Demon Isles

Known formally as the “Harper Archipelago”, the Demon Isles are a province of the empire, but not a full region. The history between the Demon Isles and the New Merittan Empire has led to a tenuous connection between the two. Early in the imperial days, the armies of the emperor sailed from the southern tip of what is now Varina to the island chain. What they found were islands densely covered in tropical jungle and a culture not geared toward war but with a focus on spirituality and history. Tradition had driven the islands for generations and the more the leaders of the empire learned about these traditions the easier it was to come as friends and allies rather than as conquerors.

Today, a vassal holds the islands, agreeing to bend the knee in support of the emperor for an increased level of autonomy compared to other parts of the empire. Some in the Demon Isles would say they are not part of the empire at all, simply a willing ally. Many others know that the annex of the Demon Isles did not end in bloodshed only because they did not put up a fight. Forria Vision, the current leader of the islands, acts as a conduit and buffer to and for her people to the outside world. She struggles with her interactions with the ever changing empire in the face of a stagnant society on the Demon Isles; yet she seeks to preserve her people’s freedom and autonomy while gaining the benefit of membership in the empire where she can.