Fursten Isles

Overview
The Fursten Isles were a small number of islands which centre around Furwood Island. The land was apart of The Realm Of Athinikas. The location itself was characterized by its big Furwood (Custom Spruce) trees which are local to the city, and its large urban sprawl which is overgrown and lush. The northern island is named the Dawn Islands, the south-western island is called the Vulcan Island, in reference to the local volcano, and the final island is called the En Valdius Island. Furwood Island hosts the vast majority of Fursten's population, whilst the Vulcan islands host most of Fursten's splendor and economy. The Vulcan Islands also are home to Neu Vedrin, the economical and trading hub of Fursten.

Foundation
Beginning as a small settlement, The Fursten Isles was founded by the Von Vulpes family, who immigrated from Plagos alongside Adino Von Vietca to aid him in created the Republic of Aetheria. After the death of the founders, the settlement was lightly directed by Adino, before it was given to Fae Von Vulpes to govern once she turned 19. In attempts to be better for her parents, Fae Von Vulpes developed the settlement to a town, and from a town into a city.

Its Role In The Republics
Early on, Fursten resided as a small settlement, mostly that of a fort, which was led by a puppet mayor until Fae Von Vulpes was trained and fit to cover the position. The settlements early start found it being asked constantly to aid the Republics in geopolitical affairs, which the settlement was not fit to engage. The settlement did however provide food for battles the young Republic had to edure and often paid the rest of the Republic to defend it from the rare Montroigian Bandit.

Lebenstadt
At the end of 2022, Adino Von Vietca placed Fae in charge with her childhood friend, Bunyip, of a small town. At the time this town was called Metaf, formerly known as Coolio-City. The pair wished to create a town dedicated to the Lunaist & Eclispian God, Carithos. This was the grassroots which formed Fae's passion for Fursten. This town was to be named Lebenstadt, and for a small amount of time was a functioning town, with ministers and major projects planned, however those plans were scrapped, when a claim dispute with Montroig and Dara-Lumonde caused the town to be disbanded. Today, the town is known as Johannesburg.

Flag
The Fursten Flag was created before its official integration into the Second Republic of Aetheria. Whilst it was informally apart of the First Republic, Adino sought fit to work With Fae to make its merge official. After its integration, the city flags were outlawed in order to promote unity amongst the Aetherian people. Yet have since been revitalized since the reign of Asortil En Valdius.

The flag was designed to represent the Furstenite people's plea to be officially seen as Aetherian, and as a stage of their integration into the Aetherian Republic. The flag was designed by a local Furstenite, who explained that the blue was to be representing the unity with the Aetherian brethren. The white symbolized purity of the people, and the green symbolized the lush lands of the Furstenite people. The gold represents the wealth and prosperity to which Fursten provides to its citizens.

When appointed to govern her family's town. Fae returned the flag, only to be scrutinized by Adino Von Vietca, and the design was shelved until the reign of Asortil En Valdius.

Katsuken Integration
As of September 2023, the town of Katsuken was integrated into the Fursten Isles, after its former leader, Bunyipita, resigned from his duties. He now lives in a small house on the isle, retired. After its integration into Fursten, Carithos transformed the Katsuken peninsular became a set of islands, forming an archipelago dividing Montroig and mainland Athinikas.

This incorporation into the isles spiked controversy between Montroig and Aetheria, due to the Montroigian belief of the lands being theirs. This had caused disputes both with Aetheria and Ashai at the time. This was resolved November 2023, in which the king, Asortil En Valdius, sold Furstenite land without the permission or council of Fae Von Vulpes, loosing three quarters of the isles, causing a cold rift between Fae and Asortil.

The Montroig Land Deal
Before the deal, Fursten comprised of the Furwood Island in the centre, the small Foundation Islands in the south, the Dawn Island to the North, the Island of Tanagra to the west, and the Vulcan islands to the south-east.

The land deal sold the Island of Tanagra, the Foundation Islands and one of the Vulcan Islands to Montroig. This was done without the knowledge or approval of Fae Von Vulpes, who was justifiably outraged that she had not been consulted about the negotiations.

Before the purchase, Fursten owned a small portion of the Island of Tanagra, which was the city name for the island that Amarillo was founded on. Tanagra In Thae meaning 'Together We Stand', as was the aim of many Furstenites was for Montroig and Aetheria, and ultimately, Amarillo and Fursten to be together as one. At the time of purchase, what little land claimed by the town is known at the Tanagra corridor, and was home to very few people and a defensive wall, built to withstand a foreign attack. This wall was demolished soon after the purhcase under the supervision of Valkyrie and the appauled dismay of a reluctant Fae.

One day before The Impact, the Foundation Islands were unofficially 'annexed' by Fursten as to reclaim their missing crystals, and as a potential middle finger to the Montroigians, knowing their priorities were in evacuating their citizens.

The Evacuation of Fursten
With the aid of astronomers, Fae was able to predict the impact of the comet months prior to it occurring, however being a few days short in her assessments, the evacuation was very much rushed, leading to an undetermined loss of life, seemingly including that of herself and her family. Prior to the impact, Fae's wife, Elya De Solvarii, was researching into an old myth in which Kitsune could open portals to other worlds. It was this myth that spawned the core of Fursten's evacuation.

The Day Of The Impact
As the comet hurdled towards the world, the city rushed for the portals. Unfortunately for some, as the work was rushed to meet the deadline, the caves used were subject to cave-ins, and were particularly moist, causing the usually strong and durable, Furwood to begin to rot rapidly. Despite this drastic loss of life, many of the required Kitsune were able to light their portals, which shone a brazen blue, before they ultimately took a step into the unknown.

A day prior, seeing the writing on the wall, and deciding to follow in his grandfathers footsteps, Mike Stone, in a last ditch effort to save the people of Johanesburg, makes his way to Fursten to speak with Fae Von Vulpes about using her airships in the evacuation. Prior to his arrival to the city, all Furstenite airships had been docked to focus on the evacuation of Fursten as the comet made its way down to impact. Using his wits and charm, he convinced her to borrow an airship. Airship in hand, he returned to Johannesburg and filled the airship with as many citizens as he could; before venturing off into the horizon.

The Aftermath
Once on the other side, the city folk regrouped, banded together and settled down in the mountains. This new home was bittersweet, as the home they left behind bore an uncany resemblance, yet the familiar environment provided hospitality and allowed the tribe to reorganise quickly. This surviving group formed the Yugenmura Tribe, which almost a decade later met the Forgeborne dwarves and the Rænedeyt of Thorinholt. Annecdotes of survivors who went through the portal, recounted that it closed before Fae could enter, with their last sight of their former mayor being her hastened attempts to keep her citizens safe. Whilst this euphoric image prospers amongst a majority of former Furstenites, there still remains a small faction which blame Fae's incompetance and misjudgement to the reason so many of their loved ones rejoined Carithos in the earth on that fateful day.

- Central
Central is the heart of Fursten. At its center lays the spawn and the fountain which at the top is a statue dedicated to the Lunaist & Eclipsian God Of Life, Carithos. Surrounding the mural, many homes scatter the land, and a clock-tower rises amongst the skyline. It is rumored that below the fountain lays the beating heart of Carithos herself, yet there is very inconclusive evidence to this theorem, and its only existence is proclaimed by the most devout Eclispians and Lunaists.

- Port Noble
Home to ships and merchants alike, Port Noble is a hub for trade and commerce amongst the Kushite Sea. It ships all across the Kushtite Sea, and supplies the common Furstenite with products and livestock from the local trade hub on the Dawn Islands. Common exports of Port Noble include, but are not limited to, wool, Furwood, and Carithusian Crystals. The port is also home to the Fursten Post Office, one of the oldest buildings in Fursten, which handles all the mail of the Isles which does not arrive via airship. The F.P.O. was also home to a failed rebellion at one stage in its life.

- St Vulpes Cathedral
The massive cathedral, lays as a beacon to the power of the city's matriarch, Carithos. Built into an active volcano, the site is home to the religious service and upkeep of Eclipsian Furstenites. Beneath the main cathedral sits the archives, which contains a collection of Rathnir's many works of literature. The site also houses many of the city's dead. Nobility are buried in the graveyard, whilst underneath the Cathedrals foundation, rests a maze of catacombs for the majority of the cities dead.

- St Epitchian Church
St Epitchian is a holy site amongst Eclipsian Furstenites. The quaint church, provides solace to those who cant make the pilgrimage to St Vulpes Cathedral, and houses the dead of many family generations. It was named after the Lunaist Saint who gave the Furstenite people Thae, with the old tribes. It played a pivotal role in the everyday life for devoute Lunaists/Eclipsians.

- Stirling Castle
The structure is a lush and overgrown castle, which acts as a final point of defense. The castle itself is reserved as the home of the current Notarius. When asked why she stays in the overgrown fortress, Fae responded in jest, claiming that the castle grew from the ground, and formed right in-front of her eyes when she was merely 8 years old, and thus believed Carithos was forming her personal home.

The Beginning
Before the modern day settlement of Fursten, the Pre-Furstenite people lived within a barren desert. Until one day small sprouts sprung from the desolate landscape. Within a week, rains brought new rivers to the land, a month, and the previous desolate landscape became a lush utopia to be.

The land was further settled and a sprawling city as its known today was developed. Whilst the city centre was chosen seemingly at random, it is believed that the living heart of Carithos herself lies deep underground, below the structure. Many Furstenite Eclipsians point to the sudden and rapid development of the land to support mass life as proof that Carithos herself wished for people to inhabit the space, however amongst many Eclipsians outside of the Isles, the general consensus is that this is not to be the case.

Modern Fursten Eclipsism
(To be added in a later date)

Overview
Carithusian Crystals(Amethyst Crystals) were the city's source of power. Furstenite Eclipsians believe the crystals, which dot the isles, were a gift from Carithos, for loyalty and devotion to the care-taking of the land and their dedication to upkeep of the local flora. Whilst Fursten developed, the crystal's power began to wain. Ultimately, this led to the passing of the ' Cleaner Skies and Greater Ties Act', which required each house to emit a carbon negative, which resulted in most modern Furstenite homes to be plastered with greenery and their roofs adorned with moss and grass. The law did provide a unique quirk however, in which older buildings/structures were not required to change their deepslate roofs, should the occupant not wish to undergo the costs of renovation.

-Civillian
The Crystals themselves have been, since the first settlement, harvested and used within civilian technologies such as factories and airships. This is archieved by forming a rudamentry combustion engine, in which the naturally generating heat of the crystals is used to create steam, which in turn, turns a turbine to create a form of purple electricity, this is used to control preassures inside the balloons or the that of a makeshift hydraulic press.

-Military
Ever since their discovery, it had been a focal point to harness and weaponize the crystals to protect the city. These highly secretive plans spawned countless rumors of potential military applications, which of course were in the realm of feasibility. Many ideas were proposed, including a rudamentry form of cybernetics, which the mayor herself, Fae Von Vulpes is seen with, as she volunteered with growing health problems. The prototype was surgically implanted into the right side of her head, and has proven to improve the physical wellness of the mayor, however before extensive testing could begin, The Impact occurred. In other applications of the crystals, there was a scientist which proposed the crystals natural heat could cause a chain reaction if the particles inside the crystals were enriched enough, to create a massive explosion. Naturally, this led to rumours of a project titled 'Project Downfall ', however it is unknown to the extent that the Isles had access to this potential weapon.

Regardless of their use, the crystals became an important part of everyday life in Fursten.

Geography
Fursten was located in the northern Zhaitker region of Haven, in southwestern Rathnir. Its people enjoyed a tropical climate, as cold winds from the Kushite Sea, travel downward, before reaching the boarders of Montroig. Fursten itself is separated into a small set of islands which reach from the Kushite Sea to the Zhaitker Gulf. The terrain is very hilly, and at times mountainous. The Vulcan Islands see frequent geological activity, because of the local active volcano, Mount Vulcan.

The Fursten Isles boardered The Federal Republic Of Montroig, and its towns Amarillo, Terroja, and New Baldia.