Mpaikewuu’akehau’a
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Mpaikewuu’akehau’a /ᵐpai̯.cə.xʷuː.ʔa.cə.hau̯.ʔa/ (land of our mothers), also known by it's Akarian rendering - Paikekhu Akehawa is an island located in the Eastern Ocean.
Geography and climate
The island's highest peak, at 192m, is Kuìqa (/cu̯i.kǂa/), dormant volcano, it is located on the island's western peninsula. It's surface is hilly and uneven. The Most of the island's terrain is covered in forest, with some areas being grassy meadows or beaches. The island is approximately 25.5km² in size.
The island has a Tropical monsoon climate.
Flora
Much of the islands surface is covered by groves of taakempai trees, which are the only tree on the island. Other plants are small berry-bearing shrubs, flowers and grass.
Fauna
A population of small, mouselike rodents reside in the undergrowth of the taakempai forests, feeding on the small plants there, alongside a number of insect species. Both the rodents and the insects are prey to the ‘antuaipi - carnivorous birds. The fruits of the taakempai trees, as well as other fruit-bearing plants serve as food for the kaapi, small herbivorous songbirds. pacei, a species of horned ungulates, resembling antelopes and growing to a height of about 70cm, are the largest animal on the island. Despite being quite docile and easy prey, large numbers of them live on the island, due to the natives not being allowed to hunt the animals, unless it is a full moon.
Oral history tells of a larger horned animal, known as the kuìcei. It is described as being twice the size of the pacei, with longer horns and a long tail. It is said to have been hunted into extinction, which is assumed to have caused the restrictions on hunting pacei.
Native population
A small native population of around 400 people live on the island. They are usually short, and have dark teal-green skin and brown or black hair. They are hunter gatherers,using tools made out of stone, animal bone, and wood, as well as pottery made from clay. They do not know writing, as such any native words use an out-of-universe orthography.
Structure
The islanders are divided into three groups, all lead by a wuukeqola'a (mother of the people). The role of the wuuteqola'a is always served by a woman, and she is expected to choose her successor early into her rule, the successor then acting as the wuuteqola'a's aid and trainee. The groups, which are locally referred to as qolakehau'a (our people), are not typically hostile to each other, and have been known to engage in inter-qolakehau'a barter trade.