Shillapo Island

Shillapo Island

Threat level: Low – Medium

Shillapo Island is a moderately sized, crescent-shaped Island located in the Topazial Sea. The island can roughly be divided into three geographic regions. A tropical forest takes up the northern third of the island, and is filled with a surprisingly diverse amount of creatures and many different kinds of fruit bearing trees. Starting at roughly the center point of the island is a mountainous region that runs south and over to the eastern edge of it. Below that is an open, grassy region that makes up the southern third of the island.

Tolem Bay is the body of the water than makes up the inside of Shillapo Island’s crescent shape, and Chioita City is built on its shores. What makes the island so special is how the seafloor rises up to a higher elevation in Tolem Bay, which is also carpeted with a species of giant kelp that the island gets its name from.

The Shillapo Kelp is a massive variant of the common underwater plant, and grows all along the bottom of Tolem Bay. The kelp forms a veritable forest along the bottom of the bay, and reaches up about halfway to the surface of the water.

This species of kelp, while harmless to smaller creatures, is very irritating to larger creatures. Almost immediately upon contact with it, the offending creature begins to feel a very unpleasant itching and stinging sensation that only gets worse the longer they are exposed to the kelp. This is likely the source of the bay’s name. According to some of the smaller merfolk that inhabit it, “Tolem” is a variant of an ancient merfolk word for “unpleasant”.

This natural barrier works to keep most giant aquatic predators out of Tolem Bay. Every now and then, a particularly determined mermaid will attempt to rush through the kelp, or to find a path through it to catch something to eat, but most find it best to avoid the inconvenience altogether.

Shillapo kelp comes in a wide variety of colors and the usually crystal clear waters of the bay show off a beautiful sight to people on the surface and in the water. At night, the kelp will also shimmer and glow in the moonlight, most likely a defensive warning to keep away nocturnal creatures, and a very beautiful spectacle to the people on land.

Chioita City:

Threat level: Very Low
Residents: Humans

Home to several thousand humans, Chioita City is a surprisingly successful port city in the west-central portion of Shillapo Island. Chioita City is completely self-sufficient and gets most of its food either from the nearby forest to the north or the abundant waters of Tolem Bay, which teems with fish and sea creatures of all kinds. It’s an important port to humans on nearby islands, and is often visited by people who take up the dangerous life that is navigating the Topazial Sea.

Chiotia City, unlike the large human settlements on the mainland, neither relies on stealth, magic, guns or impenetrable walls for its defense. There just isn’t enough man-power or technological/magical sophistication for that kind of defense. The residents of Chiotia City have instead opted to survive by the only realistic means they have, by trying to have a good relationship with the local predators.

With the defensive barrier of Shillapo kelp found in Tolem Bay keeping out most seafaring giant predators, the residents of Chiotia City have really worked over the years to try and be on good terms with the only two species of predator that can get to them, the local colony of Harpies in the nearby mountains, and the Sea Krait Nagas who regularly visit the island. Unlike other undersea predators, they are able to climb up on land, bypassing Tolem Bay and its kelp barrier altogether.

Their main trade is a special kind of fish found in Tolem Bay. This fish, which grows and reproduces fairly rapidly, can reach lengths of up to 9 feet, and is known for its extremely good taste. They are found only near the Shillapo Kelp, and thus can only be caught by humans or small mermaids.

Over the years, the humans have worked to farm these fish some as well, by collecting their eggs. They raise the fish in the city until they are larger, and then release them back into the bay to reach their full size. This has increased the overall population of these fish by quite a bit. When it’s time to give away one of these fish to a Sea Krait Naga, or a Harpy, they will even go the extra mile by preparing the fish with all kinds of seasonings and spices to make it taste even better.

The people of Chiotia City have used these fish, as well as being as friendly and helpful as possible (Chiotia City is known far and wide for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere), to forge a relatively stable relationship with the local Harpies and Sea Krait Nagas. Some of the city’s more industrious/braver residents have also thought up other services to provide to the predators, like making accessories and jewelry for them. Sea Krait Nagas in particular really enjoy this, and will bring things they collect (boat anchors, pearls, gems, etc) to Chiotia City to be fashioned into jewelry and accessories.

Outside Chiotia:

Threat level: Medium
Residents: Harpies, Sea Krait Nagas

The Eastern Mountain range of Shillapo Island is home to the Island’s colony of Harpies. These Harpies have migrated over from other Islands in the Topazial Sea. Until now, they had been hopping from island to island, moving as food became plentiful or scarce. Over their lifetimes of living on islands in the Topazial Sea, these Harpies have developed a real taste for fish. The waters around Shillapo Island teem with fish of all kinds, so food is usually pretty easy for them to come by. Combine that with the nearby human city that will often give them rare fish to eat, and it is unlikely that this group of Harpies will be leaving Shillapo Island anytime soon.

The Southern grasslands are an open, grassy region that takes up the southern third of Shillapo Island. It is a favorite hangout for Sea Krait Nagas visiting the island, who use the wide, open spaces to stretch out, relax in the sun, and enjoy the pleasant sea breeze that usually blows across the island.

While these Harpies and Nagas won’t bother Chiotia City itself, they aren’t above eating humans on occasion. It would still be very ill-advised to go up into the mountains, or walk around in the grasslands to the south alone, unless you have a specific reason to do so, or know a couple of local predators on a personal basis.

=========================

Just an idea me and a few others have been brainstorming over the last couple days. Shillapo Island was added in the new map, and the idea of an island with a human port city seemed like an interesting place to try and develop and flesh out some.

Thanks go out to Karbo and Tora044 for idea brainstorming, and editing the details to get the right "Felaryan" feel to it.

This seems like a fantastic idea! Arr, it be a worthy port for Captain Solomon Sharkbane to live at when he finds himself in Felarya.

Very nice job on brainstorming and putting all this in place !

This is a great idea! I like how you covered how they could co-exist with predators, providing an alternative food source and all. A seaside city like this is a very interesting and useful addition to Felarya.

Working with the enemy? Treason!!! (and survival).
Also, every time I read "Sea Krait Nagas" I wondered "What are they hiding, and why is their spelling so bad?"