Barakal
"No one travels to Barakal unwillingly. Adventure, escape, masochism, whatever their reason is, that choice was made by them and them alone." - Daytoko Krangoyya, Roctane Sailor
Far to the south of Nostrina, isolated and removed from the rest of the world, one can find the barren continent of Barakal. An endless expanse of ice and snow, Barakal deters most from stepping foot upon its lands. The few who call this unforgiving land home are hardened survivors who've grown to face any challenge.
Geography
The landscape of Nostrina's southernmost continent consists primarily of lifeless frozen deserts interrupted by barren mountains that claw out from under the ice. The shoreline is dangerous to travel by boat due to the large number of icebergs that float in the brisk waters of the Baraki Ocean. The ice sheets can be thousands of meters deep and cover all but a small section of the landmass that makes up Barakal. The most notable region of Barakal is the Horn of the Baraki. Also known as the Baraki Penninsula, the Horn of Baraki sticks out from the rest of Barakal and is the common landing point for explorers. Most of The Watepo villages are scattered across the ice sheets of this peninsula.Ecology
Despite the brutal environment, life finds a way to survive in Barakal. The most abundant animals found in the frozen wastelands are the many species of penguins that live near the shorelines. These penguins gather in massive groups and hunt for fish in the unrelenting Baraki Ocean. These penguins are also the main prey for the many predators that call Barakal home. Common predators include seals, orcas, and bears, along with local Watepo hunters and Feknr locals hunting them. Watepo legends tell tales of the Teyoka, a powerful and dangerous beast roaming frozen deserts. They describe the beast as a large snake-like creature with a slender body, two long fore-limbs, and feathery wings. The Watepo claim that the monster prefers to hunt larger prey like seals and bears but will not hesitate to kill any human it encounters. Hunters are taught to turn around when they hear the wails of the Teyoka, or they will become its next victim. The existence of the Teyoka was confirmed by the explorer Elea Ma'Kibibi, who managed to watch the creature hunting while traveling Barakal. Upon setting his eyes upon the beast, he realized that the Teyoka was an elusive species of Lesser Dragons that fed on the blood of animals. After killing its prey, the Teyoka would cast a spell to create a localized ice storm to conceal its tracks as it escaped. Elea's accounts of the Teyoka are the only written records on this dragon species, making it one of the least understood dragons of Nostrina.Inhabitants
The history of the Watepo people is one mired in struggle and hardship. Survival is not a guarantee, and life is an everlasting challenge to exist. These challenges are welcomed by the Watepo people, for through their struggles of everyday life, they get to appreciate the finer things in life that are often taken for granted by others. The Watepo people first traveled to Barakal during the first quarter of the Ancestral Era. According to their legends, the primordial god of winter, Liodahn, guided the Watepo people from Imbelek, a land of excess and weakness, to Barakal so they may become strong and wise. Their history is told entirely orally, with tales of great hunters who found great wisdom in their fight for survival. They welcome outsiders but will politely deny their attempts to make their lives easier. They see the wars and politics that divide outsiders as the very things Liodahn wanted to shelter the Watepo from suffering. Within the regions of Barakal directly south of Stelwen live the Feknr, a hardened group of Roctane that draw their origins from a cult whose name has been lost to time. Their beliefs in a god they called Daekorra and their vocal opposition to the Orkina faith made them outcasts in Rocturran society, ultimately leading them to leave Rocturra and settle in the wastelands of Barakal. The Feknr would establish the settlement of Bal Daekorra, a town directly south of Stelwen protected by a magical dome that keeps the town warm all year round. The residents of Bal Deakorra are reclusive and not very welcoming of outsiders, so little is known of their culture.Notable Settlements
The largest population of Watepo people can be found in Safalinda, located at the northern tip of Barakal. The town has a population of only around a thousand people, who live in igloos and tents made of animal hides. Most Watepo people live in small, disconnected villages scattered across the Horn of Baraki. The isolated Feknr live within a town known as Bal Daekorra, directly south of Stelwen. The town is surrounded by a magical dome that protects it from the elements and keeps the town warm. Above ground, residents live in animal skin tents and structures made with reused wood from the ships they arrived in. Most residents live in tunnels that have been dug out and expanded throughout the centuries.
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