Post by Kurosaki on Oct 30, 2011 11:43:31 GMT -5
Created by Taro.
Name of Island:
Maricea
Size of Island:
The Island is roughly the size of Alabasta if not slightly larger.
Location:
Situated in the Calm Belt (running along the Northern side of the Grandline, south of central North Blue, to the North of the Grandline and West Blue).
Flora and Fauna:
Maricea is a large island which consists largely of flat, grassy plains. All year round the weather is warm with the exception of December and January which constitute the islands winter, which is occasionally snowy. February and March that follow are the rainy months; it rains throughout the year, but much less so. In stark contrast to the rest of the islands flat plains, the island is entirely encircled by mountains except at its southern most point, making access to the island all but impossible with the given exception. In the southern area there are only foothills in an otherwise entirely flat area.
The islands plant life is fairly limited, there are some wooded scarce wooded areas, mainly near one of the two great rivers on the East or West side of the Island respectively. Otherwise it’s mainly grassland, some cactuses grow in the flats too and to those in the know can have varying uses. Some are poisonous, others healing, others still hallucinogenic and finally some are great water holders and can provide a well needed drink. Various mosses and herbs also grow if one knows where to look, under rocks, on the sides of trees and can be useful as food or medicine.
As for the animals, the main bulk are herbivores that live in herds, great buffalo roam the lands in large number, thriving due to their strength and lack of predators. The only real predatorily mammal on the island is the plains wolf, which lives in small packs or sometimes solitarily picking off any meal they can manage. Eagles glide through the skies and live off much smaller prey such as mice and other critters. Horses also roam in decent numbers and can be a valuable commodity to travellers. In the Mountainous regions live both mountain lions and mountain goats.
Inhabitants:
The native inhabitants have long roamed the lands, living where they would and hunting game to survive. They however are not united and a large division has existed as long as either can remember between the spiritual and peaceful Sachem (meaning Chieftan) who reside toward the west, and the more violent and savage Mohawks in the east. Raids and battles between the two have been commonplace throughout history, usually instigated by the Mohawks but the hatred for each other runs.
The Sachem are lead by Chieftain Tek, they’re culture revolves around harmony and respect for the great mother, or nature. They build totem poles and hold shamanistic rituals and are rumoured to have spiritual powers.
The Mohawks too hold rituals, but they do not have the same respect for nature. They tear down woodlands to build hatchets and collect stone from the mountains to make blades. They follow the will of the warrior, only the strongest may lead them and they eat the hearts of their prey in hopes of gaining their strength and their courage to add to their own. They are led by War-chief Uruqtuk who is said to be the son of a blood god.
However a third settling has arrived only recently, but due to organisation and surprise the marines have been able to secure southern Maricea for themselves. They have established a base of operations, a large dock fort named Cape Levus. These new marines have come on the discovery of a great untapped resource, the only problem is the natural defence of the island and the local populace. These marines are led by Rear Admiral, Robert Raice, who is in charge of marine operations on the island.
NPCS:
Chieftain Tek:
Tek is both typical of his people and entirely atypical. He’s at heart peaceful and wise beyond his years with a heavy moral and spiritual set of beliefs. However he is the youngest Sachem Chief any can remember and is by no means a pacifist. Clever and proud, he believes that Maricea belongs to those who would respect it and not to the Mohawks and certainly not the new marines and will protect it from them by all means necessary. He is both a shaman and a strategist a leader for the time, fair and relaxed yet strong and disciplined.
War-chief Uruqtuk:
Uruqtuk is the strongest man in the Mohawk tribe and has proven this time and time again, he is slender but by the natives standard very tall at 6’1”. He’s hacked down countless enemies and Mohawk contenders alike and never once has he been so much as scratched. He and his entire tribe believe him to be a form of blood god, or the son of such a being.
Rear Admiral Robert Raice:
Raice is a cold and motivated man. He is young for his rank at only twenty eight years old and a handsome young man at that. Whilst a decent fighter in himself, his true strength lies in both his intelligence and full obedience to orders, he will do what it takes to get a job done. He is both greedy and vein, wearing expensive clothing and jewellery but above all else he is a strong leader who commands both fear and respect.
Town(s)/Village(s)/City or Cities:
To the Islands East lie the Mohawk tribes and small villages are sprinkled up and down the island on this side, a large village has also sprung up near Death Basin, which has become a Mohawk proving ground. To the most north-easterly point lies the main encampment where the War-chief resides along with his most battle hardened brothers.
On the flipside, on the west the story is identical but in place of Mohawks here live the Sachem. They too have set up villages bordering on the Death Basin, however, unlike the other two factions these warriors do not enter the Basin often and are stationed as defenders.
Finally to the south lies the only ‘civilised’ settlement on the entire island. The Fort; Cape Levus, is a walled off marine base open only to the ocean and sports an impressive harbour. This is where Raice commands from and where new marine enforcements arrive, as well as food and weapon supplies. Before being readied and marched North to the camps south of Death Basin, preparing their forces for the great push which they hope will expand their borders allowing them access to the rest of the island, and eventually to drive the natives into defeat.
Central however to all these places, due to the mountains lies the only crossover point, this territory is neutral as it lies too far from each base of operation and is highly contested, particularly between the Mohawk and Marine fighters. It’s a dangerous place and has been named accordingly, a flat plain full of human skeletons, this is Death Basin.
Island History:
The entire human history of the island has been very much constant until the very recent. Initially there were many tribes scattered across the land, which lived independently and occasionally skirmished. Leaders arose, great men with ideas and beliefs came and went, but two became iconic and the culture of the island became twofold, the war-like Mohawks, and the peaceful Sachem. Divided for a very long time, these two lived separately where they still reside today on the East and West. Only occasionally skirmishing in the centre and usually when food was short, or on Mohawk rite of passage raids.
Recently however, this way of life has been shattered. Marine explorers arrived on the southern coast and quickly discovered that the mountains are laden with many ores, but most notably there is a highly unusual amount of sea stone. Being a calm belt Island, the natives have never seen outsiders before, nor do they speak the common tongue. Immediately the Mohawks reacted to the increasing number of marines with violence and although some realise that the Sachem are a very separate people to their violent brothers, for convenience they’ve all been put in the same category, nuisances. Under Raice the idea is that the island will be conquered and then mined for its resource which is entirely necessary to fuel the forces of justice. In addition, the remote location of the island makes it difficult to access and its natural shape hard to conquer; as such marine forces can only arrive in drabs and must invade up from the south, through the mountain pass and into enemy territory. The locals may be at the disadvantage technologically and eventually numerically, but they’ve lived on this island a long time and know its landscapes, it’s plants and animals. This will be a bloody fight.
Notes:
-No pirates have ever laid foot on the island due to it's remote location.
-Some weapons used by the natives are made from sea stone, and are considered special due to their strength. However no inhabitant has ever seen a Devil Fruit user, and are unaware of the true value of the weapons many of them wield.
-The marine effort here is solely focused on invasion, as ordered from higher ups. Players may face a moral dilemna here, following orders and the ultimate greater good, but at the expense of the Hachem who to those who'd care to look, are clearly at heart a peaceful people.
Map: