Kurikum (kuˈrikum)
Kurikum is the largest of the three big islands in the Korabovi Islands, although it only a tiny bit larger than Otok. It was invaded and conquered by the Clarati sorcerer Niten, making it an oddity in two ways. First, it is the only island that the Clarati targeted that was not a part of the Ynys Archipelago. Secondly, it is the only location the Clarati invaded that was not predominately inhabited by humans. Niten never explained why he chose to deviate from the plans of the other Clarati when they invaded and dominated the Ynys Archipelago, and there is still no definitive explanation. Niten vanished entirely after the destruction of Sange, and his ultimate fate has never been determined.
During his reign, Niten made several changes to the island, mostly in the areas of architecture and common practices. He introduced and reinforced the use of several folk traditions, in what appears to have been an attempt to create a synthetic form of folk magic. These practices have persisted long after Niten's disappearance, and practitioners of his Folk Magic are common on Kurikum to this day.
The largest settlement on the island is the city is Polje, an ancient port on the southwest coast and the location of Niten's palace. It was badly damaged during the invasion by the Empire of Vlast, and no repairs have been permitted in the intervening decades, making it a dangerous and uncomfortable place to live. The Kar of Vlast has also forbidden the residents to abandon the city; she was mistreated by the Zmei who lived there when she was a child in captivity, and has never forgiven the city or its people.
Notable Spirits
The most common spirits of the island are the Domania, spirits of the hearth and home. They were the main focus of the Folk Magic engineered by Niten, and many of the practices he seeded were intended to empower or influence these spirits, enabling people to exert considerable control over domestic magic. For example, a floor swept with a rowan broom will be clean for a year and a day, as long as the Domani remains in the house. Bread will always rise perfectly if salt is added only with the left hand, and a pot can be made to boil rapidly if you sing it the right song. The Domani that is well kept and looked after will keep all the knives in the house sharp, and will also ward off any ill luck or bad spirits that may try to affect the household.
Geography
Geographic Details
Location: Northeastern RegionLatitude: 44.95 degrees North
Longitude: 55.12 degrees East
Average Elevation: 312 ft
Highest Point: 3,553 ft (Nazvana Gora)
Lowest Point: -13 ft
Area: 156.68 sq mi
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
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