Talinn Ryalor
Minister of Justice, Duke of Westisle
Staff member
Nobility: Duke
Minister: Justice
Fortuna Survivor
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The Province of Tookumberry and the Eastern Island Chain
What is the Province of Tookumberry?
The province of Tookumberry is a set of Imperial-controlled islands set largely to the southeast of Vulpinsula and northwest of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. These islands range from the largest ones dignified with names and dotted with extensive tropical forests and smaller hills and mountains, such Great Took, to small, nameless ones that are barely above sea level and at best have a palm tree or two. It is noted for having a tropical climate capable of year-round cultivation which is used for extremely profitable cash crops despite being a further north than what its location might otherwise suggest, something that has proved to be one of the most frustrating unsolved questions to Imperial scientists which can, and often does, lead to pawfights over competing theories, and one of its most valuable assets. It, along with the Eastern Island Chain, also secures the Imperium’s eastern flank from foreign attacks.
What is the Eastern Island Chain?
Much like the Western Island Chain of Westisle, the Eastern Island Chain is a series of fortresses, garrisons, and military ports designed to protect the Imperium’s eastern flank. It stretches from the historically heavily contested Valles Mensa islands to the north, to Tookumberry proper in the center, to finally being anchored to the Mahsterious Sathern Continent at Alton Bay to the south. It, like the Western Island Chain, is protected by a dedicated squadron of Imperial ships of the line, requiring opponents to otherwise redirect, distract, or overwhelm it to slip through the cracks.
What are the demographics of Tookumberry?
Tookumberry is the sole Imperial province where woodlanders decisively outnumber vermin, the largest, most populated islands having been a proto-socialist independent woodlander protectorate of the Imperium with a comparatively small amount of vermin on the minor outlying islands until it was seized by force in 1748 to maintain law and order and to desperately try to feed Vulpinsula proper. Following the establishment of the Tookumberry Republic, idealistic beasts of all species flocked to join its banners, and while many points of debate hamstrung the young republic, the idea that vermin and woodlanders should have equal rights found the most traction here, and that general idea has persisted, and has continued to be promoted, by the Empress’s new administration. It is, much like the rest of the Imperium, depopulated from the famines, diseases, and especially the civil war from 1748-1753, suffering perhaps the single most crippling loss of population out of the entire Imperium with over fifty percent of the entire population dying as it was already overpopulated prior to those events. Although a tragedy for those who lived through those times, the relief from such pressures has drastically improved the lives of those who still remain alive.
What is the economy of the Tookumberry like?
Due to its unique position being able to cultivate crops year-round along with fertile volcanic soils, it has become a haven for cash crops in the aftermath after being reabsorbed into the Imperium. It exports to the rest of the provinces a steady supply of “coughee”, sugar, rum, molasses, fruits, cocoa, tobacco, spices, cotton, indigo, and other goods, and imports refined industrial goods, timber, military equippment, larger ships, basic agricultural goods, and essentially the rest of what it needs, enabling it to maximize the amount of land used for cultivation and refinement of such precious crops. It has a strong secondary industry in fishing, with many of the islanders supplementing imported food with local delicacies from the sea, and another in repairing, building, and maintaining ships, especially of the smaller and more nimble variety such as fifth-class ships of the line and below. It is considered perhaps the most valuable province of the Imperium in terms of value per citizen, but problems have been arising in recent years. Although initially having a relatively small wealth gap due to its more socialist and republican heritage when it was reclaimed for the Imperium, in recent years more and more of the locals have been found themselves selling, willingly or otherwise, their smaller holdings to larger landowners, often from Vulpinsula, and being forced to work on them as tenant farmers to make ends meet. This has led to a growing amount of resentment and frustration, and has kept the embers of the Tookumberry Republic alive in hushed tones and in secret meetings beneath the suspicious eyes of the Imperial military and Misanthropy agents. It whispered that the Empress is well-aware of such problems, and tries her best to curb the worst excesses, but is limited in what she can do, needing the higher tax revenue such larger holders provide to stabilize the rest of the Imperium.
What are the naming conventions for beasts from Tookumberry?
With the Imperium accepting more and more foreign cultures, any name can be made to work, but the natives tend to have a mixture of British and French names, or being named after something having to do with their characteristics, such as, say, Silvertongue Songfox, a charismatic fox who likes to play music.
Are there any particular languages besides Vulpinsulan spoken in the Province?
It tends to be mostly Vulpinsulan, but due to its high woodlander population, a number of offshoots have developed, likely imported from the lands south of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. This can be most notably seen with squirrels, hares, shrews, and uncivilized vermin, and, while generally intelligible to proper civilized Imperial gennelbeasts, can be painful to listen to if one is not used to them.
What is the general culture of the province of Tookumberry?
It tends towards a more loose form of the native Vulpinsulan culture of the Imperium, but it is much more egalitarian, even beyond that of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent, a legacy of the proto-socialist protectorate state and the republic that followed. The distinction between vermin and woodlander is effectively nonexistent for beasts hailing from this province aside from the occasional joke or two, and they are often shocked to see serious discrimination in the other provinces. They are a people known for their strong sense of independence, and while all decrees from Amarone are enforced, some are much less so than others because the local Fogeys and garrisons would prefer not to reenact the nightmarish Imperial Civil War campaign fighting through jungles, hills, and across various islands in often-blistering heat if they push too hard.
Aside from that, they are known to look out for each other with a strong sense of community and solidarity, and when disasters such as pirate raids or strong storms strike, it is not uncommon for communities to help each other long before any representative of the Imperium proper shows up outside of the main cities, and tend to generally take care of most of their own internal policing and affairs, with local Fogeys only showing up for the most serious and persistent crimes or issues, turning a blind eye or only imposing minor sentences for many other minor crimes so long as the tax income flows and there is no blatantly obvious disrespect of Imperial authority.
What is the history of the Tookumberry Province and what role did it play in recent events?
For many years Tookumberry was a relatively peaceful, proto-socialist woodlander protectorate of the Imperium, where in exchange for a suitable amount of taxation, the Imperium would protect it from the predations of pirates and attacks by foreign powers. This led it to prosper, and, some might say, prosper a bit too much, as the island had reached its already high carrying capacity and then some by the time of the solar flares and the subsequent revolutions of 1748. The Imperium, under Lord-Protector Willard Brudenell’s leadership, seized direct control of the protectorate in a desperate attempt to alleviate the rapidly worsening conditions in Vulpinsula proper and prevent famine, figuring, in a cold sort of way, that once Vulpinsula was stabilized, they would then be able to deal with any problems in the provinces-peacefully or otherwise. At this time, Tookumberry had not yet transitioned over fully to cash crops, meaning it could provide substantial agricultural relief to the beasts on Vulpinsula proper. This, however, would soon cause great discontent as they were now exporting food at a time when they desperately needed to conserve it. Unrest continued to grow, especially as new diseases suddenly struck the island and its now malnourished population, resulting in many deaths.
The spark that would trigger the revolution was the outbreak of civil war on Vulpinsula proper and a massacre by the remaining Imperium troops in a desperate attempt to contain unrest. Following the outbreak of fighting between those who wished to crown a new Emperor or Empress and those loyal to the Lord-Protector, only a relatively token force was left in the Province as both ships and battalions were rapidly rushed back to the mainland. The governor, a stoat with a military background named Jonathan Winslow, and his lieutenant governor, a diminutive tuxedo wildcat with a leg crippled by an early kithood accident named William Burnet, tried their best to maintain order, although it was rumored there was bad blood between the two. Winslow insisted on keeping faith with the exact orders from Brudenell, claiming that the rebels would be crushed soon if they did so and then everything could be relaxed, while Burnet argued that such was not given in any way and that they needed to cut back on the shipments to Vulpinsula to stabilize the province immediately.
It was not long before Burnet was proven to be correct. On Smarch 15th, 1749, a large, hungry crowd arrived in front of the governor’s mansion at Tortooka, the capital of Great Took, demanding that the exports of food cease and that the granaries be let open. Winslow attempted to convince them otherwise, and deployed one of his few remaining companies in front of the palace, with orders to push back the crowd, but to do so peacefully. Unfortunately, being greatly outnumbered, and being relatively fresh and inexperienced troops with the veterans being recalled to Vulpinsula, a young officer panicked and ordered his squad to open fire with their crossbows in what would later be known as the Tortookan Massacre, made worse by the fact that several kits and elderly were hit. This enraged the crowd, who then attacked and overwhelmed the company, and stormed the governor’s palace, dragging out Winslow and hanging him right then and there.
Burnet, for his part, was spared as it had been known he was advocating for the welfare of the native Tookumberrians and had argued against the deployment of troops, although he was stripped of his rank and became just another citizen. Soon after, all of the remaining garrisons and much of the remaining Navy either fled or joined up with the rebels, hopelessly outnumbered or sickened by the deliberate starvation and then massacre of their fellow islanders. A republic, the Republic of Tookumberry, was declared, modeled, in many ways, after the old proto-socialist state, along with a parliament. Its flag was a green background with a golden macademia nut at its center, symbolizing the resilience of the people and how hard they are to crack.
The new Republic, however, was beset by fierce internal debates which hampered its ability to capitalize on the chaos in Vulpinsula and other areas of the Imperium. Many ideological factions arose with different motives and goals, along with differing ideas on how to fight the war or even if they should and not just negotiate for independence in exchange for a treaty. Eventually two main parties arose, those wishing for a more traditional, capitalistic republic which they argued would be more productive and lead to great overall prosperity in the long-term, and those wanting to return to the old, proto-socialist ways with stronger protections for workers and the poor, but neither could seem to claim a majority in conjunction with the various minor parties.
Soon, the rest of 1749 came and went, and 1750 came and continued on, with worrying reports coming in from Vulpinsula that the stalemate which had afforded them time to consider was beginning to shift in favor of the Brudenell administration, especially the development of a new and terrible weapon called a “cannon”. At this point, Burnet, who had been religiously attending the meetings of parliament moved to take the stage. In a long, passionate speech, he denounced his former allegiance to the Imperium, and offered a solution to the debate, being an economist by trade. He successfully argued that it was now time to put aside their differences, and, being a former MinoComm economist by trade, argued for a mixture of the two systems that would become known as Burnetism-capitalism would be the normal order of the day in order to account for its efficiency, but its social externalities would be smoothed out by being subjected to the conditions of the nation and people in times of crisis, and that there would be a minimum standard of living guaranteed by the government sufficient to maintain dignity for those unable to work.
It was thus that he was finally able to unite the two main factions, and, in a shocking move, the crippled, calmly-spoken wildcat was elected as Prime Minister, which he took to with an unusual gusto. He secured the allegiance of the remaining minor and more extremist parties by promising them that there would be more elections and discussions after the war was won, and for those who would not agree to this, he was able to successfully negotiate a secret agreement with the rest of the parties to effectively sideline them and keep them under close watch.
Burnet, much like his general economic policy, soon turned with a similar mindset towards preparing Tookumberry for the inevitable Imperial counterassault, with the idea of fighting the war according to national conditions as well. He abandoned the idea of trying to build up a traditional battlefleet to match the Imperium’s, deciding instead to focus on the mass production of smaller ships of fifth-rate ships of the line which and below which Tookumberry specialized in to harass Imperial shipping and lay ambushes in the many narrow straits and shallower seas between the isles. He was able to leverage sympathetic members of the lower class in the Imperium proper to steal the designs for cannons, which he immediately placed into production for use in these smaller vessels and in hidden defensive positions, knowing that while they could produce some, they could not hope to match the Imperium’s industrial output, so they had to be used wisely. He also sought, and received, foreign aide from at least three nations, ranging from materials, to weapons, to even some small expeditions of military officers and beasts-namely Suzky’s Republic in Northern Fyador who were sympathetic to the idea of another democracy, the Fyadoran Civil Union in Southern Fyador who were supportive of the more socialist aspects of the republic, and Alkamar, who, despite being in its own severe troubles, relished any opportunity to crack down on their hated foe.
In addition to the above, in perhaps a first in recorded history, Burnet came up with the idea of a total economic and social mobilization of the population in order to defend the nation in order to account for the manpower and industry disparity between it and the Imperium. Every young, unmarried beast would fight, every married beast would assist in the production and transport of arms or make necessary materials such as tents and clothing and serve in hospitals, kits would do what they could, and even old beasts would do their part by spending their days in the public squares and visiting the troops to give rousing speeches, or, more often, simply hate on the numerous failed aspects of the Imperium. The idea with all of the reforms was to make it far too costly for the Imperium to retake the islands, and force them into a negotiated peace.
The Monarchists were finally defeated at the end of 1750, their last bastions submitting to General Amélie and her forces, who quickly seized the relevant military hardware and many of the larger ships of the line, and moved to reopen communications with the forces on the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. At this point, she and Brudenell met, and agreed that the threat of an independent state in the heart of the Imperium with ties to potentially hostile, and, in Alkamar’s case, most definitely hostile foreign powers could not be tolerated. Plans were drawn up for a quick, two-pronged decapitation attack on Toortooka, the capital of the Republic, with the idea of capturing the Prime Minister and parliament, and then slowly pocketing and starving out the remaining islands over time to quickly end what they perceived as another rebellion and get back to reorganizing and rebuilding the Imperium.
This did not go to plan.
From the outset the expedition was harried by large forces of smaller boats, who, individually, could only do small cuts against the much larger ships of the line, but when massed, proved to be exhausting to fight against, requiring very long shifts for Imperium sailors to deal with the constant hit and run tactics. What made an already bad situation worse was half of the task force was forced to divert before arrival to deal with the constant attacks on Imperial shipping, which had threatened to incite a rebellion among the merchants in the newly stabilized Vulpinsula. Thus, with half of its intended forces, it began to enter the island chain-only to find itself under fire by seemingly every island with even a hint of shrubbery on it as the defensive coastal batteries opened fire, with any attempts to land and repair met by large numbers of somewhat inexperienced, but full of heart, young Tookumberrians.
Thus, the battered fleet, which finally made it to the island of Great Took taking even more losses, and down to perhaps a quarter strength, began to open fire on the on the city with rolling broadsides, while its crew prepared to disembark to make their way to the parliament buildings. Initially, this seemed to be successful, with them meeting relatively little resistance, and much devastation being inflicted upon the chosen landing sites. It seemed as if things were finally going to go well-until suddenly the multitude of hidden coastal batteries, pre-sighted to the possible landing locations, opened fire on the massed Imperium troops, who, having no cover thanks to their own bombardment, were massacred. The coastal batteries then adjusted their fire to the remaining Imperium ships, damaging them severely and forcing them to retreat as battalions upon battalions of Republicans swarmed down on the barely functional survivors of the landing. The task force, designed to end the Republic in a swift stroke, made it out and back to the Imperium at a mere tenth of its former strength.
It was a shock to both Brudenell and Amélie, who had not anticipated such a fierce level of resistance. They thus decided to commit, with their remaining forces, to a policy of containment of the islands-cutting off their trade ships, ensuring outlying Imperial islands were firmly under their control, and protecting Imperial trade, while spending the next year and a half rebuilding and retraining their forces, deciding to leverage the strengths of their much larger population and resources much like the Tookumberrians had done theirs.
Finally, in the summer of 1752, a grand armada, and many battalions of professional troops were ready, leaving only token forces to protect the Imperium itself-helped by the fact that Alkamar had finally fallen to the chaos that had infected every other nation, and that the Ryalors had managed to regain enough control to block any large shipments of material from Fyador. It had been decided that they would have to engage in a brutal island hopping campaign, attacking and clearing each one individually, before moving on to the next. The resulting campaign as the bloodiest by far of the entire civil war, with some Imperial historians suggesting sixty to even eighty percent of the total casualties coming from the intense fighting. Entire islands were turned into blackened warzones, and many smaller waterways became impassable due to the corpses of ships that blocked them. Yet, slowly but surely, the forces of the Republic of Tookumberry were beaten back, until soon the enemy was once more at the gates of Tortooka.
At this point, Prime Minister Burnet, knowing that the war was lost despite his best efforts and that further bloodshed only be for his own ego, offered terms of surrender to General Amélie with the approval of the parliament, and the two even met each other and had what seemed to be quite the extended conversation, both unusual beasts in power for their time-one, a cripple, and the other, a femme in a uniform. The terms included a near-total amnesty for those who fought, in exchange for swearing loyalty to whoever would head the Imperium after the war-an interesting clause, given that Brudenell was still the Lord-Protector of the Imperium. Burnet and the parliamentarians, of course, would have to forever renounce their involvement in public politics, on pain of death, and accept being held under guard for the remainder of the lives. Nevertheless, the agreement was signed, and members of parliament soon went out to convince the rest of the republican forces to turn in their arms and weaponry, and to cease fighting, although some diehard holdouts refused and had to be put down by force, and more than a few ships of the Republic’s Navy refused to return to port, heading to destinations underknown.
Curiously, around the time that Amélie staged her coup and proclaimed herself Empress, Burnet’s household suddenly burst aflame in the middle of the night, unusually hot, much to the shock of his staff and the guards. When the fire cleared, the entire house was filled with ash-there were not even signs of corpses, nor was his fabled silver-gilded metal cane anywhere to be found. Rumors abounded that perhaps with the aide of some Republican loyalists he had staged his own death and made if off Tookumberry to lands unknown. This suspicion is further backed up, when, a year later, letters under different names but that used republican codes and championed Burnetism began to circulate to the various groups seeking a restoration of the republic, this time Imperium wide, peacefully or otherwise. They seem to, at some points, praise the Empress for pushing some reforms, such as integrating woodlanders further into the Imperium, and experimenting with the foundation of a welfare state, while criticizing her for centralizing power to herself and still maintaining many aspects of the oppressive ancient regime and suppressing republican elements. This more balanced approach has quietly begun to win over more than a few beasts, as it is not straight propaganda, but quite valid criticisms of the current system. The letters do seem, for some reason, to have something of a time lag of six months, indicating that if Burnet had indeed survived and decided to restart his campaign of pushing for a republic, he has chosen to do so far from Imperial shores-and Imperial agents for whom he is likely Public Enemy Number One.
Tookumberry Today
Legacy of the Republic
Many beasts, despite pledging themselves to the Imperium, still hold Republican loyalties in their hearts, and it is rumored that something of a united underground resistance is forming to espouse Burnetism, both at home and in the other other provinces of the Imperium, although the movement seems split on whether to advance the cause of republicanism peacefully or through violent means. Parades and celebrations celebrating the reunification of Tookumberry into the Imperium are widely celebrated and attended, but perhaps not for the reasons that those in government think, as macademia nuts, the symbol of the Republic are quite popular at these events, and the graves of many former Republicans are visited and adorned with Imperial flags to be “patriotic”. Indeed, the legacy of the Republic can be even be felt in Amarone with the Empress’s policies, with the push for greater equality for woodlanders, the idea of Imperial citizens having a right to basic food and welfare being in its prototype stages, and the establishment of the Ministry of Justice to codify Imperial law and make it less arbitrary. Although known to her and her closest confidantes alone, such as the Duke of Westisle, the Empress has conceded that eventually she will not be able to stop the forces leading to more republican liberalization in the future, only attempt to control and guide it in such a manner to prevent another civil war and to allow her to retain as many powers as possible under an eventual constitutional monarchy.
Locations
Valles Mensa
The newest addition to the Province of Tookumberry, strategic set of islands was one of the first, and perhaps the riskiest, campaign that the Empress embarked on as soon as she was secure on her throne. With Alkamar finally succumbing to the chaos that had hit most other powers earlier in late 1752 to early 1753, she saw it as the time to strike and take the key islands and fortresses before she would have to begin the full demobilization of forces raised for the Tookumberry campaign in order to balance the Imperial budget. Hardened veterans of the Imperial Civil War slammed into the increasingly decrepit fortresses filled with outnumbered, underequipped, undertrained, and demoralized Alkamarian troops, most of whom were only left there as a token force while the rest went to deal with Alkamar’s internal conflicts. The fighting was said to last a mere six hours before a total capitulation was called and the Alkmarian garrison shipped back in disgrace to their homeland.
In the years sense the war, the fortresses have been repaired, expanded, and fitted with cannon, and guarded vigilantly by some of the Imperial Army’s most veteran troops, and is a regular stop of the Eastern Squadron to ward off Alkamarian aggression. In recent years there have been several instances of close calls, and growing tensions around the Imperial occupation of the islands, but so far these instances have always been avoided turning violent at the very last possible moment. It has said that this has become quite the contentious issue in Alkamar, and rumors abound of plots and schemes to weaken the Imperium so that they may reoccupy what they consider to be rightfully “theirs”.
Croper's Cove
Croper's Cove is a small cove in Tookumberry, on an island that has yet to be named for unknown reasons. Though small, the sandy shore along the cove's length is composed of almost entirely black sand, the only known shore of its kind in the Imperium. You'd think this alone would be enough to give it attention, but no. Most beasts couldn't care less about the color of the sand. It's just sand, after all. What intrigues most beasts is what could potentially be under the sand. A local legend claims that the cove was once the hideout of the Ivory Corsairs, a band of successful pirates, in days of yore. Furthermore, it states that one out of every five pirates has their stash on the cove (usually idiots who believe in fictitious ideas of pirates burying their booty), that sometimes you can just stick a spade in the ground, without a map at all, and strike gold.
Great Took
Great Took, formally known as East Tookumberry, is the capital and trading center of Tookumberry, the jewel in its crown being the city of Toortooka, which has seen it be the seat of power in the region for both the proto-socialist government, the Imperium government, the republican government, and then the Imperium government again. It is the most developed by far of all the islands, having significant light industry and modest shipbuilding capabilities, and is even assigned its own special Imperial army battalion for its safety (and the safety of the Imperium, should certain ideas get popular again beyond wishful thinking). It is known for having a gentle tropical climate, scenic views, waterfalls, and being an excellent tourist destination.
Berford Island
This small, sandy little island north of Great Took is surprisingly infamous for such a benign looking place. The only foliage being swaying sea grasses and a few washy palms, it has been the sight of many a marooning. The bones of unfortunate sailors are said to lie buried just under the sand, and great care is taken to avoid this island. Unless, of course, you're a scoudrel that wants to maroon someone. Then this island fits the bill perfectly.
Legend also has it a mysterious phantom vessel can be seen on moonless night in the waters surrounding Breford Island, sailing in circles around it as if on patrol. Some say it is crewed by the poor, restless souls who met their ends stranded there, but that doesn't make sense. If they were marooned, why would they have a ship? Most say it's rubbish, and that it should be ignored. However, this doesn't stop beasts from taking the long way around when there's no moon out.
Tucket Rock
A barren, rocky island in the seas between Wultlie Lagoon and Croper's Cove. Tucket Rock is too bleak and inhospitible for anybeast to live on. Its mostly windswept, its windward shore a craggy cliff face leading straight into crashing waves below while its leeward side is little more than a sharp, stony slope with a few scraggly plant here an there. The only creatures that live there are wild seabirds, which nest within the Rock's outcrops and ledges. The sound of their wheeling cries can be heard above the surf near the island (and sometimes the smell of the birds will overpower any brine in the air).
Sailors treat Tucket Rock as a sort of landmark, usually passing it or traveling around it on voyages in Tookumberry. Many a sea shanty has mentioned the Rock in its lyrics (and many more the aroma of the birds nesting there). Incidentally, the Rock is also popular for bird-hunting.
Wultlie Lagoon
What is the Province of Tookumberry?
The province of Tookumberry is a set of Imperial-controlled islands set largely to the southeast of Vulpinsula and northwest of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. These islands range from the largest ones dignified with names and dotted with extensive tropical forests and smaller hills and mountains, such Great Took, to small, nameless ones that are barely above sea level and at best have a palm tree or two. It is noted for having a tropical climate capable of year-round cultivation which is used for extremely profitable cash crops despite being a further north than what its location might otherwise suggest, something that has proved to be one of the most frustrating unsolved questions to Imperial scientists which can, and often does, lead to pawfights over competing theories, and one of its most valuable assets. It, along with the Eastern Island Chain, also secures the Imperium’s eastern flank from foreign attacks.
What is the Eastern Island Chain?
Much like the Western Island Chain of Westisle, the Eastern Island Chain is a series of fortresses, garrisons, and military ports designed to protect the Imperium’s eastern flank. It stretches from the historically heavily contested Valles Mensa islands to the north, to Tookumberry proper in the center, to finally being anchored to the Mahsterious Sathern Continent at Alton Bay to the south. It, like the Western Island Chain, is protected by a dedicated squadron of Imperial ships of the line, requiring opponents to otherwise redirect, distract, or overwhelm it to slip through the cracks.
What are the demographics of Tookumberry?
Tookumberry is the sole Imperial province where woodlanders decisively outnumber vermin, the largest, most populated islands having been a proto-socialist independent woodlander protectorate of the Imperium with a comparatively small amount of vermin on the minor outlying islands until it was seized by force in 1748 to maintain law and order and to desperately try to feed Vulpinsula proper. Following the establishment of the Tookumberry Republic, idealistic beasts of all species flocked to join its banners, and while many points of debate hamstrung the young republic, the idea that vermin and woodlanders should have equal rights found the most traction here, and that general idea has persisted, and has continued to be promoted, by the Empress’s new administration. It is, much like the rest of the Imperium, depopulated from the famines, diseases, and especially the civil war from 1748-1753, suffering perhaps the single most crippling loss of population out of the entire Imperium with over fifty percent of the entire population dying as it was already overpopulated prior to those events. Although a tragedy for those who lived through those times, the relief from such pressures has drastically improved the lives of those who still remain alive.
What is the economy of the Tookumberry like?
Due to its unique position being able to cultivate crops year-round along with fertile volcanic soils, it has become a haven for cash crops in the aftermath after being reabsorbed into the Imperium. It exports to the rest of the provinces a steady supply of “coughee”, sugar, rum, molasses, fruits, cocoa, tobacco, spices, cotton, indigo, and other goods, and imports refined industrial goods, timber, military equippment, larger ships, basic agricultural goods, and essentially the rest of what it needs, enabling it to maximize the amount of land used for cultivation and refinement of such precious crops. It has a strong secondary industry in fishing, with many of the islanders supplementing imported food with local delicacies from the sea, and another in repairing, building, and maintaining ships, especially of the smaller and more nimble variety such as fifth-class ships of the line and below. It is considered perhaps the most valuable province of the Imperium in terms of value per citizen, but problems have been arising in recent years. Although initially having a relatively small wealth gap due to its more socialist and republican heritage when it was reclaimed for the Imperium, in recent years more and more of the locals have been found themselves selling, willingly or otherwise, their smaller holdings to larger landowners, often from Vulpinsula, and being forced to work on them as tenant farmers to make ends meet. This has led to a growing amount of resentment and frustration, and has kept the embers of the Tookumberry Republic alive in hushed tones and in secret meetings beneath the suspicious eyes of the Imperial military and Misanthropy agents. It whispered that the Empress is well-aware of such problems, and tries her best to curb the worst excesses, but is limited in what she can do, needing the higher tax revenue such larger holders provide to stabilize the rest of the Imperium.
What are the naming conventions for beasts from Tookumberry?
With the Imperium accepting more and more foreign cultures, any name can be made to work, but the natives tend to have a mixture of British and French names, or being named after something having to do with their characteristics, such as, say, Silvertongue Songfox, a charismatic fox who likes to play music.
Are there any particular languages besides Vulpinsulan spoken in the Province?
It tends to be mostly Vulpinsulan, but due to its high woodlander population, a number of offshoots have developed, likely imported from the lands south of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. This can be most notably seen with squirrels, hares, shrews, and uncivilized vermin, and, while generally intelligible to proper civilized Imperial gennelbeasts, can be painful to listen to if one is not used to them.
What is the general culture of the province of Tookumberry?
It tends towards a more loose form of the native Vulpinsulan culture of the Imperium, but it is much more egalitarian, even beyond that of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent, a legacy of the proto-socialist protectorate state and the republic that followed. The distinction between vermin and woodlander is effectively nonexistent for beasts hailing from this province aside from the occasional joke or two, and they are often shocked to see serious discrimination in the other provinces. They are a people known for their strong sense of independence, and while all decrees from Amarone are enforced, some are much less so than others because the local Fogeys and garrisons would prefer not to reenact the nightmarish Imperial Civil War campaign fighting through jungles, hills, and across various islands in often-blistering heat if they push too hard.
Aside from that, they are known to look out for each other with a strong sense of community and solidarity, and when disasters such as pirate raids or strong storms strike, it is not uncommon for communities to help each other long before any representative of the Imperium proper shows up outside of the main cities, and tend to generally take care of most of their own internal policing and affairs, with local Fogeys only showing up for the most serious and persistent crimes or issues, turning a blind eye or only imposing minor sentences for many other minor crimes so long as the tax income flows and there is no blatantly obvious disrespect of Imperial authority.
What is the history of the Tookumberry Province and what role did it play in recent events?
For many years Tookumberry was a relatively peaceful, proto-socialist woodlander protectorate of the Imperium, where in exchange for a suitable amount of taxation, the Imperium would protect it from the predations of pirates and attacks by foreign powers. This led it to prosper, and, some might say, prosper a bit too much, as the island had reached its already high carrying capacity and then some by the time of the solar flares and the subsequent revolutions of 1748. The Imperium, under Lord-Protector Willard Brudenell’s leadership, seized direct control of the protectorate in a desperate attempt to alleviate the rapidly worsening conditions in Vulpinsula proper and prevent famine, figuring, in a cold sort of way, that once Vulpinsula was stabilized, they would then be able to deal with any problems in the provinces-peacefully or otherwise. At this time, Tookumberry had not yet transitioned over fully to cash crops, meaning it could provide substantial agricultural relief to the beasts on Vulpinsula proper. This, however, would soon cause great discontent as they were now exporting food at a time when they desperately needed to conserve it. Unrest continued to grow, especially as new diseases suddenly struck the island and its now malnourished population, resulting in many deaths.
The spark that would trigger the revolution was the outbreak of civil war on Vulpinsula proper and a massacre by the remaining Imperium troops in a desperate attempt to contain unrest. Following the outbreak of fighting between those who wished to crown a new Emperor or Empress and those loyal to the Lord-Protector, only a relatively token force was left in the Province as both ships and battalions were rapidly rushed back to the mainland. The governor, a stoat with a military background named Jonathan Winslow, and his lieutenant governor, a diminutive tuxedo wildcat with a leg crippled by an early kithood accident named William Burnet, tried their best to maintain order, although it was rumored there was bad blood between the two. Winslow insisted on keeping faith with the exact orders from Brudenell, claiming that the rebels would be crushed soon if they did so and then everything could be relaxed, while Burnet argued that such was not given in any way and that they needed to cut back on the shipments to Vulpinsula to stabilize the province immediately.
It was not long before Burnet was proven to be correct. On Smarch 15th, 1749, a large, hungry crowd arrived in front of the governor’s mansion at Tortooka, the capital of Great Took, demanding that the exports of food cease and that the granaries be let open. Winslow attempted to convince them otherwise, and deployed one of his few remaining companies in front of the palace, with orders to push back the crowd, but to do so peacefully. Unfortunately, being greatly outnumbered, and being relatively fresh and inexperienced troops with the veterans being recalled to Vulpinsula, a young officer panicked and ordered his squad to open fire with their crossbows in what would later be known as the Tortookan Massacre, made worse by the fact that several kits and elderly were hit. This enraged the crowd, who then attacked and overwhelmed the company, and stormed the governor’s palace, dragging out Winslow and hanging him right then and there.
Burnet, for his part, was spared as it had been known he was advocating for the welfare of the native Tookumberrians and had argued against the deployment of troops, although he was stripped of his rank and became just another citizen. Soon after, all of the remaining garrisons and much of the remaining Navy either fled or joined up with the rebels, hopelessly outnumbered or sickened by the deliberate starvation and then massacre of their fellow islanders. A republic, the Republic of Tookumberry, was declared, modeled, in many ways, after the old proto-socialist state, along with a parliament. Its flag was a green background with a golden macademia nut at its center, symbolizing the resilience of the people and how hard they are to crack.
The new Republic, however, was beset by fierce internal debates which hampered its ability to capitalize on the chaos in Vulpinsula and other areas of the Imperium. Many ideological factions arose with different motives and goals, along with differing ideas on how to fight the war or even if they should and not just negotiate for independence in exchange for a treaty. Eventually two main parties arose, those wishing for a more traditional, capitalistic republic which they argued would be more productive and lead to great overall prosperity in the long-term, and those wanting to return to the old, proto-socialist ways with stronger protections for workers and the poor, but neither could seem to claim a majority in conjunction with the various minor parties.
Soon, the rest of 1749 came and went, and 1750 came and continued on, with worrying reports coming in from Vulpinsula that the stalemate which had afforded them time to consider was beginning to shift in favor of the Brudenell administration, especially the development of a new and terrible weapon called a “cannon”. At this point, Burnet, who had been religiously attending the meetings of parliament moved to take the stage. In a long, passionate speech, he denounced his former allegiance to the Imperium, and offered a solution to the debate, being an economist by trade. He successfully argued that it was now time to put aside their differences, and, being a former MinoComm economist by trade, argued for a mixture of the two systems that would become known as Burnetism-capitalism would be the normal order of the day in order to account for its efficiency, but its social externalities would be smoothed out by being subjected to the conditions of the nation and people in times of crisis, and that there would be a minimum standard of living guaranteed by the government sufficient to maintain dignity for those unable to work.
It was thus that he was finally able to unite the two main factions, and, in a shocking move, the crippled, calmly-spoken wildcat was elected as Prime Minister, which he took to with an unusual gusto. He secured the allegiance of the remaining minor and more extremist parties by promising them that there would be more elections and discussions after the war was won, and for those who would not agree to this, he was able to successfully negotiate a secret agreement with the rest of the parties to effectively sideline them and keep them under close watch.
Burnet, much like his general economic policy, soon turned with a similar mindset towards preparing Tookumberry for the inevitable Imperial counterassault, with the idea of fighting the war according to national conditions as well. He abandoned the idea of trying to build up a traditional battlefleet to match the Imperium’s, deciding instead to focus on the mass production of smaller ships of fifth-rate ships of the line which and below which Tookumberry specialized in to harass Imperial shipping and lay ambushes in the many narrow straits and shallower seas between the isles. He was able to leverage sympathetic members of the lower class in the Imperium proper to steal the designs for cannons, which he immediately placed into production for use in these smaller vessels and in hidden defensive positions, knowing that while they could produce some, they could not hope to match the Imperium’s industrial output, so they had to be used wisely. He also sought, and received, foreign aide from at least three nations, ranging from materials, to weapons, to even some small expeditions of military officers and beasts-namely Suzky’s Republic in Northern Fyador who were sympathetic to the idea of another democracy, the Fyadoran Civil Union in Southern Fyador who were supportive of the more socialist aspects of the republic, and Alkamar, who, despite being in its own severe troubles, relished any opportunity to crack down on their hated foe.
In addition to the above, in perhaps a first in recorded history, Burnet came up with the idea of a total economic and social mobilization of the population in order to defend the nation in order to account for the manpower and industry disparity between it and the Imperium. Every young, unmarried beast would fight, every married beast would assist in the production and transport of arms or make necessary materials such as tents and clothing and serve in hospitals, kits would do what they could, and even old beasts would do their part by spending their days in the public squares and visiting the troops to give rousing speeches, or, more often, simply hate on the numerous failed aspects of the Imperium. The idea with all of the reforms was to make it far too costly for the Imperium to retake the islands, and force them into a negotiated peace.
The Monarchists were finally defeated at the end of 1750, their last bastions submitting to General Amélie and her forces, who quickly seized the relevant military hardware and many of the larger ships of the line, and moved to reopen communications with the forces on the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. At this point, she and Brudenell met, and agreed that the threat of an independent state in the heart of the Imperium with ties to potentially hostile, and, in Alkamar’s case, most definitely hostile foreign powers could not be tolerated. Plans were drawn up for a quick, two-pronged decapitation attack on Toortooka, the capital of the Republic, with the idea of capturing the Prime Minister and parliament, and then slowly pocketing and starving out the remaining islands over time to quickly end what they perceived as another rebellion and get back to reorganizing and rebuilding the Imperium.
This did not go to plan.
From the outset the expedition was harried by large forces of smaller boats, who, individually, could only do small cuts against the much larger ships of the line, but when massed, proved to be exhausting to fight against, requiring very long shifts for Imperium sailors to deal with the constant hit and run tactics. What made an already bad situation worse was half of the task force was forced to divert before arrival to deal with the constant attacks on Imperial shipping, which had threatened to incite a rebellion among the merchants in the newly stabilized Vulpinsula. Thus, with half of its intended forces, it began to enter the island chain-only to find itself under fire by seemingly every island with even a hint of shrubbery on it as the defensive coastal batteries opened fire, with any attempts to land and repair met by large numbers of somewhat inexperienced, but full of heart, young Tookumberrians.
Thus, the battered fleet, which finally made it to the island of Great Took taking even more losses, and down to perhaps a quarter strength, began to open fire on the on the city with rolling broadsides, while its crew prepared to disembark to make their way to the parliament buildings. Initially, this seemed to be successful, with them meeting relatively little resistance, and much devastation being inflicted upon the chosen landing sites. It seemed as if things were finally going to go well-until suddenly the multitude of hidden coastal batteries, pre-sighted to the possible landing locations, opened fire on the massed Imperium troops, who, having no cover thanks to their own bombardment, were massacred. The coastal batteries then adjusted their fire to the remaining Imperium ships, damaging them severely and forcing them to retreat as battalions upon battalions of Republicans swarmed down on the barely functional survivors of the landing. The task force, designed to end the Republic in a swift stroke, made it out and back to the Imperium at a mere tenth of its former strength.
It was a shock to both Brudenell and Amélie, who had not anticipated such a fierce level of resistance. They thus decided to commit, with their remaining forces, to a policy of containment of the islands-cutting off their trade ships, ensuring outlying Imperial islands were firmly under their control, and protecting Imperial trade, while spending the next year and a half rebuilding and retraining their forces, deciding to leverage the strengths of their much larger population and resources much like the Tookumberrians had done theirs.
Finally, in the summer of 1752, a grand armada, and many battalions of professional troops were ready, leaving only token forces to protect the Imperium itself-helped by the fact that Alkamar had finally fallen to the chaos that had infected every other nation, and that the Ryalors had managed to regain enough control to block any large shipments of material from Fyador. It had been decided that they would have to engage in a brutal island hopping campaign, attacking and clearing each one individually, before moving on to the next. The resulting campaign as the bloodiest by far of the entire civil war, with some Imperial historians suggesting sixty to even eighty percent of the total casualties coming from the intense fighting. Entire islands were turned into blackened warzones, and many smaller waterways became impassable due to the corpses of ships that blocked them. Yet, slowly but surely, the forces of the Republic of Tookumberry were beaten back, until soon the enemy was once more at the gates of Tortooka.
At this point, Prime Minister Burnet, knowing that the war was lost despite his best efforts and that further bloodshed only be for his own ego, offered terms of surrender to General Amélie with the approval of the parliament, and the two even met each other and had what seemed to be quite the extended conversation, both unusual beasts in power for their time-one, a cripple, and the other, a femme in a uniform. The terms included a near-total amnesty for those who fought, in exchange for swearing loyalty to whoever would head the Imperium after the war-an interesting clause, given that Brudenell was still the Lord-Protector of the Imperium. Burnet and the parliamentarians, of course, would have to forever renounce their involvement in public politics, on pain of death, and accept being held under guard for the remainder of the lives. Nevertheless, the agreement was signed, and members of parliament soon went out to convince the rest of the republican forces to turn in their arms and weaponry, and to cease fighting, although some diehard holdouts refused and had to be put down by force, and more than a few ships of the Republic’s Navy refused to return to port, heading to destinations underknown.
Curiously, around the time that Amélie staged her coup and proclaimed herself Empress, Burnet’s household suddenly burst aflame in the middle of the night, unusually hot, much to the shock of his staff and the guards. When the fire cleared, the entire house was filled with ash-there were not even signs of corpses, nor was his fabled silver-gilded metal cane anywhere to be found. Rumors abounded that perhaps with the aide of some Republican loyalists he had staged his own death and made if off Tookumberry to lands unknown. This suspicion is further backed up, when, a year later, letters under different names but that used republican codes and championed Burnetism began to circulate to the various groups seeking a restoration of the republic, this time Imperium wide, peacefully or otherwise. They seem to, at some points, praise the Empress for pushing some reforms, such as integrating woodlanders further into the Imperium, and experimenting with the foundation of a welfare state, while criticizing her for centralizing power to herself and still maintaining many aspects of the oppressive ancient regime and suppressing republican elements. This more balanced approach has quietly begun to win over more than a few beasts, as it is not straight propaganda, but quite valid criticisms of the current system. The letters do seem, for some reason, to have something of a time lag of six months, indicating that if Burnet had indeed survived and decided to restart his campaign of pushing for a republic, he has chosen to do so far from Imperial shores-and Imperial agents for whom he is likely Public Enemy Number One.
Tookumberry Today
Legacy of the Republic
Many beasts, despite pledging themselves to the Imperium, still hold Republican loyalties in their hearts, and it is rumored that something of a united underground resistance is forming to espouse Burnetism, both at home and in the other other provinces of the Imperium, although the movement seems split on whether to advance the cause of republicanism peacefully or through violent means. Parades and celebrations celebrating the reunification of Tookumberry into the Imperium are widely celebrated and attended, but perhaps not for the reasons that those in government think, as macademia nuts, the symbol of the Republic are quite popular at these events, and the graves of many former Republicans are visited and adorned with Imperial flags to be “patriotic”. Indeed, the legacy of the Republic can be even be felt in Amarone with the Empress’s policies, with the push for greater equality for woodlanders, the idea of Imperial citizens having a right to basic food and welfare being in its prototype stages, and the establishment of the Ministry of Justice to codify Imperial law and make it less arbitrary. Although known to her and her closest confidantes alone, such as the Duke of Westisle, the Empress has conceded that eventually she will not be able to stop the forces leading to more republican liberalization in the future, only attempt to control and guide it in such a manner to prevent another civil war and to allow her to retain as many powers as possible under an eventual constitutional monarchy.
Locations
Valles Mensa
The newest addition to the Province of Tookumberry, strategic set of islands was one of the first, and perhaps the riskiest, campaign that the Empress embarked on as soon as she was secure on her throne. With Alkamar finally succumbing to the chaos that had hit most other powers earlier in late 1752 to early 1753, she saw it as the time to strike and take the key islands and fortresses before she would have to begin the full demobilization of forces raised for the Tookumberry campaign in order to balance the Imperial budget. Hardened veterans of the Imperial Civil War slammed into the increasingly decrepit fortresses filled with outnumbered, underequipped, undertrained, and demoralized Alkamarian troops, most of whom were only left there as a token force while the rest went to deal with Alkamar’s internal conflicts. The fighting was said to last a mere six hours before a total capitulation was called and the Alkmarian garrison shipped back in disgrace to their homeland.
In the years sense the war, the fortresses have been repaired, expanded, and fitted with cannon, and guarded vigilantly by some of the Imperial Army’s most veteran troops, and is a regular stop of the Eastern Squadron to ward off Alkamarian aggression. In recent years there have been several instances of close calls, and growing tensions around the Imperial occupation of the islands, but so far these instances have always been avoided turning violent at the very last possible moment. It has said that this has become quite the contentious issue in Alkamar, and rumors abound of plots and schemes to weaken the Imperium so that they may reoccupy what they consider to be rightfully “theirs”.
Croper's Cove
Croper's Cove is a small cove in Tookumberry, on an island that has yet to be named for unknown reasons. Though small, the sandy shore along the cove's length is composed of almost entirely black sand, the only known shore of its kind in the Imperium. You'd think this alone would be enough to give it attention, but no. Most beasts couldn't care less about the color of the sand. It's just sand, after all. What intrigues most beasts is what could potentially be under the sand. A local legend claims that the cove was once the hideout of the Ivory Corsairs, a band of successful pirates, in days of yore. Furthermore, it states that one out of every five pirates has their stash on the cove (usually idiots who believe in fictitious ideas of pirates burying their booty), that sometimes you can just stick a spade in the ground, without a map at all, and strike gold.
Great Took
Great Took, formally known as East Tookumberry, is the capital and trading center of Tookumberry, the jewel in its crown being the city of Toortooka, which has seen it be the seat of power in the region for both the proto-socialist government, the Imperium government, the republican government, and then the Imperium government again. It is the most developed by far of all the islands, having significant light industry and modest shipbuilding capabilities, and is even assigned its own special Imperial army battalion for its safety (and the safety of the Imperium, should certain ideas get popular again beyond wishful thinking). It is known for having a gentle tropical climate, scenic views, waterfalls, and being an excellent tourist destination.
Berford Island
This small, sandy little island north of Great Took is surprisingly infamous for such a benign looking place. The only foliage being swaying sea grasses and a few washy palms, it has been the sight of many a marooning. The bones of unfortunate sailors are said to lie buried just under the sand, and great care is taken to avoid this island. Unless, of course, you're a scoudrel that wants to maroon someone. Then this island fits the bill perfectly.
Legend also has it a mysterious phantom vessel can be seen on moonless night in the waters surrounding Breford Island, sailing in circles around it as if on patrol. Some say it is crewed by the poor, restless souls who met their ends stranded there, but that doesn't make sense. If they were marooned, why would they have a ship? Most say it's rubbish, and that it should be ignored. However, this doesn't stop beasts from taking the long way around when there's no moon out.
Tucket Rock
A barren, rocky island in the seas between Wultlie Lagoon and Croper's Cove. Tucket Rock is too bleak and inhospitible for anybeast to live on. Its mostly windswept, its windward shore a craggy cliff face leading straight into crashing waves below while its leeward side is little more than a sharp, stony slope with a few scraggly plant here an there. The only creatures that live there are wild seabirds, which nest within the Rock's outcrops and ledges. The sound of their wheeling cries can be heard above the surf near the island (and sometimes the smell of the birds will overpower any brine in the air).
Sailors treat Tucket Rock as a sort of landmark, usually passing it or traveling around it on voyages in Tookumberry. Many a sea shanty has mentioned the Rock in its lyrics (and many more the aroma of the birds nesting there). Incidentally, the Rock is also popular for bird-hunting.
Wultlie Lagoon
A popular vacation spot, Wultlie Lagoon is a sheltered area of remarkably clear water north of Croper's Cove. Surrounded by high, fern-covered cliffs, this lagoon is home to many dazzling species of fish and sea creatures. Diving is very popular here for those who can hold their breath long enough, as nearly all the creatures living in the lagoon are harmless. Occasionally, however, a less friendly (and more hungry) creature pays the lagoon a visit, so diving is done at one's own risk.
The waters of the lagoon are fairly shallow, and as such few large vessels will willingly sail into it. The evidence of one such folly still remains in the form of a grounded galleon near the northwest part of the lagoon. The Mother of Pearl restaurant currently operates from the refurbished wreck, serving fine seafood cuisine in a nautical atmosphere. It caters largely to the visiting elite, though the upper decks are open for anyone willing to spend hefty gilders on fresh-caught delicacies. Supposedly, the Empress herself dines there on occasion, and gives the restaurant top marks. Thus, the Mother of Pearl enjoys the status of the East Tookumberry Key's most popular eatery.
Resolution
Resolution is a low ring of an island near the East Tookumberry Key and the Sea of Pleasantries, near also to Vulpinsula. It is dry, boring, and a test of self-control and determination. Even interesting weather seems to skirt these islands for the more lush, interesting islands of the Key, making it generally dusty and almost blandly clear seemingly all the time. It produces luxuries, fish, spices, candles and needs cloth, timber, grain, potatoes, berries, and grapes and It is a regular stop on the Bully Harbour - Pricklee Pointe – Great Took merchant run.
The island, dull as it is, is known for three things: a place to careen one's ship, the origin of the term "island fever," and the site of the Imperium's only saltwater lake. Careening seems to be the only thing that brings ships to the island these days.
Grunsfield
An islet just of Resolution's northern coast. Grunsfeld is a bleak, sandy place. Hot, dry and dismal, not many venture to this island. There's no point to, really, since there's nothing there but sand and the occasional boulder. At the dead center of the island, however, sits the only sight of interest; the dusty and abandoned relic of the Cabin Fever, the only tavern in the area of several miles once upon a time. It didn't enjoy the best business, and its poor location made it the only interesting thing in the area of Resolution for awhile, which is not saying much. What fate befell the place is shrouded in myth, but very few make an effort to go there. Some say it's haunted, while others claim a ghost would be right mad to want to come back to Grunsfeld at all. Thus, the sight is dismissed as a mediocre curiosity.
Coran
Coran is the nicest island around Resolution. It is vastly more interesting and exciting than the other islands in the chain. Unfortunately, that is not saying much.Coran has the largest settlement of the same name in the area, where it does meager trading with the East Tookumberry Key and Alton Bay to the south. Most beasts living on or around Resolution flock there, hoping for something to break the monotony of their lives. This results in a dirty, crowded little port with only one so-so tavern and scant few places to buy anything worthwhile. Unrest is fairly commonplace, as it gives the beasts there something to do. Naturally, most beasts give Coran a wide berth.
Welsith
Resolution is a low ring of an island near the East Tookumberry Key and the Sea of Pleasantries, near also to Vulpinsula. It is dry, boring, and a test of self-control and determination. Even interesting weather seems to skirt these islands for the more lush, interesting islands of the Key, making it generally dusty and almost blandly clear seemingly all the time. It produces luxuries, fish, spices, candles and needs cloth, timber, grain, potatoes, berries, and grapes and It is a regular stop on the Bully Harbour - Pricklee Pointe – Great Took merchant run.
The island, dull as it is, is known for three things: a place to careen one's ship, the origin of the term "island fever," and the site of the Imperium's only saltwater lake. Careening seems to be the only thing that brings ships to the island these days.
Grunsfield
An islet just of Resolution's northern coast. Grunsfeld is a bleak, sandy place. Hot, dry and dismal, not many venture to this island. There's no point to, really, since there's nothing there but sand and the occasional boulder. At the dead center of the island, however, sits the only sight of interest; the dusty and abandoned relic of the Cabin Fever, the only tavern in the area of several miles once upon a time. It didn't enjoy the best business, and its poor location made it the only interesting thing in the area of Resolution for awhile, which is not saying much. What fate befell the place is shrouded in myth, but very few make an effort to go there. Some say it's haunted, while others claim a ghost would be right mad to want to come back to Grunsfeld at all. Thus, the sight is dismissed as a mediocre curiosity.
Coran
Coran is the nicest island around Resolution. It is vastly more interesting and exciting than the other islands in the chain. Unfortunately, that is not saying much.Coran has the largest settlement of the same name in the area, where it does meager trading with the East Tookumberry Key and Alton Bay to the south. Most beasts living on or around Resolution flock there, hoping for something to break the monotony of their lives. This results in a dirty, crowded little port with only one so-so tavern and scant few places to buy anything worthwhile. Unrest is fairly commonplace, as it gives the beasts there something to do. Naturally, most beasts give Coran a wide berth.
Welsith
A tiny spit of island off Resolution. The largest debate on the drearily boring island of Welsith is, "is it an island at all?" Due to many misprints in nearly every map available, and a sandbar which is above the water level once every twenty-three years, it is almost a debatable point. Do not get into this argument with a creature from Welsith. With nothing else to do, they'll likely make great sport of it. Like the other islands around Resolution, there's not much to be said for Welsith.
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