Blood Sea Isles
Capitals: Sea Reach (Saifhum), Lacynos (Mithas), Kalpethis
(Kothas)
Main Populace: Sea barbarians (Saifhum), minotaurs, pirates,
and kyrie (Mithas and Kothas)
Languages: Saifhum—Common*, Saifhum, Kalinese, Silvanesti, Minotaur+, Solamnic+, Kenderspeak+, Ergot+, Lemish+, Nordmaarian, Dargoi+; Minotaur Isles—Minotaur*, Kyrie
National Alignment: Neutral (Saifhum), Lawful Evil (Mithas
and Kothas)
Government: Republic (Saifhum), feudal (Kothas), empiric (Mithas)
Grand Mariner Thimbalin Hankel of Saifhum (Sea Barbarian
M12, AC 6, hp 56, AL N) Disposition: Jolly
Emperor Chot Es-Kalin of Mithas (Minotaur 10HD, AC 4, hp
80, AL NE) Disposition: Cruel
Lord Mandracore the Reaver of Kothas (Half-ogre F8, AC 4, hp
68, AL NE) Disposition: Vicious
Lady Macquesta Kar Thon of Istar (Half-elf F6/T6, AC 4, hp 50,
AL N) Disposition: Feisty
Geography: When the fiery mountain struck the city of Istar, it dragged the whole nation to the ocean floor. Only the coastal mountains along the Northern Courrain remained above the sea, becoming islands. These areas were saved due to their altitude, though legends say their innocence of the guilt of lstar spared them. The Blood Sea Isles were and are lands of minotaurs and beasts. Saifhum is a harsh land. Its rocky hills hold only stunted vegetation and a few native creatures. A mariner’s settlement, Sea Reach, is the most prominent site on Saifhum. Karthay, the largest and northernmost of the isles, contains barren, hot plains and high, rain-forested mountains. No known adventurer has yet explored and detailed the Worldscap mountains of Karthay, whose exotic forests are said to be impenetrable. Most prominent among the ruins on Karthay are those of the lighthouse (Winston’s Tower) that guided ships safely into and out of the treacherous waters of the Blood Sea.
Just south of Karthay lies Mithas, a fiery island whose scrub plains lie in the shadow of four great volcanoes. The minotaurs rule this isle from the port capital of Lacynos (Nethosak in Minotaur), which lay shielded from the Blood Sea by Horned Bay. Kothas also contains minotaurs, who rule the isle in combination with piratical men. Although Kothas is not plagued by volcanoes as is its northern neighbor, neither is it blessed with Mithas’s vegetation. Most of this island’s scant population dwells in the capital city of Kalpethis and along the coast. Climate: All of these isles rest deeply in a band of tropical weather. None experiences winter. Summer lasts for ten
months of the year, bringing broiling temperatures, oppressive humidity, and frequent rain. These conditions encourage vegetable life to thrive, despite the poor and rocky soil of the three smaller isles. On Karthay, the mountain forest becomes very thick and many unusual plants thrive.
Politics: The minotaur (and pirate) islands of Kothas and Mithas seek stronger ties with the Black Dragonarmies on the Dairly Peninsula. If diplomatic efforts succeed, the minotaurs will have a choke-hold on the treacherous eastern passage around the Blood Sea of lstar and all seas south. By aggressive privateering, the minotaurs have become a nuisance from Nordmaar to Balifor. The sea barbarians of Saifhum actively resist this expansion.
They fish the waters north and east of Saifhum and run trade routes around the inner curve of the Maelstrom. As the minotaurs grow in solidarity, the mariners increasingly sabotage their far-roaming ships, planting artificial reefs and anchor traps. A Saifhum ship is known to have sailed for Sancrist to bring back gnomish channel mines. None know if they are planted.
Trade: The chief trades of Saifhum are fishing, kelp harvesting, salt production, and shipping. The mariners of Sea Reach sell their exotic tropical fish, kelp, and salt as far away as Palanthus and Port Balifor. Once they empty their holds in these distant ports, they load up with other goods to resell. The minotaur nations of Mithas and Kothas specialize in ships, bronze tools and weapons, salvage operations, and mercenary sailors. The minotaurs log the verdant forests of Elian for ship planking. They make runs to Flotsam for general trade supplies, but buy nothing in large quantities. Their staple foods are Blood Sea fish and grain garnered from Saifhum ships they raid. These isles conduct their heaviest trade with each other.
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