The Isles of Basilla
To the north of Caelsimil, within the Basc Sea, are the Isles of Basilla. Basilla is a large, tropical archipelago that is the native land of leanids. Collectively, the islands boast a population of 20 million catfolk, and another 3 million people of varying ancestries. The archipelago as a whole is known as "Basilla", but a good number of tourists affectionately refer to it as "Kitty-Cat Island", much to the dismay of the catfolk who live there. Given its climate, Basilla is bountiful with fruit. Basillian bananas are known for their candied, honey-like taste; which is perfect for many dessert dishes.
Basilla's biggest export is tobacco, as well as deep sea fish. Basillian tobacco comes in two varieties; liliko and yashkia. The archipelago is one of the few nations that does not ban the practice of necromancy. There are strict laws that surround its usage in order to keep the general population safe.
Geography
The Isles of Basilla are made up of seven major islands, four volcanoes, and twenty smaller islands and islets. The Sinmarini Expanse is a mountain range on the western side of Basilla. Mount Kabir, the most active of archipelago's volcanoes, is a part of this range. Pythe Peak is also a part of the Sinmarini Expanse, but has been dormant for several centuries.
The Calico Peaks of Basilla's eastern side have two volcanoes as well. Mount Thessal is no longer active and hasn't been for at least five decades. Mount Eridell is active, but not on par with Mount Kabir. Unbeknownst to most of society, a clan of kitsune took up residence up in this mountain range. The cloud coverage from Mount Eridell's sheer height has kept them obscured since their arrival.
A majority of the archipelago is made up of twisting jungles, sunny beaches, and soft rock cliffs. Due to Basilla's wet climate, there's no shortage of lakes and rivers to use as resources.
Ecosystem
Basilla is a tropical monsoon climate and experiences a wet and dry season. The wet season, which lasts about four months, is host to frequent rainfall. Sustained periods of rainfall can last a month or more. Thunderstorms, damaging winds, and flooding are highly likely. The dry season stretches for eight months and despite the name, it also receives rain, though nowhere near as much as during the wet season.
Temperatures on the archipelago tend to remain steady throughout the year, though humidity rises substantially depending on the season. Severe storms happen often out on the open sea, but die down before they make landfall.
Fauna & Flora
Common Basillian wildlife includes a variety of big cats; tigers, leopards, ocelots, and jaguars. The most fearsome of its wild cats is the black-footed cat, who's no bigger than an average housecat. Their success rate when hunting is nearly tripled in comparison to any big cat. Because of their luxurious coats, the islands big cat population was at risk due to society's greed. Laws against poaching were put in place with the rise of the Basillian Council, and the big cat population quickly recovered.
The archipelago is home to many deadly snakes such as the king cobra and black mamba. The sunbeam snake is popular with natives and tourists alike due to its iridescent scales. Pythons are in the jungles as well, notably the reticulated python. They are known as the world's largest, naturally occuring snake and are also known for being great swimmers. Many of Basilla's islets have been claimed by these pythons, as well as marine iguanas. With the large number of pythons on Basilla, their skins have become an important economic resource for rural communities.
Peafowl roam the cities of Basilla for multiple reasons. They were a popular choice of pet for nobles, who would give them free rein of their properties. Their numbers were unchecked, leading to overpopulation within a few decades. Unable to feed so many birds, the peafowl were left to fend for themselves. People couldn't resist feeding them, which helped the birds settle into highly populated areas. Killing a peacock isn't illegal due to their status as "pests", but it is frowned upon.
Other common birds on Basilla are flamingos, rainbow lorikeets, sun conures, eagles, condors, and the bee hummingbird. An animal that's become a favorite pocket pet for islanders is the long-tailed hamster. Their docile temperment makes them an ideal canditate for taming, and their soft, calico-patterned coats are difficult to resist. They can often be found following after capybaras curiously, or stealing seeds from nearby gardens. Other wildlife on Basilla includes axolotl, orcas, manatees, anteaters, sea turtles, ring-tailed lemurs, leopard geckos, water buffalo, elephants, and sun bears.
The islands are teeming with plant life and host hundreds of species of fungi. The scarlet elf cup is a small, red mushroom that is sought after for traditional Basillian snacks. Their cup-like caps are perfect for holding other foraged goods, or dropped into a stew. Collared earthstar grows deep in the jungle and is often used in traditional medicine within rural communities. Catmint is another plant used for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Rice patties are common on Basilla, and several of them are for deepwater rice. The tall rice is grown in flooded conditions, usually near river deltas and wetlands. Leafy greens, radishes, carrots, gourds, tobacco, cotton, and peas are other common island crops.
Basillian tobacco comes into two varieties; liliko and yashkia. Liliko has a rich, gourmand aroma and its taste has been described as "spicy", like that of cinnamon or nutmeg. Yashkia is the gold standard for producing cigars. It has a deep, peppery, and smoky tastes that pairs well with a glass of pinot noir. Liliko is grown beside a lake near the Calico Peaks. Yashkia is grown on the southern end of Basilla's main island.
Basilla harvests coffee beans as well. Their beans are put through a process known as "monsooning"; the beans are left in a ventilated building near the coasts, where they'll be exposed to the wind and moisture for fifteen weeks. These beans make a smooth, low acidity coffee that tastes like chocolate with a hint of cinnamon.
Natural Resources
Tobacco, bananas, deep sea fish, coffea arabica, rice, spring water, iron and copper ore, gemstones (rubies, sapphires, and amethyst).
Tourism
Tourists arrive from the mainland during the dry season, especially mid-season as it's "festival time". One of the most popular festivals is the Carnival of Colors, which serves as a large, outdoor art gallery. Arts and crafts of all kinds are welcome to participate. Carnival of Colors is a three day experience with live music and freshly baked goods. Another celebration that's mostly popular with tourists is the Cigar Festival.
The Cigar Festival is a tourist trap that was started by con artists looking to fool tourists with luxuries they can barely afford. These con artists act like up and coming entrepreneurs, charging premium prices for poor products. Reputable brands have stepped into the ring to offer high quality cigars and smoking accessories. Some of these brands are the Wishing Well and Starlightning. After rising tensions between vendors, the Basillian Council enacted a vetting process for those looking to open a stall. Cigar Festival runs for five days. While the cigars are the main focus, other novelty products are on display as well.
The Queen's Feast was first celebrated upon the defeat of the Flock of Crowns, which was twenty-five years after the formation of the Basillian Council. On the day of the feast, the royal family hosts a dinner party in the council's gathering hall. The public are encouraged to partake and eat as much as they'd like. Wealthier Basillians make donations for rebuilding efforts. The feast lasts for several hours, in which the community gathers to remember those who were lost in the civil war.
The Queen herself reads off a list of the fallen, reassuring the others that their loved ones will never be forgotten. The atmosphere of the event is sombre, but hopeful. When it's over, the council urges the community to take food home to their loved ones.
"A feast for the senses."
by Frankie V.
Maps
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The Isles of Basilla
Alternative Name(s)
Basilla, Kitty-cat Island
Type
Archipelago
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