Refuge Atoll
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| Parent | Torentine Empire ( TOR ) | ||
| Founding Date | XXX | ||
| Government • Type • Governor |
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| Adjective | Refugee | ||
| Capital | Queensport | ||
| Administrative Divisions | N/A | ||
| Largest City | Queensport | ||
| Area • Total • % water |
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| Population • Total • Growth Rate • Density • Rank in TOR |
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| GDP • Total • GDP/capita • Growth Rate • Rank in TOR |
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| Time Zones |
Queensport Time (QPT) | ||
| Calling Code | +448 | ||
Refuge Atoll, officially the Torentine Crown Territory of Refuge Atoll, is a Territory of the Torentine Empire. It consists of several small islands and hazardous dormant (often incorrectly referred to as petrified) coral reefs encircling a large shallow lagoon. It is located atop the Phasian Seamount between the Eastern Cidalian Ocean (Miereles Sea) and the Esslyean Sea about 300 miles east-northeast of Enali.
History
The atoll was discovered in 1296 by Captain Trun Sprattin of the Second Lusitierran Expedition from Torentine. Later visits to the islands would reveal a safe passage into the lagoon from the west which eventually made it a popular haven for the long voyage or during harsh seas.
In 1324 the small but permanent settlement of Amranila (now Queensport), named in honor of then Grand Baroness was settled on the largest island despite the lack of sufficient fresh water. In the rainy season inhabitants used cisterns to gather drinking water, in drier times they depended on deliveries from the mainland, usually in the form of beer. Food was also delivered in quantity and warehoused on the island to sell or trade.
Residents of the islands made their living by catering to the basic and sometimes unsavory needs of increasing numbers of sailors passing through the port. Food, water, alcohol and women were the primary commodities of this microeconomy. The town also saw it's share of pirate raids which were often thwarted by the perilous reefs or rebuffed by the bevy of equally tough sailors who wished to protect their wares as well as the invaluable function of the tiny archipelago.
Modern Times
Today Queensport is a small but thriving tourist town watched over by the 320' Refuge Beacon, the Empire's tallest lighthouse. In the summer the population nearly triples. Streets bustle with a wide array of visitors and the lagoon is dotted with white sails. Weather permitting, the famous glass bottom boat tour allows visitors to examine a multitude of historic shipwrecks which rest amongst the shallow reefs. Some of the smaller islands are home to tiny private resorts or completely deserted except perhaps for some nesting sea birds.
In the off-season the winds kick up and the skies take on a moody cast. The pace slows drastically becoming much more relaxed. This season tends to attract a more intellectual type of visitor, including writers, poets and artists.
