Kula' Peoples, Commonwealth

Expatriots of the Kula'Wongai Islands to the Far Voidwest

This article is about the Kula' peoples who have joined the Commonwealth of Marai. For the majority who have not, see The Kula' Peoples, Independent.

The Kula' Peoples are a strange, dark-skinned people who populate the jungles and savannahs of the Kula'wongai Islands to the far Voidwest of Marai. A few gregarious tribes are establishing a presence in the Commonwealth; the majority remain curious but aloof; a few strongly distrust the Maraians. The Commonwealth, for their part, are thrilled at the chance to diversify trade, and Kula' art/fashion is becoming vogue amongst Maraian nobles. The cooperative Kula' tribes are sometimes known as the Circle of Four, due both to their number and non-heirarchical nature.

Clan Status: Minor; actually a circle of four Kula’ tribes acting as one clan. They are the Kukabura, Karou, Kuunga, and Kunwara

The Totem Kami: Dire Wombat (Kukabura), Flying Fox (Karou), Dragon Lizard (Kuunga), and Thunderbird (Kunwara)

Colours: None in particular; colours, designs and patterns based on traditional island aesthetics combined with whichever Maraian styles suit individual fancy

First Kannushi: None; the Circle of Four is represented by Speaker Kukabura Onson

Vassal Clans: None; all Commonwealth-cooperative clans are members in equal standing

Reputation: Strange and eccentric foreigners, a confusing mix of inter-tribe cultures, curious and hungry learners, friendly and welcoming to tourists

Preferred classes: Ranger, fighter (mounted), druid, witch (cave, savannah, ocean), bard

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Imagery: Kula' Fashion & Scenery Image Gallery (External)

The people of the Kula'Wongai Islands have long been aware of the Maraians to the Coreëast, generally regarding their culture as too preening, shallow and opportunist to be worth interacting with. There are a few Kula’ tribes who have, however, grown interested in cooperation, and have been rapidly developing a Commonwealth structure that fits the demands of the Empyreal Palace while also preserving Kula’ doctrines around governance (most importatly the lack of supremacy of any one family or tribe). This initiative was started under the Kukabura tribe, followed quickly by their partner clan the Karou, later the Kuunga and most recently the Kunwara. But despite spear-heading this, the Kukabura have unjealously granted equal voices to the others. (This anti-heirarchical philosophy has also meant that, while most Kula' tribes disapprove of the Circle of Four's relationship with Marai, they let them do as they will.)

The Circle have integrated with Commonwealth life less reluctantly than their mainland neighbours the Oronaga, and their rapidly-growing townships (funded by an increasingly successful guano trade) are mosaics of pan-Maraian architecture and cuisine, combined with their own traditional culture. The Kula'Wongai Islands have grown to be a popular vacation destination for adventurous Maraian nobles seeking new sights. Mainlanders have been dazzled by parades of colourfully-dressed Kula’djuwara warriors mounted on their impressive thunderbirds. Even some tribes outside the Circle of Four are beginning to show cautious acceptance of Maraian travelers.

While most Maraians are dazzled by their strange culture and put at ease by their friendliness and apparent guilelessness, the Circle of Four are not to be underestimated: clever and industrious, the guano trade is only the first success in a complex line of plans…

Population Centres

Aside from some generally unpopulated reaches of the Emerald Expanse, the lands of the Dolaghan are geographically closest to the Kula'wongai island complex, three to five days' sailing in the Coreward direction. As such the densest Commonwealth-cooperative Kula' populations may be found in these far-western badlands, rivaling even their presence in the Heartlands' major trade cities like O-Hoshakeiro and O-Hirasenka. This only further adds to the richness of the trade experiences that can be found here, where one may find the most luxurious Khayyamite rugs only steps from the most ornate Kula' jewelry. In turn, the Dolaghan are among the most common visitors to the Kula'wongai, though such travel is becoming increasingly vogue with Heartland nobility seeking adventures beyond the usual politicking and territorial spats.