Pearl Islands (Kingdom of the)

Location: South and east of Ochalea, south of the Alatian Islands, north of the Jungle Coast of Davania.

Area: 119,719 sq. mi. (310,072 sq. km.).

Population: 100,000.

Languages: Nuari (believed to be a dialect of Tanagoro), Thyatian (Nuari dialect).

Coinage: None (they use barter), although Thyatian coins are mostly used for and by foreigners: emperor (5 gp), lucin (gp), asterius (sp), denarius (cp).

Taxes: None, people work freely to improve their nation when the king needs the help.

Government Type: Monarchy.

Industries: Pearl diving, jewellery making, and export of tropical fruits.

Important Figures: Nurokidu Nuar (King, human, male, T20).

Flora and Fauna: Mainly dominated by fruit-bearing tropical trees and hardy grasses. Animals include cattle and horse imported from Thyatis. Giant lizards (draco) are also common, as are many sea creatures in the surrounding waters.

Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, previous almanacs.

Description by Kalitoru Nuar.

Ah, my homeland be de subject of dis entry, and I be proud to give it to ye, mohn.

The Land

De Pearl Islands, as dey be called by Thyatians, be a series of islands found where de Sea of Dawn meets de Bellissarian Sea. Dere be five large islands and several hundred smaller ones usually not found on any map. De islands be volcanic in origin, an' a few be still active. De volcanic mountains can be seen on every island.

From de shores to de slopes of de mountains, tropical forests are everywhere. From dese forests come all de wonderful fruits that will delight everyone's stomach. Not many animals be livin' in de woods, eider. One only needs to watch out for de famous draco lizards. Streams collect de runoff waters from de mountains and bring dem back down to de ocean.

Of de five major island, only Nuar be large enough to actually have rivers an' even a lake. Der be also many clearings dat are dominated by grasslands. Dwair, Puir, Tuar, and Kuir have neider rivers nor grasslands, and neider do all de oder smaller islands.

The People

We, de Nuari as we call ourselves, be an energetic people who always strive to do de best we can, mohn. We be fierce fighters yet also great philosophers. We believe in individual excellence in everyding we do, wheder it be warfare, the arts, deology, or magic. Nowhere can ye find better sailors or scouts dan here on the Pearl Islands.

It be believed dat de Nuari be descendants of Tanagoro colonists from long ago. Ancient scrolls claim dat we once be a matriarchal society, but now men an' women are treated equally. We have black skin, brown or black hair and eyes. Nuari be taller dan de average Thyatian, but we also be leaner.

De Nuari believe dat everyone is equal an' everyone has de potential to be great. We derefore be nice to everyone, an' expect de same in return. Upon meeting a stranger, Nuari present dem with a small gift, usually a pretty coloured shell or stone. De stranger be expected to return a similar gift before de day is over, an' to do oderwise be a sign of dislikin' de person.

One thin' dat be shockin' most visitor be our lack of concern for wearin' clodin'. We be born widout clodes, so why should we be forced to wear dem at all times, mohn. It be strange how oder cultures believe dat not wearin' clodes is unnatural. What could be more natural dan de way we be born?

Recent History

As wid Ochalea, de Pearl Islands do not have much of a history to tell for de past few years. In AC 1007, we be declarin' our independence from Thyatis, an' have held on to it since. Now, we be livin' peacefully on our own since den.

Wid de departure of de Thyatian Navy, de town of Seagirt be mostly abandoned now. De king be ruling from dere mainly because it be de sight of de palace, an' it be de only town with stone buildings an' a wall around it. Most of Seagirt's people have returned to livin' in simple villages like de rest of de Pearl Islanders.