Paymiko on Kira's Island

Where did they get the stone for these walls? I thought the Islanders didn't use mining. Wait, is that...gold leaf? Does this mean they have gold readily available on this island? -Captain Tanner examining the walls of Paymikos Village.
From the torches of the village walls I could see the geometric patterns of red and gold brick on the large central building. The roof was planks of wood with a hole in the center that let out smoke from a fire they never let go out. The entrance, in contrast to the strong construction of the brick and tree pole framework, was a delicate curtain of seashells. -Emerson's observations of first being brought into Paymiko
The first thing I noticed about the houses were that they were on stilts. Not really high, not high enough to need a staircase, but a step would have been nice. I had to hike up my dress to not trip going in. It was the smallest hut I'd ever seen, though I could tell they were trying to dress it up. It had stripes of red down the narrow side and yellow clay between the beams on the front. The door way was a curtain of beads like the chief's meeting house, but as I stepped in I could tell they had a rolled up fabric curtain if the weather got too bad. The hut was just one long room. Burn district houses were bigger. One side had fur skins for beds on one side and the other side had baskets and pots for prep cooking with a lot of plants and herbs tied around the ceiling. The one positive thing I could say about it was it smelled nice. -Melodie describing entering Lei'lani's house

Demographics

All Islanders of the same tribe, Honkanagwa (people of the sand shells). One Chief, Makoa, and one sage, Payekana. 30 warriors.

Government

The village is run by the chief and the village elders as his council. The sage has strong sway in the direction of the village's goals. The village is socialist run. Everyone does what they can and share what they have. If something must be built that requires strength, the men come together to get it done. If something must be made that requires great skill, the women come together to plan and make it. Children and mothers with young children tend to crops that can be farmed. Men hunt, gather and mine. Women cook and craft pottery and clothing. They smith and experiment with the new minerals to find better weapons.

Defences

Rampart, wall and guards.

Industry & Trade

They are completely self-sustaining socialists.

Infrastructure

Stone walls and gates, mines, working on tunnels, kiln, stilt houses, brick buildings.

Assets

They have mined gold and a combustible mineral called nitrite. There weapons are meant more for farming, as they haven't hunted in a long time out of fear that the animal they kill could be one of their transformed children. They also use shells to make some weapons. Bone, claw and tooth tools are old at this point.

Guilds and Factions

The only inner organization of the village are the elders, of which Payekana is the leader.

History

Paymiko was founded with the guidance of Payekana. Originally, Payekana forged an alliance with the spirits of the island, the dominant spirit being called Kira. The spirits made life easier and resources abundant. But Payekana had directed them to this land because he sensed gold and nitrite, but both would only be reached if he dug up and destroyed part of the island. He used his shaman powers over nature to tear the land up to reach the minerals and veins. With this betrayal, Kira told him that nature would no longer work with him. Plants would wither in his hands and offer no medicinal properties. When the villagers continued mining, she swore that nature would retake the village until they learned what they had done. Since then, a child would be selected once a month to be given to Kira and transformed into an animal. If they tried to refuse her, she would transform a child and have it kill the parents before fleeing into the jungle. Nature seems to also slowly cull the population. They once numbered near the thousands, but now have dwindled to 150.

Architecture

Wattle and daub houses on stilts, the main building is made of bricks with a smoke hole in the center. Houses are decorated with paint, gold, and shells.

Geography

Paymiko is half a mile from the beach in a chopped down area of jungle, though the jungle has tried to reclaim it. They are on the safe side of a flood plain, which is where they get their clean water.

Natural Resources

Wood from the forest, water and clay from the river, gold and nitrite from the mines, furs from animals and fruit from trees.

Alternative Name(s)

The Village

Type

Village

Population

150

Inhabitant Demonym

Islanders

Location under

Cira's Island

Owner/Ruler

Chief Makoa

Owning Organization

Organization