Isle of Breaching Sharks
The Isle of Breaching Sharks is an island just off the coast of the Southwestern Threshold, at the mouth of the River of Ever-Flowing Blood that divides An-Teng and the Land of Crushing Fragrance.
The Isle is ruled directly by the Imperial Navy of the Scarlet Empire, currently under authority of the Fire Fleet. It is home to a small port and naval station where Imperial vessels can stop to resupply or shelter from seasonal storms. The Navy finds this station useful for both civilian vessels bound to and from the Blessed Isle, and warships patrolling for pirates such as the Lintha. It also houses a market and warehouses which are used to trade goods with rafts moving up and down the river from settlements in northern An-Teng and Blood River.
Exactly who ought control the Isle is a matter of great dispute. Within the Navy itself, the Water and Fire fleets argue over who ought administer the facility, and some sixty years ago the Imperial Merchant Navy began to assert that as the island was a trade port and sometimes used by civilian shipping it fell under their jurisdiction. Within the Thousand Scales, both the Wise and Knowledgeable Advisors of Foreign Tributaries and the Ever-Flowing Office of Foreign Acquisitions have made claims that the Isle ought be under their administration rather than direct control of the Navy. Additionally some of An-Teng's princes have historically asserted the island belongs to their realm, and though the current Shore Prince has rejected the idea some nobles still whisper nationalistic anger over the matter. The bulk of inhabitants within the Land of Crushing Fragrance do not seem to consider the Isle part of their land, but the occasional group which does can be expected to immediately assert the claim with attacks or raids launched from the mainland. Historically the Great Houses have attempted to assert control only by proxy, but in the present upheaval some worry that several Houses with historical or legal claims (House Ragara, House Peleps, House Ledaal, and House Tepet) might involve themselves directly.
