Geography
Mᴀɴɢʀᴏᴠᴇ Mᴀᴢᴇs (Kheuf Bilal)The Mangrove Mazes are a dense region almost impossible to explore without the use of boats. This is due to the fact that much of the land is waterlogged and the true 'floor' is over ten meters below the water level. Crocodiles and other dangerous predators lurk in the waters, and so most outsiders stay aware from these lands.
About a century ago, some explorers from the Watergrass Expanse settled down in the Mangrove Mazes and constructed a number of settlements along the southern coast.
The people living along the coast are known as the Tribes of Color, and they use the dyes from the Chromatic Reef for various cultural purposes. They also venture often into the Mangrove Mazes, where they use the salt deposited by the leaves of the mangrove tree to flavor and preserve their food.
The Mangrove Mazes has moderate temperatures and a very humid climate. It sometimes rains but it never snows.
Cʜʀᴏᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ Rᴇᴇꜰ (Sude Nhattalhak)
The Chromatic Reef is a colorful coral landscape beneath the water's surface. It stretches for about thirty miles off the south coast of Ebira, and is over 100 meters at its deepest-explored depths, with more to be uncovered. The people who risk these deep waters to salvage the numerous treasures below are called Pearl Divers.
The waters around the Chromatic Reef are sometimes naturally infused with dyes released by various sea-organisms living amongst the coral. The Tribes of Color each claim some of these territories and hues, permanently staining parts of their skin (or in cases of Divers, their whole bodies) with the color of their tribe.
The Chromatic Reef has slightly cool temperatures and a humid climate. It rains regularly but it never snows.
Society
Tʀɪʙᴇs ᴏꜰ Cᴏʟᴏʀ (Sunewe)Overall, the Tribes of Color numbered around 4500 before the invasion of the Megnamatans. Their current numbers are likely reduced by about five to ten percent...
Each Tribe of Color has a small number of settlements along the coast or slightly deeper into the mazes. Known settlements:
- Tybe (lit. Young Place): A settlement belonging to the Cyan Tribe, with about 200 residents.
- Nusen (lit. Yellow Root): A settlement belonging to the Yellow Tribe, with about 60 residents.
- Infetet (lit. Black Mulch): A settlement belonging to the Black Tribe, with about 425 residents.
- Chhyrtis (lit. Home of Chhyr): A settlement belonging to the Green Tribe, with about 640 residents.
- Whalichh (lit. Fish Paradise): A settlement belonging to the Blue Tribe, with about 350 residents.
- Sarufinwhud (lit. Sarufin's Gift): A settlement belonging to the Green Tribe, with about 500 residents.
- "The Lost Village" - A settlement once belonging to the 250 members of the Black Tribe. Destroyed and abandoned during the end of the Megnamatan conflict.
- Licchtis ud Nesu (lit. Sanctuary of Colors): A settlement not belonging to any tribe in particular, with no permanent population but 1000s of temporary residents who come and go. Previously called Nyrif (lit. Bountiful)
The Tribes of Color were invaded and occupied by a large group of Megnamatans in 219 ER. By 224 ER, they were successfuly resisted by a number of heroes, big and small.
Architecture
The Tribes of Color build their homes out of adobe clay over mangrove wood frames. Interestingly, while the people of the land are quite colorful themselves, and dyes are plentiful, there are few suitable materials to absorb dye. Thus, many buildings are rather dim and dreary beneath the dense canopy of the swamp.
Iᴅɪᴏᴍs ᴀɴᴅ Pʀᴏᴠᴇʀʙs
"Sit in water"
- Common saying meaning trying to cultivate a good reputation without actually taking action. It comes from people who literally sit in the colored waters to dye their skin rather than working in the water (diving, fishing, etc)
"Climb a great wave"
- Common saying meaning to surmount impossible odds
"In the net"
- A localized version of 'under the yoke', being forced to live in a difficult state due to a particular thing or person