MantaLand

MantaLand is the name of the small island the whole story takes place in, and was given its name from humans due to it being shaped like a Manta Ray. Insects don't have a particular name for it due to not having a good grasp on its geography (and nor do they have knowledge on what a manta ray is), but it is revealed early on in the story through human books that the place is called what it is.

MantaLand is heavily renowned from external countries for its extremely varied environments, all lush and teeming with an exceptional variety of animal, plant, and insect life. It is also known for containing mountains with freezing temperatures despite them being surrounded by extremely tropical environments. Initially, deforestation and other damages to the environment were conducted by humans during early colonisation and exploration of the area for resources, but after discovering just how incredibly vast and lush its environments were, the damages ceased and the entire island (aside from the Western area which is where the city is built) is under protective laws that prevent any damages to the natural landscape (although there have been recent notices of poachers and hunters living in the outskirts who are logging trees to keep themselves alive).

The six main characters travel around the entirety of MantaLand and sightsee everything that it has to offer from their own small viewpoint, be it positive or terrifyingly negative. We view their adventures through the eyes of both them and bugs in general, so the things that their have a significant fear of may be exaggerated slightly. That means if we were to play as someone else like humans or one of their predators, they would see things differently compared to what the bugs see (for example, humans will see bugs as we do in the real world).

## MantaLand Locations

Below are the primary locations in MantaLand that our main story takes in. They currently don't have names but I am planning to give them some at some point if I can come up with any!

#### The Great Plains

A large, happy and sunny area filled with flowers and grass. A perfect, resourceful and bountiful place for social insects from the Royal Associalation (i.e. ants, bees, wasps, termites)!

#### The Forest

Located next to the plains, the forest has always been an area of mystery for the people there, filled with uncertainty and danger.

#### The Clearing/Riverway

A small area leading outside of the forest. It houses a couple of small, peaceful insect towns.

#### Abandoned Greenhouse

Somewhere on the lower-end of the Riverway, the Abandoned Greenhouse now serves as the main hospital for all Arthropians, as well as being the place where weapons and gear (as well as other useful items) for arthropods are produced. It however, also houses a dark secret...

#### The Swamps

A place of even further mystery and danger than the Forest. Death covers the area from the skies to the water-covered grounds, and the deeper you go the less likely you're able to see. Rumour has it that in the deepest parts there is a town full of outlaws and criminals...

#### The Mountains

A cold place that was previously thought to be uninhabitable by insects has now been dominated by every single moth species due to their newly adaptation to the cold, as well as small villages inhabited by ice crawlers (which sometimes merge with moth territories). It also houses a tourist hotel at the highest mountain peak from which resources are gathered and distributed amongst all civilisations there.

#### The River

The cross between the Mountains and the Jungle, The River is regarded as a place foreboding of what's to come. Constructed near it is The Friendly Neighbourhood house, a place spoken of in many folklores to teach children about the dangers of wandering off and trusting those you shouldn't trust.

#### The Jungle

The most dangerous place next to The Sea. It is absolutely bursting with arthropod life, but is unfortunately also a heavy warzone amongst many Arthropians who are always fighting to either protect their territories or expand and conquer others' territories. The most dangerous enemies appear here. There are rumours of few peaceful areas, but none have ever been able to scope them out.

#### The City

A man-constructed city (that also serves as a central hotspot for many insects to take and use the scrapped resources scattered around the area) teeming with human life. Arthropod species can either be seen living inside or outside human homes, and their relationships with humans can either cary from acceptance to high tension.

#### The Sea

A place only inhabitable by crustaceans. No insect has ever crossed the sea nor known what lies beyond as any that has ever tried to cross has never returned back, presumably having either passed away whilst travelling the waters or living new lives once treading into new territory.

#### The Island

An unknown land, it is presumed that the Ancients that everyone worships back in main MantaLand originated (and lived) here. Any preserved speciment of ancient arthropod reacts strongly to this island.