Kukai Amut

Land of the kukai

The name "Kukai Amut" can be translated as "land of the kukai". This territory includes all villages, as well as other points of interests such as mines and regions to gather resources. In a way, "Kukai Amut" also means "country" or "nation", as it encompass all elements of the kukai culture and society. It is the only region where humanoid species are known to exist, in this case the kukai. There are currently seven kukai villages located within Kukai Amut:

Oalmer

Pukamut

Kukanpuke

Amutikali

Batayaam

Utokaam

Oalnur

Geography

Most of the kukai villages are located within the tropical rain forest, as are most of the landmarks and common resources. The only exceptions are the villages of Oalnur and Kukanpuke, located in the northern region of Kukai Amut, at a more "tropical" region within the grassy savanna. Most settlements within the tropical rain forest are located in jungle forests or small valleys, with elevations from 64 to 160m a.m.s.l. Mountains and hills become more present on the west side of Kukai Amut, with some of the biggest formations being visible from any village. Although elevation doesn't change too much in the northern regions, the grassy savanna has fewer hills and a more leveled terrain. Jungles and forests are more dense in the tropical rain forest, while the the grassy savanna has slightly drier land and less vegetation variety. The village of Amutikali is the closest settlement to the beach, 13-14km away from it. On the other side, both Utokaam and Pukamut are about 35km away from the beach, being the furthest away from the beach than any other kukai village.

Ecosystem

Most of Kukai Amut is within the tropical rain forest, which means medium to high precipitation, with warm and hot weather during most of the year. The southern region of the grassy savanna has lower precipitation and is usually colder at nights. However, temperatures in these regions never go below 14°C as the grassy savanna borders with the tropical rain forest. Most of the kukai are accustomed to hot-humid weather between 24 and 28°C, which means anything under 17°C feels cold for them.

Ecosystem Cycles

Precipitation in Kukai Amut reaches its highest point in late summer, usually during the month of Kata-pupaili. Temperatures lower during winter and stay relatively the same for the rest of the year. This applies to both the tropical rain forest and grassy savanna regions, though the latter may reach lower temperatures during winters and nights; 14°C would be the coldest night at the grassy savanna, while in the tropical rain forest it would be about 18°C. Vegetation has few changes throughout each year. Still, the kukai consider mid-summer as the best time to harvest crops and gather wild fruits, during the month of Atui-pupaili. Soil preparation starts in the later days of Kata-pupaili, by the end of summer. Wild berries and fungi species are accessible for most of the year, although they can be scarce during winter. Although no great animal migrations take place in Kukai Amut, some small animal species may "visit" the kukai settlement from time to time, passing by or sometimes passing through the villages. These groups of animals are usually small and don't cause any trouble to the kukai. Some say that animals simply get lost in the jungle, ending up in one of the villages. And though nobody really knows why this happen, most of these "migrations" consist of monkeys. Other species that may pass by or through the settlements are raccoons and macaws, which are a bit more "problematic" than monkeys.

Localized Phenomena

When travelers leave Kukai Amut they say that a sudden feeling of danger takes over them. This would make sense for the kukai, considering how accustomed they are to only live in their villages and the nearby areas. However, even the bravest and more experienced explorers (from the Tat profession) describe the feeling as something magical, almost as if Kukai Amut was actually enclosed within a different reality. Only a few of the kukai have left their lands for adventure, so this is hard to prove. This is probably why most of the kukai simply assume that it is part of Oal-Mer's power to protect its people.

Fauna & Flora

FLORA Vegetation is abundant in the tropical regions of Kukai Amut, with plenty of fruits, trees, berries and some fungi species. Although brought from northern lands by the kukai, cotton and corn can also grow at good rate in most of the land. Few other vegetables and tubers can also be found in the tropical regions, although they're not as common as fruits, the most important element for herbivores diet in this area (including the kukai). Trees in the jungle may grow up to 30-35m, while forests in the grassy savanna usually stay on a 20m height. The tallest tree in Kukai Amut is the elder tree of Oalmer, which is said to be about 64m tall. FAUNA Most animal species from these lands stay away from kukai settlements. Common sights in the wild regions of Kukai Amut may include quetzals, macaws, monkeys, snakes, racoons, hummingbirds and a variety of bugs species such as butterflies, arachnids, ladybugs, grasshoppers and mosquitoes. Further away from settlements, some predator species such as jaguars, alligators and eagles may be found, though they tend to avoid the kukai. The Paiko Mutikai, a sacred animal for the kukai which is similar to the axolotl, can only be found at the sacred lake.

Natural Resources

Jungles and forests in Kukai Amut provide villages with enough building materials and firewood. But since wooden buildings are only common in Pukamut, the kukai tend to only take the bark from the biggest trees in order to chop as few trees as possible. In the northern areas, at the grassy savanna, trees don't have as much bark as jungle trees, which means they may chop for wood more often. Berries are common in almost all Kukai Amut. Blueberries and strawberries are quite common in the north while bananas and cucumbers are common through the whole tropical rain forest. The most common berry in Kukai Amut is the apuberry, which is unique to this region (and planet). Iron is a common mineral, specially near the mountainous and hilly regions to the west. Other minerals available in Kukai Amut include clay, sand, limestone, quartz, copper, gold and sulfur. Silver and even obsidian may be found, although they are extremely rare resources for the region.

Maps

Kukai Amut
Also known as the "kukai country" or the "kukai lands". This region encompasses all seven kukai villages and nearby territories, mostly forests, rivers, paths and mines. Few have traveled beyond these limits, which means most of the kukai island remains unexplored and wild. But every adventure starts with people, and all of the kukai are living here, within the limits of Kukai Amut.