Gili (ˈɡili OR ˈʔki.li)

"They feed fear and nightmares to our mother, poisoning and corrupting her, and then say that we have attacked them. They are the true monsters here."

— Tzakrēl Yajnametzi

Gili is an island in the Kanluranan island group, and the home to the largest concentration of Utkrośa in the world. The Persatuan Phaṇin claims Gili as a part of its confederation, but only the coastal Phaṇin communities are considered legitmate, while the ancient Utkrośa eyries in the mountains are accorded the status of monsters and beasts.

When Rangdayan broke with Muria and took the Utkrośa into hiding, she chose Gili as her base of operations. In the high mountains, she and her creations were able to hide from the Nakaal and the Clarati both, and managed to survive the Clarati genocides which consumed the Great Ring. She established herself as the goddess of the Utkrośa, and made sure that when she died, their worship would ensure her Apotheosis. When she arose as a god, she anchored to the great mountain of Gunung Dewi, surrounded by her Utkrośa disciples.

Centuries passed, and the Utkrośa formed a culture of their own. They were the Jatayu, the people of the sky. They continued to worship Rangdayan as the Egg-Maker and Life-Bringer, and in their prayers she was transformed into a goddess of creation and life. The Jatayu did not forget that she had made them as war-machines for the Nakaal, but knew that they had outgrown their origins, and remade their goddess in their own image.

Meanwhile, on nearby islands, the Phaṇin cultures were also growing. Their ancestors had been among the few survivors of the Clarati purges, and they spread across Bulau and Semvhu. When they saw the Utkrośa in the sky, they made warding signs against evil. And when they learned of Rangdayan's continued existence, they trembled in fear. She had not been forgotten by the Phaṇin, and to them she was the mother of monsters, and monstrous goddess besides.

Their fear and beliefs about Rangdayan were powerful, and the Phaṇin were more numerous than the Jatayu by far. Rangdayan was pulled by their terror into the role they made for her, and she began to make monsters once again, to send against the Phaṇin communities along Gili's coast. The Jatayu watched in horror as their mother-goddess was warped by the beliefs of the lowlanders, and felt as though the Phaṇin had weaponized the Egregoric Force against Rangdayan and themselves. Angry, they sought to drive the Phaṇin out of their territory and away from their goddess. This was the beginning of a war which has lasted for centuries, and rages still.

Notable Spirits

Rangdayan dominates the island of Gili from her anchor on Gunung Dewi, but she is not the only deity to claim an anchor on the island. Each of the island's peaks has been dedicated to one of the great Jatayu ancestors, who have been raised as minor gods by their descendants. These are known collectively as the Tlākṣayāna, the servants of Rangdayan. So far, their names are unknown to the Phaṇin and they have only been lightly touched by the fears of the lowlanders. But the Jatayu fear that one day all of their gods will be corrupted by the nightmares of the Phaṇin.

Geography

Gili is dominated by the range of high mountains that run the length of the island. It is roughly oval in shape, and about fifty miles long from northwest to southeast. The coastal areas are home to dozens of islets, most of which are uninhabited. The island has very little fresh water, and controlling the water sources has become a major strategic goal of the Jatayu and the Phaṇin. The mountains are heavily forested and difficult to climb, and the Jatayu have worked to ensure that the interior is only accessible to those who can fly.

Type

Island

Location under

Kanluranan

Included Locations

• Gunung Dewi
• Kīlārapakṣa

Owning Organization

Tagápulo Empire

Geographic Details

Location: Southwestern Region
Latitude: 21.7 degrees North
Longitude: 33.45 degrees West
Average Elevation: 630 ft
Highest Point: 12,228 ft (Gunung Dewi)
Lowest Point: -3 ft
Area: 1,779.04 sq mi

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