Arsuba

Arsuba is a low, flat island shaped by centuries of gentle tides and seasonal storms. The soil is dark and fertile, fed by decomposed forest matter and old volcanic sediment carried from distant shores. Sparse rocky outcrops ring the coastline, but most of the land is smooth enought that early settlers farmed it without struggle. Small forest clusters remain in the center of the island, sheltered from coastal winds. These groves are dense, warm, and humid, with marrow footpaths worn by generations of locals before the plague emptied the place.

Tropical Seasonal Rainforest

Arsuba straddles the boundary between rich rainforest and open farmland. Closer to the coast, grasslands expand during the dry season. Deeper inland, moisture trapped by the tree canopy supports a diverse seasonal rainforest that bursts with life when the rains arrive.

Arsuba goes through two major cycles:

The Wet Season: Heavy rains fill the island's shallow rivers and soak the farms. Wildlife moves inland, nesting in forest groves to avoid coastal flooding. Fruit-bearing trees drop massive yields during this period, feeding both animls and the now-absent human population.

The Dry Season: The land cracks and browns. The Forest retreats into itself, sealing moisture beneath thick leaf litter. Many species shift to nocturnal habits during these months to conserve energy. Salt winds blow in from the ocean, leaving white dust on everything near the shore.

Tidal Influence

Arsuba sits near a channel where two ocean currents collide. The tides are unusually strong, rising higher than in nearby regions. Historically, farmers timed planting around these tides, believing they influenced soil richness. This cycle still shapes the migration patterns of the birds and aquatic reptiles that nest on the beachs.

The Whisper Winds

Arsuba is famous for a strange auditory phenomenon that seeps the island at dusk. When wamr coastal air meets the cooler forest pockets, a soft whistling sounds curls through the trees. Locals once believed these winds carried the voices of ancestors guiding farmers through good and bad years.

After the plague, the Cubria Empire sent researchers who determined the sound comes from air passing through narrow gaps in the bark of the island's oldest trees. Even the scientific explanation, visitors often comment on how Human the whispers seem. Many claim the winds intensify near the old village ruins.

Arsuba is hot year-round with sharp swings in rainfall. The wet season brings heavy storms and thick humidity, while the dry season turns the island brittle and heat-scorched. Temperature changes rarely vary more than a few degrees, but the shift between wet and dry defines every part of the ecosystem.

Flora

Saltweaver Palms: Thrives along the coast; roots filter salt, making them useful for medicinal brines.

Redbloom Trees: Canopy giants that erupt into deep crimson flowers during the wet season. Their petals carpet the forest floor.

Skyroot Vines: Climb anything vertical and glow faintly during the wet season due to natural biochemistry once mistaken for magick.

Fauna

Shoreback Lizards: Small reptilian grazers that congregate near tide pools.

Nightcrest Birds: Sleek black birds with pale wings, known for their echoing class at dusk.

Bloom Frogs: Tiny amphibians that only appear during the first two weeks of the wet season; the eggs rely on the Redbloom flower mulch.

Most of the species here can be found elsewhere in South Chrysalis, but the combination of forest and open farmland created a unique nice. Since the village fell, several species have expanded their territories into once-cultivated land.

Arsuba once provided rich farmland produce, hardwood from forest groves, and small quantities of medicinal plants. Today, the Cubria Empire restricts harvesting to protect the historical site. Illegal foraging still happens along the northern shore, mainly for Redbloom petals and Skyroot vines prized in traditional remedies.

The land has recovered in many areas, but the old farmland soil has compacted in places. Some natural resources, particularly certain herbs once cultivated by villagers, have vanished entirely.

Arsuba began as a humble farming village on a small island northwest of the mainland. Its people lived simple but steady lives, relying on predictable seasons and healthy soil. The community never grew large, but it was known for cooperation and shared labor. Life changed abruptly in 998 AE, when the plague swept across the island. With no resistance and limited support from the mainland, Arsuba's population collapsed in a matter of weeks.

The Cubria Empire later reclaimed the island, preserving the ruins as a historical monument. Old fields remain etched into the landscape, though forest slowly creeps over them, and the remnants of stone dwellings sit untouched as a reminder of the lost village.

Most visitors come to Arsuba for two reasons:

Historical Interest: Scholars, archivist, and pilgrims who see to understand the plague years visit the preserved ruins.

Ecological Curiosity: Naturalists and tourists explore the rainforest pockets and witness the Whisper Winds at dusk.

Because the Island is protected, tourism is tightly regulated. Guides follow marked paths, and overnight stays are limited to designated research camps. Despite these restrictions, Arsuba attracts steady interest due to its serene atmosphere and the melancholy beauty of the ruined village.