History
Unknown for a long time by most, the Island first appeared in History as a trading Alphatian ship crashed on its reefs not too far away from the island in 765 AC. As nobody survived the shipwreck, the island was discovered only thirty years later, as a Ierendian ship stopped there to repair itself.
Two years later, a alphatian trading company descided to build a small castle aimed to help its ship in difficulty because of weather as they cross the sea of Dread : Minrothad asking for taxes for every boat crossing its wather many traders risk their way threw the sea. And more most of alphatian boats agree to sail far from Thyatis mainland. So the island was inhabited by Alphatian and in 803 the settlers began to build a great underground harbor on the northern face of the island (achieved in 875). All this period had been influenced by the presence of Alphatian traders in leading the incipient city and arrival of many other traders from other nations, attracted by this free of tax land.
As the Alphatian empire declines and Thyatis looked to the south, Chaos spread on the island : left by alphatians, inhabitants had to protect themselves against a invasion thyatian attempt. As they were arrived there by luck (i'm not not realy sure after all ... that's truly a luck), they didn't have any supply (in food or soldier) nor any serious plan, that's why the islander managed to drive them out but at a high cost : there weren't any ship left at the end of the battle. The islander must turn then to fishing so as to survive, because the island wasn't able to provide enough wood to build boats. So the Island was again forgotten by all ...
However in AC 950, a horde of pirates, fleeing the Known World, leaded by Hamen Ketil, landed on the island and kept it by surprise. They decided to install there their den. Far enough from any coast not to be worried by any pursuer, pirates lived from more or less lucrative raidings against the continent. In 962, Hamen Ketil discovered the sunk Alphatian ship and managed to extract the treasures it concealed. Naming eight of his best officers to lead the island, he start dark research, leaving the island politic life ; only his officers or their descendants have ever seen him yet. Now six of these former leaders are already dead (time is hard for pirates!), letting with more or less success their descendant with their power, and from the two last survivors, only one has still his rank as the other was deposed by his former conceilor thirteen years ago.
(It's coming ... beware i'm in ;-) )
Interessing places of the Island
The Astryn is one of the "family" that didn't change since Ketil has left. The clan has alwas had to watch over the surroundings to prevent any foreign attacks, that's why all the other clans try to maintain good relationship with this family as their security (and even their lives) depends of the quickness with wich their leader will be warned.
As they're installed on the height of the island, Astryns has builded the higher tower of the island. It is their own defence against any attack led by other clan, but also as crow's nest and house. 30 meters high, it reachs the height of 130 meters above the sea. Located near the cliff, it overhangs the underground harbor intrence and can easily prevent any boat to get in, that tends to improve its relation with every clans. The tower wasn't builded with island stones but with volcanic ones that gives it flaming glints during the night, as it shines thanks some torchs. Incidentally, the tower is used as lightouse for pirates boats.
Builded by alphatian traders as they were still there, it's a true jewel : deep enough for any ship to stay and with a capacity of fiften transport boats, the harbor offers more than its big capacity, a total protection from extern weather. Its sturdiness has been twice proved, first during thyatian invasion as a mage staff was broken in the middle of the harbor, and then during a earthquake, where just some rocks fall from the sailing on pirate ships that were alongside.
The harbor is also an impregnable fortress : two gigantic stone doors can close the harbor from ships coming from outside, and the only ways to get the harbor are two undergroud passages, each defended by a small fort. The Diatrib clan has the charge of the harbor. They cannot possess any boat and so can't live from piracy, but its role on the island give them good incoming (10 % of the value of goods coming !).
Drüt city was builded on the height of the island not to be destroyed by storms that sometimes create gigantic waves. The "cité" (pronouce siteh) as called the inhabitants isn't very luxious : the lack of wood forced inhabitants to built houses with roughly cutted stones and exept the temple dedicated to the Old Man Of The Sea and the Astryn tower, they're all one floor.
A district is reserved for slaves. They don't have any owner as their use is quite chaotic ; anybody can use a slave coming from this area as soon as he catch him back when he don't need him. This district is garded by a phalanx of every clan of the island, each having its own entrence to the ghetto. Life of slave can't be worse (can in fact but it'd not be a life ...). Only few of them are allowed to go fishing to feed the whole population of slave (and sometimes pirates too), and no other food can be find. Two revolts errupted in the past and both were stoped in blood of slaves. Pirates don't care of them, they could catch back enough to fill the district if too much of them would die.
Fights are common in the city, especially beetween rival clans. The law saying that duels are autorised and other murders punished from enslavement can't arrange this fact.
Important NPC of the Island