Island Kings

The Island Kings are a dwarven ethnic group that lives on Emperor's Island in southern Vothan. These dwarves long ago left behind their traditional homes in the highlands for a seafaring lifestyle on the tropical coasts, though they remain inextricably tied to the island by their great reverence for their mountain-dwelling ancestors.

History

Emperor's Island has been the home of the Island Kings for as long as they can remember. Though in the modern day their largest communities are found primarily in the tropical regions of the east, ancient half-subterranean ruins dot the highlands, said to have been built by their earliest ancestors. Despite being under the nominal control of the Sangiran Empire from roughly Y6240^* to Y9612^*, then under Vothan since, the Island Kings have remained functionally independent, governing themselves according to their ancient traditions.

The Island Kings claim lineage from a great emperor from whom their island takes its name.This semi-mythical dwarf whose name has been lost to history is said to have been the first and only figure to bring the Island Kings together into a unified nation, albeit one that broke apart soon after his death.

Geographical location

Nearly all Island Kings live on Emperor's Island or one of the surrounding smaller isles, particularly along the coasts of the eastern half of the island. Their traditions keep them bound to the island, and though some occasionally travel farther afield, few do not return. There are, however, at least a handful of Island King settlements away from Emperor's Island. At least one village each can be found on the Serpent and the Whale, and the nearby coasts of Vothan and Kea Racha have several small towns primarily inhabited by Island Kings.

Culture

Religion

While the Island Kings at least passingly worship the gods of the Dwarven pantheon, their main religious devotion lies with their ancestors. The old ruins and tombs of the highlands are holy places to them, sites where they leave offerings and pray to the spirits of the ancient dwarves. Some clans have specific ancient burial sites that they claim to be their own ancestors, but most clans instead consider all the ruins to be shared in common between them. Short pilgrimages from the coastal lowlands to the mountains are relatively common events. Many Island Kings make the trip twice or more yearly, each time spending several days making the trek then at least another seven communing with the spirits of their predecessors.

Calm meditation is the primary method of veneration, either privately or in a group. The Island Kings do not place significant importance on religious leaders, though they do consider their many monarchs to be protectors of their spiritual places, responsible for ensuring they are maintained and guarded.

Even as the Island Kings have left many of their ancestral ways behind, they continue to maintain some of these traditions out of respect. Forging and metal-working, for example, are not particularly important skills to the dwarves, and are therefore not widely learned - most of the material used to craft their tools, equipment, and art comes from the sea rather than from the earth. They acknowledge the importance of such mastery to their ancestors, however, as is clear from the number and quality of the ornate metal decorations and items left in their tombs, and therefore keep the practices alive for use in religious ritual. As a rite of passage, young dwarves are taken to the archaic mountaintop forges, where they are taught to create the same style of rings that their ancestors were buried with many thousands of years ago. Even if this is the only familiarity these dwarves gain with smithing, and for most it is their only experience with the trade, it is enough to forge a closer connection with their forebearers.

Equipment

Island King armor is quite distinctive, fashioned out of the heavy places of sea turtle shell. Intact shells are used as much as possible, to keep a high level of strength, but smaller pieces may be cut and used in parts of the armor where flexibility is needed. Shields are likewise made of the same material. This equipment is uncommonly seen, however, as it is mostly only worn by those guarding ancient tombs or by those defending the coastal settlements when threats arise. Its level of protection is of little value in the day to day life of the Island Kings, where relative nimbleness on the water is of more importance.

The characteristic weapon of the Island Kings is a unique style of multi-pronged spear made of bone affixed to a wooden haft. Lengths of rope are commonly tied to the end to allow them to be thrown and easily retrieved. Most are tridents, but some have more points than the typical three. Each prong has an additional curved, backwards-facing hook as well. These spears are intended to serve multiple purposes. They are capable weapons if the need arises, but are primarily used as by the Island Kings as fishing spears. The spears can also capably function as boarding hooks if the need arises.