Far Isle

Amber is on a sphere in a universe where there is no other sentient life beyond that on the Planet of Amber, also called the Planet Kolvir by some. Amber, Rebma, Tyalece, and Acadia are all in the northern hemisphere.. Far Isle is as far from Amber as its possible to get, nearly opposite it on the planet in the Southern Hemisphere.

This series of islands, rock outcrops, sand bars, coral reefs and sunken ships is sparsely inhabited mostly by small communities of mostly retired sailors.

The climate is sub-tropical with warm daytime breezes and cool nightly breezes. Occasionally humid, but normally comfortable.

History

• Pirate Haven. The Far Isles were a refuge for pirates from the earliest days of the shipping of Amber. As ships from shadow came in to Amber they were easy prey to hardy wide ranging scalawags. Oberon had his sons set down the shadowtugs to create shipping lines that were far enough from the Far Isles to make it an impractical refuge for pirates.

One of the few traditions remaining from the days of piracy in the Far Isles is that there is a cultural tendacy not to name islands, or speak of them as distinct places. When points of note are needed the place names are used rather then a isle name. Conclave, Ruda's Place, Sand Rump, The Blue Sea Base, etc...

• Religious Retreat-The Conclave of the Unicorn: After most of the Pirates of the south seas had sailed out into shadow a small group of Unicorn Devotees landed on the central Isle where a pirate town once stood. They constructed a collection of stone buildings and established a small religious community with a Monastery and a convent. They transplanted a large collection of fruit frees and seeded many of the other isles. The existence of orange, lime, grapefruit and other fruit trees come from this time.

After a two year project of construction completed, Queen Harla arrived and took up permanent residence. She lived here for 10 years. During this time the religious community in Amber sent their most devout to the reside here. It famously is a place where the Unicorn of Amber is often seen.

• Naval Base & Sailors Home. In the centuries since the establishment of the Conclave of the Unicorn the Navy established a base here and does extensive naval training i the south seas.

In time sailors of the Navy of Amber, and many of the Golden Circle, retired to various places among the thousands of small islands. There are small villages, hamlets, plantations, and lone huts spread out across the many islands.

Over the years another element of the community of sailors in Amber and Shadow have come to retire here. Prostitutes and courtesans who failed to save subsistence during their lives often join old friends, sailors in their declining years. They often find the easy living and plentiful food and drink as relaxing retreat. Sometimes they grow young again.

Notable Features

• The Conclave of the Unicorn: On an Inner Isle.
• Blue Sea Base: The naval facility in the isles. On one of the leading east edge island easiest to find. While it is certainly a naval base, with all the expected activities, it is also something of a small city. What tourist trade there is in the isles arrives here first. What commerce leaves the isle starts its journey here.
• Prince Caine and Prince Gerard built a fine residence with deep water docks for their trips here. On their Isle are a number of other smallish residences for notable former naval officers.
• Ruda's Place is a haphazard collection of buildings that operates as a county fair. It is on one of the central isle and is easily approachable from most of the islands. Many of the close central islands are among the most populated.

Population

The Far Isle is often called the Retiring Isles.

• The general population of the Far Isle is around 100,000 people. The naval base has around 5000 people on active duty and between 10k & 12K of others in the general area supporting the base. This makes Blue Sea the largest single inhabited area in the FI. The majority of communities are in the 30 to 50 range.

As noted elsewhere the isles are a common place for sailors of both the navy and the merchant fleets to retire to. People with connections to the ocean trades also retire here. Fisherman, wharf and dock workers. Fishwives. Prostitutes. Canners.

This is the where religious people retire to the Conclave of the Unicorn.

There is a number of Rebman enclaves near the Far Isle and there is some interaction between them.

Status & Government

It could be generally assumed that the Far Isle is part of the Kingdom of Amber. However it has never been technically established for a number of reasons mostly having to do with the presence of the Conclave of the Unicorn and the unusually frequent presence of the Unicorn in person. There are many who do not want to try legislating the official status of a place that might draw the ire of the Unicorn if she was disturbed.

As such there is an unofficial collection of people of the Far Isle that have a reasonable level of authority. They meet occasionally.

• Abbess of the Conclave
• Admiral Draso kala Dint Commanding Admiral of Blue Sea Base
• Anton Dradic-Admiral of the Navy of Amber-retired.
• Baron Bleys of Amber-Baron of Trylen
• Baron Caine of Amber-Baron of Ober
• Cudal Vila- Retired Madame
• Ruda Alabega-Retired Pirate
• Bunny Free Retired Pirate, Comedian.
• Baron Gerard of Amber-Court Baron
• Asgol Urien-Retired buisnessman. Brother of Hymal_Urien [[1]]

Three princes of Amber are on the above list but when questioned on Far Isle matters they do not use their princly titles but are refered to by lesser ranks

Local Commerce

• The retired sailors and their children and grandchildren have lived here for centuries now. The population is small even considering the longevity of its residents. While the Aging in Amber effects those here most of the sailors that retire here intend to die. However, some get involved in local commerce and it makes them grow young. Natives, those having been born in the isle, treat outsiders politely as much as possibly but have a tendacy to inquire when they will be leaving. Even if the departure is decades away. Once a resident has children in the Isles, he is considered a citizen by the other natives.

• Commerce in the Far Isles consists of small household industries such as weaving, carving, and painting. Commerce in food is brisk; nuts, bananas, coconuts, fruits, and vegetables.

• The Far Isles have a type of wild pig that is gleefully hunted by the retired sailors. Fishing is a common practice both recreationally and in small ships commercially. Lobster and crab are plentiful in waters around the isles. The beaches are rich in clams, the waters rich in shellfish and abalone.

• There are is a lot of alcohol production, as one might guess. Fruit wines, Honey wines and meads, cordials, as well as a wide variety of local mixes.

• There is sources of tin and copper in the isles. This has lead to bronze being a major metal in common usage and a frequently valuable source of trade.

• There is no official currency of the Isle but a rough stamped copper coin, the Deble, in certain weights, is often accepted. Of course this is part of the Kingdom of Amber and its currency is generally accepted.

• While not technically isolated from the rest of Amber there is little trade out of the Far Isles.

• For the most part Far Islanders prefer to not import things. The difficulty in doing so has traditionally mitigated against it. Some items must be imported regardless. Glass, construction grade wood, construction grade stone & Bricks, Red Meats, metals other then tin and copper. Iron is often imported for naval uses and finds its way into common use.

Location