Jäinensaari: A Frozen Paradise

Jäinensaari is known by many names: Spider Island, The Icy Rock, Frozen Paradise and The Most Pointless Place to be Fought Over in Vitubia.

It is an island that is 200 km in surface area but one that has many places of natural beauty on it. It's beautiful Boreal Forests. The Icy Peaks of Paratiisi Mountains. Hot Springs. The Aurora Australis.

It is a place with many animals. Penguins, Reindeer, Polar bears, Snow Hawks, Lemmings, Sea Lions, Ice Hares, Marmots, Snow wolves, Seals, are amongst them. But for the island's history, the most important of them all has been the beaver, from which the Beaver Wars were fought over.

It is a location that is inhabited by two peoples, Pingviinit and Rosebutas. In harmony they live and prosper in this cold hell. The fauna and the many fish that are offshore make their lives of these 1200 possible.

It is also the hotspot of whalers from across the continent, a source of content in the past that has healed over time.

Over the years, it has been a base for two navies, the Navy of the Tsardom and the Eastern Fleet of the Tsukinode Empire. Currently, the Eastern Fleet holds itself secure at its small waystation and fort known as Hikowan to the friends from the north, called the Kuutamoportti by the local Pingviinit. The Tsardom holds its own Krepost known as Yegorovo to the Bedstviyites but Ansastajansalmi to the Pingviinit.

Both of these nations, now cohabit the island in peace but this wasn't always the case, and several wars have been fought over what an Imperial Admiral once called "The Most Pointless Place to be Fought Over in Vitubia." But the islands position, and its abundant number of beavers have given it much worth, both today and now. The peace now is held together by the locals, who had the misfortune of watching these conflicts take place and is cosigned by the Tsardom and the Empire. The story of the Beaver Wars is an interesting tale for another day but had a such large impact of the island and its history.

The capital of the island is the small town of Itäsatama, a place with no more than 150 inhabitants. There are a few other permanent settlements across the island beyond the capital and the two foreign bases, such as Nuurmi, Petrikylä, Kolkkala, Leviä and Poroniemi. Most of these places serve as trading settlements, or as fishing ports. All of these places are inhabited by the Pingviinit and a few Rosebutas.

The Island is ruled by the Lumisaarten Herra, or the Lord of the Snow Isles. The Herra rules from his small castle at Valkolinna just outside of Itäsatama and is considered to be the ruler of both the Pingviinit and the mediator of the Rosebutas on the island and the 3 smaller ones. His rule came about as a result of the Beaver wars as a means of being able to settle the disputes between the locals and foreigners alike. The current Herra is Petri III, the grandson of the first Herra, Petri I, the man who was able to end the Beaver wars with his tongue and sword alike. Petri I is considered to be the Island's patron saint from both Rosemi and Petra and is a holy figure in the local religious customs.

The island's small population means it has no real defense for outside of the town guards of Itäsatama and the castle guards at Valkolinna. Should a hostile invader ever come, it is common knowledge that the Pingviinit and the Rosebutas would retreat deep into the forests and fight a guerilla war against the foreign invaders. Pingviinit marksmen in particular would prove to be quite the threat to most who dare to violate the sovereignty of the island. Both the Tsardom and the Empire also have both agreed to protect the island in some form, with both having small garrisons at their settlements but certainly able to send more ships should the situation require it. The Herra has made the general strategy of retreating to the forests and fighting with hit and run attacks while the allies come to rescue us. Should, Petra forbid, one of the allies seek to conquer, the same strategy would apply as well.

The "Frozen Paradise" is an interesting place, with an interesting story that shall be expanded on.

There are also four other islands in in the region, all ruled by the Herra. Karhusaari, Hyljesaari, Turskasaari and Merileijonasaari. The biggest of these islands is Karhusaari, which has a population of around 50 Pingviinit and is a common stop for whalers at its small outpost of Jääkarhulahti. Hyljesaari is located just north of Turskasaari and Merileijonasaari and has a population of perhaps 20 Pingviinit, mostly trappers and hunters that are located in various cabins accross the island. Turskasaari and Merileijonasaari have no permanent settlers and are mostly used as temporary stops for ships.