the caves and caverns throughout the islands. While this group is not unified under one banner or ideology, they are seen as a singular culture to the natives, a threat to their untouched way of life.

The Scholars

Then we have the scholars, here to find whatever Majesty they can that exists within the magical herbs, plants, and animals that exist on the Archipelago. They try to go to the most far-reaching islands where even the natives haven't gone to try and find something new. They are driven by a desire to be the first to discover something or to revolutionize something old. Like the merchants, they are often ununified but are seen as a disturbance to the peaceful ways of the region.

Sea Bearers

The fourth culture that exists within the Gemstone Archipelago is the sea bearers. These are a collection of Tritons and other sea-based peoples that exist underneath the Archipelagos. They do not take up any space in the islands, but they are the ones, at least as far as they say, who protect those land dwellers from the things that exist below the depths. They are driven by duty and a will to keep the people of the surface safe and blissfully unaware of the horrors of the ocean depths. There are those, however, who wish to escape their life of duty and honor and live somewhere more comfortable, even if that means living above the water. Tritons that leave their duties are seen as traitors and are often exiled from their people.

The Risen

The fifth culture that exists is a mysterious group known as the Risen. They are the rarest people that exist within the Gemstone Archipelago, and also those that are the most foreign. They are an odd species that exist on the elevated islands of the region, islands that, for no rhyme or reason, have been lifted from the depths of the sea and now float weightlessly in the sky. Anyone who has ever had dealings with the Risen are sworn to never speak of what it was like to be on those islands, but they always come back wishing they could return. No one is quite sure what motivates the Risen, and no one is sure they ever will know.

The Raiders

The sixth and final culture that exists within the realms of the Gemstone Archipelago are the Raiders. This is a catch-all term for people of many kinds, such as pirates, slavers, or warmongers who were expelled from their countries for being too cruel. Individuals who wish to make a name for themselves and carve out a part of the Gemstone Archipelago for their new nation may come to the region seeking conquest and riches. They are often driven by bloodlust and a will to dominate any who come under their domain.

Visitors to the Gemstone Archipelago often find themselves in a foreign, dangerous, and inhospitable land, unless they manage to arrive with the guidance of one of these groups. There are still many islands to explore, however, and much more to discover.

Owner/Ruler

Coordinator Rohesia