O Whahani Mo'tuka

**O Whahani Mo'tuka** (lit. **The Thousand Islands**), also referred to as just **Whahani**, were a cluster of islands located in the straits of Athas, just east of Turmish. They were a small collection of atolls and volcanic islands with a rich cultural history, and lots of diverse flora and fauna, like endemic birds, lush jungle, turtles, rays, sharks and more. A higher proportion of the populace were elvish, human and dragonborn than most other lands. They were inhabited by the **Whahani Mo'tukani** people (the Thousand Islanders), also called the **Tukani**.

### Location

several thousand islands, cays and atolls between Turmish and Bey

### Known For

home of skilled ancestral navigators; many varied and idyllic islands, beautiful beaches and pristine jungle, calm ocean, countless unique animals and plants

### Exports

seafood; 'exotic' fruit and crops; other products of the sea; palm; boats

### Languages

Tukani, Common, Beyir, Xantic, Tibealan, Alder

### Demographics

high proportion of elves, humans and some dragonborn

### Religion

sun and moon god, animism, some Malinism from the nearby Xant

## Local Names

* In native Tukani/Shae'n they were referred to as **O whahani mo'tuka**, meaning 'the thousand islands'. In Tukani/Shae'n, the **wh** represents a Φ (like f but using both lips only) and the apostrophe signifies a glottal stop (like in uh**-**oh).
* This name was also transliterated into neighbouring languages - in Alder, it was **O fa ha ni**, and in Tibealan it was **Offaín Moddu**.
* The name '**The Moonshae Isles**' often appears on maps - this is in fact a Lusken Empire name for the isles when they 'discovered' them and named them after both the full moon that led them there, and Captain Shaeus di Ora, the leader of the fleet that 'first' landed there. (No one bothered to ask the natives!)

## History

The Straits of Athas were inhabited early on in history - the early Tukani people were comparable to real-world Polynesians, as they were expert navigators and adept at sea travel, using celestial and atmospheric cues to navigate.

The capital was **Moatu Kameha / Kameha City**.

## People

The people of the isles belonged to many different tribes, some of which were mostly of one type of group.

The majority of Tukani natives were elvish, human, half-elvish, as well as dragonborn (silver, white, green, gold and blue were the common colours). Other races existed here, but were not as commonplace.

Some terms for people included:

* **tuko'ana** - a clan
* **tuku'ata'ul** - a moon elf
* **tuku'ata'su** - a sun elf
* **tuku'ata'mo**- an aquatic elf
* **tuku'ata'ala** - a wood elf, often from the Alderei
* **tukoho'o** - a human
* **tukuoka** - a dragonborn
* **paheka'a** - a non-Tukani person. The word **Kani** was also slang for a Luskan (from the days of the Lusken Empire)

## Culture

Two main deities were worshipped by the Tukani people - the moon goddess Ula'i and the sun goddess Tesu. Their mythology shared some elements with Vreigardt mythology, especially in the names of the two deities (compare Ulzaniwyllar and Tenguaahizar).

The Whahani isles gained a reputation for being a highly bustling place and beautiful at all hours, because of the sleeping habits of its inhabitants. Of the elvish populace, around half were nocturnal (mostly moon elves and some of the aquatic elves). The constant vigilance and life of the islands made them a friendly place, but also a hard place to get the drop on (for the Lusken Empire notably).

The Tukani lived off of the land, and traded with The Alderei, Turmish merchants, and even The Xantic Imperium and the Beyir Khelumvirate when they needed.

They were famous for their Wai'kawa Mo'tuka herbal tonic.

## Travelling

A notable point in many Tukani islanders' lives was the **Ife** (ee-fey), roughly meaning 'Journey'. Many of the sun and moon elf islander took part in it when they came of age, travelling the world before returning home. The word also was used to refer to a notable event where many of the moon elves left to live nomadically, returning every few years on the first day of summer in a great festival, the **Aui** (ouw-ee).

## Governance

The Whahani isles were ruled by a council of six notable clans -

* Ho'okelele (humans, aquatic elves and half-elves)
* Kargialanduouoka (silver dragonborns, a wealthy line of merchants)
* Hi'enawilani (sun elves)
* Tolelaui (aquatic elves)
* Maka'olowahi (moon elves)
* Rekuluku'i (humans, Luskan settler descendants)

The six families were notably well off in different areas of commerce and culture. They often had private guardia.