Pocobundok

Pocobundok is the highest point on the island of Nipa. It is located on the island's western half, surrounded by agricultural lands and far from the city of Mamere at Nipa's eastern tip. The nobles of the Tagápulo Empire consider the area around Pocobundok to be remote and dull, and few ever travel to see the mountain.

Like much of western Nipa, the area around Pocobundok is populated mainly by Kikipua of the Phaṇin ethnicity. The island lies close to the Kanluranan Archipelago, and there has been considerable historical interchange between western Nipa and Semvhu. When Gunung Ratnala erupted in 3776, hundreds of refugees from Semvhu came east to settle around Pocobundok, and their descendants still live near the mountain today.

The mountain itself is considered sacred to the Phaṇin people. In Bahasa, it is called Gunung Surantara - the "Mountain of the Sky Between Worlds." It is said to be a portal between many realms - not only The Dream and The Spirit Realm, but also a place where other versions of the Physical Realm can be reached. Travelers from those other worlds are sometimes said to descend the slopes of Pocobundok, while those who wish to wander farther than the Great Ring permits will sometimes follow certain paths along its slopes and vanish into whatever lies beyond.

Notable Spirits

The god of Pocobundok is Garudnatha, the gatekeeper of worlds. Their name means "Lord of the Eagles." The Nipan Eagle - a massive bird said to prey on monkeys and even small children - is sacred to Garudnatha and serves as the god's eyes and hands. Garudnatha themself is rarely seen, but is depicted as a young and powerful Kikipua wearing a cloak of eagle feathers.

In older traditions, Garudnatha was portrayed with the head and crest of a Nipan Eagle. However, this image has shifted in recent generations. Refugees from Semvhu, who settled around Pocobundok after fleeing the eruption of Gunung Ratnala, found the eagle-headed form too reminiscent of their ancient enemies, the Utkrośa. Instead, they favored depictions that felt more familiar and relatable.

Garudnatha is the local protector of travelers and of spirits passing into the lands of the dead. According to legend, those who have died find themselves upon the slopes of Pocobundok, walking trails visible only to the dead. At certain junctions along the way, a great eagle will perch and study the spirit before nodding toward the path that will lead them to the proper part of the afterlife.

These same eagles also hunt down souls who attempt to flee and linger in the living world. Such spirits are seized in the bird's talons and carried, struggling, to stand before Garudnatha for judgment.