Mauzji islands

The Makkada Sultanate encompasses three islands: Assa, the largest, Umay, and Bakr. Some historians believe the close proximity of the islands—at the narrowest point, daytime flag communication is possible between Bakr and Assa—is what made Mauzji natives so confident at navigating the Forest.

## Geography

The Mauzji islands are in a temperate climate with frequent rain everywhere but the Sarai Desert. The growing season is long and harvests, large. In the north of Assa, the Efrit Range gets snow, which irrigates most territory north of Makkar. The two largest forests, Arhan and Ghar, are home to a variety of important tree species, including rubber, balsa, and teak.

Mt. Galzjan is an active volcano that generally splutters more than erupts, though Dhi scientists claim the crater around it suggests it can be explosive at times. Ju botanists observe the area with great interest because if the volcano erupted during favorable wind conditions, much of the ash and lava would end up in the Forest, at which point scientists could observe how quickly the trees recover from injury.

The three mesas are a holy and beautiful location in the south where three flat-topped mesas cluster close to one another, two taller than the third like parents taking care of a child. Most Sudhas visit at least once to pray and observe where the holy book, allegedly, was written. Until the Kuan-Seprum army arrived in Mauzji, climbing them was banned. Now, Seprum adventurers occasionally scramble up the flatter faces, to the chagrin of native Makkadi.

## History

The first interactions between islands occurred as early as 4000 PS via flag and lantern. In 3800 PS, Rashni and Elaia used domesticated pigeons and corn feed to send letters back and forth across the Forest, cobbling together a shared written language using pictograms and small items like seeds and rocks. In 3700 PS, the first team set off into the Forest from Assa and was never seen again. The next team left a few years later and one survival returned to Assa, raving mad.

In 3650 PS two teams left at the same time, all but sprinting across the Forest, exchanging one party member each, and running back to safety. One made it, the first member of Imas to set foot on Assa. That they carried with them a djinn or some other malevolent spirit, which subsequently burnt down half of Rahm, put a damper on Bakr-Assa relations. The next journey did not take place until c. 3500, at which point Erahma spiromancers had discovered runes to help them map out Forest depth and mapped the location of the Katari Trench. The next venture left from Radh and Masci, tracing the path of the longest lasting Mauzji trade route. This time, all but one traveler made it back safely and the first cultural exchange could begin.

Immediately, both sides discovered something of immense interest on the other: peppers and cumin for the Erahma, coffee for Masci. Though they tried many methods of air-based trade, including training vultures, nothing could replace physical travel. The first spice path was born. Soon, Mauzji merchants traveled back and forth throughout the year, creating new languages, games, holidays, and jokes. Sudhaism spread down from Makkar to Bakr and found a welcome audience in Adhan and Imas.

Meanwhile, rune-mapping scripts made their way from Katar to Makkar—Qurakka and Amakka soldiers, spiromancers, and explores set off to Umay, establishing their own trade route and connecting all three islands by 3550 PS. The first cross-island conflict began in 3200, between Udamai and Imas, allied with Erahma. For the most part, the clans cooperated and continued creating shared cultural, religious, and linguistic connections. The first traders to arrive in Dhi included representatives from all the clans. By 2000 PS, Mauzji was running a burgeoning trade empire, and spreading Sudhaism as they went.