Island of Lycania
The southernmost island of what is traditionally considered the Crusader Coast, Lycania is now a colony of the Empire of Alcaldar. About 100 years ago, Alcaldrich explorers found the nearly intact keep on the western shore empty, abandoned by the Foerdewaith who had once inhabited the island. Seeing an opportunity, Alcaldar immediately sent engineers, masons, and settlers, even though the journey was long and difficult. With the opening of the Channel Lakes 18 years ago, however, and the growing population at the east end of the canal system, Lycania has become a perfect steppingstone for Alcaldar’s increasingly lucrative trade with Istaflumina and Jaati.
The colony, small but growing, is governed by Alcaldrich Exarch Ana-Paterna of Hacienda Almoster and a staff of advisors and assistants. A company of imperial marines protects the island from pirates and other enemies, and also accompanies the island’s naval vessel, the Princesa Adrianna, on patrols. (The pirates of Barkos sometimes give the small ship trouble, but they have learned to leave the island alone.) The small number of settlers has increased enough that there are now three small towns spaced around the island, each with a strong wooden palisade and a town hall where weapons are stored in case the locals need to protect their home while waiting for reinforcements. The harbor offers a sturdy dock that can hold as many as a dozen fishing boats, or four ocean-going vessels.
Exarch Ana-Paterna maintains a luxurious residence inside the keep, primarily to show passing merchants and officials of other nations the wealth and splendor of Alcaldar. In keeping with the tradition in the Channel Lakes area (and much of southern Libynos), the exarch always keeps a supply of gifts on hand for visitors. These are usually figures hand carved from wood produced on Lycania, in the form of one of the island’s beautiful native birds or elaborate local flowers.
While the exarch’s primary duty is to ensure the safety and growth of the colony on Lycania, almost as important is diplomacy and spreading a favorable impression of the empire. In support of the mission of diplomacy, the island’s tiny navy actively patrols the area for pirates and will intervene anytime they see a ship attacked. The single vessel also does search-and-rescue operations; after large storms, the island’s fishing fleet aids it in looking for damaged ships in nearby waters.
Fernán Giraldino of Iber, the leading priest of Muir on Lycania, looks after the religious needs of the people but is alert to opportunities to spread the worship of Muir — or at least knowledge of her — to travelers as well as the rest of the Crusader Coast. He puts particular effort into trying to convince Sir Tirath of Aretas Island that the Church Militans is the logical place for him and that oversight of Aretas by Alcaldar would increase the glory of Muir as well as improving the lot of everyone on that island. So far, Sir Tirath remains unconvinced but not to the point of being rude to the priest when they meet.
Region
Lycania, Island of
Owning Organization
Comments