Zhosur
Location and Description
The Zhosur Archipelago is a collection of islands spanning the inner sea from to the south of Thelonis to the north of Aertepia and Caulis, and is named for the two largest island kingdoms, Zho and Sur. (The area is known to the Molenori as Gad Ho'Kari--the "Gate of the Inner Sea." The Archipelago is made up of roughly 29 inhabited islands, and dozens of smaller, sparsely populated or uninhabited ones. The largest island kingdoms of the archipelago are:
- Zho (incl. Eadu, Eitu, and Nekor)
- Sur (incl. Oeta and Seak)
- Ysyha
- Saxitica
- Ilyea
- Solalusa
- Sem
- Onburor
The minor island kingdoms are autonomous to varying degrees, and alliances exist between them and/or the larger islands. The smaller islands include:
- Whar
- Tesshril
- Idrae
- Awa
- Zheil
- Kimari
- Oquai
- Chaesh
- Thegh
- Thold
- Cahad
- Oisi
- Chel
The people of the islands of Oturi and Augha consider themselves under no one's dominion, but there is some question whether they are a part of Greater Aertepia. Xalyk is little more than a trading outpost for Kalrax.
The kingdoms of Zho and Sur are the dominant forces in the region, and the two island nations are in a state of constant conflict. Each believes that the other is the only thing preventing them from total control of the archipelago. There exist several other alliances between the smaller islands, who (for the most part) wait to see whether Zho or Sur will emerge as the victor in their struggle.
Political Alliances in the Zhosur Archipelago
Dozens of smaller islands are scattered throughout the archipelago; some are little more than sparsely populated fishing villages, but most are barely more than rocky outcroppings. Some are places of legend, home to monstrous creatures or great treasure. Notable smaller islands include Etasi, Sayh, Crol, Sheur, Atasa, Zhaim, H'Sulit, Itori, Iona, Rast, Saydan, Verem, Unan, and Ondan.
