The Archepelago of Winds

        This scattering of tiny tropical islands rests on the edge of the sand shelf and the border of The Deep. There are nearly thirty of such islands, most little more than beaches, stands of palm trees, lagoons, and mangrove. Most are largely unexplored by the native lutrai, who will often use them for games or celebrations, or simply retreats of relaxing solitude. Often, elders and shamans will retreat to these islands as they grow old, retiring to a life of peace and quiet. These islands form an effective wave-break, along with the sand shelf, reducing the impact of hurricane and tsunami alike. Aside from the small palm islands, the archipelago also contains hundreds of limestone stacks; islands in their last stage of errosion, now little more than green columns rising from the sea. Many sea birds nest here.

        Most of the small islands have their own unique ecosystems, specific evolution for specific environments. A near-endless variety of colorful flora and fauna can be found here, some dangerous, some benign. Most lutrai are content to leave these islands to their native inhabitants, or to use the beaches for more private celebrations. During the day, the triangular sails of their reefskimmers and outriggers can be seen darting in and out of the tiny atols, some trolling for fish, others racing, and still others merely out to enjoy the warm winds and beautiful scenery.

The Tradewind Race

        Every year, hundreds of lutrai gather on the beaches of the archipelago to witness the Tradewind Race. Each tribe selects its three finest reefskimmers, fifteen in all, for a double-circuit of the islands combined with a scavenger hunt. This race often takes days, challenging both the boats and the crews who built them, and ending with the first three to cross the finishing marker with a complete set of items. These items are generally rather obvious and flashy, leaving most of the focus on the race itself. Moving from one island waypoint to the next, the competitors must also find food, shelter, and materials for repairs; aside from their crews of three, absolutely nothing may be brought aboard the boats prior to the start of the race.

        What keeps the game honest is that nobody knows what the prize at the end will be. Determined by the spin of a colored top, the reward for the victors may range from a feast in their honor, to a gift from each of the other competitors, to an even less tangible prize, like an honorary title. In fact, some of the results may even compell the victors to do some service for those they bested, such as helping to repair their boats. As with many of their games, victory is only a small part of the fun; if anything, it brings an end to their play. While competition is intense, it is also in good spirit; lutrai are surprisingly mature in this regard, being the communal and sociable creatures that they are. More than anything else, the Tradewind Race is another opportunity to have fun, celebrate, and otherwise enjoy life.

        "My boat!"

        Flight looked up from where he was sitting, holding the end of a rope in his mouth and a wooden mallet in both paws. He had been hoping Tambri wouldn't have sounded so horrified.

        "What are you doing to my boat?" the youth cried, jaw hanging open as he surveyed the bizarre changes that had been made to his beloved reefskimmer.

        Flight set dowm the mallet and spat out the rope, which whizzed back up through a series of ring hooks, "You mean our boat, right?" Behind him, the sail came down with a limp flopping sound. Tambri dropped the satchel he was carrying and raced over to survey the mad alterations with bewildered outrage, "Argh! Look at it! It's got..." He trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the new fin rising off the small quarterdeck of his boat, "What in the world is that? Flight, why didn't you tell me what you were planning?! You said you were going to work on the sail!"

        Flight climbed onto the bamboo scaffold cradling the sleek outrigger and brushed sawdust off his forearms before dropping down to the sand in front of the other youth, "I am working on the sail. The second sail."

        Tambri seemed unconvinced, perhaps, in fact, even more bewildered, "But there's only one wind, featherhead! Why do we need another sail?"

        "It's not just another sail," Flight corrected, holding up one paw. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. No more breaking off the keel for us."

        Tambri slumped against the scafforld, moaning, "Flight, the keel's down here." He paused, his eyes widening, "Augh! What have you done to the keel?!"

        Flight bent over and looked, "Oh, right. I figured the other one would break off pretty soon anyway, so I replaced it with a smaller one. Now it won't break off anymore."

        Tambri gripped his friend's tunic, and pulled him nose-to-nose, growling, "I won't be able to steer anymore."

        "Not the old boring way, that's for sure," Flight beamed. "Look, by the time I'm done explaining this, you will be so happy that you'll scream."

        Very slowly, Tambri released the other lutrai's tunic and folded his arms over his chest. Flight stepped back and smoothed down his clothes, then reached between the scaffolding and wiggled the keel back and forth. Tambri's gaze was drawn upwards by the fact that the strange rear fin moved along with it, obviously joined through the aft somewhere.

        "See that?"

        Tambri nodded, but didn't seem especially mollified. Flight climbed back onto the scaffold and looked over one shoulder, "You have to come up here to see the really clever part."

        With a soft, neutral grunt, Tambri reluctantly followed the other lutrai up onto the deck of the ship and sat on the rail while Flight reached up to grab the rope he'd lost earlier. Fastening it securely, he walked back over to the ship's wheel and yanked off the fallen sail that had been covering it. Tambri's eyes widened slightly, and he got up off the railing to go have a closer look. The old hub was gone, replaced with -

        "Where did you get that?" Tambri whispered, reaching out to touch the sculpture of wood and brass that had replaced his old beachwood wheel.

        "Tamook found it in one of the old wrecks," Flight murmured, glancing around. "She didn't want to wait for it to wash up on shore. Extra good luck, huh?"

        Crouching down, Tambri examined the gleaming plates, "It's that lampmetal...but it's totally clean."

        "She spent a long time fixing it up. I wasn't supposed to show you right away. Try it."

        Tambri looked up again, carefully giving the wheel a turn. It was heavy but perfectly oiled, and he could see how it changed the orientation of the strange fin, "It's a rudder on both ends?"

        "Right. But it's meant to split up the wind a little more, too, so that it gets into the very corners of the sail."

        Tambri gave the wheel another light turn, "It sounds a little crazy to me."

        "Smart crazy," Flight added. "Not dumb crazy. Help me get the sail back up, and let's go take her out over the bay."

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