IERENDI (Kingdom of)

Location: South of the Five Shires and Karameikos, west of Minrothad Guilds.

Area: 17,240 sq. mi. (44,652 sq. km.).

Population: 58,000 locals, plus as many as 20,000 visitors during the summer tourist months.

Languages: Thyatian (Darokinian dialect; for trade and tourist business), Makai (native language).

Coinage: Pali (10 gp), geleva (gp), sana (sp), cokip (cp). All foreign currency is also accepted.

Taxes: Tourists must pay a 10% room tax wherever they stay, as well as a 5% sales tax on food. There is also a sales tax of 5% on everything else for both tourists and locals. Locals must pay a poll tax of 10 gp per person per year.

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy; power is held by elected members of noble families, while a king and queen act as figureheads for a year-long reign.

Industries: Tourism, fishing.

Important Figures: Reston of Akesoli (King, human, male, F16).

Flora and Fauna: There are not many monsters that can harm people found on the islands of Ierendi, with the exception of Safari Island which is purposefully populated with dangerous animals and monsters from all over the Old World.

On the sea, pirates are the real danger. Sharks are rather common as well.

Further Reading: GAZ4 The Kingdom of Ierendi, previous almanacs.

Description by Joshuan Gallidox.

In all the islands of the Kingdom of Ierendi, perhaps none is quite so famous as Safari Island-nor quite so important to the nation's economy! Safari Island plays host to the majority of the booming Ierendi tourist industry, and attracts adventurers and regular folk alike to its shores.

The Land

A wide variety of terrains can be found on Safari Island, both naturally occurring and artificial. The western edges of the island are a volcanic mountain chain, gradually descending through hills to low plains and forests on the eastern half. Most of the island's interior has been designated for wilderness parks and game preserves, and remains in a natural, primeval state. The few settlements on Safari remain mostly confined to the coastal regions.

Several of these wilderness preserves are adventure parks, designed to cater to the adventurous natures of their visitors, and may boast terrain features not commonly found elsewhere on Safari Island-or in the tropical islands of the rest of the region, either! At least two parks are preparing to boast desert-themed attractions this year (doubtless trading in on the fiendish troubles of Ylaruam), and Gastenoo's World of Adventure has had a Hyborean attraction in operation for several years running.

The People

The people of Safari Island are a vibrant, friendly folk. They eagerly welcome tourists to their home, and most families have someone designated to sell jewellery, seashells, and other trinkets to outsiders. The villagers are largely of Makai heritage, but the theme parks boast people of all sorts of races. Even halflings are not an uncommon sight (in fact, employment opportunities abound for my fellow hin-their stature makes them ideal for doubling as short goblinoid creatures in the theme parks).

Recent History

The most significant recent event on Safari Island is the death of Gastenoo Longblade, one of the founders of "Gastenoo's World of Adventure." Opened by Longblade and his partner Simon Saint-Pierre in AC 974, Gastenoo's was the first adventure park on Safari Island, and remains the most popular. Since its creation, several other "Gastenoo's" have been opened on Safari and neighbouring islands. Before his death in AC 1010, he was preparing a reconnaissance expedition to the Isle of Dread, in hopes of creating a future "Gastenoo's Island of Adventure" theme park.