Sabu Islands

The Sabu Islands are a small archipelago in the Southwestern Region, near the southwestern coast of the larger island of Pulo. When the Malika of Saba overthrew the Nagarajya on Saba, many refugees settled here to remain beyond her reach. As a result, these islands hold the largest population of Naga outside the Sabaen Archipelago, and the inhabitants believe they are keeping the flame of the Nagarajya alive. Many prophecies of the Nagavirosha, who will overthrow the Malikate of Saba and restore Naga rule over the Sabaen Archipelago, foretell that the savior will be hatched on the Sabu Islands.

While the Bamsams of the Sabu Islands see themselves as part of the defunct Nagarajya, they function as a protectorate of the nearby Tagapulo Empire. This is viewed as an unfortunate necessity by the Naga who live here. They are unhappy to fall under a human-led empire, yet they have little choice. The Empire's emissaries made it clear that the islands could accept imperial protection or face imperial armies. Most Naga in the Sabu Islands are merchants rather than warriors, and even if every individual were an elite fighter they would still be outnumbered by hundreds to one, an impossible situation. The merchants of the Sabu Islands therefore pay tribute to the Tagapulo Empire and dream of the day when the Nagarajya is reborn, when they can negotiate with imperial strength of their own.

Points of Interest

The island of Bakunawa has one structure of particular note, the remarkable Bakunawa Lighthouse, which houses the Prophecy Clock of Zaman al-Razaz. This extraordinary device was built to predict the coming of the Nagavirosha and has shown an unsettling ability to foresee, or perhaps shape, the pattern of future events in its vicinity. The local residents were at first fascinated by al-Razaz's creation, but their enthusiasm soon faded. They claimed it foretold nothing but doom and might even be casting a curse on those who lived nearby. Their fear and anger grew to the point that several attempts were made to destroy the clock. These attempts failed, but they prompted the inventor to construct the Muhandasa, clockwork soldiers that patrol the lighthouse under the guidance of the Prophecy Clock. Since their introduction, the constructs have intercepted everyone who intends harm to the device, always appearing in the right place at the right time.