Gunung Sahu (ɡuˈnuŋ saˈhu)

"Once there were seven thrones upon Gunung Sahu, for the seven kings of the Anma. But the Nakaal's spell shattered the island and the kings of Anma were drowned in the land's blood. The greater part of the mountain was thrown far from where it now stands, and became the island of Bato."

— Anma legend

Gunung Sahu is the highest point on the island of Gimoi. It is an active volcano, which erupts three or four times every century. It is located near the coast of Gimoi's northern peninsula. Some of Gunung Sahu's eruptions have been accompanied by great waves that flood the villages near the mountain.

The land around Gunung Sahu is extremely fertile, and contains some of the most productive spice farms in the Kingdom of Pagi. Coffee is grown on the slopes as well, and Sahu coffee is highly prized by both locals and foreign merchants.

According to legend, the mountain once was much larger, and overlooked the capital of the ancient Anma nation, whose name was erased by the Nakaal of Muria. The seven Anma Mage-Kings were said to have their thrones on the mountain top, and could command sea, sky, and earth for the good of their subjects. When the Nakaal demanded that the nation of Anma pay tribute to Muria, they trusted to their magical abilities, and refused the invaders. In a ritual said to have involved thousands of sacrifices, the Nakaal broke the mountain, and the very island on which it stood, killing most of the Mage-Kings in a single strike and shattering the island into the Mangimoi Archipelago. The strike was so destructive that a large piece of Gunung Sahu was thrown far away, and became the island of Bato.

Notable Spirits

The Hyang of Gunung Sahu is called Apirangi, and is said to manifest as a great white serpent who nests deep below the mountain. Apirangi is married to Ibukidul, the goddess of the western sea, and when the volcano erupts, the villagers believe that Apirangi is visiting his wife. Sometimes, Ibukidul is impatient to see her husband, and will rush upon the land to meet him, flooding everything in her path.

In the aftermath of their meetings, the two gods are in a particularly good mood, and are more responsive to prayers from the humans who worship them. From the sea, fish practically leap into the nets, while the soil around the mountain is more fertile and productive than before. These blessings usually fade in a few years, but the people count on them to recover from one of the eruptions.

Geography

Gunung Sahu is a steep conical mountain, rising up over the surrounding forest. There are a line of seven craters running from north to south along a rift, and each is named for one of the seven mage-kings of the Anma. These craters regularly emit clouds of smoke, with a new one appearing about every forty minutes. The base of the mountain is covered in groves of coconut, cloves, and nutmeg, while the upper slopes are untamed rainforest and coffee plantations.

Type

Volcano

Location under

Gimoi

Geographic Details

Location: Southern Region
Latitude: 1.37 degrees North
Longitude: 16.94 degrees West 
Elevation: 5,120 ft

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