powerful spirits directly, who in return for offerings grant these individuals access to fearsome divine magic. And then there are those in the world who gain magic through curses and the desecration of spirits, perverting what should be revered for their own selfish purposes. Defying all that is natural, such beings seek only to consume magic, corrupting it into eldritch, ability. Such unnatural magic, like spells that animate the dead or exert one’s will over a sentient creature, is widely viewed across the islands as repugnant and horrifying VoYAciNG Many who live on the islands hold a special connection to their home village, as thei home serves to connect them ro the proud legacy of thelr forefathers. And for many, cis is fulfiling enough. However, there are those who choose to take up the life of voyaging. By following the guidance ofthe stars and the currents, such individuals traverse the world aboard their boats as merchants or adventurers. Common trade routes have been established berween the islands, though there are still many sections of open sea that remain dangerous and unexplored. ‘There are also those who spend their entire lives on the ocean as raiders and nomads for them, voyaging is their way of ifea proud and integra part of thei history. Regardless of where you are in the islands, voyaging is a revered venture. Every voyage begins with a series of rituals, petitioning the spirits of sea and sky for guidance, fir weather, and protection, And when a boa finally reaches its por, is arrivals celebrated with prayers of thanks. Inthe islands, sailing ist a means to dominate or control the ocean, but rather to work alongside its incomparable mi Toois OF WARRIORS monsters and other dangers lurking around the islands, ‘many mortals have trained extensively in the art of combat, becoming skilled fighters and defenders, However, you would be loath to find any longswords or rapiers among their arsenal. Instead, the warriors ofthe islands arm themselves with. ‘weapons like the broad-bladed kampilan, the sharp curved panabas, and the vicious piercing bunang. Though such blades ‘may not look like the armament of traditional fantasy knights, they only differ in visual stylings; in the right hands, these ‘weapons are just as damaging as your average greataxe, Staves, clubs, and spears are also common weapons among, the warriors ofthe islands, For those who prefer ranged combat, darts and slings can be easily obtained, alongside more complex weapons like blowguns and harpoons, There may not he crossbows, but a few did carry heavier munitions like portable cannons called lantakas, Some warriors have been, known to craft whips from stingray tails, which are especially, effective against che foul aswangs that stalk communities. 10 ‘You also won't find many fighters ead in your stereotypical scale mail or plate armor around the islands either. With, how often warriors must contend with both the blazing sun and the mighty sea, wearing any weighty metal-based armor is impractical—and, in the worst scenarios, even deadly. Instead, most armor is fashioned from animal hides, bamboo, or hardwoods, and then reinforced with materials like water buffalo horn or thickly woven cord. Similarly, metal shields are highly uncommon, with many preferring instead to carry durable wooden shields at their sides, MoRTALS OF THE ISLANDS “The people ofthe islands areas varied as the waves, Their telationships and communities their triumphs and failures, their histories and culture-each one diferent and yet jus as tzealy important to the heartbeat of the island as any other, CULTURE ‘While individual traditions and customs may vary across the islands daily life asa whole is informed by individuals relationships, both with each other and with the land surrounding them. Friendly shouts of choy!" greet individuals whilst about daily business, though such a ello would not be deemed appropriate for those of higher status. When greeting, community leaders, individuals instead square their body fully towards them and bow deeply atthe waist. Similarly, more respectful greetings are given to the land when entering an area inhabited by spirits or another congregation of supernatural creatures. For example, when one walks past the grove of a balete tree, you may politely ask the sprit ofthe tree to pardon your steps as you move through, and entering the crevasses of ‘mountain range may be preceded with a request for permission from the teeming spirits of the surrounding earth. Because of this cultural emphasis on respect, insults and other acts of irreverence are considered heinous, ina trial by law. ‘Another key part of social custom is betel nt. To prepare this, the small fruits of the areca palm are sliced into segments, ‘wrapped in a lea from the betel piper vine, and then chewed; ‘most individuals carry the necessary tools to prepare betel nut on their person at all times, Segments from the same nut are readied and shared atthe start of any serious discussion to solidify the bond between the participants, and when inviting others into your house, itis considered a great dishonor if you do not offer your guests betel nut. In regards to language, Common is spoken in most every settlement, People across the islands have also developed a system of hand signs tallow for nonverbal communication. ‘Though the hand signs eannot yet convey ideas more complex than small tlk, military ordets, and base information about sometimes even resultingaya the surrounding environment (such as how many of a creature are present in an area), the system of signs has been used frequently enough to be standardized and integrated into the ‘Common lexicon. COMMERCE Tade is an integral part of daily fe. Every setlement has different resources; ome have access to richer fields for farming, while others are closer to iron deposits or bodies ‘of water for fishing, Thus, communities rely on traders and merchants to obtain goods that would atherwise be unavailable to them. Some merchants only travel within the boundaries of a single island, following the rivers and trodden paths, Others prefer to command large outrigger boats, laden with cargo, and sal across the vast oceans to sell their wares. Though none of the trade routes across the islands have been extensively _mapped, enough individuals have traversed them over the years to demarcate them wel Most markets do accept the common coins made of copper, silver, and the like, but many will also often directly barter in ‘goods and services. For example, some merchants may trade a chunk of valuable iron ore for a week's worth of food, and. helping a village deal with a hungering aswang may be repaid ‘with offers of boat repair instead of coin. There is also a system of credit and debt in the islands. fan individual cannot afford 10 pay the full price for something, most merchants are happy to arrange a deal for future payment. And for those who find, themselves unable to monetarily repay a debt in time, many offer the option to clear these dues through acts of service, GOVERNMENT AND LAW Setelements are often headed by an individual known as @ atu. To bea datu is first and foremost to be a charismatic leader; datus are given the power to establish rules and lead communities in exchange for providing the necessary protection and resources to survive. A datu, in this way, is akin to nobility inthe islands. Many daeus also have vassals knownas timawa, warriors who loyally defend a datu and enforce their rules in exchange for a share ofthe datus patronage and social status, The datu of a village can usually be identified by their house, a large hut called a torogan that stands elevated above the ground by massive pillars of wood, In larger settlements composed of multiple communities, there sometimes exists a higher leader known as arajah. The communities individual datus each pay tribute to the raja, who in return provides the datus the space and resources for their communities to thrive. Common folk rarely interact ‘with a rajah, instead maintaining loyalty solely to the datu they follow. In most cases, leadership is passed down hereditarily; though sometimes, a datu themselves will choose their successor regardless of blood relation. Datus often do not rule for the entirety oftheir lives. I's common fora datu’ children, ‘upon coming of age, to take up the mantle of leadership and relegate their predecessor to an advisory role. Former datus usually become part of an elder council, which serves to advise the current datu about laws and other political matters, Because of this, aws in communities primarily develop from the traditions handed down between generations, Written legislation is rare, as most laws are seen as an extension of the natural relationships that permeate society, Recognized crimes in the islands include theft of valuables, murder, poisoning livestock or crops, and using unnatural or eldritch magic against a fellow indivicial. When a crime occurs in a community, the datu acts as a judge, listening to witnesses to produce a verdict. An individual proclaimed guilty is penalized by a hefty fine et in accordance ‘with the grievousness oftheir crime; such fines are too large to be paid by the usual means of coin or trade. Should killings be involved, compensation is expected in the form of blood prices placed upon the offending individuals’ heads, Foop Rich with colorful produce and spices, meals are an integral part of everyday life on the islands, Although there are standard dishes, recipes vary depending on the availability of ingredients in the region; a dish made on the shores of Kandaya ‘would be made differently than in the depths of Puthawanan’s, ‘mountains. On the islands, prepating food i ll about being resourceful: doing what you can with what the land and spirits provide, ‘Though some foods are eaten raw, most are cooked in, 1 bucket shaped clay stove or an open hearth. Staple foods like rice and starchy tubers are typically boiled, while meats are barbecued, sun-dried, or smoked. Seafoods, like Fish, are treated similarly; one delicacy named “tinapa’ cals for cleaned and blanched fish to be smoked over leftover wood shavings. Steaming is adlso a common cooking method, with mixtures of flour and other ingredients being steamed in 12 sections of bamboo to give the resulting dish a distinctive cylindrical shape. [Eating is an extremely important social occasion among families friends, and communities. Meals are a way of ‘welcoming newcomers and celebrating achievements. The following are alist of common ingredients and dishes that can be found across all the islands. INGREDIENTS ‘Anahaw. While anahaw leaves are sometimes used for thatching, they are also used for wrapping, food. Batuan. Batuan is hard, green fruit used as souring agent. Honey. Honey is harvested from wild forest bees, hunted similar to game, and boiled to prevent souring. The resuling ingredient is often brewed into aleohol, used for curing meat, or added to sweeten dishes. Kalamansi. Kalamansi isa small, round citrus fruit, usually picked for cooking while stil green. Kangkong. Grown directly in water orin very moist soil, kangkong, or water spinach, isa light leafy green with hollow stems. Laya, Luya isa fragrant spice made from the roots ofthe ginger plant. It is used to flavor dishes and make tea. ‘Malunggay. Also know as moringa, eaves of malunggey are often used both in soups and medicinal recipes. Rice. Served alongside main meals, used as an ingredient in sweets, and even made into flour, rice is one of the staple foods ofthe islands, Due tothe environmental requirements needed to produce large quantities ofthe crop, rice can be bountiful in some places and a rare delicacy in others. Sago. A variety of palms are harvested for their trunk’s center to make flour called sago, which is used most notably in dishes that soften in boiling water Siling Labuyo. Sling abuyo is a chili pepper whose small, Uwiangular fruits grow pointing upwards. Both the fruits and leaves are used in cooking ‘Tamilok. The tamilok is long, slender marine clam that bores into submerged wood Taro. Taro isa root vegetable with a rough brown exterior and smooth white and purple interior. tis often used to thicken stews frit starch, ‘Tibig. Tibig is a species of Fig tree found near water. It produces clusters of green, bland fruit, and its sap ean be used as an alternative source of drinkable water Disses Biko, Biko isa classic dessert or afternoon snack. Made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar, the resulting treat is served in an oiled banana leaf Ginataang Bilo Bilo, Coconut milk is the main ingredient in this hot, soup-like dessert. Sticky rice balls swim in the