Adlawadto Current Status
Current Status
The leaders of the coastal settlements of Adlawadto are preparing in conjunction with the other islands of the Free Island alliance to resist the expansion of Colony settlement. As a result, they have been tasked to build up a repository of medicines, potions, and poisons for the effort. While normally a simple effort, the creatures and the flora of the island seem to be reacting to the change in Lunar cycles, causing even experienced guides to be unable to follow the tried and true paths through the jungles.
Additionally, while the rest of the island accepts their role in joining the Free Islands alliance, the notoriously isolationist settlement of Badbaran is less inclined to involve themselves. As such, the most potent poisons in the Islands are currently uncommitted to the alliance, a missing advantage that the warriors of Adwaladto will certainly miss in the coming battles.
The hunters of the island are well in tune with the understanding of appeal to the spirits of the jungle, however certain outsiders may be less inclines to pay their respects and dues. Pirates have begun poaching both plants and creatures from the forested north east of the island due to the lucrative prices they attract in the black markets at Kaylahon, to secret contacts within the Colony, and especially outside the islands.
Background
Before the first settlement of the islands many thousands of years ago Adlawadto was an island atoll southwest of the other islands. Over the course of time the shifting of tectonic plates and ebbing sea level revealed the shallow coral reefs under the waves as the island emerged. Nowadays a thin top soil covers the razor sharp layer of dead coral and sandstone, yielding a unique topography that also happens to nurture incredibly diverse flora, which has become the basis of the island's economy.
The people of Adwalato are excellent hunters, but often their quarry is not beasts but rare plants to be used in potions, medicines, and poisons. Hunting plants on Adwaladto is not a walk in the park however, as the treacherous landscape and dangerous magical creatures which roam the island can make locating a rare mark like finding a specific needle in a pile of other very pointy and often poisonous needles.
The denizens of the island generally elect to live towards the shore to avoid the tangled jungle paths, venturing inland when going on hunts and returning to sell their finds to the alchemically gifted wizards of the villages, who in turn sell these wares at the floating community market of Tasulog, frequented by traders who will bring the legendary concoctions to other islands. But the most powerful creations can only be found at Badbaran, built on the shores of the hidden inland Lake Danaw. Protected from outside threats by the Turtle Spirit Sasayaw, the people of this village make offerings of sweet fruit which is sank into the lake to feed the spirit.
It is purposefully unclear specifically who brews it, as such a potent creator of poisons would be highly sought after by anyone seeking revenge or a rise to power, but the Island's deadliest poisons are known to originate from somewhere in Badbaran.
Faction Control
Adlawadto is currently controlled by the Free Islands Alliance
Diplomacy
Adwaladto is sending emissaries to Kaylahon to secure economic assistance and other forms of aid for the effort of preparing for war.
Key Figures
Datu Tinaga - Datu Tinaga is a half-elf that has been serving the people of Linawan for a generation and a half. Their father started the tradition of the hunters’ summit and they have continued it as was their father’s wish. With their deep hazel-toned skin, striking ocean colored eyes, and coiled white hair, Datu Tinaga is an enchanting beauty and is well-known to be the best hunter in the village of Linawan. They’re often seen carrying a spear with a twisted head for a blade, decorated with woven cords that have all been blessed by the babaylan for good travel, safe hunting, and great governance. (SI 111)
Impong Panggasi - Impong Panggasi is an old halfling babaylan who performs all sorts of rituals for good weather and crafts several different types of anting-anting for the hunters, warriors and traders of Linawan. In her old age, Impong Panggasi has become blind and wears a black blindfold with eyes embroidered on the cloth. The eyes are stitched white but the pupils are in red. This is a blindfold blessed by the Spirits, which supposedly allows her to see. The truth of that is kept secret. Today, she teaches the younger babaylan all about the island’s flora. For example, she and her students are in charge of creating the signature torches that guide the hunters towards the village, extracting the oil from the Putat’s fruits. (111)
Datu Dako - Datu Dako rose to leadership [of Tasulog] through his experience as an expert navigator and fisherman. The halfling’s knowledge of the stars and tides ensures that the people of Tasulog always find their way to the best fishing spots in Adlawadto’s southern seas. (113)
Dayao - Favored by the forest spirit as a descendant of Aponipalayok, Dayao ensures that Sasayaw always has the sweetest fruit to eat. The elf wields a unique blade fashioned from one of Huni’s shed feathers and is always ready to protect the turtle spirit from any hunters that might covet his shell. Badbarans feel safe on the lake, but the land is rife with potential dangers. Dayao leads regular scouting parties to survey the surrounding jungle for wild animals, raiders, and monsters that might threaten his people.
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