Overview
Kalt Island
Kalt is an island of Tio Luma cut off from the rest of the world. It is not well known to the rest of the world. Perhaps those of Koth Keep may have some knowledge of the island, but even then very little knowledge of it. The journey to Kalt is treacherous due to roiling and chaotic seas and a large fog bank that is difficult to navigate through. Anyone who reaches the island is met with harsh winds, ice, snow, and freezing temperatures. Vegetation is limited, mainly consisting of small plants and shrubs. Those that dwell on the Island consist of berries and other creatures on the island: oxen, caribou, seals, and whales mainly. The island is a mystery in Tio Luma, the people of the world know something is there, but are unsure what it is exactly. Those who choose to set out to explore the unknown, never return.
In 200AF, some of the animal races who were fleeing from Cervo, fled to the seas, believing that nowhere on Luma would be safe for them. They fled towards the Shadow Isles, but they never made it to their intended destination. The ship was taken off course and caught in a storm. Half of the passengers survived, and wound up on the island. The survivors were made up of aarcbears, otterfolk, wolfkin, harefolk, kitsune, penguinfolk, and cervan. The island took many tolls on these survivors, and though they tried to work together at first, it became survival of the fittest, as the survivors separated into “tribes”, claiming different parts of the island as their own and making the central mountains a neutral zone.
The Tribal Leaders
In 201 AF, the island took more tolls on the tribes. A cervan from the Dádýr tribe, Becsida Sacredwhisper, witnessed the casualties and difficulties each tribe was going through and offered an idea to every tribe. All the tribes, or at least the tribal leaders would meet once a month to discuss any issues they’d find on Kalt and any temporary peace agreements between tribes.
The Epli Tree and the Seven Runes
In 215 AF, Arisu Hazeforce from the Refer tribe took it upon herself to explore the previously unexplored, Mt. ís, the central mountain. Her hope was to help the tribes as a whole find a new source of food for everyone. She traveled up the south side first, finding little to nothing in terms of food. She slowly went through her rations and by the time she was nearing the top she was on the brink of death. Until she saw a tree, a large fruit tree by the looks of it. The tree bore what looked like apples, but they were white and completely covered in what looked like ice. There was no time to be picky when you were starving, she picked the fruit and tried to take a bite of the ice to get to the fruit inside, and she bit through the soft material all the way into the fruit inside. It was cold, but sweet. Once it was gone, she felt her strength return immediately as if she had just left her tribe 10 minutes ago. Arisu tried to take more for her journey back, or at least to have the seeds to grow another, the fruit did not budge from the tree. She looked at the core in her hand, but there were no seeds to be found. She put the core in her backpack and continued to trek towards the north side. Arisu found a cave to stay in for the night, but saw it extended down and deeper into the mountain than she thought and began to explore. She faced many dangerous things down there, but when she made it to the end, she saw something strange. A large crystal of ice that seemed to be housing...something..it put her on edge. There were also 7 pillars that seemed to be missing pieces, but on the floor were 7 pieces of rock matching the pillars, and had strange markings on them. Arisu’s instinct told her to run. She gathered the pieces in her bag and fled from the cave. Returning to her tribe and joining her leader for the monthly tribal meeting, where she recounted what happened. Telling them about the fruit she called the Epli fruit, and the strange rock pieces. No one knew what would happen if the pieces were re-embedded into the pillars, but based off Arisu’s stories, they knew it wouldn’t be good. Each tribal leader was given a runic rock to hang onto and keep away from anyone who would try to put them back.
The Betryal
In 460 AF, a harefolk from the Kanina tribe, Mei Commonstar, the recently appointed Kanina leader became power hungry and believed whatever was trapped in the ice would allow her the power to overrule all the tribes and she would rule over ALL of Kalt. She found the cave, got through whatever challenges were thrown at her, and placed her runic stone in a pillar. She heard water drip from the ice and placed a hand on it. Voices told her to quickly get the other pieces and return them, and it would help her. Mei collected the runes from the Refer tribe and the Dadyr, before she could get the rest, Rheit Burningstride, leader of the Burnirs discovered what she was doing and killed her, retrieving the pieces from the cave once more and giving the Kaninas new leader the rune, with a warning that they will be under constant watch.
The Rite of Passage
In 1609 AF, the current tribal leaders make the journey to the Epli tree a rite of passage for any tribal member to become an adult and full member of the tribes.
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