The Tarabethian Islands are a chain to the South of The Womb.
They are lush and tropical, with sandy beaches, palm trees, jungles and volcanic mountains. Many small animals populate
these islands. The biggest are the small, black wild cats.
The people of these Islands are a muscular people, with smooth rounded
muscles and dark skin. They have curly black hair and dark eyes. Traditionally most have worn little more than
skirts made of grass. The men and the women both wear them. This has changed as foreigners have moved in.
Other types of clothing are more common now. Thick, black tattoo are common among these people.
The Tarabethian Islanders are a generally peaceful folk. They
live simple lives fishing in their double canoes, hunting in the jungles and doing simple agriculture. The men have
traditionally fished and hunted and the women have taken care of the children, grown gardens and prepared food. It is
not uncommon, or forbidden for a man to take on a womans role, or the reverse for women. Some men choose to help with
the children and the food preparation and some women choose to go with the hunters and fishermen.
The Islanders have little concept of wealth or of saving for the future.
Their gardens give crops for most of the year, the trees are always full of tropical fruits and the hunting and fishing is
always good. Still, in the areas that Get has moved in a taken over, the resources are stretched to feed everyone.
The Empire of Get has generally abused the local environment. Some species are all but extinct on some of the islands
due to over hunting.
They live in huts made from bamboo with roofs covered broad jungle leaves.
They weather is usually sunny and hot, so not much more is needed.
The Islanders have had metal tools for a few generations. They
have their own metal workers now. They use steel headed spears for fishing and have other metal implements. Arrows
are still made in the traditional way. They are sharpened sticks dipped in a minor poison that knocks the animal out,
if the shot does not kill them.
The Empire of Get has built many more substantial houses though, in
the areas where it has taken over. There are two towns that are both outposts of Get. They each have a wood post
walled fort and use the locals for cheap labor.
Odeland, Get and Kethol all send ships to the Islands to trade for,
or just take, spices, tropical fruits and animals, and even precious gems that are found in some of the mountains. Get
uses the method of just taking over and using the locals as slaves, but Odeland and Kethol have done more peaceful trading.
Odeland has been fighting Ethels hold on the area.
The people of get worship the goddess Mala. She is known as a
beautiful, peaceful goddess. Her people have always emulated her. They were never warriors. This has made
them easy targets for the Empire of Get. Recently though, Odeland and Kethol have sent in trainers to secretly train
as many young people as possible. The next generation will not be so peaceful.
Traditionally, each large family group has had a headman and a head
woman. They are voted on by the tribe and sustained by an annual vote. The man oversees male issues and the woman
female issues. They are an actual couple that must be voted on as one. If they are elected, they serve together
and if one is voted out, they both are out. They meet together to discuss joint issues. Foreigners have called
these men and women "kings" and "queens" and their children "princesses" and "princes", but in reality they are not.
The misperception may be due to the fact that a couple is only rarely voted out once they start serving and that it is common
for their son or daughter to take their place when they die.
There is little formal religion. The women and men each have their
own rituals that are used through the day as a part of normal work. There are joint dances done to drum beats on sacred
days through out the year. There is not really any formal shaman, but the headmen and head women do preside at these
dances. Each man or woman is responsible to teach their religion to their children and their sibling's children.
Children are held in common through the whole of an extended family.
The children are aware who their parents are, but any adult commands their respect and they may sleep in the hut of any adult
who they wish to. Uncles and aunts have as big a role in a childs life as her actual parents.
