Madura Isles

"There will be no shore leave," the first mate snarled at the crew who were all staring at the port just visible on the horizon. As the discontented rumblings began to rise from the crew, he continued. "Quit your whining! This ain't a place of merriment. You sneeze wrong and you're dead. Trip and you're dead. Touch a drop of their drink and you're dead."   The crew stared at him. "Wh-why would we come here, then?"   "Profits! There's staggering profits to be had here...if you survive trading." He chuckled coldly. "It ain't trading you'll be doing."   "Wh-what will we be doing? A wiry sailor asked, eyeing the approaching port with wide eyes.   "If we're lucky, you'll be loading up precious cargo."   "A-and if we're n-not?" The sailor squeaked.   "You'll be fighting hard to not be skewered."   The crew could only stare in silence as their ship sailed ever closer to the port.

  The Madura Isles are several islands that cover the northeastern end of the Stormbreakers Island chain. They are covered with steep hills and cliffs honeycombed with caves. It is within these caves that the Javani, whose ancestors were sea frogs, returned to living upon land rather than in the sea. Tribal territory is vital for the self-sustaining ways the Jaravani cherish. As such, the Javani have become highly territorial and will aggressively defend every inch of their territory.   Covering these steep hills and cliffs is a steamy jungle that reaches the sea through patches of mangroves, swampy inlets, and a rare few sandy beaches. Paths worn down to the dirt cut the jungles into territories, as they serve as the only neutral means of traveling between the tribes. To set even one foot off a path can incite a fight or even a battle.   Despite their deeply territorial nature, trade must happen between the tribes. Cleared wayrests, formed at the crossroads of these paths, are as neutral as the paths. It is here where the witch-doctors live, providing healing and wisdom for all who come to them, not just those of their home tribe. They and their devoted learners oversee any and all trade, ensuring the spirit of neutrality is maintained.   But, Javani being Javani, words and teaching are not always enough. Among the devoted are warriors who have embraced the peace of neutrality so much that they are willing to fight to preserve it. Non-Javani visitors tend to see these wayrests as army camps, but only the foolish dare to utter this aloud.   The individual isles do not bear names. Instead, the tribes each name their territory, and if it spreads to another isle, so be it. This is terribly confusing to all but the Javani. Fortunately for outsiders, traveling the paths and facing the risks of trading within the many wayrests, there stands one place built for them to conduct trade with all Javani, the port town of Bentan. It is renowned as the only place in the world where the magical Purple Peppers can be grown. Why this is so remains an unsolved mystery.