Moontide Isles
A cold cluster of rocky islands cloaked in mists and deep woods and sprinkled with abundant beasts, bogs, and soaring mountains, the Moontide Isles are shared by two dominant races of human folk. The northern section of the islands is dominated by seafaring Northlanders descended from the raiders of Rhytham. A darker-haired and darker skinned human race known as the Daoine (pronounced 'dweenah' and meaning simply 'the People'), the islands' longer-term residents, control the southern part. The Daoine thrive in a dozen petty kingdoms ruled over by a High Queen.
In previous years the Northlanders and the Daoine spent much of their time at one another's throats, particularly because of the Northlanders' penchant for bloody raiding. The rise of High King Lugh Dunaid unified the two people of the Moontide Isles. Peadrus's daughter, High Queen Aislinn Dunaid, has held her kingdom together through the usual small wars between petty lords. Compared to the nations of the mainland and the conquests of the Oleander Throne, the Moontide Isles have enjoyed several decades of relative peace.
The population of the Moontide Isles are shaped by the rugged, striking landscape and harsh weather. The Daoine revere the land, long aware of the magical power present in the rushing streams, secret pools, and mist-wreathed forests of their isles. The Daoine adore their home with a deep and abiding love hard for other humans to understand.
The Northlanders are less moved by the landscape. Their hearts are turned to the sea, and they tend to be boisterous and outgoing compared to their neighbors. Relations between the two peoples are often strained, even if they are better now than generations before.
The Daoine do not often welcomes outlanders. To farmers, outlanders are trouble: brigands and thieves who imperil families, belongings, stock, and crops. To local lords and warriors, outlanders are rivals. If they abide by local laws, they are respected but watched: There's no telling what trouble will erupt if foreign sword-swingers run amok. News from the mainland travels fairly well to the Moontide Isles, and the tide of war and conquest of the Oleander Throne and the growth of the Allfather forcing the abandonment of all of the Old Gods has made the Daoine all the more nervous and apprehensive of Outlanders and 'new ways' and 'new traditions'. Outlanders need to work hard to prove themselves and gain trust of the Daoine.
The Northlanders tend to tolerate Outlanders with less suspicion than the Daoine. They have a stronger tradition of trade and travel and tend to be simply curious about visitors from the rest of the Bleached Lands. However, their traditions tend to differ too vastly from the Oleander Throne's methods of forceful assimilation and the Northlanders despise the Oleander Throne as well as the Allfather.
Outlanders are most likely to find employment as sellswords in the service of feuding lords, or as guards about Moontide vessels running to and from mainland ports. The Red Water Islands are too closer for comfort, and the pirates from the isles grow bolder with each passing year.
In previous years the Northlanders and the Daoine spent much of their time at one another's throats, particularly because of the Northlanders' penchant for bloody raiding. The rise of High King Lugh Dunaid unified the two people of the Moontide Isles. Peadrus's daughter, High Queen Aislinn Dunaid, has held her kingdom together through the usual small wars between petty lords. Compared to the nations of the mainland and the conquests of the Oleander Throne, the Moontide Isles have enjoyed several decades of relative peace.
The population of the Moontide Isles are shaped by the rugged, striking landscape and harsh weather. The Daoine revere the land, long aware of the magical power present in the rushing streams, secret pools, and mist-wreathed forests of their isles. The Daoine adore their home with a deep and abiding love hard for other humans to understand.
The Northlanders are less moved by the landscape. Their hearts are turned to the sea, and they tend to be boisterous and outgoing compared to their neighbors. Relations between the two peoples are often strained, even if they are better now than generations before.
The Daoine do not often welcomes outlanders. To farmers, outlanders are trouble: brigands and thieves who imperil families, belongings, stock, and crops. To local lords and warriors, outlanders are rivals. If they abide by local laws, they are respected but watched: There's no telling what trouble will erupt if foreign sword-swingers run amok. News from the mainland travels fairly well to the Moontide Isles, and the tide of war and conquest of the Oleander Throne and the growth of the Allfather forcing the abandonment of all of the Old Gods has made the Daoine all the more nervous and apprehensive of Outlanders and 'new ways' and 'new traditions'. Outlanders need to work hard to prove themselves and gain trust of the Daoine.
The Northlanders tend to tolerate Outlanders with less suspicion than the Daoine. They have a stronger tradition of trade and travel and tend to be simply curious about visitors from the rest of the Bleached Lands. However, their traditions tend to differ too vastly from the Oleander Throne's methods of forceful assimilation and the Northlanders despise the Oleander Throne as well as the Allfather.
Outlanders are most likely to find employment as sellswords in the service of feuding lords, or as guards about Moontide vessels running to and from mainland ports. The Red Water Islands are too closer for comfort, and the pirates from the isles grow bolder with each passing year.
Geography
The Moontide Isles are about 90 miles west of the mainland in the Sunshall Tides Ocean. The waters between the islands are relatively calm and sheltered and is known as the Foaming Sea. While there are dozens of small islands scattered throughout, the Moontide Isles consist of a handful of major islands, including Glamoor, Baeddan, Hrafnel, Llywelyn, Askel, and Olwyn. The northern islands tend to have harsher weather and lands that are rockier and more difficult to tend for crops. The more southern islands tend to have larger areas of lush growth and vegetation on them.
Ecosystem
The climate of the Moontide Isles is something that only a lifelong inhabitant could embrace. The same ocean currents that keep the temperatures from dropping below freezing too often in the winter months leaves the land damp and cool in the summer. Rainfall is a constant companion, and fog shrouds both the land and the surrounding waters in the early morning and late evening. The isles’ rocky terrain and mist-shrouded forests are protected from intruders by terrible creatures and leagues of pirate-infested waters.
Much of the Daoine culture is based upon respect and worship the earth, favoring natural growth and free, roaming animals over harsher developments.
Natural Resources
The Moontide Isles natural resources make for fair trade with the mainland, while not having enough rare valuables, such as gold, to make a full attempt of colonization or conquering to be a priority. Many of the islands are lush with forests and fertile fields, allowing for an abundance of wood and grains. Wild sheep live in the rolling hills and there are several large areas where wild horses and ponies reside. While there has been precious little gold veins found in the mountains, enough iron, silver, and coal can be found to supply many of the local communities.
Maps
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Moontide Isles (287 DR)
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Moontide Isles Political Map (287 DR)
Type
Island
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Related Myths