Blacksand Archipelago

The Blacksand Archipelago is a semi-tropical group of islands within the Kiche Sea, not far offshore from Tarkuus. Though most of the islands have a volcanic origin, there are few active volcanoes in the archipelago today. A small number of the islands are artificial, having been built by Tarkuus for unknown purposes then later abandoned.

Inhabitants

A number of ports are scattered among the islands of the archipelago. The pirates of the Blacksand League are the main authority within the islands.

Geography

The archipelago is named for the distinctive magnetic dark sand that makes up many of its beaches. Though this magnetism is mostly quite weak, sailors have learned to avoid certain islands due to their tendency to interfere with compasses.

The Two Halves is a rather unusual island within the archipelago. Originally a single volcanic peak rising from the sea, at some point in the distant past the island was split in two in a jagged line down the middle. In most places this channel is less than a hundred feet across, decreasing to twenty at the narrowest.

Climate

Most islands in the archipelago have either a dry climate with little plant life or are covered in tropical forests.

Flora and fauna

Traveler's palms are one of the most distinctive trees that can be found in the Blacksand Archipelago, joined by a number of other species.

Though many non-native animals have been introduced to the islands, most destructively pigs, the archipelago has a highly distinctive set of native wildlife. Lemurs, fossas, tenrecs, and dwarf hippopotami are found on the islands but almost nowhere else in the world. A great variety of seabirds nest in the mountains and coasts of the islands as well. In the ocean off shore from the islands, both among the coral reefs and in the open ocean, lives a massive variety of sea life.

Sea drakes are relatively widespread around some of the islands in the archipelago. Largely solitary, they are little threat to the pirate crews of the League as long as the ships do not venture too close to their dens.

Rope dragon infestations are common in the ports of the archipelago. Though generally harmless, they are a nuisance to some crews.