Abraxia

Abraxia is the name of an island located within the Calm Belt that is lush with thick jungle and marshlands, which cover the overwhelming majority of the island.

The trees stand tall, with an extensive supply of different types and species of flora sprouting from the ground. Many animals make their homes in the grand jungle of Abraxia, though the sheer diversity of fauna lessens as the trees whittle in number and the marshes begin. There are two distinct marshes on the island, the first, and larger, marsh being located on the Northwest coast of the island. On the Southern tip resides the second marsh, however it's scenery is very different compared to it's northern counterpart, and resembles a mixture between a marshland and the jungle, creating a swamp-like terrain. Dividing these two marshes is a massive rainforest that spans the rest of the island, known as **Avana Forest**.

The name of the Southern Marsh is **Kok'uei**, and the name of the Northwestern Marsh is **Senkao**

There is no de facto ruler of the nation, and the power is divided amongst eight tribes of varying size that make their homes in different areas of the island.

The eight tribes, known as the Abraxi Tribes, and the locations where they reside are:

* **Apo'uei:** Kok'uei
* **Salak'uei:** Avana Forest (Western)
* **Su'uei:** Avana Forest (Southern)
* **Ka'uei:** Avana Forest (Southeastern)
* **As'tin:** Avana Forest (Northern)
* **Korr'tin:** Senkao
* **Kop'kani:** Avana Forest (Eastern)
* **Al'kani:** Avana Forest (Eastern)

Every Abraxi Tribe is relatively equal in power to each other, and each know their terrain well enough to fend of forces greater in number regardless. Thus, the tribes tend to seek peace with each other, trading commodities from their regions, though they usually keep to their own devices, with complex unspoken and invisible borders lining the terrain. Currently, the only conflict amongst the tribes is between **Ka'uei** and **Su'uei**, where a large mineral deposit has been discovered directly on the border between the two's territorial claims, enticing them to enter conflict with one another over it's control.

Geographically, the island of Abraxia is located near the New World, with the New World being the most easily accessible location to and from the island, though easily does not necessarily equate to easy. For the dangers of the jungle are not the only thing that sway travelers away from the island, with the waters surrounding Abraxia being turbulent, and full of equally, if not more troublesome creatures, due to it's location within the calm belt. Sea Kings roam the perimeter past it's shores, seeking to feast upon any who dare draw near.

The islands it lies closest to are those of Svarga & Kurzhen, though it has thus far gone relatively unnoticed by it's nearest neighbors.

## Government & Philosophy

As mentioned earlier, there is not a single unified authority that governs over the island, with regional authorities being established under the name of distinct clans. While each tribe is different in culture and lifestyle, they all share the same basic societal structure:

* **Chief:** Each of the Abraxi Tribes is led by a Chief, who holds absolute executive and judicial authority over their tribes, as well as the final say on all legal and legislative matters. They are often strong warriors, with even stronger philosophy and wisdom. Usually, they also hold one or more of the titles listed below as well, and though it isn't a requirement, most of the current Chiefs rose to their position while already holding one of the below titles, and generally don't give up the position even when they ascend in the hierarchy.
* **Council of Three:** Every tribe additionally has a Council of Three, which is a voted position for the three wisest members of a tribe. These three are in charge of brainstorming and passing legislations to maintain order within the tribe, as well as being responsible for handling internal disputes
* **Kao'Un:** The Kao'Un of a tribe is the tribe's strongest warrior, who is the martial representative of the tribe, and is the de facto participant in all disputes with other tribes when they are to be resolved by a trial-of-combat. The Kao'Un is not synonymous to the military head, however they usually hold both titles, and ceremonially rank above the military head in speaking power
* **Kao'Kaka:** The Kao'Kaka is the military head of a tribe, who is in charge of leading the tribe's hunting parties, as well as organizing the defensive mechanisms of the territorial borders
* **Kao'Mei:** The Kao'Mei is the lead tamer within a tribe, in charge of all affairs relating to the training and domestication of the various animal allies that the Abraxi tribes see accompany them in most activities

It is generally accepted that the system is efficient, and does not require change in structure within any of the eight tribes, though there are currently talks and diplomacy that may see a merger between two distinct tribes, which would be a first in recent history, between the two tribes of Eastern Avana, the **Kop'kani** and the **Al'kani.** It is unsure how power will be dispersed under such an event, though it would see a united Kani front become the most powerful tribe on the island with ease.

Additionally, and outside the influence of the eight tribes altogether, reigns a Great Sage who lives in the exact center of the island atop a massive tree. This Sage has the authority to call councils of the chiefs of the eight tribes, as well as declare titles for any or all of the Abraxi people. The Sage is a mysterious individual, however they maintain the utmost loyalty and respect of the people, even if it isn't that of a full authoritative power.

## Cultures of Abraxia

There are three relatively distinct cultures, and cultural tendencies, within the eight Abraxi Tribes. They are separated entirely by region, with the three distinct cultural styles being spread between all tribes within the Avana Forest, and each tribe occupying either the Senkao or Kok'uei Marshes, respectively.

## **Kok'uei Marsh**

The Kok'uei Marsh is home to the **Apo'uei Tribe**, which is the sole-inhabitant tribe of the Marsh in it's entirety. This is half due to the size of the marsh, it being a relatively small portion of land compared to the rest of Abraxia. The second reason, and the one that dissuades any from even attempting to near it's borders, are the perilous low-lying waters than cover the majority of the area.

Appearing with an incredibly swamp-like terrain, with a few rare pockets of grassy marshland where the Apo'uei construct the majority of their homes, the land itself is found to provide more potential loss than gain for any who would seek to claim land within. With dangerous beasts lying below the surface of the murky waters, and insects the size of men patrolling the landscape.

The Apo'uei Tribe that calls this treacherous landscape it's home has learned to adapt around the various beast and threats that reside within the marsh. Building their main structures on the few patches of solid ground that exist in the region, they also have built intricate and complex systems of bridges and ropes that allow for quick traversal across the landscape. They are often hidden, with some being decoys in the event of an invasion, and only an Apo'uei would be able to move swiftly across the terrain without hindrance.

The Apo'uei do not tame large beasts, unlike their northern neighbors, however they have founded an amicable relationship with an unexpected creature. Giant Dragonflys, which roam Kok'uei and often the size of fully-grown rhinos flutter across the swamp from the air. They are intelligent for their biology, and can consistently respond to stimuli regarding memory and bonds, which have made them an easy ally for the people of Apo'uei, who provide them with food and protection from predators, in return for the large bugs allowing the tribespeople to ride on their backs as a means of transportation.

Many of the Dragonflys are fully domesticated, and some have even been combat-readied, learning maneuvers that are utilized specifically in times of war. Alongside the Dragonfly's natural ability to move accurately and quickly through the trees, they can be ridden and utilized as both an offensive and defensive mount for the people of Apo'uei, who have specialized in ranged combat as to maximize the advantage of a flying mount. Wielding bows and slings, the Apo'uei Tribe sees itself as a foe none desire, and through their threat they have obtained a nearly guaranteed peace, as there is little incentive to quarrel with them in the first place, which lessens due to their evasive combat practices.

## **Grand Avana Forest**

North of the Kok'uei Marsh lies the vast expanse that is the Avana Forest. It is relatively consistent in terrain across it's entirety, and is home to the majority of the Abraxi Tribes.

The tribes here unanimously opt for minimal infrastructure, operating key facilities within their territories with great care and staunch defenses, however aside from small pockets of developed land there is a general lack of man-made infrastructure elsewhere. Most of what is built, though, is built alongside or on top of trees, or within the few pockets of grassland that exist in forest clearing. Occasionally, structures are also built along the coast, though the sandy terrain makes building here tedious as well.

This is in part due to the difficulty of constructing, and protecting, an expanding construction site, however there also simply isn't much need to build more than what has already been built, as the land is not suitable for agriculture, nor is there much emphasis on non-survival or culture-oriented occupations within society. Most are either Hunter-Gatherers, Warriors, or story-tellers, with little aside from these jobs being prominent.

The forest is so large, that even if one were to find themselves arrived upon the shores of Abraxia, they would likely never find the marshes at it's tips, facing only the depths of the jungle and what lay within.

The tribes within the Avana Forest share many traits aside from that of their infrastructural tendencies as well, the most prominent of which being the designation of what are referred to as **Riders**. Where the Apo'uei find mounts in Dragonflys, the tribes of the forest opt to choose from a different set of animals.

First of are the Riders known as **Panthera**. This is a group of riders who mount, fight, travel, and hunt with fully trained and domesticated giant panthers. The panthers themselves are extremely intelligent, enough to understand and reciprocate emotion, as well as being able to communicate telepathically with their rider that they bond with, though this comes with time. Panthera are an exclusively female unit, and are found within all six tribes that reside within the Avana Forest. They are the primary warriors and scouts of their tribes, and additionally are responsible for hunting both large game, as well as fending off potential predators from the tribe.

Panthera ScoutPanthera RelaxingPanthera Warrior
The second type of Riders are known as **Skarra**. Skarra opt instead to mount a great range of some of the reptilian species that preside within the jungle, though they are mainly divided into two groups. **Runners**, who utilize mobile, though smaller, raptor-like mounts that boast sharp claws and extremely agile maneuvers, and **Tanks**, who ride much larger mounts, though they are much slower and find trouble covering thick terrain. The former are primarily used as scouts and offensive units, whereas the latter are used as supply lines and to bulldoze through enemy defenses. Skarra, unlike the Panthera, are not exclusively female, being occupied by both genders, however they are only utilized by the tribes of the Eastern forest, the **Kop'kani,** and the **Al'kani.**

Runner SkarraRunner Skarra w/ feathered TyrantTank Skarra
## **Senkao**

The Northern Marshlands of Senkao bring about a swift and drastic change in scenery from the Avana Forest. Trees quickly become sparse, replaced by grasslands and countless rivers and lakes that make up much of the Senkao Marsh. To the very north of the region lies a single snowcapped mountain, that extends its freezing presence in a small diameter nearby it, though the snow quickly turns to puddles the farther from the mountain it becomes.

The marshlands themselves rapidly shift their view from completely clear, to completely covered in a dense, rolling fog. It is because of this fog that traversal upon the terrain becomes dangerous, as many of the wildlife here have adapted to the fog, using it as cover as they hunt. Stumbling upon a predator accustomed to this terrain is nearly guaranteed to be fatal, and this too can be said for the tribe that resides here were one to make an enemy of them and attempt to invade.

The **Korr'tin** **Tribe** is the sole authority amongst the eight tribes that can claim Senkao as their home, and within their lands large settlements can be seen across the marshes, built tall and constantly well-lit, and all within a nearly synonymous distance from the next, with all of them together, if viewed from above, forming a circular perimeter surrounding a large lake that sits in between them. In the middle of the lake one such settlement can be seen as well, this being the capital city of the tribe, though it isn't very large in size. As a cohesive unit, the people of **Korr'tin** make up roughly 50% of the island of Abraxia's total population.

The greatest defense of the Korr'tin Tribe is not their numbers, however, but rather their adaptation to the fog that constantly lays rife upon their lands. Using a complex communication display revolving around lights and whistles, they can effectively communicate over long distances even in the presence of fog, and they have additionally tamed a species of hound native to the area, known as **Mist Hounds**, which can shift the color of it's fur both as a means of communication, as well as camouflage. While obviously too small to ride, they still provide an extremely useful companion for the Korr'tin people, as Mist Hounds have a superb sense of smell, as well as an optical advantage over many creatures that live in Senkao which allows Mist Hounds to colorize the fog in their eyes, allowing them to discern everything within their field of view clearly and without opacity. In tandem with the Korr'tin's hunting and battle tactics consisting of hit & run, as well as other tactics often seen in guerilla warfare, a pair of Korr'tin and Mist Hounds becomes a pestilent force to deal with.

Korr'tin WarriorsKorr'tin SettlementMist Hound with Black Fur