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The Copper Isles was an island nation near the western coast of Tortall in the Emerald Ocean. Originally called the Kyprish Isles[1], the patron god of the Isles was Kyprioth. The Isles were a slaveholding nation. The language spoken by the natives of the isles was called Kyprish. Traditionally they were closer to Carthak than Tortall in their political attitude[1], pressumably because the isles and Carthak had more in common.

Geography

The Copper Isles constituted an archipelago of 8 bigger islands situated in the Emerald Ocean west of the Tortall and south of the Yamani Islands. The main island was Kypriang Island with its capital Rajmuat. The major islands from north to south: Lombyn, Ikang, Jerykun, Imahyn, Kypriang, Gempang, Tongkang and Malubesang.

The lowlands were hot and mostly consisted of wet jungles, while the highlands were cold and rocky.[1]

History

Traditionally warrior Queens held the throne in the Copper Islands, they were admired and respected for both, their beauty and their skill. In the decades before 174 of the Human Era the Kyprish Isles were locked in strife. Rival branches of the royal house traded the throne in a number of occasions. In turn the crown lost control over the warring houses of the raka nobility. During this time the Copper Isles exported more slaves than imported them: Victors sold their enemies into the Eastern and Southern Lands, only to enter slavery in their own turn after the next battle.

Queen Imiary VI of the house Haiming made repeated attempts to negotiate peace, but her efforts failed. She was overthroen after 12 years of rule. Her successor and murderer Queen Dilsubai of Haiming favored those nobles who supported her an imprisoned her rivals. The glorious days of the warrior queens were over.

On the main land the luarin saw the disorder on the Isles as well as their wealth. Rittevon of Lenman, younger son of a lesser noble house in Maren, found opportunity in this disorder. He raised allies and funds among the realms of Tusain, Galla, Tortall, Maren, Sarain and Barzun. For his army he summoned younger sons, adventurers and mercenaries. Rittevon of Lenman and his chief ally Ludas Jimajen placed their souls in pawn of gold to afford well trained battle mages, educated in the university of Carthak. Their frist assault took place on April 5, 174 H. E.. For the next seven years fights took place all over the Islands. Lesser raka nobles and different clans offered allegiance to the conquerors. They became lesser nobility, allowed to retain lands, freedom an lives, but were taxed into poverty after their strongholds were destroyed. For the grastest raka nobles there was just the choice between slavery or death. On Midsummer`s Day 181 H. E., the first Rittevon King was crowned. The domination over the raka people continued. The new luarin nobles settled into their new houses and fiefdoms. More luarin arrived to settle and do business, a multitude of part-raka sevants and slaves was produced.

The raka declared their failure due to a failure of their patron god Kyprioth. Priests taught the Great Mother Goddess and Mithros had overthrown him. Soon after the last battle of the luarin conquest an ancient priestess gave voice to the banished god Kyprioth. His promise was passed to almost every raka, not depending on their rank. The prophecy told that the efforts to erase the royal, Haiming line have failed and that from this branch the One Who Is Promised will come. She would be Queen with two crowns.

The prophecy was fulfilled in 463. H.E when Dovasary Balitang led a revolution to overturn the ruling luarin and was finally crowned. Her mother, Sarugani Temaida, was a descendent of the hidden royal line, while her father Mequen Balitang was part of the Ritteovon family. After Dove's ascent to the throne the slavery in the isles continued. However, she gave those raka who were part of the rebellion a cash payment, which could be used to buy a slave's freedom—either their own or a child's.[2]

Notes and references

See also

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