Montverd

Montverd is an Acirian island in the Tainean Sea, located off the southern coast of Aciria, immediately north of Azzia. The 2020 census declared its permanent population to be 87 956, but temporary population during holiday season can greatly affect the islands population.

An Imperial Dominion, the Emperor of Aciria personally owns the land as opposed to the state of Aciria owning it. The capital of the Imperial Dominion is Telania, where approximately a quarter of the population of the island lives. Montverd was acquired by Giovanni I shortly after his ascension to the throne in order to protect the island's natural beauty. The imperial family of Aciria spends extended periods of time on the island due to Montverd being home to the Ritiro Imperiale, the retreat of the imperial family.

Much of the island's economy depends on tourism due to the Emperor seldom granting permission to work the land. The natural beauty and history of the island makes it a popular domestic holiday location.

Etymology
The name Montverd literally means green mountain, the initial Marinai sailors making landfall there naming it as such due to the mountain covered in foliage protruding from the center of the island. While the name Montverd is now widely used, until the 15th century the entire island was known as Telania, which the city was named after. The name is Istroyan in origin, with its original name being "Telanos" after the local tribe inhabiting the island. The word "Telanos" means goblin people, presumably referring to the ugly appearance of the natives.

History
The island came to prominence in the late 8th century BC following the establishment of the Istroyan colony of Kenopatrida in northwestern Montverd. The colony was set up in order to offer a place of rest for Istroyan traders and explorers, and as a hub for trade and storage prior to shipping them to either mainland Aciria or back to the Istroyan world. While the rest of Aciria came under Latin influence and control after the fall of the Aciriano-Istroyan Kingdom, the distance Montverd held from the mainland allowed them to keep their distinct Aciriano-Istroyan culture. While Latin influence eventually overtook the island, the native Montverd to date still have a unique dialect of Acirian accompanied by cultural traits that are often attributed to the extended Aciriano-Istroyan culture's development.

The local culture slowly was absorbed into the larger Acirian culture, and by the time of Acirian independence in 16XX the majority was a part of the Marinai. Even at this point in time the local population rarely worked the land, with most of the population taking part in either shipbuilding, fishing or commerce. The later taxes introduced on commerce directly resulted in the Marinai revolt in the 18th century after the locals thought it targeted Marinai in particular. Giovanni Montefeltro, who later became the First Emperor of Aciria, came to the island for the first time in his adult life during this period to put down the Marinai revolt. It was during this period when he fell in love with the natural beauty of the land, which resulted in him seizing it for him and his heirs from the state after he became Emperor.

Following the creation of the Imperial Dominion, Montverd's population demographics shifted drastically, with the largely poor population was soon met by many nobles flocking to the island from the mainland after the Emperor constructed the Ritiro Imperiale there. The construction of the lavish homes of the nobility and the extension of city limits destroyed local nature, which angered Giovanni - decreeing a law that requires permission from him to build there as opposed to the state. The law is in use until today, which means that the construction projects on the island are very limited.

Language
While Acirian is the most spoken language on the island, the island is home to the Verdiro dialect. Its speakers identify as Acirian, but the language is famous in Aciria due to both its unusual pronounciation and vocabulary, with some of the Verdiro words having Glaistic or Istroyan origin, while its mainland counterpart has the Latin equivalent. The capital, Telania, is home to a Verdiro school where the dialect is taught, more often than not to actors in order to properly use the dialect for a role.

Tourism
Montverd's most notable source of income is tourism. The island's unspoiled nature in the form of its lush forests and numerous wildlife, its Istroyan and Caphirian ruins and various extravagant villas constructed on the island have drawn visitors to the island since the 18th century, with various writers, poets and painters bringing the island to the public eye over the years.

Criticism
Permanent inhabitants of Montverd have spoken against the increased tourism in the recent decades due to the risk the expanded tourism industry might bring to the unspoiled nature of the island.