Amana
Amana is a beautiful island. Unfortunately it is seated where several weather systems converge. This means it is raining most of the time.
Almost 150 years ago, the three countries of Amana unified into one nation that refers to itself as Amana. While it has been stabalizing in recent years, it is still a relatively isolated nation. The Wyldlands nearby is the only place Amana has had any real interaction with.
Geography
The majority of Amana is gentle rolling hills and floodplains. Near the center of Amana stands Mount Nepi and the scattering of small mountains behind it, trailing off to the east. At the end of the mountain range stands a massive rainforest that makes travel on the eastern side of the island difficult.
Ecosystem
The near constant rain fall means that the animals that live here must thrive despite the rain. Even in though it is in a tropical zone, it is dangerously easy to become hypothermic.
Ducks, geese, and oxstriches are the main avian species. There are herons that migrate through in the spring and fall, using storm patterns to aid their journeys. The secretary birds native to the nearby Wyldlands sometimes fly over, often waiting for heron migrations to pass so they aren't competing for the same food sources.
There are a huge number of amphibians and gastropods that thrive here. Very few are poisonous.
The rainforest is home to the native snake populations. While the canopy keeps it cooler on average, it also serves as an excellent barrier against the rain. They make their homes in the trees, finding any nook, cranny, or hollow to make their home. It is said that a small Divinity of naga are believed to live deep in the rainforest.
Besides birds, the floodplains are also home to many turtles, otters, pigs, and boars. They use the shifting waters of the rivers to play and hunt in equal measure. The bones of beavers have been discovered in some of the lake beds, leading geologists and zoologists to believe that much of the ecosystem of Amana is influenced by how the beavers who once lived here affected the rivers. What exactly killed off the Amani beaver population is contested.
The aquatic life in and around Amana is incredibly abundant and diverse. The rich nutrients and constant cycling of water and sediment from the converging weather systems provides nutrients and resources for the aquatic life and Amani population in such abundance that it is estimated up to 25% of fetile or valuable sediment is washed out to sea before it can be used or collected.
Ecosystem Cycles
Amana does experience four seasons, though they are mild in difference. The main way they track season changes is by animal migrations and regular weather systems. Dreisturme is at the convergence of three weather systems. All three systems bring in heavy rains that rotate in an almost perfect pattern leaving Amana under at least a light drizzle. Each weather system also provides unique storms or patterns that bring precious resources to Amana.
From the north west comes sand and mud storms from the deserts of Cogroa. From the east come mana storms from Obor. From the south west come hail and dust storms from Dracolia.
These storms help bring nutrient rich sand and soil to Amana as well as deposit minerals that collect in the sediment or wash out to sea. The mana storms benefit The Wyldlands more, but strong flowing magic helps Amana maintain its existence as a dynamic locale.
While these storms are very beneficial for the life cycle on Amana, they are incredibly dangerous. The sand and mud can frequently cause landslides which can devastate communities and habitats. Mana storms can charge the rain, wind, lightening, or a combination of the three to make them far worse than they normally are. The hurricanes and intense rain storms can bring terrible flooding, beach ships, or haphazardly toss sea creatures all over the island. The extremes of these storms happen rarely, but every Amani over the age of 10 has experienced at least one of these extremes.
An added side effect of these powerful weather systems is the migration patterns that formed around them. The most notable migration patterns are the passing Herons. They come through in massive flocks, heading north west in the autumn and south east in the spring. There are other species that migrate through, but their patterns aren't nearly as large or regular. A notable, unique pattern is that of the ironically named Ruantean kestrel.
The Ruantean kestrel lays eggs in its homeland of Terrula, where their predators and rivals are few to none. Because of the scarcity of food there, the mature kestrels migrate north to Ruantea where food is more abundant, but they also have more competition. This is the only non-aquatic species known to have this type of spawning migration. They use the high winds of hurricanes to make the migrations. While risky, they have become rather adept at riding the dangerous winds.
Localized Phenomena
There is a natural charge on Amana due to the massive layers of quartz and topaz. In times of high pressure (large weather systems, volcanic activity, or tectonic activity with differences in plate thickness) the magnetic field generated by the charge of the minerals can be felt - hair stands on end and, sometimes, rainfall slows significantly about 10 feet above the ground.
When charge builds enough, intense lightning strikes boom across the island as they flash the sky over Skyroar Mountain - a mountain with a ludicrously high level of copper and iron in it. Specialists are stationed around Skyroar in specially designed huts in order to protect people from going near the mountain when a strike is expected.
When mana storms mix with other weather patterns things can get dangerous. This, in combination with Amana's natural charge, tends to lead to electric rain. Electric rain can be as minor as irritating but light shocks and as severe as painful, burning, and/or paralyzing. It is not uncommon for an electric rain storm to have dozens or hundreds of fatalities.
In one case a severe electric rain storm began due to a high charge buildup in Skyroar coupled with a massive mana tide. The storm caused Skyroar to strike many times during the hours long storm, and the rain caused damage to most structures across Amana. The King of Storms had to intervene to settle the storm. Though he was able to calm the storm to a much gentler electric rain storm many people had died.
Fauna & Flora
Flora
- Rainforest trees (tall, strong) -- Douglas firs
- Hemlock, oaks, firs, cedars, spruce
- Bushes, herbs
- Types of grass
- Bamboo
- Flowers
- Moss
- Mushrooms
- Rice
- Wheat
- Sugarcane
- Algae
- Spinach
- Squash
Fauna
- Oxstrich - Large, powerful birds favored for their ability to traverse the muddy landscape with ease.
- There are 40 known species of frogs on Amana. 2 are poisonous.
- Toads
- Ducks
- Geese
- Slugs
- Snails
- Snakes
- Turtles
- Tortoises
- Otters
- Pigs
- Boars
- Lemurs
- Fish fish fish fish fish
- Crustaceans/shellfish
Natural Resources
There is ample supply of wood, and a wide variety to choose from. There are stone mines dug into mountains very carefully where granite, slate, soapstone, and sandstone can be mined. A few sea caves have been used to harvest limestone and dolomite as well.
Many herbs and vegetables are grown on the island. Rice is the most plentiful food grown by the people, and mushrooms are the most plentiful native food.
History
Long ago Amana was used as a very brief breather on longer journeys. The weather was deemed unsuitable for sustained living. Over time a few outposts developed into settlements. Once the island was surveyed and resources were discovered, three kingdoms set their sights and began colonizing.
Those three kingdoms feuded from the very beginning. Wars were fought but it was hard to truly differentiate between them. There were never any real peace treaties, just a string of armistices and battle holds. Over time the people were heard more and more, and a few empathetic officials in key positions gained power. The signing of the peace treaties was the opening ceremony to the "election" of the first monarch of Amana.
The Royal Armory was formed not long after unification. The goal was to insulate the population from the monarch and keep a close eye on corruption. As the Armory grew, it also took on responsibilities in disaster recovery and various civic duties.
Were it not for its isolationist policies, the unique fauna of Amana and its advantageous placement between major continents would make it a wealthy trade node. Recent events may lead to new connections being made, but it is hard to tell since the King Iros is investing heavily on archeology and setting up a magic academy.
Tourism
Exotic animal enthusiasts are about the only tourists that come to Amana currently. Oxstriches are slowly becoming popular draft animals and pets.
Type
Island
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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Inhabiting Species
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