The Lords of Silnas, also known as the Gleaming Isles, are an island chain out in the Tempus Ocean to the west of the Aquarius Continent. These isles contain the largest natural supply of Gleamstones on Arius. These magic prone gems are used to create magical catalysts which can be used to enhance magical and physical abilities and as such have created a wide range of demand globally for their constant supply. The 5 Lordships of these Isles are backed by larger countries and their governments to allow for the largest supplies possible and many wars have been and will continue to be fought over the isles.
The Everhart Lordship has been backed by the Blackreaver Kingdom since the claim was established in the early 600’s P.E. They dawn their fabulous Blue and Steel garments resembling that of another noteworthy country to the furthest Northern parts of the world. They control the entire Northern part of isle where their territory is split in half with Firfyr Mountains making it appear much like a crooked horseshoe. Their wealth is only guaranteed so long as Blackreaver receives its regular shipments lest they force the hands of the territory with trade and military action.
The Vogiel Family is backed by by the Imperium of Rekkaku. Notably the family was installed through revolution at the height of the Sunless Sea War which had briefly reached the isles between the Republic of Merchants and Al’Modian Empire. A small gambit had a big payoff as the family managed to secure power over the south-eastern territory of the isle. The shift in power caused Blackreaver to further arm their respective side which has left a sour taste in both sides mouth.
The Witten Lordship is backed by the Al’Modian Empire. The Empire managed to buy their way into the isles not long after Blackreaver aided in establishing the claim which divided the isles into North and South. When civil unrest broke out in the southern stretch of the main island the territory once controlled by Al’Mod was shattered and it left much of the land up for claim. Witten would remain backed by Al’Mod til the end of the war and managed to succeed in keeping control of their territory. Though the war was over, it would not last as further tensions between the Lordships would force internal conflicts.
The Marren State is an independent island controlled and backed by the Republic of Merchants. The island itself gaining the name Emerald Isle is notable because of its green-tinted Gleamstones that are said to offer a more potent effect than that of the ones found on the main island. The Marren State is probably the one that has shifted the most over the years with it originally being Blackreaver before being sold to an Al’Modian Prince before then being sold to the Empire directly then eventually joining the Republic of Merchants during the Sunless Sea War. Its history is mired in war and economics that its alignment with the Republic of Merchants makes the most sense.
The House of Rutega is the only independent and neutral faction within the isles, they were able to break free from the shackles of Blackreaver’s control on the isles after a short-lived revolution proved to be costly for Blackreaver. In just 8 weeks Blackreaver managed to lose 20,000 soldiers at sea after it was deemed far too difficult to take the island under the conditions that they accidentally created with the large amount of wealth on the island alone as well as unfavorable weather conditions which resulted in many ships crashing on the rocky coasts. A deal would be worked out between them that trade with the Lordship would continue as the Golden Gleamstones were seen as the most valuable among those found on the isles.
To this day, these territories continue their conflicts with one another in the hopes of one day conquering the wealth and power contained in the politics of this island nation yet history has proven no victors last forever.
Great detail on the geopolitics at play. When reading about how these foreign nations and their military/economic interests play out, I am put in mind of Saudi Arabia and their difficulties with certain religious groups. Are there competing ideologies within the gleaming isles that interact with economic interests abroad?
The economic interests of the larger powers would certainly influence the isles through means of war, propaganda, or cultural drifts. Many of these outside influencers would often fuel conflict on the isles by supplying weapons, medical supplies, and even mercenaries to try and gain more territory. Stuff like religion doesn’t play as much of a point as everyone follows along within the same pantheon of gods. This makes the conflicts within the isles more relate to wealth for the population.