Koamun (pronounced koh-ah-MOON) is a region in southern Kea Racha. Centuries of volcanic eruptions in Koamun have buried most of the old cities of the islands and Wildrock Peninsula in ash. The people that remain mostly live in networks of underground settlements, protected from the harsh terrain and dangerous creatures above. From the surface Koamun appears desolate, but civilization thrives beneath the surface.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Once a land of lush jungles, today most of the surface of Koamun is a wasteland of ash, tephra, and lava flows. For almost four hundred years, the once-dormant volcanoes of the Wrathpeaks have erupted with startling frequency. Though the islands of Koamun are all volcanic in origin, no major eruptions had occurred for millennia. Most of the once verdant landscape has been turned gray, though the native tropical plants often begin grow back in the rich soil between eruptions. Areas of particularly noticeable regrowth are often avoided by Koamunites, under the belief that they are liable to soon be extinguished once again.
Planar tears to the Plane of Fire are common throughout Koamun, especially underground and in close proximity to the active volcanoes.
One of the few non-magical creatures that has thrived in Koamun since the eruptions began, giant fire ants dig tunnels and colonies into the ashy soil. Extremely resistant to the often oppressive heat, these ants are able to venture into areas where few other living creatures can. Though these insects can be highly dangerous, some Koamunite communities have learned to domesticate them, using the ants as pack animals, sources of food, or in construction.
A variety of magical creatures have become far more prevalent in Koamun since the eruptions intensified. Packs of cinder wolves, warped forms of the region's native lupines, stalk the surface in search of prey. Magma dragons, asleep for millennia in their volcanic abodes, have awoken and spread out across Koamun. Most Koamunites take every precaution possible to avoid these violently unpredictable creatures.
While life in some parts of the Mhasmuth Ocean near Koamun have been choked out by the volcanic ash and debris, especially in areas close to the volcanoes themselves, in others the ash has sparked a rapid growth of phytoplankton and the creatures that eat them. Many of the coral reefs just south of Koamun have withered and died, and massive red algae blooms, fueled by the settling ash, sometimes grow to cover thousands of square miles in the ocean.
History
For most of its history, modern-day Koamun was considered part of Sangiran. Under the Sangiran Empire the regions were ruled by a single government, and regular travel between the mainland and the islands kept cultural ties close.
The eruptions of the Wrathpeaks began soon after the death of the most recent incarnation of the Eternal Suzerain in Y9606*. Though there is only circumstantial evidence to tie the two events, some Koamunites believe that either the volcanism was being held at bay by their draconic demigod, or that the eruptions were a divine punishment for a faltering faith. Whether or not there was any divine symbolism to the eruptions, the remnant of the Empire was unable to do more than begin evacuations of some of the larger cities on the islands. Imperial control rapidly declined afterwards.
Most of the surface cities were destroyed by the initial wave of eruptions. Small communities of ifrit continue to exist on the surface, but most survivors who refused evacuation built underground instead. In the centuries since, a handful of cities have regrown beneath the buried remains.
Demographics
Most Koamunites are either human, ratfolk, nagagi, elf, or half-elf. Though they accounted for only a small proportion of the population of Koamun prior to the beginning of the eruptions, many dwarves have immigrated to the region, drawn by the rapidly growing underground settlements.
Ifrit are, relatively speaking, extremely common in Koamun. Inherently resistant to the heat of the volcanoes, life in Koamun is less harsh for ifrit than it is for most others. A disproportionate number of tieflings, especially ash-eater tieflings, also live in Koamun.
The reignited volcanism pushed a sizable population of trox closer to the surface, many of which have now integrated into Koamunite society.
Small tribes of ash giants, warped by the influence of the volcanoes, live nomadic lives across the islands.
Culture
Religion
Among other gods, Sun Wukong is particularly venerated in Koamun. Koamunites tend to relate to the Monkey King's unpredictable and chaotic nature, seeing in him a reflection of their ever-changing homeland and uncertain future.
Though the worship of deities popular throughout Kea Racha remains common in Koamun, many Koamunites have adopted gods more fitting to their situation. Those that see opportunity in the volcanoes have become devotees of Valani. Eschewing traditional temples, these Valanites commonly hold worship on the tephra-covered beaches of the islands.
Small cults to Ymeri have formed across Koamun. Largely shunned from broader society, some of these cults have constructed shrines of their owns in places particularly close to active volcanic centers.
Traditions
Some of the native giant ants of Koamun have been domesticated, and are now used for transportation, construction, and as a food source. Initially used as fast-growing livestock by the trox that emerged from farther underground, the utility of the ants was quickly realized by the newly subterranean population. Large sections of giant ant tunnels are set aside and used as "ant farms", though most are only minimally tended. Domestication is primarily achieved through the use of training and combinations of pheromones, which can induce particular actions or emotions in the ants.
Society
A common belief among Koamunites, especially those faithful to Valani, is that the volcanoes are merely a phase they must pass through before their islands become even more verdant jungles than they were previously. A cyclical view of history and nature are widely professed, something that helps many understand the geological processes that have altered their lives.
Arts
Learning from the traditions of the Oscan gem-growers, a few Koamunite artists have begun using complicated magic to compress and heat the plentiful carbon around them into beautiful crystals. These artificial diamonds are painstakingly difficult and time-consuming to produce, though they have caught the eyes of some enterprising merchants from elsewhere. As of yet mass production is not possible, but trial and error research continues into this area.
Volcanic tuff, a light and relatively soft material, is widely used in sculptures and other forms of art.
Languages
Most Koamunites speak Sangiran as a first language. Common are racial languages are widely used as well, as is Timakal to a lesser degree.
Architecture and urbanization
Old Koamunite cities and towns were similar in design and construction to those of Sangiran and other parts of southern Kea Racha, but these are almost all long buried under ash and rubble. Today, most inhabitants of the region live in underground settlements, some of which have become quite large and elaborate. Tunnels dug by the giant ants of Koamun are popular sites for habitation, and many Koamunite communities are spread across these winding, frequently maze-like burrows. Homes, stores, and other buildings are mostly dug into the sides of these tunnels; the tunnels themselves are used as streets and common spaces. Exterior walls of underground chambers are commonly constructed to be specifically tolerant of high heats and pressures, as they must withstand the volcanic forces around them. Any exits to the surface are carefully designed so they can be easily re-excavated if necessary.
The interiors of these subterranean towns and cities are usually well-lit, frequently by magical means. Despite the surrounding environment, these communities are richly ornamented with colorful murals and decorations, a welcome respite from the drab colors of both the surface and underground.
Two cities, Beliran and Karaha, are built into large caves with entrances from the sea. These are used as ports, as they allow visiting ships to remain protected in the event that conditions outside worsen.
Imun, located in the heart of an active volcano, is inhabited entirely by natives of the Plane of Fire.
Food and cuisine
Due to the hazards of the surface, most Koamunite agricultural land is underground. Tubers of varying kinds form the backbone of the Koamunite diet, whether baked, roasted, or turned into flour. Other root crops are widely grown as well, as are legumes. Magical illumination is used to allow plants to grow in the subterranean environment, and specific cultivars of crops have been developed that can grow with minimal light.
Ants, both the large variety and their more normal-sized cousins, are central to Koamunite cuisine. Both their eggs and the ants themselves are commonly consumed in a variety of dishes, usually in combination with particularly spicy and pungent seasonings. Though seen as an odd delicacy in much of the world, in Koamun ant egg caviar is regularly eaten.
Travel
Surface travel in Koamun can be dangerous, both for the hazardous landscape and for the wild creatures that now inhabit it. Instead, most travel is done through winding networks of underground tunnels, most dug by the ants. These passages connect most major settlements in the region, at least those on the same landmass. For routes that require passing above ground, Koamunites rely upon the region's many druids to predict when it is safest to venture forth.
Pack ants, used to transport material between towns, follow pheromone trails to reach their destinations quickly and efficiently. Regular use of the same routes reinforces the strength of these pheromones, and some ant caravans can be sent off with minimal supervision.
Sections of the ant tunnels are considered off-limits, with outside travelers strongly discouraged from venturing within. This is not for superstitious reasons, but rather is extremely practical - noxious volcanic gases can quickly spread through these chambers, rapidly suffocating anyone unlucky enough to be caught within.
Government
Koamun has no central government. Sangiran traditions of governance still hold sway, and most cities in the region are led by autocratic rulers in close association with local temples.
Economy
Though most Koamunite communities are fairly self-sufficient, there is a degree of external trade. For example, Tarkuus sends a never-ending series of ships to purchase absurdly large quantities of ash, which is used by the undead state to regenerate its soil so its extensive plantations can continue their productivity.