Mpaikewuu’akehau’a

Mpaikewuu’akehau’a /ᵐpai̯.cə.xʷuː.ʔa.cə.hau̯.ʔa/ 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.

Population

A small native population of around 400 people live on the island. They are usually short, and have brown skin and brown or black hair. They are hunter gatherers, living in small communities, but are not usually hostile to each other. They use 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. The communities are matriarchal, with a group of old women being tasked with making decisions, and both sexes participating in hunting and fishing.