The Sarshaws

The Sarshaws are a group of small islands in the Redeeming Ocean, consisting of two larger islands, Greater Sarshaw and Lesser Sarshaw, and many smaller islets and reefs called the Lesser Sarshaws.

For centuries they were a way point for Anrelian and Besoan merchantmen travelling between the Natorn Archipelago and the Eastern Isles, particularly for those wishing to avoid Hartheranplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigHarthera

The Hartheran Union, commonly named Harthera, is an imperialist maritime nation state dominating the northeast of Anásthias. It is one of the two great powers of the modern epoch, arguably the most technologically and militarily powerful nation in the world, only matched by the vast size and wealth of its neighbour, viridOrorrMEOrorrOrorrOrorrOrorr waters.

The main isle of Greater Sarshaw is windswept and bleak, with low lying impenetrable virid moorland. The only significant settlement is the glumly-named Port Town, and a fishing village to the north. An old tower lighthouse stands on the eastern peninsula, erratically maintained by the inhabitants, guiding ships from the south through the treacherous Lesser Sarshaws. The headland beneath the lighthouse is riddled with caves, the subject of many local legends.

Sailors tales describe the islanders as dull-witted, introspective and moribund, with folkloreplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigFolklore

Folklore

This is in a series of articles about oral traditions, tales, folk practices, and folklore.

topics cult1 alluding to strange disappearances and sinister rituals. The islanders certainly are shy of contact with outsiders and tend to limit conversation merely to business. The Hartheran Navy maintains a consulate in Port Town, which in recent years has been expanded to a fortified enclave with its own pier. However, given the lack of resources other than fresh water, the Hartheran government has not chosen to exercise any significant authority over the islanders.