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East Isles - The Korolan Islands
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Korola consists of five islands in the southern part of the
East Isles.
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Myth
In the Dream Time, there was a great mountain of Vithela called Korola. Its granite peak was the god Tamorongo. The clouds and gusts around the peak were the whirlwind goddess Aoea. The great river flowing down the slope was the god Irvalor, whose daughter Irvata lived in an iridiscent waterfall. Korola's fiery heart was the god Mingemelor, a son of the Volcano Father.Pious and humble people lived on the slopes of the mountain, living on fruit from the trees and fish from the river and worshipping the gods of the mountain.
When the Nightmare came, Korola was shattered, like
all of Vithela, by Zmalak's third blow. Irvalor perished
in a cloud of steam when he washed away an invasion of
Sky Tyrant's djinni. The remaining deities fought to
save themselves and their people and succeeded. But
during the struggles, lies crept into the dreams of the
people. The Black Moon whispered vile things about their
neighbours and their gods. When Thella cast out the Net,
Korola was four islands, and their inhabitants were
bitter enemies.
History
The Age of New Waking is a distant memory today.
Legends tell of kings and heroes and struggles between
the islands. Serenetoan stories say they were ruled by
the Wind Riders who could fly on the storm winds
between the peaks of Sereneto.
In the Age of Golden Mokato the Korolan islands joined the Mokato empire. Sereneto tried to resist, but their navy was defeated in the Battle of Raining Tears. In the second age there were several unusual rulers. Tamoro had a Kralorelan king and Mingai was ruled by both a dragonewt and a djinn for some time. On Sereneto, a religious movement called The Wave caused many people to leave the island to become sea nomads, worshipping merman gods.
The Age of Doldrums has been dominated by the strife between the islands. When the Mokato empire was gone, there was nothing to hold back the conflicts. Finally, the raids and skirmishes escalated into a full scale war. A great battle at sea, where all four islands were involved ended catastrophically as an unnatural storm sank most ships. Four survivors, one from each island, swam ashore on hostile Sitoro. In order to survive the threat of the man eating varanids and get away from there, they had to cooperate. Against all odds they managed to build a raft and leave Sitoro. After that they started the Dream of Unity, a great hero quest to unite the islands once again by proving that the mutual hatred was caused by lies. Once united, the Korolans drove away the varanids and built the Senate House on Sitoro. To celebrate the new unity and to keep the youth strong and competitive, the Korolan Games are celebrated at the start of every year. War has been replaced by athletics.
Today, the islands of Korola are thriving members of the
Haragalan Commonwealth.
Tamoro
Despite Tamoro's mountainous nature, the ground is very
fertile. Most people make their living as farmers. There
also a thriving business selling timber from the dense
forests to the other islands. Few Tamoroans take to the
sea.
Tamoro, with the Stairs of Glass
The Tamoroans are of average height, with a stocky build. They have mahogany skin and dark brown hair. They live in finely built stome houses. The favourite art form is stone sculpture.
Simotora, the capital, is built high on the mountain side,
in a protected location. The mountain peak is sacred to
Tamorongo. It is only possible to climb with his permission.
To reach the temple high on the mountain side, one can
walk the Stairs of Glass, which Tamorongo made the
Rock Eater chew ot of the bedrock.
Sereneto
Sereneto is the most varied of the Korolan islands. In the
highlands, around the central peaks, the people heard sheep
and goats. In the lowland, farming is common and at the coasts
there are fishing villages.
Coastal village on Sereneto
The Serenetoans are generally tall and slender, with fair skin and hair. They live in large clan houses built of wood and brick. The most highly regarded art form is painting. The Serenetoans know how to make paper.
The capital, named Mishoko, is built on the coastal plain,
but is not a port town. There is a new town wall, much to the
bemusement of the otehr Korolans. The most sacred spot on
Sereneto is Aoea's Chair, a permanent whirlwind where
the goddess often manifests. The House of Enlightenment
is a school of Kralorelan wisdom.
Mingai
Volcanic Mingai is craggy and arid, with little fertile ground.
Scrub and hardy grass is the major vegetation. The Mingaians
herd sheep and goats and grow fine wine. Since the ground is
rich in metal, they export metal tools and weapons. There
is a secretive clan of metal workers who even know how to work
iron.
Extinct secondary crater on Mingai
The Mingaians are of medium height and build. They have golden brown skin and tawny hair. They live in extended families in simple, but well-built houses of plastered stone and brick. In recent years, masons have begun to experiment with arches and vaults. The most prestigious art form is cast metal sculpture.
Verena, the major town on Mingai is also the largest town
in all Korola. It is built inside a partially submerged,
since centuries extinct, secondary crater which forms a
splendid natural harbour. Holy spots are the active crater,
with its constantly flowing lava stream and the Shrine
of War, where Mingemelor's sacred weapons are kept.
Luvata
Luvata is very low, most of the land is covered with jungle
or swampland. A sharp and dangerous coral reef surrounds the
island. On the north side, the reef protects a beautiful
lagoon. There is a single, labyrinthine passage through the
reef. The Luvatans are fishermen and traders. Coconuts and
some fruit are the only agricultural produce.
The lagoon of Luvata
The Luvatans are of medium height and slender build. They usually have ivory skin and dark hair. Luvatan houses are temporary affairs, built of bamboo and palm leaves, often on poles, near the beach. Ships are more permanent and well kept than houses on Luvata. Pebble mosaic is the favourite art form.
Luvorina, the major settlement, is only a larger village
on the beach. Its boundaries fluctuate as new houses are
built and old ones torn down. In the inland is a sweet water
lake, with Irvata's holy spring. There is a shrine to all sea
gods in the lagoon.
Sitoro
The small island Sitoro wasn't a part of the original mountain
Korola. When the other four islands were fighting each others,
it was inhabited by varanids. The varanids are large semi-intelligent
lizards. Their priest-leaders are as intelligent as humans.
The varanids are carnivores and like the taste of human flesh.
After the Dream of Unity, the united Korolans drove away the varanids and made Sitoro the symbol of their newfound unity. The Senate, a group of elders, elected from all four islands to act as advisors of the kings and queens convene in the senate house on Sitoro. At the beginning of each year, the Korolan Games, a one week festival of athletics and other games, are held on Sitoro as well. Only Korolans may participate, but the referees of the games are foreigners and there are many spectators from other islands.
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