Bukana (boo-KAH-nah)
Bukana, Gateway to the World
The tropical archipelago of Bukana is, from a mercantile point of view, the center of the world. In fact, its very name means “gateway” in the local trade tongue. Located between every major maritime trade power, this ring of islands and the menacing sea that it surrounds, is a commercial and cultural melting pot. Merchants from across the known world bring their wares to trade for exotic goods that would otherwise be outside their clients’ reach. Bukana is a land of diverse beauty. The islands are formed from lightly active volcanic highlands and dense forests and rolling plains in the lowlands.
Generally speaking, the people of Bukana possess an independent spirit and strong community ties. Because of this, large nations have not developed here and dozens of ethnolinguistic groups maintain their distinct cultural identities. There are a number of smaller principalities throughout the islands, but few that rise beyond the size and influence of a city-state. Outside of these nations, most folks don’t organize beyond the township level. This often confounds those outsiders who try to operate beyond the metropolitan port cities, as hundreds of languages and dialects are spoken in Bukana’s interior.
Not all of this land’s curiosities are mundane, however. The barriers between the material world and realms of spirit, shadow, and fairies are thin here with many, many portals. Engkanto fey, diwata elementals, monstrosities from the Shadowfell, along with the restless dead, are matters of everyday life in Bukana. The indigenous cultures have developed numerous superstitions and practices in order to manage the presence of these entities. These beliefs are passed down by the spiritual leaders of each community known as “baybaylans” (by-BY-lan). It falls to these spellcasters to lead their people’s efforts to avoid, placate, or vanquish the potentially dangerous creatures around them.
The so-called “enchanted folk,” are abundant here, with a diversity similar to that of the human cultures. Masked spirit elves of the Mahomanay and Tamahaling tribes make their homes in the deep forests. The Calanget terrace dwarves have carved impossible rice paddies in near-vertical mountain ranges. While Kibaan gold gnomes and mouse deer-like Pilandok are common sights in human settlements. The tropical waters of the islands are dominated by merfolk such as the Tubignon riverfolk and Siyokoy deepfolk.
Generally speaking, the people of Bukana possess an independent spirit and strong community ties. Because of this, large nations have not developed here and dozens of ethnolinguistic groups maintain their distinct cultural identities. There are a number of smaller principalities throughout the islands, but few that rise beyond the size and influence of a city-state. Outside of these nations, most folks don’t organize beyond the township level. This often confounds those outsiders who try to operate beyond the metropolitan port cities, as hundreds of languages and dialects are spoken in Bukana’s interior.
Not all of this land’s curiosities are mundane, however. The barriers between the material world and realms of spirit, shadow, and fairies are thin here with many, many portals. Engkanto fey, diwata elementals, monstrosities from the Shadowfell, along with the restless dead, are matters of everyday life in Bukana. The indigenous cultures have developed numerous superstitions and practices in order to manage the presence of these entities. These beliefs are passed down by the spiritual leaders of each community known as “baybaylans” (by-BY-lan). It falls to these spellcasters to lead their people’s efforts to avoid, placate, or vanquish the potentially dangerous creatures around them.
The so-called “enchanted folk,” are abundant here, with a diversity similar to that of the human cultures. Masked spirit elves of the Mahomanay and Tamahaling tribes make their homes in the deep forests. The Calanget terrace dwarves have carved impossible rice paddies in near-vertical mountain ranges. While Kibaan gold gnomes and mouse deer-like Pilandok are common sights in human settlements. The tropical waters of the islands are dominated by merfolk such as the Tubignon riverfolk and Siyokoy deepfolk.
Geography
Bukana is an archipelago made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of volcanic islands. The bulk of the islands form a rough ring which defines the boundary of the Sea of Skulls. On both the inside and outside of that ring lie deep oceanic trenches. This is a dark and foreboding sea, home to pirates, sea monsters, and many other dangers besides. At the center of the Sea of Skulls are the Bakunawa Islands.
Climate
Tropical
Alternative Name(s)
Gateway to the World, Gateway to the Sea of Skulls
Type
Archipelago
Included Locations
Related Ethnicities
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