A small line of sand covers the coast of the Rustles island, where a port shows its majesty. Small ships of fishermen, trade-cogs, war ships and perhaps even pirates trade goods, pick up supplies, or find haven at this island.
VIew of the Coast
The sandy coast quickly gives way to dense, lush forest. While there are some animals, the dominant non-human life are snakes for which the island is famous. A mixture of hard and soft woods, trails or roads cut through to wind around to various points at the great lake in the center. The ground rises, then falls as though this were the uppermost lip of an old volcano, long since dormant.
The center of the roughly circular island is a lake with several smaller islands within. The town-city of Rustles island flocks along the inner shore with wooden bridges to span to the larger islets. Bustling trade, housing for those who pass through, and strange and exotic things may be found here.
Streets of the Rustles Island
Some of the inner islets are used for specific purpose, such as cultivation of certain fruits and the making of distilled liquors, while another is made over into a garden filled with many kinds of plants, walking paths and shelters. Another is an artist colony filled with those who paint, sculpt, or create higher level fine crafts, and others are homes for the nobility.
Not a large island, there is little timber cut so to preserve the forest. There is limited agriculture but thriving trade. There are inns and a whorehouse, the healer's guild, places to buy or sell snake venom or snake meats, or exotic birds. Commoners live on the main island and nobility live in the castle on an islet.
The castle has a courtyard surrounded by walls which hide kitchens, rooms of the relatives to the royal family, tutors, meeting halls, feast hall, throne room and suites of the royal family members.
Rustles Island is not a mountain island though it may well was long ago. The land rises and falls somewhat gently and is quite fertile. Commoners live as tenant farmers where they grow fruits, vegetables, grains, and some livestock, or live as craftsman or shipbuilders. The primary industry is fishing, a center for sea trade, and ship building or repair.
The forest itself belongs to the Moniwid family and is very closely managed so not to strip the island of tree cover, yet providing enough timber for most needs. Stone is also available on the island to quarry for building. The forest is lush with many kinds of animal life even if most of it is small. No larger animals live wild on the animal, likely killed off by poison snakes, over hunting, or may never have existed here. Plant life is rife with fungi, exotic herbs, and several cultivated spices are cultivated.
The Grand Duke is the ruler of the island. The second son of the family (if there is one) is always prepared to become the High Admiral and lead the ships of the House. When he reaches 20 years old, he gets this position if it is not still capably filled by the uncle. The Grand Duke himself is King of the island even if the realm is rather small, the seas Rustles Island influences are wide.
Steward of the island is one of the daughters or sisters of the Grand Duke. For this reason, if the Grand Duke dies and his son takes his position, sister of the dead Grand Duke may continue her work. Sometimes this position is held, or usurped, by the Grand Dutchess if she is a capable administrator.
Those who wish to marry one of the House of Moniwid daughters request the Grand Duke's permission. Courtship usually lasts one to three months. After this period the betrothal negotiations are usually finalized and the couple and their families may plan for their wedding. It is said that the Grand Duke choses one archer, one swimmer, one knight to compete with any who wants to marry daughter of the House. While the would be suitor does not have to win, they had better impress the Duke favourably enough or permission to court will not be granted.
After competitions the Grand Duke gives his verdict and throws a feast if courtship is granted. A man has to bring a Sea treasure, which is caught by himself to the feast. No one knows, is it the last task before getting a hand of the lady or is it just good manners, or is it just the way how House of Moniwid makes fun of the future relative, if permission will be given. However, it became a huge tradition.Sea treasures might be sharks, fish, food, gowns made of nets and shells or even strange things, which were lost in the Sea by the Gods.
It is said that if it is an important political marriage, the man who wishes to marry the Moniwid daughter /might/ get a little help with these expectations but he better put on a good show.
Burial in the island, likely, is similar to all the burials in the nations of the Sea. When a person dies, he is put into a small boat and put to sea with various offerings from family and friends. The boat is made to burn and lit upon the water, usually at sunset. People believe that this is three days journey to the Paradise. The family of the dead do not light candles for three days and lives in the dark, drowning in their reminiscence of the person lost. Prayers are offered to see the deceased make it to Paradise but if enough good prayers are not heard by the gods, the person's soul may wonder the sea lost forever. After this period of concentration a feast may be thrown if there are enough family and friends who can afford to host one.
The symbol of Rustles Island is a serpent as seen on the Moniwid crest. There are more than hundred kinds of snakes on the island and roughly half of them are poisonous to some degree. It is also rumored that sometimes sacrefices are made to appease the snakes by both commoners and nobility of the island and that the castle's dungeon is filled with serpents.
Due to the large number of them being venemous, healers on Rustles Island are especially adept in dealing with snake bites. They have a small guild of their own to instruct other healers in the arts particular to the island. It is rumored to be the largest profession on the island aside from those who work the seas.
Stinging Fire (Geliancioji Ugnis) - The name is from the burning, stinging venom of it's bite. It is rumored the venom can be used either to cure burns or to make a deadly poison that is said to burn a person from the inside out.
Ray of Sun (Saules Spindulys) - After the bite of this snake, if you will not be treated properly, you may go blind. Healers are said to collect his venom to make medicines to use for numbing pain, or to induce visions. And overdose will render a person blind /but/ may also render them prone to life long visions and vivid dreams.
Mirror of the Death (Mirties veidrodis) - Very rare, usually found in the forest. An extremely deadly poison that attacks the nervous system, rendering the bitten person dead almost at once. Some say the poison is equally deadly if added even in very small doses to food and drink. However, that is unlikely as many snake venoms when taken internally do not have the same effects as a bite directly into the blood.
Star of the Night (Naktine žvaigžde) - This beauty lights in the darkness as the stars in the sky and commoners of Rustles Island say this snake can charm those who view it. The venom is supposedly sought after for love potions.
Blue Phoenix (Melynasis Feniksas) - Usually are found in rocky or sandy places along the coasts. This snake's bite does not kill, but will render the person unconscious to a state that is easily mistaken for death. It is thought to have similar effect if ingested but seems to have variable results and short storage life.
Leaves of the Oaks (Ažuolapis) - This is quite large snake, sometimes may be as long as small boat. The are constrictors and are feared for the swallowing of small children. Very tasty meat.
Nocturnal Veil (Nakties skraiste) -This one is the symbol of the House of Moniwid and it is said that the spirit of his snake desires sacrefices made to appease it's hunger in order for the Moniwid House to endure. The venom of this snake is said to render the victum quickly dazed insensible, very painful, and without treatment will disolve the bones to make it possible for the snake to consume them. The snakes aren't large enough to swallow people so the bites are rarely lethal unless a great many bite you.
Spirit of the Lake (Ežero dvasia) - Water serpant of the lake, this snake has a bite that paralizes the victims though it can take several minutes to effect. It is not a lasting nor necessarily deadly bite unless bitten by a breeding raft of snakes, or unless the victim can not get out of the water to land before drowning. The snake is sought after for fertility potions, the meat eaten by men who wish to be especially potent.
