Minemos (Island)

Description & History
Minemos is the smallest island on the Medi-i peninsula. Formed by volcanic activity during the Catastrophe, the island holds only a low population of people, whose ancestors had migrated there generations after it formed. Over the centuries, the inhabitants became skilled metal workers and traded goods throughout the continent to build up their civilisation from scratch. Goods, but rarely weapons - the Minemish are not traditionally known to be a war-like people, choosing diplomacy over conflict wherever possible.

Houses on the island are small, and generally made of wood, having only one or two rooms inside. And these are concentrated into seven villages, each led by an elected community council. Being a volcanic island, the ground is fertile. But all of the species were brought here by the current inhabitants ancestors, and have been carefully cultivated. The island is green, but closely regimented and managed - with the weather being unpredictable at times, the community councils must plan against the elements for stability. There is animal-life, but like the plant-life, this was imported (either intentionally or otherwise). So there are no predators, apart from the occasional caned, but there are sheep and goats, chickens, and ponies. Deer had also been introduced to the island, though the populations had not fared particularly well, and so now were few and far between.

In 740 N.A. (New Age) Minemos allied with the other islands of Medi-um in the Great War (known to the Catalians as the Unification War), and were defeated in 751 N.A. Following the Great War, the Island of Minemos - along with the other Medi-i states - was brought into the Deputan Empire, under King Leodus.

Traditions & Customs
The Minemish people live, for the most part, peaceful lives on the island. Being a newly formed civilisation, formed by friendly clans and built from nothing, the seven villages work together in construction, environmental management, and food production. Each village is led by a community council, made up of the heads of each household and re-elected every four years. Currency is trade, and there is relative economic and political equality between each family unit, and each village.

As there is little animal-life on the island, hunting is forbidden (apart from the dear-hunt which takes place once every ten years, in which archers can team-up for the opportunity to hunt a single buck). But goats and sheep are raised for milk, chickens for eggs, and one of each killed for a feast on special occasions. Aside from this, the inhabitants of the island are vegetarian, relying on their carefully managed agricultural systems to feed the villages.