Mercatia

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Overview

Mercatia (Imperial \ˌmɜrkˈheɪʃə\ meaning merchant land) is named for its strong association to commerce. Lore about Mercatia is common and accurate. It has been a civilized part of the Shard of Acrolon since the early Shattered Age, allowing for many scholars and historians to study the region.

History

Mercatia has a long and interesting history.

Fallen Lands

Even before the Shattered Age, during the Time Storm of Year Zero, the land of Mercatia experienced remarkable events. Originally the lands now called Mercatia were not an archipelago, but were hilly and mountainous terrain with many plateaus. However, at some point during the Time Storm, a Star fell from the Astral Sky and impacted with the lands of Mercatia. A considerable amount of Fury power associated with the Titan Severed Horizon leaked out, pulling the entire region under the waves of the Jeweled Sea. Only the tallest peaks and plateaus remained above the water, creating the archipelago seen today.

Shattered Age

Immediately after the Time Storm, the lands of Mercatia were uninhabited, which gave them a very foreboding reputation. During the Tribal Times of Acrolon, Mercatia was called Bannor (Nortongue, meaning exiled Nor) and was essentially an archipelago of penal colonies for Nor that were exiled from their homelands. These exiles eventually formed loose forms of governance, often involving criminal enterprise. This would eventually earn the region the name Pirate Isles (Enchiridian, Imperial Insulae Piratae).

The Realm War

While most of the regions of Acrolon were adopting governance by monarchs, the isles remained a loose confederation of clans. This contributed to the isles being largely unaffected by the The Realm War at the end of the Age of Kings. The isles did not hold a seat of political or military power, nor did they have allegiances to other kingdoms of Acrolon. Combined with the fact that the Barigor forces were primarily land-based, the isles escaped the conquest of the Barigor unconquered and unscathed.

However, one of the first remarkable achievements of Isaac was to form an alliance with the leaders of the Pirate Isles in resisting the Barigor. The naval power proved crucial to the counter-offensive that led to the Barigor in Acrolon surrendering.

Isles of Splendor

Late in the Shattered Age an Orc named Suentius was born in southern Oscillia. At a young age, he was recruited into a pirate crew after persuading the pirates to spare his life. As a Paragon of Persuasion, Suentius was able to climb the ranks of his pirate company quickly. He would later become a Herald of Pattern, partly in service to Cambion but primarily in service to his influence over the inhabitants of the Pirate Isles.

With the combination of the power of his Heraldric magic and his powers of persuasion, Suentius became the first in history to unite the pirate companies into a single body, which he ruled as a pirate king. However, not entirely satisfied with the marginal life of piracy, Suentius implemented a plan to change pirate society. He executed a cultural campaign to rename the Pirate Isles to Admirali (Imperial \ˌædmər'ɔli\ meaning Isles of Wonder).

Geography

There are 17 major islands in the archipelago of Mercatia, grouped roughly by convention. There are also over 100 minor islands in the archipelago, but those are generally discussed on the article of their closest major isle, so are not listed here.

West Islands

• Dustmere (Enchiridian), once Aridilla (Imperial, little arid) and Thureye (Nortongue, dry isle)
• Rothline (Dawntongue, river), once Fontillia (Imperial, fountain) and Kildedain (Nortongue, spring)
• Keshline (Dawntongue, person), once Liganella (Imperial, little wood) and Jarhof (Nortongue, person)
• Kopakita (Dawntongue, trees), once Gemellia (Imperial, little gem)
• Langheim (Nortongue, long shape)

East Islands

• Bogshade (Enchridian, swamp concealment), once Tenebriella (Imperial, little shadow) and Valshyr (Darktongue, outlawed) and Estfen (Nortongue, east swamp)
• Loamreach (Enchirdian, soil), once Radixia (Imperial, root) and Rotheim (Nortongue, root home)
• Nectarine (Enchiridian, fruit), once Vardessa (Darktongue, name, outlawed) and Hvitrstrond (Nortongue, white shore)
• Silbrae (Imperial, person), once Serenia (Imperial, peaceful) and Vollrland (Nortongue, field land)

Central Islands

• Arborline (Imperial, trees), once Ydallastiga (Nortongue, Ydalla step)
• Barrowhome (Enchiridian, burial), once Grofhaugr (Nortongue, grave hill)
• Brighthold (Enchiridian, glowing crystals), once Lucina (Imperial, glowing crystals)
• Goldreach (Enchiridian, wealth), once Aurea (Imperial, gold isle) and Bannorsgard (Nortongue, exile fort)
• Greycairn (Enchiridian, arid), once Fuscus Lapis (Imperial, brown stone) and (Brunnstein (Nortongue, brown stone)
• Skeldheim (Nortongue, shield shape)
• The Spike (Enchiridian, height), once Storra (Nortongue, tall)
• The Yellow (Enchiridian, color and arid), once Exilis (Imperial, wastes) and Suthertarn (Nortongue, south sand)

Notes

Culture

• Carnivale, Sperantsain: Weeklong party with masks. This started as a ploy of subterfuge for Suentius to help Lucidus outcasts and secret societies to work against the Dark Empire, wrapped in a way that was very attractive to the decadent Dark Empire. It was conceived as a "gift" from Suentius to honor Lascivia, but was actually a manipulation to resist her.
• "Bon Voyage" before any voyage, pour a bottle of wine on the deck of the ship for good luck.
• "Welcome Home" when you arrive home from a voyage: toss coins into the sea as thanks for a safe voyage.
• Mate Lot: The ability to form a legal partnership and inheritance with anyone in your "crew".