Welcome to Frankton Island

The Frankon Dynasty rule over the island is marked by a blend of iron-fisted control and calculated benevolence. From the bloody ascension of King Harold I, who established dominance through strategic massacres, to the more nuanced governance of King Harold II, who seeks to balance power with reforms for the people's welfare, the Frankton dynasty has maintained a tight grip on the island's resources, commerce, and populace. While they've introduced measures to improve living conditions and education, they've also ensured strict control through a tiered justice system and strategic placement of potential dissenters. The Frankton kings have masterfully combined tradition and innovation, ensuring their legacy's endurance while navigating the island's evolving socio-political landscape.

Please note, they use their own calendar system

The island's climate is heavily influenced by the persistent easterly winds that sweep in from the ocean. However, the western mountain range acts as a shield, tempering the wind's fury for settlements nestled away from the island's western coast. While summer occasionally brings a respite from the westerly gusts, the transition from fall to spring sees the wind intensifying, its cold breath turning lethal during the heart of winter. The island's air is thick with moisture, a gift from the ocean and the sun, resulting in a perpetual state of high humidity. This dampness, while chilling to the bone in winter, becomes stifling in the summer, making outdoor activities a test of endurance.

For the common folk of Frankton Island, their feet are their primary mode of transportation. The nobility, however, enjoy the privilege of horseback riding, a luxury that sets them apart from the masses. The island's guard and military also maintain a few regiments of horses. While the commoners occasionally employ beasts of burden like donkeys and oxen to transport goods, carts and wagons are a rarity. The responsibility of transporting significant resources, such as shipments from Arvendon to Stillward, falls upon the guard. They arrive with wagons, which the Unho load and unload at the respective destinations.

A vital artery of the island is the main road that connects Frankton to Stillward, Thornwood, and culminates at Arvendon. This road, paved with gravel, extends southwards, passing through Lastwell and Darton Fortress before reaching its endpoint at Quietus. Maintenance of this road is a continuous endeavor, with groups of Unho laboring to ensure its upkeep. Lord Frankon has ambitious plans to extend this road further, aiming to connect Farleigh Fort and the salt mines at Stormpost. While the road is accessible to all, commoners are expected to yield to the guard or nobles, stepping aside whenever they approach.

The coastal settlements of Frankton Island are equipped with boats, primarily used for fishing and short-distance transportation of goods. The military, on the other hand, boasts a fleet of ships responsible for transporting larger consignments. These boats are restricted to short coastal voyages, limited to neighboring port towns. Venturing beyond the island's northern or southern tips is strictly prohibited. While many perceive this as another means of control, the turbulent seas surrounding the island pose a genuine threat, capable of swallowing entire boats, along with their crew and cargo.

In the structured society of Frankton Island, the law is both a guiding force and a stern hand of retribution. The island's legal system is clear-cut, with each crime and its corresponding punishment meticulously laid out.

Walking is the primary mode of transportation for most, with only the nobility and guards enjoying the privilege of horseback riding. The main road, paved with gravel, connects the major settlements and is constantly maintained by teams of Unho. Boats and ships facilitate trade and transport, with strict regulations governing their use.

The seventh day is reserved for worship, with temples dedicated to Demergat dotting each settlement. Clerics play a pivotal role, offering healing and spiritual guidance. Every third day, the community gathers at the Perfecting Place, where justice is meted out. From lashings to dismemberments, punishments are public affairs, ensuring that the weight of the law is felt by all. Death sentences, reserved for the gravest of crimes, are carried out by nobles or high-ranking guards, with the method chosen reflecting the severity of the crime.

In the unique economic landscape of Frankton Island, currency is a foreign concept. The state stands as the sole provider, ensuring that every resident, be it Unho or Effin, has access to the essentials: shelter, sustenance, warmth, attire, medical care, and education. While the basics are covered, the island's inhabitants find solace in crafting personal items, often as gifts. These handcrafted treasures, born out of creativity and necessity, hold immense sentimental value, and the rulers, recognizing their importance in boosting morale, permit their creation and exchange.

Every individual has a role in the state's grand design. Jobs are not just a means to an end but a civic duty. The state meticulously matches each person to a role, ensuring they have the necessary resources, be it food for the physically demanding tasks, tools for the specialized ones, or education for the skilled professions. The system is designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of their physical or mental capabilities, contributes to the state's growth.

In the quaint corners of smaller settlements, Effin families tend to modest gardens, cultivating a variety of produce. Some Unho, too, dabble in gardening. Beyond agriculture, both groups engage in crafting using available natural materials, creating items that, while simple, are rich in cultural significance. These items often become part of a barter system, a small-scale trade that the rulers tolerate, provided it doesn't grow too extensive or commercial.

Metal, a resource of paramount importance, is at the heart of many jobs on the island. Its significance is such that the state has instituted strict controls over its distribution and use. Overseers, entrusted with the task of managing metal tools and supplies, ensure that every piece is accounted for. Workers are held to stringent standards, with any lapse in returning equipment potentially leading to severe consequences.

Frankton Island's agricultural landscape is diverse, with vast fields yielding crops like carrots, kale, wheat, and apples, among others. These staples, grown on a large scale, form the backbone of the island's food supply. Smaller gardens, meanwhile, offer a wider variety of produce. Livestock, too, plays a crucial role, with animals like goats, sheep, and chickens providing both food and resources. Horses, though not used as food, hold a special place, reserved for specific tasks. Grain silos, strategically located within the major settlements and guarded zealously, ensure that the island's grain supply remains secure and sufficient, especially during the harsh winter months.

In the secluded realm of Frankton Island, foreign interactions are few and far between. The most consistent external contact comes in the form of the airship, The Skyshadow. Commanded by the enigmatic Lord Harza, this vessel graces the island's skies twice a year, during the transitional periods of Spring and Fall. Its primary purpose is to ferry luxury goods for the island's elite and essential supplies for the rulers' myriad projects.

The Skyshadow's arrival is an event shrouded in secrecy and stringent protocols. Docking exclusively at a specialized port attached to Lord Frankon's imposing castle, the ship's crew is strictly prohibited from disembarking. Similarly, the castle's inhabitants are barred from accessing the docking level during the ship's stay, with the castle guard ensuring this decree is upheld without exception.

On the rare occasion that a sea vessel braves the treacherous journey to Frankton Island, its reception is far from warm. Coastal settlements, upon spotting an approaching ship, promptly alert the navy. The naval forces then intercept the vessel, subjecting it to rigorous scrutiny before granting permission to anchor at a designated spot, safely away from the shore. The ship's crew remains confined to their vessel, with the island's navy overseeing any supply transfers. Any hint of harboring a Frankton Island escapee can lead to dire consequences, ranging from exhaustive ship searches to outright naval assaults aimed at sinking the perceived threat.

Teleportation or other magical means of arrival, unless explicitly sanctioned, is met with swift and often brutal retaliation. Uninvited outsiders detected on the island are promptly apprehended by the military. Their fate hinges on their identity and the whims of the rulers – execution or a stern warning to leave and never return. However, whispers abound that the King occasionally allows noble visitors to teleport directly into the heart of his castle, hinting at clandestine dealings and alliances.

In essence, Frankton Island remains an enigma, its borders zealously guarded, and its interactions with the outside world limited and controlled. The island's leadership, ever wary of external influences, has crafted a policy of isolation, ensuring that the island's secrets remain just that – secret.