Remad

Remad is an island in the Mekonggan Archipelago, situated very close to the islands of Kambi and Naril. It is inhabited by a mix of Mekongga and Pulawan humans, and is governed by the Majelis Agung Remad, an organization composed of village leaders from across the island who elect an absolute leader every ten years.

This organization is relatively young - less than two centuries old - having formed in response to a wave of Mekongga migration to the island during the fifty years leading up to the collapse of the Kingdom of Lampuato. Many Mekongga fled Lampuato when the royal family began to flaunt their disregard for the values of Kosalo, and a sizeable number settled on Remad.

The indigenous Pulawan - closely related to the Narinon of Naril - chose to welcome the newcomers. However, as cultural friction between the two groups grew, it became necessary to establish a system for adjudicating disputes before they could escalate into violence. At this point, village elders from both cultures formed the Majelis Agung Remad, or Great Council of Remad, to select a mutually acceptable leader.

This individual is granted near-absolute authority over the island's people for a period of ten years, after which they must step down and are prohibited from serving a second term. Thus far, the council has chosen its leaders wisely, and Remad has managed to avoid violent conflict between the Mekongga and Pulawan. Nonetheless, tensions persist between the communities, and many from both sides prefer to keep to themselves. Only in a few settlements - most notably the island's major port, Bandar Sataran - do the Mekongga and Pulawan frequently mingle.

Notable Spirits

The island is the domain of seven major gods, known as the Deza, each of whom governs a specific region and is centered around a particular village. Tales of the Deza stretch back as far as humans have lived on Remad, and some claim that they were the island's first inhabitants.

Originally, the worship of the Deza was entirely Pulawan, but the Mekongga immigrants adopted the practice over time. Three of the gods - Suralia, Kavindra, and Velorun - are now frequently associated with Mekongga appearances and values, while the others - Nimara, Arishta, Tavuren, and Lunashi - have remained more traditionally Pulawan.

The Deza are treated as spiritual chieftains as much as deities, and each has a representative in the Majelis Agung Remad, alongside the leaders of the island's villages.