Grey Islands (Dominion of the)
Location: In the center of the New Alphatian Sea, east of Ionace, north of Aquas, southeast of the Sundsvall Maelstrom. AS
Area: 13,500 sq. mi. (34,965 sq. km.).
Population: 400 scattered on the various islands opened for colonisation, plus stationed soldiers (100) guarding the area (notably the close-by Sundsvall Maelstrom), and students and faculty from Alphatia during the academic year (currently about 200).
Language: Alphatian (various dialects).
Coinage: Alphatian Standard: crown (gp), mirror (sp), judge (cp).
Taxes: 15% income tax on everyone of servant status or higher. Slaves are counted as the property of the owner and the product of their labour is taxed as income for the owner. Nayce collects taxes from its subjects, Alphatia that of its own (school faculty).
Government Type: Military dictatorship, member of Nayce.
Industries: Magical research, teaching of magic.
Important Figures: Dariyana (Student).
Flora and Fauna: All flora and fauna from the Grey Mountains has died because of the brutal climactic change brought by the new position of the land, i.e. oceanic instead of mountainous. Only some underground species have survived (mostly fungi and small insects). Hardy mosses are the vanguard of the future ecosystem that will eventually emerge. On the islands that have seen a small influx of settlers, vegetables and farm animals (mostly chickens) have been brought.
Further Reading: Previous almanacs.
Last Year's Events: None to report.