Cyproean
Cyproean is the northernmost, and largest, island of the Crusader Coast. It has high, rocky hills in the center and no fewer than three good harbors for ships. Each of these harbors has a protective fortress, with Fortress Aven on the harbor to the west being where most of the traffic arrives, now and historically. To the southeast is Fortress Shan, and on the north is Fortress Perath. Rivers run from the central ridge down to the sea in every direction, watering the land well. With the warm climate produced by southerly currents along the coast, growers on Cypyroean can even cultivate tobacco (or “pipeweed” as it is known in parts of Akados) and ship it west as an exotic type that brings a high price.
Cyproean is technically a protectorate of the Kingdom of Foere. The connection goes back to the Hyperborean Monarchy of the Foerdewaith, which claimed the island after the First Crusade on the Sacred Table and set up a fortress here to protect the holy city of Tircople. More fortifications were built throughout the Crusader Coast after the Second Crusade, which stood guard successfully for more than 200 years until the third Huun attack on not just the holy city but the Crusader States as well. The baron and knights at Cyproean could do nothing to help their land-borne comrades during that assault, or during the tragic loss of the laden ships of the Third Crusade. However, as the Fourth Crusade approached, they opened their fortresses and their island and played host to nearly all of the gathering crusaders, until their numbers were sufficient to finally begin the assault to retake Tircople. So much of the island was required for the assembled armies that some units of crusaders were forced to fortify and camp in caves in the hills, and isolated locations can still be found with remnants the soldiers inadvertently left behind.
After the success of the Fourth Crusade, some crusaders elected to stay on Cyproean and join those who had been part of the island barony for generations, though most of the soldiers from Akados returned home. With the commencement of the Foerdewaith Wars of Succession shortly thereafter, though, the influence of Foere waned and the hand of Courghais touched the inhabitants of Cyproean only lightly. Despite their great distance, however, the folk of the island still find a benefit in naming themselves loyal citizens of the kingdom.
Today, merchant ships from Foere travel to Cyproean and sometimes even beyond, making their way all the way to Jaati. A few ships headquartered at Fort Shan occasionally make trips down the eastern coast of Libynos to trade with the denizens of the southern part of the continent. Colonists from Foere boosted the island’s population and it now raises enough food — and makes enough products — to trade for most of what it needs to be self-sustaining.
Region
Cyproean, Island Barony of
Parent Organization
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