Iradel
43 miles wide, average above surface 10,363ft
Geography
Iradel’s elevation renders it cold and snowy much of the time, and high winds and inhospitable weather are the norm. The enormous Gatehouse of Iradel surrounds the Gate and Ancient Ruin and covers most of the Traverton from the elements. The Island has many sharp ridges, and Iradelites farm hearty cold-weather crops in the vales between them, shielded from the worst of the weather.
People and Culture
Most of the population are descended from Clannless Anvardi and mountain tribe Baraki. Modern locals are hearty and somewhat gruff, salt-of-the-earth people carving out a living in the harsh environment. Over the centuries the locals who control Iradel’s Gate have developed into a class of landed gentry, burghers and barons, and this wealthier class lives in more comfortable estates situated in the hills near the Traverton.
Two smaller communities stand out. An official Uldrathi Orn breeding camp does not allow outsiders but often interacts with locals and the Traverton, and a Mehujaeli “high-dropper” camp rests on the trailing edge of the Island, where extreme Droppers leap from Iradel during the brief time it passes over Mehujael, attempting to land back on their home Island. It is rumored that they are considered crazy even among Mehujaeli droppers.
Local Authority
The Burghers and Barons or Iradel have a loose and lazy authority over the Island, mostly using their power to adjudicate disputes and set taxes on goods moving through the Gate. Each local settlement more or less polices itself and appeals to the Barons if things get out of hand. The Barons each have sets of family armsmen, but in times of strife or local unrest the ruling class hires mercenaries or guards from other Islands. Keeping the peace in the Traverton is a duty that is passed around from Baron to Baron in some baroque fashion – some claim it’s a punishment for boorish behavior. They also typically hire mercenaries for the task, often the Habri of Alfinel.
Language
Travit and a mixture of native Cradle tongues.
Traverton
The Traverton and Gate of Iradel reside under a huge domed structure known as the Gatehouse, one of the largest human-made structures in all the Islands. The bones of it are rumored to be an Ancient Race Ruin. Early settlers from the Cradle Islands worked together to enclose the Gate and space for the village that would grow up around it. The Traverton has grown significantly since the Gatehouse was completed, and the buildings are tight and, in many places, are built literally on top of one another. As a town it feels confined and warm – cozy or claustrophobic, depending on one’s nature.
