Twelve Isles

Etymology

The large, twelve island archipelago that the culture of the Isles sits on is known in the local language (Mournlyish) as Andearagh, meaning The Twelve. However, The Twelve Isles or The Twelve is a shortened version of the full, proper name of the nation, which is The Empire Of The Twelve Isles And All Her Colonies. Translated into Mournlyish, the full name would be Impreacht Andearagh Eilan Aegus An Coilnachtrai Uile.

However, though the country is the Twelve Isles, the people of the Isles instead prefer to refer to themselves based upon which individual Isle they come from. In the Archipelago the Isles are as follows. Mournly, Brushwick, Lysmithe, Glasdee, Frystaff, Wedwind, Newgale, Melahan, Celway, Lachlinde, Delwich and Karins. In the same order, the prefered way to refer to a citizen of the Empire is as Mournlyish, Brushwicker, Lysmithy, Glasdeean, Frystaffer, Wedwinder, Newgaleman, Melahanian, Celwayan, Lachlinder, Delwich and Karinsian. Or, if refering to the Empire as a whole, or if someone is unsure of which demonym to use, it is best to simply refer to the inhabitants of the Isles as Imperials.

Finally, the people of the Isles are particularly careful with how one refers to an individual island itself. It is never proper to simply refer to an isle as its basic name, for instance, such as referring to Mournly Isle as merely Mournly. Instead, it is proper to refer to an isle as its name, followed by the term isle. For instance, Mournly would be Mournly Isle, Karins would be Karins Isle, Brushwick is Brushwick Isle and so on and so forth.

History Of The Isles

The history of the Twelve Isles is a long and storied one, often shrouded in myth as much as being the truth. However, there are still kernels of fact in all stories, and through careful study and archaeology, modern historians have managed to piece together what is believed to be a comprehensive history of this distinct culture and society.

Though the culture of the Isles has a clear lineage and has stayed in many ways similar, there are still several very distinctive periods in the Isles history, where various circumstances and events lead to very different ways of life and qualities of life as time goes on. From the raiding and clan life of the ancient Isles, the the conquests of Tyrus of House Willun to the rise of the Cartwine Dynasty.

Migration Of The First Mournlyish

It is unknown where the first inhabitants of the Isles came from, but it is widely believed that they came from somewhere to the southwest, due to similarities in found clothing, artworks, metalworking and ships. The overall culture of the early Mournlyish is also largely unknown, though many things can be assumed from studying their former settlements. The early Mournlyish were believed to have not had a concrete writing system (though several different writing systems have been found across the Isle in their settlements, though they rarely all are coherent as a single writing system.) Instead, it is proposed that there was a strong oral tradition, and likely a distinct caste of individuals who's duty it was to learn and pass on oral traditions, histories and stories. This being taken from carvings found in stones depicting figures with clear badges of office (antler crowns, long cloaks and large medallion necklaces) who seem to be speaking to large crowds. Often with further symbols surrounding them.

Though their overarching culture is hard, if not impossible to pin down, life for the early Mournlyish on the other hand is generally clear and concise. The early Mournlyish lived predominantly along the coasts, likely making their livings as fishers, though the few inland settlements suggest that it is possible there was a distinct class of people who provided livestock, herding sheep, cattle and goats in a largely nomadic lifestyle. The early Mournlyish were capable of basic metalworking, but largely seemed to prefer working with stone (predominately granite, of which the archipelago is particularly rich in.)

Outright warfare appears to have been uncommon for the early Mournlyish, but low level raiding seems to have been common. Few bodies from this period that have been excavated show signs of dying due to extreme violence being inflicted on their person, however many show signs of many past injuries, suggesting that it was not uncommon for the early Mournlyish to engage in large brawls during these raids, but rarely aim to kill one another. Oral traditions passed down and later recorded after the rise of Pres Andregh seem to corroborate these ideas, stating that to kill another man was reserved for grievous insults against a person and their family, and that outside of this, it was preferred to settle conflicts through words or at the most extreme, a brawl.

Formation Of Clans

As the population increased on Mournly, a more clear history begins to be seen, as a cultural identity and shared history began to take hold. The proposed religious and history keeping figures observed on ancient carvings are believed to have been the basis for the people who would later come to be known as Coirundas, or Secret Keepers. As the Coirundas became more and more influential, more and more people began to gather around them, and soon many family heads began to appoint some of their children to be their own Coirundas, memorizing and spreading the teachings of their families. Through these more familial based Coirundas, appointed and often taking orders from their families heads, clans began to arise.

Centered around clear central leaders and their Coirundas, dedicated to teaching and record keeping, families began to gather around these authorities and began to identify with each other more and more. Many began to create symbols and take up colors representing themselves, and from there, distinct, large family groups began to form. The first recorded clan was Clan Anghear, who resided in and around an ancient castle in the southeastern tip of Mournly Isle. It was from clans like Anghear that Imperial culture as it is known today began to take form, and it is to these first clans that many modern Noble Houses trace their lineages to.

Seafaring And Raiding

As these clans and their populations began to grow, so too did the need for space to live on. Many had already traveled north to settle the other islands of the archipelago, but for the most part it had been in small numbers. Outcasts, banished and those who wanted to be left alone went north, while the rest remained on Mournly Isle. However, remaining as sparsely populated as they were, they were considered prime targets for further expansion by the clans of Mournly, who soon began to sail northwards, building their own settlements and towns, much to the chagrin of the locals, leading to frequent clashes. Over time, the Mournlyish were able slowly subsume the other peoples living on the other islands, through frequent raiding, colonization and outright subjugation. However, despite many efforts, the Mournlyish were never able to conquer the peoples of Brushwick Isle, Glasdee Isle or Lachlinde Isle. There were some successes here and there, but on the flip side, soon the peoples of these three Isles began to build their own ships, and raid the northern coasts of Mournly, creating two distinct cultures and groups. In the center, there were the Brushwickers and their ilk, the Glasdeeans and the Lachlinders. Around them were the Mournlyish and their allies, the two sides constantly raiding, colonizing, massacring and fighting one another in a never ending cycle of violence.

However, one thing did arise from this situation outside of a state of endemic warfare. Both the Mournlyish and the Brushwickers, notably their most powerful clans and kings, began to accrue vast wealth from their fighting. But, there was only so much wealth to be had on the Isles, but there was a large, vast world out there for them to explore. Little by little, both Mournlyish and Brushwicker raiding partys began to venture further and further afield, finding other civilizations out there, many of whom were richer and fatter than the people of the Isles. They were easy pickings, many largely unprepared for seafaring raids, and the ones who were could simply be avoided, instead these parties would attack villages and monasteries. They brought back to the Isles gold, silver, jewels and most importantly, slaves. A new way of life was beginning, and a warrior culture was rising up around it, one where strength, bravery and honor were highly prized.