Bayou Archipelago

Where is the most popular place for an average family to have a vacation or visit at least once in their lifetime?

Geography

Bayou Archipeligo is a series of 9 small islands located over a circle of long-dormant volcanos. The largest island and the capital, Kau, has stunning views of the turquoise tropical ocean. The south side of the island is home to the huge Indra Caldera. Each island has a dense ecosystem with many unique fauna and flora that call this popular spot home.

Ecosystem Cycles

Bayou tends to have a consistently tropical climate all year round.

Localized Phenomena

Indra Caldera is a tourist attraction for the strong magic steam vents that frequently go off in a grand spectacle of color. Twice a year the vents become hyperactive which attracts the magic hunting Pali birds that live in the area to Kau. These migration events are sometimes called Bayou's Northern Lights as the blue and green birds fill the sky with streaks of color.

Natural Resources

Originally Indra Caldera's magically charged minerals were sought out after by blacksmiths and jewelry makers, but the people living on Kau were making a lot of money from those who wished to see Indra Caldera. They forbid anyone from interacting with Indra and designated it a historical landmark.

History

Indra used to be one of the largest volcanos in the world before its collapse. Frequently natives would climb up the mountain to offer goods to the god of fire, Aiden, by throwing them into the volcano. It was a yearly tradition and a rite of passage for the natives after they turned of age. If the offering was accepted, the natives would be blessed with a magic jewel embedded with fire magic. It was carried back down the mountain and placed on the shrine located on the neighboring island of Huo. The magic embedded in the gem from the volcano would continue to bring about nice temperatures and keep the volcano dormant as it released the magic into the air throughout the year. This is known as the Momi Ahi Ritual. One year, the chosen native did not complete the ritual. Instead of bringing the gem back down the mountain and to the Momi Ahi Shrine, Nakoa Iolani left the island and retreated to Mykur where he crafted a sword using the gem's magic. He didn't believe in the myth that the volcano staying dormant depended on the ritual and in his own greed left his people to suffer the consequences. That year, Ruilla let loose on the islands, freezing them like popsicles. Very few natives escaped into the oceans, using the volcanic vents at the seafloor as sources of heat. The volcano did not erupt but the islands would continue to stay cold for 8 years. It wasn't until one of the natives decided to free their home from winter's wrath and climb the mountain with an offering that Bayou would be freed of Ruilla. Unfortunately, that native would cause the volcano to erupt with so much power that it would collapse in on itself. Keahi Hioka would be killed in the blast, but for his bravery, his two children and their descendants would be gifted with water magic. The islands were originally frozen and barren in the past as they were Ruilla's territory, but Aiden liked the islands and made a deal with her. He would share the offerings with her to allow nice temperatures and a pleasant climate. The Momi Ahi Ritual was Aiden's way of distributing the extremely powerful magic of Indra and spreading it across the Bayou Archipeligo. When this wasn't happening, the magic built up enough to cover both the island of Kau and Huo in magma, merging them into one island. After what would be called "Wakupa'a" or roughly translated to "The Frozen Era", Indra's magic would freely leak out into the air, making it not worth the trouble for Ruilla to continue dominating the area. This event would dramatically change the ecosystem and culture of the natives.

Type

Archipelago

Inhabiting Species