Ievsteoruef Islands

The Ievsteoruef Islands (Risorese: Miorie Ievsteoruef [mʲórʲe jevstéorʷef]) are the large range of islands which make up most of southern Vitsoresh.



=Name= Throughout several languages and names the islands are usually referred to by their bare ground and apparant lack of trees. The islands were first named in Old Sumrë as Mylelwėė Rakăcusswȯ (“The islands of treeless airs”), from which derives the Nusibara name Llyellai Rakoțussa which was borrowed into Risorese as Miorie Rakotșosa where it serves as a poetic name.

The Risorese name Ievsteoruef is from the Early Meddió name for the islands; (“the islands of desolate land and no trees”). The Meddió name is Mejje so Rokie (“islands of the Reș people”).

=Discovery= The islands have always been a source of exploration and wonder, being viewed as the southern border of the Sumric world. The first people to set foot on the islands were Proto-Sumric speakers in the 12th century who reached the islands via their simple animal hide canoes. The islands were not regularly inhabited or visited until a large obsidian deposit was found on Sarapatu Island after which a mine called Mnaswė Pit was set up in the 18th century to extract the obsidian for producing tools (See Sumric Mining Industry). The smaller islands were popular meditation sites for shamans who valued islands for their remoteness, which they viewed as being the perfect place to meditate. One such island called Saka derives it name from being a popular site for shaman apprentices, being ultimately derived from the Old Sumrë noun ška (“teaching, learning, doctrine, pedagogy, training, apprenticeship”).

After the collapse of the mining industry Mnaswė Pit was abandoned and over time it filled with rain water to form Ist so Raut (“Lake Obsidian”). After this time the islands faded into obscurity, being remembered only by the Nusiba on their maps as a desolate and empty place for ships to occasionally land to let the sailors walk around for fresh air before continuing their journey.

The islands wouldn’t see major interest again until the settling of the Reș people in Vitsoresh in 4618AN. Newly settled in their new homeland the Reș explored the land with great curiosity. Aided by Nusiba maps showing the location of the islands many people set sail south and found massive and empty islands. The islands were populated by Reș soon after who sustain themselves by fishing, whaling and hunting seabirds. Although small settlements grew into sizable towns nearby where foreign ships would rest with locals taking advantage of the new niche to supply bed and board to marine travellers, the islands were always seen as a rural but much admired place with a rustic marine charm.

=Island Names= Since the Reș found the islands using Nusiba maps marked with Nusiba names, the names of all the major islands are loans from Nusibara to Risorese. The Nusibara names themselves descend from their Old Sumrë names.


 * Sasat < Nusibara Sasat < Old Sumrë Sakhant (“Island to behold”)
 * Șenitu < Nusibara Sianitu < Old Sumrë Sighintu
 * Sastasi < Nusibara Sasthasi < Old Sumrë Sagsthaki
 * Sioriatșa < Nusibara Sirriața < Old Sumrë Siviorrco (“Music Island”)
 * Sasiori < Nusibara Sasiry < Old Sumrë Sȯsgör (“Vole Island”)
 * Saka < Nusibara Saaka < Old Sumrë Saška (“Learning Island”)
 * Sogu < Nusibara Sogu < Old Sumrë Sowgow ("Low Island")
 *  Sou < Nusibara Sou < Old Sumrë Sȯhȯ ("Pure Island")
 * Repatu < Nusibara Raipatu < Old Sumrë Sarapatu (“Obsidian Island”)