Near Rym's equator, off the southern coast of Haun, a small tropical island chain rises from ocean shallows the color of burning aquamarine. There are a total of thirty seven islands, ranging from tiny palmstands to the great twin isles of Lumin and Solair, which form roughly three quarters of the land mass. This is the archipelago of Cekus, ancestral home of the lutrai. One of the last sanctuaries of life untouched by the Spiral's taint, the island chain is protected by a natural maze of coral reefs, and a host of mythical beasts that once served the gods. Most of the islands are covered in dense rainforest and mangrove, with a scattering of low green mountains and open, rolling hills. Vast white beaches offset verdant jungle, bordered by swaying palm trees and the occasional lutrai village. The otter folk have lived here sinse the fall of Creator Empire, and endured the centuries of winter darkness that followed by sheltering in the deep limestone caverns found throughout the island chain.

        When the dust belts settled and the sun returned, the lutrai helped the nature spirits restore life to the island chain. In doing so, they were taught the ways of elemental magic by the ageless spirits, and adopted them as the totemic cornerstones of their culture. In truth, these wonderous creatures are the defeated remnants of deistic armies, hiding here from the ever-watchful Nigh. The lutrai refer to them collectively as the Shining Beasts. The islands would have been plundered long ago by the Tamaran Empire, or even the Spiral, were it not for the protection of these beings. Reluctant to show themselves for fear of the Godslayer, they rarely take an active role in this respect, prefering to strike in the form of seemingly-natural phenomena such as hurricanes and lightning bolts.

        In recent years, many Tamaran ships have attempted to reach Cekus, following rumors of rich emerald deposits, exotic arena beasts, and even ancient artifacts. Most end up impaled on the reefs, and many adventurous lutrai have taken to wreck-diving in search of curiousities. Even those that reach the islands find a near-alien landscape of hidden dangers - carnivorous plants, poisonous insects, and untamed elementals just to name a few. The primordial wilderness is largely unexplored, even by the native inhabitants, and in some places the rainforest itself seems to have a life all its own. Travelers may experience strange occurances here...ghostly green lights are most common, followed by half-heard sounds such as childish laughter and tribal chanting. The lutrai call these 'spirit echoes'.

PRIMORDIAL FOREST
Cekus is home to some of the most lush and verdant rainforests on Rym, environments where the energies of ancient magic are most powerful. These misty woodlands have a life all their own, and are home to the ageless animal spirits that once served the gods. Strange phenomenon have been known to occur in and around these ancient forests, and many believe them to be haunted.

STACKS
Stacks are tiny limestone islands that are distinguished by their tall, monolithic appearance. These islands are in the last stages of errosion, with steep cliffs and small, hidden beaches. Most are home to great flocks of sea birds or hardy strains of palm and bamboo. There are litereally hundreds of stacks throughout the island chain.

CORAL REEFS
Reefs are very common throughout the shallows. The lutrai use their magic to encourage this coral to grow, which long ago put an end to Tamaran incursions. This coral is a defense that few ship captains will ever dare to challenge, also due in part to the heavily shark-infested waters that surround it.

REGIONAL ARCHITECTURE

        The island nation's inhabitants use a great deal of the natural terrain in their construction, as opposed to clearing out wide regions for the purpose of settling. Both the lutrai and the koba have adpoted cavern systems as dwellings and shelter from the island chain's frequent hurricanes, which would easily destroy light structures. Sandstone and limestone caverns are quite common throughout Cekus, and many rich emerald deposits can be found imbedded in the pale stone of the rainforest basins. The lutrai also make use of various natural phenomena, such as waterfalls, in the construction of their villages.

        Lutrai tend to build their villages in two styles. When caves are available, the majority of the community is hidden, though bright painted designs around these so-called 'holts' are a clear enough indicator of inhabitation. The lutrai will often choose caverns that are half-submerged, allowing them quick access to their natural element. While limited in their means, the otter-folk are astonishingly creative with the salvage and flotsam that washes up on their shores, while at the same time managing to completely mis-apply it.

        The koba tend to be more mobile than the lutrai, and rarely require any form of structure at all. Instead, they tend to wander the swamp ruins found throughout the southern reaches of the island chain, or roam the vast grasslands in an almost herd-like fashion. As they can eat just about anything, the reptillians have no need for agriculture or even the most basic designs of civilization. Far from savage, however, they have developed a zen-like calm that supercedes any need for matieral things, and thus they have little physical infrastructure at all. The only physical signs of their culture are the many trails they create, seemingly at random, and the great stone circles they errect at major junction points.