Rekauri Archipelago (ɾeˈkauɾi aɾ.tʃiˈpel.a.ɡo)
"Truly, the Tui Iti are lucky. They fled one sanctuary when it was attacked, only to find another where they could persist in their beliefs. We may wish to investigate this good fortune further - it seems beyond coincidence."
The Rekauri Archipelago is a group of a dozen islands in the Southern Region, just to the north of the Nuhu Islands in the Mangimoi Archipelago. They are rarely visited due to the ever present mist and fog which surrounds the island group, making it very difficult for ships to navigate to safe harbor. Most ships attempting to reach one of the islands in the Rekauri find themselves exiting the mists on the other side without ever encountering land.
The islands of the Rekauri are inhabited by an off-shoot of the Tui Iti people of Iti Motu. Centuries ago, when Iti Motu was attacked, some of the Tui Iti fled west in ships before the god Rēkohu used his blessing to drive the invaders away. They fled with no destination in mind, desperate to escape the slaughter that engulfed their former home. Their journey was longer than any of them expected, carrying them nearly 750 miles west of Iti Motu before they landed upon the shores of Rekauri. There, they pled with the spirits of the islands and the waters to shield them from future attacks, and such was their prayers that they gods complied, surrounding the dozen islands of the Rekauri with a wall of mists to confuse all those who might harm the Tui Iti.
Points of Interest
There are two lighthouses built within the mists of the archipelago, on tiny islands to the east and west of the larger islands of Rekauri and Rangio. These are known as Tahi Rua, or "The Twins" and were built by the Order of the Lightkeepers with the permission of the Tui Iti and the gods of the Rekauri. The Tahi Rua serve to guide those ships that are lost in the mist and in danger to a safe place to rest. While the ships still may not be allowed to reach the populated islands of the archipelago (a decision which rests with the gods), the Tui Iti do not wish any person to come to harm and maintain the lighthouses to provide safety to those who need it. For most who sail the area, the Tahi Rua are the only things they will encounter in the mists. While they are called "The Twins", some people question whether there really are two of them, or if it is a single tower that exists in two locations.
Geography
The region of the Rekauri Archipelago is a circle roughly 37 miles across, which encloses all the islands of the group. This border is defined by the ring of mist and fog which surrounds the archipelago. Those ships which have been permitted to pass through have found that the interior of the ring is not itself shrouded in fog, instead having a pleasant and sunny climate. The majority of the interior is the island of Rekauri itself, which makes up nearly eighty percent of the total land area. It is surrounded by several smaller islands, with the largest being Rangio.
The Rekauri Islands (sorted by size)
This table includes all the inhabited islands in the group.| Name | Area (sq mi) | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| Rekauri | 360 | 3.46° South, 12.53° West |
| Rangio | 25 | 3.85° South, 12.27° West |
| Motuharā | 0.84 | 3.9° South, 12.22° West |
| Motu Rehu | 0.44 | 3.83° South, 12.76° West |
Geographic Details
Location: Southern RegionLatitude: 3.56 degrees South
Longitude: 12.55 degrees West
Average Elevation: 10 ft
Highest Point: 981 ft
Lowest Point: 0 ft
Area: 462 sq mi
Related Articles
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.
I love the Twins. Must be nice to live in a place that is kept so safe.
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
Some people love it. Some don't - but they leave.