The Nekomata Islands

No matter what time of day it is, the Nekomata Islands are always shrouded in darkness. The land is colored in perpetual blue mist that blankets the ground. In the distance, one can see tall mountains, the castle homes of nobles sitting atop the peaks.

The climate of the Nekomata Islands is incredibly chilly and rainy. It is not as cold as the Howling Range or the Polar Islands, but even in the summer it never gets as hot as even the Meadow of Forever. Ghostly howling wind is as common a sound as the rustling of leaves on withered trees.

The plants of the Nekomata Islands are adapted to survive on very little sunlight. Trees tend to be low-growing and grow only sparse leaves. Altairian Tea Trees cultivated on the islands have deep green leaves and produce a tea with a similar flavor to Gyokuro, with a hint of a fishy aroma.

Other than the Nekomata themselves, the Nekomata Islands are home to many animals associated with the Dark element. Lunicorns, unicorns of the Dark element, are native to the islands. The Nekomata have domesticated them as beasts of burden and transportation.

The Nekomata Islands boast the best fish in all of Altairus. The average Nekomata's diet on the islands consists primarily of wild-caught fish, as well as chicken, pork, and whatever else they can raise/catch. Even today, the islands remain the top contender in the global fish market.

The Nekomata Islands are the cradle of the Nekomata race. Surrounded by ocean, the islands developed their own unique culture, isolated from the rest of the world.

Around 1713 G.E., famine and overcrowding on the islands drove many Nekomata to emigrate. This mass exodus resulted in Nekomata spreading all across Altairus, predominantly across the Domeria-Cirkea-Tamora megacontinent. Everywhere they went, they carried their culture with them, drawing the attention of outsiders. It wasn't long before these Nekomata came into contact with the Harlequin Gremlins of The Circus of Shadows, and only three years later in 1716 G.E., the two races joined hands to create the Dark Carnival.

Today, the islands are still fairly isolated. While they have a bigger role on the world stage than in the past, they are still fairly isolationist in their dealings. For this reason, they tend to slip under the radar in international affairs.

Some Nekomata living outside the islands like to visit them to connect with their heritage. Many of the cat-people feel a spiritual connection to the islands and make it their life goal to visit them at least once in their lives.