Colloquially known as "The Dragon Archipelago", the Everstar Isles are a collection of islands located south west of Ya'jar and Falanar proper.
"Though it took me most of my trip to even learn the proper name of the islands, the archipelago did not fail to deliver on its nickname nor its rumoured splendor. In its prime the isles were a peaceful and pastel coloured dream and home to every colour of dragon you could imagine, but now I learn the isles have given way to conflict and strife, some well hidden and some not. Though the southern Rot once threatened the whole of the Isles, it is nothing less than the total civil war nearing its boiling point that could tear them all apart."
- Erris Marr, Falanar's Best Kept Secrets
Geography
The Everstar Isles are a group of islands forming a roughly circular archipelago within the Undying Sea and sitting just north of the Amethyst sea. They lay roughly 450 kilometers to the southwest of Ya'jar and directly west of The Great Swamp
Along the coasts of the isles, long and welcoming beaches of soft sand were found with a few exceptions such as the Rotted Scar and Sabrelot which were comprised of pebbles and rocks. Tides had little impact on the isles, as even when the tide was low the beaches would only gain a few meters of extra area before significant dropoffs would plunge into the ocean once more. The isles weren't known for their inclement weather, though during rainfall or windy days the coastlines could be treacherous due to strong waves. The coastline itself is rough and hosts a myriad of coves and bays, as well as many inlets that allowed relatively safe passage even during storms.
Remaining coastlines were marred with jagged and unforgiving rocks of the many mountainous ranges found along the archipelago. Sabrelot's tall slate cliffs mirrored by the Hoarfrost Waste's stark white marble made docking on either island difficult.
Further to the east, difficult swampland makes travel particularly difficult as almost ten percent of the ground is quicksand. A foul sulfur smell lingers in the air almost perpetually and the sun is swallowed by high tree canopies, much of the island's dangerous wildlife resides here.
Freshwater streams and lakes are quite common on the isles typically running down from the many mountain ranges and the springs that tend to form up there. The islands are also home to some safe rivers that boats could use to travel around inland without too much worry, though there were a few rapids to worry about in certain stretches.
Mountains and highlands make up much of the Everstar Isles terrain, the highest peaks ranging between 2000 to 2400 meters in height, most of them cracked and eaten away by centuries of erosion making travel over top the mountains exceedingly difficult and dangerous. Tunnels that dig through these mountains into winding and twisting paths are not uncommon at all and most ranges have at least half a dozen different passages through them that have been dug out throughout the ages.
Weather
The Everstar Isles climate is quite forgiving, with short and relatively forgiving winters and long stretches of warm weather. Spring generally came in the early months while winter didn't arrive until the later stretch of the year, typically lasting from the last month of the year to the third. Light snowfall and average cold temperatures are to be expected, but historically winter has not impacted every day life beyond the shifting of duties and the halting of planting and harvesting. The warmer months being longer mean that it is more common for the Isles to have hotter days on average, with some of the summer months being quite unforgiving in the heat, and because there is nowhere to escape from the water on the isles the weather is perpetually humid.
Rain was common in most places, though severe storms were very rare. However, during the worst storms the swells from the water could be so bad the sea would become completely impossible to navigate for the duration.
Following The Glassing of Torrint's Seat, the weather of the Rotten Scar and Torrint's Seat can sometimes become acidic rain, further damaging the ruined structures.
Flora & Fauna
Most of the islands are covered in thick forests of aspen, oak, maple, and yew trees. The thick undergrowth in these forests tended to make travel difficult outside of game trails or man-made paths. The plant growth in some of the denser areas was thick enough to choke out the wind and hold the humid air in during the summer months, making it very unpleasant to be in for long stretches of time. During the winter, most of the trees dropped their leaves and the undergrowth died off which made travel generally easier.
The islands are home also to forests of pine, cedar, and spruce which had little undergrowth but simply covered the ground with needles. These forests are typically found in Thunderstar, as the higher terrain affords them very comfortable and familiar homes to grow in. During the summer the cool wind sweeps through the trees while the winter air is blocked, making these forests comfortable all year round.
The thicker forests tended to favor animals like hares and foxes, and the summer months typically brought about swarms of insects. Meanwhile, the lighter forests attracted larger animals such as bears, wolves, and deer with a very sparse insect population.
The saltwater marshes and fens are unsurprisingly home to aggressive swarms of insects that guard their stagnant pools of rot and water very fiercely, stinging and biting anybody who might intrude. The more dangerous creatures of the isles tend to inhabit these darker waters. The freshwater areas of the isle, however, were home to salmon, trout, and perch which made fishing villages and the like very viable for long term livability.
In the highest peaks it is common for eagles, hawks, and other large birds to make their nests there. The long dead corpses of giant trees also held giant colonies of lichen, moss, fungus, and larger insects as well as certain types of birds that would prey on those insects. Each tree is its own ecosystem. These trees have been rumoured to host clutches of dragons as well, making them a dangerous place to explore carelessly.
Economy
Though few large cities exist on the isles, those that do typically only trade with those on their own isles. In better times the trade ran free, but with high tensions over the last few decades the only real trading done is between smaller islands or the larger cities trading with mainland Falanar, First City being a popular trading hub as well as the ever opulent Akarn.
Three major ports exist on the Isles currently, Port Thunderstar in the middle coming out of the well defended Thunderstar Bay, Fallowcape from the Forsaken Fen, and Brackenglade from Sabrelot which has to travel the farthest to get to the mainland and is frequently accosted by pirates.
Typical products that are traded for are high quality leather, cloth, spices, good steel, and horses. The Isles in return typically export rare gems, pelts, furs, high quality meat, and high volumes of slate and marble from the many high mountain ranges.
Shipbuilders from Brackenglade are also in high demand as their galleons and trade vessels were both uniquely built to deter pirates, built sturdy enough to ram a similarly sized vessel with maximum damage to the enemy ship while minimum damage was sustained. These ships became very popular among traders.
Fallowcape merchants were quickly picked up for their high quality alcohols, distilled from the Fen's water in a very well kept secret process.
Government
Each major city governs themselves as they see fit, but in the past there was one ruler of the Isles who would dole out responsibilities and lands accordingly. However, the last true unified ruler of the Everstar Isles died in 4502 meaning it has been almost five centuries since the isles were unified. Some believe that the kingdom the old rulers held is still standing, though it is long since been lost to the Rotted Scar.
As of 4988 Nightstrumis governed by a council of five nobles. Sabrelot is ruled by Queen Tarrik. Fallowcape, though not officially recognized as a city, is governed by a merchant league that likely originates from Falanar.
Inhabitants
The Everstar Isles are populated by most of the races of Falanar, though the Dragon Archipelago hosts a unique trait among some of its people.
Scalesworn (Subrace)
Within the last twenty years, people of varying races have begun exhibiting unique traits that seem to reflect that of dragons. Though no official name has been given, many have taken to referring to those with these traits as "Scalesworn". In ages passed it was not uncommon for dragons to take entire villages under their rule or bestow aid in trying times. Though the population and appearance of dragons has appeared to lessen lately, some speculate that the appearance of these Scalesworn races heralds the returning of the dragons.
Scalesworn are typically not born as such. Their traits manifest during late teens or early adulthood and typically consist of one or two small changes such as scale patches, horns, slit eyes, larger fangs, or claws. Some much rarer cases depict tails, wings, or ever the ability to bellow an element that corresponded with the dragons own colour.
Songdragon
Also called weredragons, Song Dragons are common on The Everstar Isles as well. Their prevalence in the isles has caused some researchers to speculate that they may have originated there and could possibly have some connection with the Scalesworn.