Mummy's Isle
A pair of jeweled sandals stepped onto the cursed shore of Butsudvipa unwaveringly. As Sadhu Pravin exited the dinghy, his companions followed, their eyes scanning the horizon. Pravin could feel the malign energy that this land was steeped in, a thousand years of suffering and misguidance bleeding into the earth itself. The Sadhu and his friends had battled many monsters on their journey here, but their wickedness paled in comparison to the arrogance of humanity, and he recited a mantra to give the group strength against their own demons. Out there, hidden among the bluffs and hills of the island were dozens of tombs, each containing long-dead heretics who foolishly defied nature with their sickening rituals. Years ago, a small group of Imperial Cultists began to practice self-mummification, believing that their bodies could show Zamzara how faith sustains the body and the soul, even beyond death.
Legend said their bodies were incorruptible and their corpses still lay in silence, meditating even now. Pravin knew in every fiber of his body that nothing physical was incorruptible. Especially not man.
Geography
Mummy's Isle is a medium-sized continental island located in Namaku Samudra, and is closest to The Curious Savannah, which is to the south, and Green Gullet to the west. Approaching the island can be treacherous due to the incredible tidal variance of its surrounding sea - the difference between high and low tides can grow as great as 50 meters during Spring and Autumn! Because of these forces, the island's coast is steep and jagged. Its interior is little better as the island is dotted with hills, bluffs, and craters, with cave systems hidden everywhere in the grasslands. Oddly, almost no flowers grow here, and the grass is patchy and yellow year-round. In the center of the island lies The Idol Waters, a salty lake named after the intricate temple complex that waits in its depths - all that is visible are the statues of various Risha who were exalted for their enlightenment.
Fauna & Flora
Mummy's Isle derives its name from an obvious source: The incredible number of graves and tombs scattered across the island, nestled in foothills and gullies, each containing the undecomposed remains of Imperial Cultists who sought perfection through starving their physical forms. They chose the island to practice their crafts due to its closeness to the Astral Realm - for whatever reason, it is much easier to glean and connect with the Astral here. As a side effect, many restless spirits are able to take form here, some of which are clearly the spiritual remnants of the monks who zealously died to meet The Transcendent Emperor. These creatures most closely resemble the Preta, but retain some shred of intellect... or madness. The wayward spirits and lingering emotions of these wretched souls attract Ghost Monsters like no other place in southern Zamzara.
Natural Resources
Most of Mummy's Isle consists of open plains and hills, but there are a few species of trees that survive far away from the salty coastline, mostly yew. These trees pulsate with Prana, allegedly because of their close proximity to the Astral Realm, and are famous for their potent magical properties. They make implements that excel in various fields: They make excellent magical weapons and can be turned into paper that creates the most powerful magical wards in Zamzara. Apricorns also grow among the hills, sometimes intertwined with tombs or trees nearby. The island also serves as a good hiding spot - partially because of the terrain, partly because people call it cursed.
The Sublime Order
In the decades after The Kalyugi, humanity's faith in the divine was tested, and found wanting. Many groups splintered off from the Cult of the Emperor, the most infamous of which is known as The Sublime Order. Faith and zealotry were indistinguishable in their eyes, and they pursued Moksha more fervently than any others before them, many killing themselves in the process. Unlike other sects, they did not die in obscurity, doomed to be forgotten to the annals of history. Instead, they were reborn as the Enlightened. They discovered that through a grueling spiritual regimen combined with the cessation of food and drink, their minds became closer to the Astral than ever before.
The monks had no need to spread word of their discoveries - they were now immortal and could relay their teachings and epiphanies to all humanity, with centuries to meditate and ponder the meaning of existence and rebirth. Their acts were seen as heresy, while others flocked to the island in the hopes of living forever. This did not matter, as only the truly dedicated and faithful were believed to be capable of transcending. The sadhus of the Sublime Order had learned the secrets of immortality and were closer to the Astral than any others had ever been, but the powers that so many envied were merely distractions - obstacles on the Road to Moksha.
The Order is not particularly organized, as they are united by their beliefs... which dictate years of seclusion and meditation. Any individual sadhu is allowed to wander the island and apprentice themselves to one of the Enlightened, if they can find them. Many Enlightened spend most of their new lives in their tombs, where the seclusion allows them to gather the Prana they need to sustain their bodies. Those who are unable to do so turn to sucking the energy out of the life around them, eventually losing their minds and becoming no more than superpowered Preta. It is difficult to encounter large groups of Enlightened, most especially because they have no need to physically meet. They speak to one another through the Astral... even those who have gone insane still babble in ways undiscernable to most mortal men.
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