The Akrotirian Isles (pronounced ack-row-TEER-ee-an) are a collection of islands near the southern coast of the Chaska Sea. Built around the ruins of an ancient and little studied seafaring nation, the small communities of the Akrotirian Isles draw upon the powerful spiritual and occult forces of the islands for guidance.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Geography
Off the southern coast of the Chaska Sea lie the Akrotirian Isles, an archipelago dominated by high mountain peaks. Many rock formations in the islands, and even entire mountains, jut from the ground in tilted, unnatural angles. Beneath the summits, and in the valleys between the mountains, lie the forests that cover much of the islands.
Similar to the rest of the southern coast of the Chaska Sea, the climate of the region is quite stable. Summers are warm but not usually excessively hot, with cooler but not cold winters. The summer months are typically fairly dry, while the winter sometimes brings torrential rain. The taller mountain peaks maintain some snow cover year round.
Flora
In addition to the oaks, cedars, and pines, giant kauri trees grow in the forests of the Akrotirian Isles. These massive trees tower above their surroundings and grow for thousands of years. Highly prized by the inhabitants of the Isles, the wood of the kauri trees is sometimes used for construction or art due to its beauty and strength, though only if the trees have fallen by natural means. Many flowers and fruits of the Isles are poisonous, requiring a trained eye to distinguish them from their similar-looking but safe relatives.
Lotus trees
In particularly isolated valleys, amongst groves of other trees, grow the lotus trees of the islands. These powerful, sentient trees feed off the hopes of those that fall under their spell, an affect aided by the potent hallucinations they can induce. Highly rare, each lotus tree grows secluded, separated by others similar to it by dozens of miles. The Akrotiri have a complex relationship with these trees. Some lotus trees serve as wise guardians of their community, while others seek to enthrall as many people as possible for their own benefit.
Fauna
Despite its relative proximity to the southern Chaskan coast, many of the creatures of the Akrotirian Isles are highly distinct. A huge variety of lizards inhabit the islands, including tuataras and shocker lizards. Mammals in the archipelago include those found elsewhere, as well as unusual ones like the solenodon. Snallygasters commonly nest in the mountains and cliffs, while moas roam throughout the forest floors. An uncountable number of species of snakes can be found in the Isles, from the most mundane to the highly magical, such as psyche serpents. Most of these snakes are venomous to some degree. The coasts are home to a number of animals, including multiple types of sea lions, dolphins, and drakes.
Shotalashu, commonly tamed by the region's lashunta, can also be found semi-feral across the Isles.
Thought eaters looking for hunting grounds often emerge within the Isles after crossing over from the Ethereal to the Material Plane.
Darklands
A large number of caves and tunnels lead from the surface of the Akrotirian Isles to the middle levels of the Darklands below. These routes are frequently as convenient paths to the surface by not only by the aberrations of the depths, but by sapient beings like deros as well. Some of these tunnels eventually lead to the Spirit Engine, an ancient facility deep underground.
History
At some point in the distant past, the Akrotirian Isles were inhabited by a civilization that built a number of structures, some of which continue to be used today. Most prominent of these are the extensive artificial harbors in Arrapha and Tharros, large enough that even in their decayed state they could berth dozens upon dozens of ships each. Some speculate the Spirit Engine to have been the creation of this civilization as well.
Demographics
In addition to the humans, tengu, elves, and half-elves that account for most of the population of the Akrotirian Isles, the archipelago is the only part of the world in which astomoi and lashunta can be found in any significant numbers. The lashunta tell stories of having long ago been isolated on this planet, alien and strange to them. Today they live within Akrotiri society, though maintain some practices of their own, such as the domestication of the shotalashu. Astomoi, very few in number, often serve as highly valued and respected psychic and spiritual advisors to their communities.
Culture
Religion
The gods of the common pantheon are widely worshiped in the Akrotirian Isles, especially Gozreh, Erastil, and Shelyn. Most temples tend to be rather austere, as the Akrotiri generally believe far more in worship by deed. The isles are also one of the few regions of the world to have a sizable number of Monad cultists, as they enjoy a level of acceptance in the archipelago that is hard to find elsewhere.
Many Akrotiri are also adherents of various occultist philosophies. Those that follow occultism do not necessarily discard worship of deities, though some do. In particular, some believe in some type of cosmic biology, the idea that everything up to and including the base material of the planes is alive. Esoteric beliefs in the Isles are highly varied, and often down to the particular ideas and motivations of individual practitioners.
Language
Most Akrotiri speak Chaskan as a primary language. Common, Elven, and Lashunta are also widely used.Other regional languages, such as Telan and Ishtaran, are spoken by a considerably smaller segment of the population.
Government
Most towns in the Akrotirian Isles govern themselves using some type of local council, though they generally also have a leader who is responsible for directing activities and facilitating discussions. These leaders are almost always psychics, spiritualists, or occultists, who tap into otherworldly forces for guidance.
Economy
Akrotiri communities are generally self-sufficient, aided by their active trade with each other. Foreigners sometimes make port to trade for various items produced by the towns of the Isles as well. The venoms and poisons of the archipelago's flora and fauna are particularly sought after, both for medicinal and alchemical use as well as for nefarious means. Despite attempts to buy (or directly fell) the kauri trees, the islanders fiercely protect and defend their ancient forests, refusing to allow any to harvest them at scale.Template:CitiesAkrotirianIsles