Tálor

Tálor (pronounced as "Tailor",ˈteɪlə) is an island at the heart of the Atsyllean Sea, where a town bearing the same name was located. This town was the southernmost settlement of Yimmu-Audal. Currently this title belongs to Kordania - capital city of the Kingdom of Talor, that occupies the entirety of the island.

History
The town Tálor proper was founded by Ghastly_Bespoke on the 20th of October, 2020, at roughly 2:15pm GMT.

It was an originally conceived as a colony of Yimmu-Audal. The territoty, however, was already claimed by the The United Empire of Akratia. The Audalad kingdom at first attempted to buy the island from them, but the request was denied. After it seemed the territory was going to be given to an Akratian, Ghastly_Bespoke moved in and claimed the island. It didn't become part of Yimmu-Audal and remained independent over political concerns, given its disputed status. The island kept its independence for 4 hours 11 minutes before a deal was negotiated with Akratia. Tálor agreed to join them, but it was to be shown separately from the Empire on maps, as its own territoty.

Following Akratia's inability to keep up with the aforementioned demands, the nation's general inactivity, as well as for reasons including Tálor's then new geographically close position to Yimmu-Audal's newly expanded southern border, cultural and economic ties to Urnu-Arrak, and personal connections of Ghastly_Bespoke, the island and its subordinate settlements joined Yimmu-Audal as the Kingdom of Tálor, bearing special privileges.

After the Coalition War, before Yimmu-Audal-Ardatia collapsed, it granted the Kingdom independence. However, the island was eventually, albeit shortly, annexed by the Second Empire of Akratia before being handed over to Yimmu-Audal's successor, Theios-Essukdal in The Recognition of Talor, in the midst of the Akratian Civil War. Today, Tálor is part of Yimmu-Audal once again and ruled by Riff_The_One. Since then Tálor was a proud capital city of the Kingdom of Tálor, consisting mostly of a big palace and several relatively small housing districts for the most old and trustworthy members. Because of that population was extremely low as for a capital city, being shadowed by bordering city of Kordania. City was mostly used for ceremonial purposes.

Then, after a long period of a calm life, Kordanian rebellion suddenly stroke and the county of Kordania was dissolved with lands being included into county of Tálor. After Andara Dynami death, son of Trevor Dynami - Aetreai Dynami quickly rose to power and became the King of Tálor. During his reign he finally got Kordania to absorb the nearby city of Tálor where construction on new massive palaces and colosseums began immediaely instead of old ones. Also he made his hometown the new capital, however the county name was left the same, to commemorate old days. The decree of unification was signed 13th of May 2023. City of Talor, in exception of northern parts, remained the same as a special district in the city of Kordania. Most of Kordanian history and lore, such as the (5th) Red Festival can be found on the city page.

Lore
The island was originally known for its fine textiles, which sea merchants bought when sailing through the Atsyllean Sea to sell abroad. The island's native people, the Beireesh, raised a special breed of sheep up the island's hills and turned their fine wool into pieces of clothing and fabric much valued abroad. It is said that a few kings and queens set foot on the Beireesh town of Beiramar before special occasions to have their clothes made by the local tailors. The island would then become known as the "Island of Tailors", and later on, "Tálor".

The Beireesh were culturally connected to the Audaladae from Alteniquia. Their faith descends from that of Sharudi Faith, their construction techniques are similar to those from the mainland and their language is the same. However, the period of relative geographical and cultural isolation before the arrival of Yimmu-Audal was enough time for the Beireesh to develop their own distinct mores, beliefs, folklore and trades, such as weaving.

The town of Tálor proper would only be founded by settlers from the north, such as Ghastly_Bespoke. At first, the Beireesh resisted, but the influx of trade brought alongside the founding of the town appeased the tensions between them and the Audaladae, which would later on develop a symbiotic, albeit complicated, political and economical relationship, lasting to this day. As for Beiramar, it became an autonomous district of the town of Tálor.

The Beireesh wasnt only people native to the Atsyllean Sea, since here lived the Aristarcheans - old culture dating to the mythic ages of the Aristarchus city. They eventually evolved into Kordanians, which is one of the most known cultures of the region. However, the Kingdom of Talor was created by Beireesh people and Audalad settlelers. Kordanians was quick to deside to join as facing this new nation would be devastating. Now the Kingdom had not only the tailors, but also a perfect builders.

However Kordanians was a different group with its own interests, as the colony of Coilton was soon created near the northern border of Virataun for various profits. Kordanians had their own religion called Worship of Korvort (Aristarchi Faith novadays) and language. Cultural tensions were rising. Albeit Kordania's power, the Audalidae groups usually had more political power and the cultural integration was slowly going. At first the Taloran hybrid culture was born, both having Audalad and Kordanian motives with Beireesh additions. Later on, at the age of Yimmu-Audal, it wasnt only considered that the Talor isle and most of Atsyllean Sea have Audalad population, but also decreed, that now the offical language of the kingdom is Audalad and official faith - Hukar Sharud, with Worship of Korvort being incorporated at the day of 23th July 2022.

Such integrations attempts wasnt faced with joy and soon, at the Fifth Kordanian Festival (also 23th July) or Sixth Kordanian Festival (2nd August), the prophesy of Zeos came true, Andara Dynami returned and the Kordanian Rebellion started, that why this festival was called red. During it Kordania and Coilton separated from Yimmu-Audal. Through Kordanians are known for their building skills and festivals the rebellion was fierce with their religion inverted from worshipping Korvort to Zeos. However, this rebellion ended quickly after Andara was drown and the new government didn't wanted a huge escalation.

As of now, Kordania is still trying to surpass it's cultural integration with Aristarchi Faith being re-integrated, but the results are already made and the signs of old culture are declining, with Aristarchean Language fully forgotten (only used by some scholars of Aristarchi faith) and Taloran culture taking more and more places with it's Audalad language, speaken as of now as common, as the travellers tonque, plus Hukar Sharud practiced all around Taloran Kingdom in exception of several places in Kordania and Coilton, where local Sahrad made a Zentivar Shrine (showing one of Athaz's artifacts).

Geography
The island consists of three main biomes, from west to east: the Lowlands, the Highlands and the Mountain. The Lowland starts with a narrow sandy shore, which is followed by a large, rather flat birch forest cut by a narrow river. The Highland consists of birch hills getting steeper as they near the Mountain. There, two snowy peaks stand tall, distant and cold, separated by a flat valley. The urbanization of the island changed some of its original landscape, mainly that of the Lowlands. Most of the northwestern birch forest was cut down to give place to farmland, houses and buildings of all kinds.

There are many small islands around Talor, most of them reflect climate of local coastal line. After many years most of them have some buildings or even ruins.

In addition to them there is at least one artificial island. It is usual for Atsyllean Sea to have various squatter islands. The laws of the Kingdom of Talor forbids construction of such, so goverment sometimes launches parties to destroy them.

Also it is said, that to the south of Talor on the ocean floor lies the flooded city of Aristarchus, which is being main religious site for Korvaini Faith.

Buildings
The main building of the island is the Motte Lodge, where travelers and scholars from far and wide can gather to enjoy the local beverage, talk about their adventures and findings around a cozy fireplace, or have some rest in one of the many bedrooms at their disposal. North of the lodge, is the old Council House, from the olden times of the Kingdom of Tálor. Across the street that leads to the University of Tálor, a towering building which is still under construction, a small and welcoming neighboorhood surrounds the local Hukarad Church. To west, the historic site of Beiramar rises from the sandy shores of the island.