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Template:Location infoboxThe Copper Isles is an island nation near the western coast of Tortall in the Emerald Ocean. Originally called the Kyprish Isles[1] or Kyprin Isles, the patron god of the Isles was Kyprioth. Another god worshipped in the isles was the Jaguar Goddess, who was chained below the isles. 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 constitute an archipelago of 8 bigger islands situated in the Emerald Ocean west of the Tortall and south of the Yamani Islands. The main island is Kypriang Island with its capital Rajmuat. The major islands from north to south: Lombyn, Ikang, Jerykun, Imahyn, Kypriang, Gempang, Tongkang and Malubesang.

The lowlands are hot and mostly consist of wet jungles, while the highlands are 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. At that time, the native raka were living in tribes. In the decades before 174 of the Human Era the Kyprin Isles were locked in strife. Rival branches of the royal house traded the throne on 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 they imported: 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 overthrown 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 first 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, and lives, but were taxed into poverty after their strongholds were destroyed. For the greatest 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 were produced.

The raka declared their failure due to a failure of their patron god Kyprioth. Priests taught that 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 had failed and that the One Who Is Promised will come. She would be a Queen with two crowns. Thus the raka rebellion came into existence, although they had to wait and work in secret for decades, until their time had come.

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 Rittevon family. After Dove's ascent to the throne, slavery in the isles continues. 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]

Noble Houses

  • Adona
  • Asembat
  • Balitang
  • Engan
  • Fajering
  • Fonfala
  • Haiming
  • Ibadun
  • Jimajen
  • Kaydet
  • Mantawu
  • Mayano
  • Murtebo
  • Nomru
  • Obeliten
  • Obemaek
  • Rittevon
  • Temaida
  • Tomang
  • Wesedi
  • Yendrugi

Appearances

The isles play a major role in the Trickster Series (Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen), as both novels are set there. The isles and members of the ruling Rittevon House also appeared in or were mentioned in The Song of the Lioness quartet and The Immortals quartet. Tamora Pierce is planning books centered around Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, Dovasary Balitang and Dove's "choice of a consort" as well as around Aly's children, especially Ochobai Crow.[3] Those books will probably be set at least partly in the Copper Isles.

Trivia

The spoken language of Kyprish contains many words from the South-East Asian language known as Malay (Bahasa Melayu or Malay Language), and also contains many borrow-words from the Creole spoken in the region. Tamora Pierce first based the Kyprish wildlife on Southern and Central America, but later reoriented towards Indonesia in regard of the raka and their culture.[4]

Notes and references

See also

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