Isle of the Seven Apes

On Monkes and Apes Monkes and Apes is a term used to broadly describe the inhabitants of the Isles. The term encompasses all intelligent primates (Such as Monkeys, Apes, and Lemurs). There is an actual distinction between Monkes and Apes: Monkes tend to be smaller and have tails, while apes tend to be larger and tailless, even with the distinction the broad term is used to describe both groups. All species of the isles (Besides that of lemurs which are supposed to have come from an odd place beyond the known isles.) are believed to have come from one single progenitor species thousands of years ago during an age now known as the ‘Monkegean Era’. This single species is commonly referred to as the ‘Ancient Monke’ of which there are none alive now. This common ancestor evolved into seven distinct species (Thus the now archaic name of ‘Isle of the Seven Apes’.) from them came the modern species which span across the entirety of the isles. Monkeys tend to respect experience and elders above all else. Elders are respected in all cultures and are given special privileges in society. The Isles as a whole is governed by an Elder Council made up of representatives from the various tribes around the Isles. The Elder Council is watched over by a ‘Head Elder’ typically the oldest or wisest of all the monkes on the council. This Elder organizes the meetings and proposes votes and topics to the wider council to deliberate on. Historically the Head Elder tends to be an Orangutan, since out of all the species they are chosen to be the most wise out of all of them, but this is very far from concrete as several other species have served as Head Elder. Many of the tribes of the Isles do not use a surname. Most monkes are known by their forename and title, eponym (Typically given once they reach early adulthood.), or where they are known to hail from. Hence names such as Lamont the Wise, President Johnson, Luther of the Garden, Orunga the Obese, and a myriad of other titles and names were given to apes. These titles are not always out of respect or reverence as most of them are. Some monkes are given out of respite or hate for the actions that they had committed. Monkes known by surnames are not wholly uncommon though, apes like John Clark, and Topa and Willow Morningstar respectively are known historically by their last names. Something unusual is that aging does not affect a monke. Species tend to grow gray fur all around their bodies, as is typical but seldom are affected by the adverse effects of age. Though they do not grow more youthful, they still act as one would if they were in the early to middle parts of their adulthood throughout their lives. Though this age draws many of them towards less physical and more thoughtful things such as philosophy. Religion is a common belief held among all monkes. It is practically unheard of for a monke to not practice a religion. Chief among all these religions is Safashuism, which was spread through the majority of the central isles through the efforts of the Light Ape Empire. Safashuism holds a pantheon of God’s that all yield below their greatest deity, Safashu the God of light. Each of the other seven Gods has a patronage and are deified but not to a lesser extent than to Safashu. Creedism is the anti to Safashuism, a belief in the God of the Dark, Creed who is recognized as the ultimate evil to Safashuists. There are other religions which are rather widespread such as Bonkism which holds a large pantheon of God’s and its own religious customs. Beyond these three large religions, the rest of the isles practices more folk like religions depending on the endemic region of a monke. On The Isles The Isle of the Seven Apes (More simply the Monke isles or the Isles) is the archaic name given to the lands that monkes inhabit. Across each of these isles, different species come from them. Places such as the Molnkans are hosts to many different species such as the Chimpanzee, Macaque, Simakobu, Gibbon, and Capuchin creating a small yet rather diverse region of the isles. Many of the islands are only home to one species though, isles such as Atelidae, Cordoba, and the Iron Mountains. Most isles tend to be diverse ecosystems, consisting of many different biomes within themselves. These biomes have particularly led to the adaptations and creation of the species that inhabit them. The Isles are also split by various oceans. These being, the Glacial, the Frozen Tides, the Lonely Sea, the Red Sea, the Treachor Sea, the Sunny Tides, the Sea of Sokus, the Sea of Time, the Forlorn Ocean, the Uran Ocean, and the Sea of Time. All of them being broad terms to describe the bodies of water separating the isles. Many of the isles have more local names for things like bays and seas for the bodies of water closer to their respective regions but the terms previously mentioned tend to be the broad terms for the waters. The Northern Isles comprises five different distinct regions: The Iron Mountains, The Farlands, the North Pole, Frostgrave, and the Great Glaciers. Each of these are categorized by their cold average temperatures and permafrost typically present on the landmasses. The oceans between these isles are also known to have frequent icebergs, frozen coasts and sometimes freezing waters (Particularly in the Glacial which encompasses the western Farlands and Iron Mountains.). Another common name for this region is the ‘Arctic’ which is the forename given to the species originating from the cold regions (Besides that of Yeti’s). The regions are dotted with towering mountains, vast glaciers, Frozen lakes and rivers, lonely villages, and long since forgotten ruins. Across the expanse of tundras, there are many isolated tribes of apes living their lives. The most dominant species in all of these isles are the Yeti’s, living across the Farlands and Frostgrave. Other species like the Arctic Chimps, Arctic Proboscis, Uakaris, Arctic Gorilla’s , and Arctic Orangutans make these regions their home. The Arctic Chimps, lying in the Iron mountains, the Arctic Proboscis spanning the Northwestern Farlands, The Uakaris inhabiting a small series of islands to the northwest of Frostgrave, Arctic Gorilla’s wandering through the Great Glaciers and the Arctic Orangutans living in the central Farlands. The cultures of all these species developed similar to one another, the smaller of such species being typically nomadic across the tundras, settling in spots where there are ample seals, elk, or moose to live on through the harsher months. Though the Yeti’s and Arctic Chimps chose the path of creating permanent settlements, building large cities in the southern Farlands and Frostgrave and in the case of the Arctic Chimps, giant gothic stone cities built into their mountains. The Northern Isles tend to span the entire expanse of the North, while many of these other regions are smaller and much more geographically diverse. The next region being known as the far west, containing The Chaos lands, Wyveria, the Great Meadows, and Atelidae. These isles span the Western reaches along the Trechor and Red Sea’s respectively. Each of these having their own endemic species. The Chaos Lands is one of two major sized isles that have a native population of Baboon’s, the other being the main Baboon Isle. There were believed to be no original native species here until an ancient Baboon empire colonized the isle and eventually evolved to be different from other Baboons. The Baboons here are known as the Kreyt Baboons, known for the ancient ruler's name. They are larger and have thinner coats compared to normal Tetra Baboons. The Chaos Lands is composed of a large red sand desert, spanning across most of the lands. There are very few native species of plant but the ones that are native are extremely tough and can brave the harsh environments. Further inland, there are volcanoes dotting the horizons constantly bubbling and erupting on its own massive calderas. The Great Meadows, also commonly known as the Snub Meadows are a series of islands located to the south of Wyveria and the Chaos Lands. The islands are home to the Snub-Nosed monkey and many other subspecies. Snub Nosed monkeys are believed to be natural rivals of the Proboscis monkeys who live in an isle rather far off than their own, this lead to a series of ancient wars known as the ‘Great Nose Wars’ where the two species fought one another over a passing comment from a Proboscis in a bar. The meadows have very sparse forest cover, being mainly fields of flowers and various types of diverse fauna. The lack of trees lead to most of the population of the meadows making smaller above ground homes or making small homes embedded into the mountains and hills. Lastly, there is Atelidae. Atelidae is a medium-sized island, located a few hundred kilometers south of the Snub Meadows and home of the wooly monkeys.. Atelidae is known for being impoverished compared to the rest of the isles, though monetarily impoverished the island is rich in its piety, being one of the largest Bonkist nations in the entire isles. There is said to be a surplus of natural resources in the isles (Though the residents know hardly how to extract them), with mountains and large deciduous trees dotting the landscapes. With the impoverished population, a common phrase describing Atelidae is “Those monkes have hardly discovered water yet!”. The southern isles, known as the ‘Suteran’ region (Called this for the language family that steams from here) encompasses arguably the most islands out of any of the regions in the isles. It contains Cordoba with its surrounding islands, Thaw, Tofrochi, Baelora Toenge, Isla Patora, Exile, and the Bonobo Savannahs. Each of these isles being demographically and geographically diverse despite being all in such a close proximity to one another. Cordoba is a large series of peaking valleys and cliffs in the southwestern isles. It is known for its staggering coast side cliffs and shallow waters with rocks pointing out of the water all throughout the Corian Gulf and exterior of the main island. These isles are home to the Saki monkeys and their subspecies. Sakis have always been a secretive folk, keeping to themselves and seldom journeying beyond their cliffs. Most Saki’s also tend to be very prideful and boastful, as they have a deep love for their nation and the ones that rule over it. Their culture is a product of the lands they live in, being very inventful and creating large structures from the meager amount of materials they have. They are dependent on the farms in the main central peninsula of the large island along with the surrounding smaller islands which also have farms. Saki’s also take great sport in sailing, they are known to be well seasoned sailors because of the rocky coasts. To the east of Cordoba, lies Thaw. Thaw is a long island with large mountains and plains spanning the entire island. It is commonly called the ‘Home of many’ as there are multiple species that are native to the region, most predominantly the Spider Monkeys who are ruled over by High King Crotac who united the entire island to be under one crown. The far west of the island is filled with dense temperate forests that are inhabited by Samurai warriors, while the east is much more civilized and involved in trade with the other nations of the isles, with popular beaches located along the sunny tides. Another large island to the south of Thaw is Tofrochi. Tofrochi is a land of shallow marshes and swamps, with many diverse cultures and life. It is most known as the home of the swamp monkeys, living throughout the swamps on stilt huts and a strong connection to water magic so they can manipulate the lands they live on. Further inland, in overgrown and old temples live a subspecies of reptilian proboscis who are the dedicated protectors of the inland. The swamps are home to very dangerous wildlife, which make life there hard. Large alligators and crocodiles make swift work of unprepared settlers alongside the lesser forms of wildlife. The land tends to be below the sea level of the surrounding isles, with the coasts being made of mangroves which protect the actual land. On the edges of the southern magical barrier is Baelora Toenge. Often called ‘The tongue’, it is a place with large hot deserts spanning from coast to coast along the island. It is known to have very primitive inhabitants, much less than even the more isolated tribes of the inhabited isles. These tribes speak a common language with very distinct dialects that depend on what tribe they are originally from, this makes it hard for the Yeti Cartographers to communicate with them and travel through their lands. These natives are also known to be very hostile towards outsiders, many tribes capturing and in some cases killing the explorers who tend to venture upon their lands by throwing them from the high inland peaks to the land below. Isla Patora is a small island located in the oceans to the east of Baelora Toenge. The islands are small but home to a distinct culture of monkes. A melting pot from all around the isles, it was one of the first democracies in the entire isles, where there are elections every five years. Patora is known to be a trading nation, making large sums of money from both trading and using their island as a trading point. The island has a dense jungle in the north, along with cities scattered across the twisting river that cuts the island into almost two. To the south, there is a large open savanna, with much less of the population present in it. The Exile Isle (Frequently referred to as just ‘Exile’) is a large island to the south of the gorilla lands. There are no cities in the Exile. The Exile is very inhospitable and where the most dangerous monkes from around the entire isles are sent upon being deemed too dangerous to stay among the rest of the isles. The Island is covered in jungles and swamps, both having large monke eating species respective to them. In the swamps, there are giant alligators with a particular taste for monke flesh. While in the jungle, giant centipedes and predatory cats are known to kill those without the instincts required to survive the floors of the dangerous region. Lastly in the southern region, is the Bonobo Savanna’s. This series of islands varies in size and are covered in rolling hills and plains. Tree cover is rather sparse, as is similar to most of the islands spanning this southern region. On the islands, live the Bonobo species. Bonobos are very similar to chimps only differing in their body structures. While, culturally they are very different from the generic Chimpanzee as the Bonobo tribes tend to be much more peaceful and practice different customs pertaining to the livelihood of the tribe members. Just above the southern region there lies the Gorilla and Orangutan lands. A vast isle, spanning thousands of kilometers from end to end. Home of the large tribes of Gorillas and Orangutans. Both species have tribes of various ethno religious groups and varying cultures between them. The lands themselves vary very much so depending on where one may find themselves. Now The Gorilla isles span from sandy coast to sandy coast. With the exception of the Green Coast which is a swampy lowland providing for vast swathes of land to be covered in rice patches providing ample food for the region. The south of the Gorilla isles though aside from this smaller region, remain meadowy if not perturbed by the mountain ranges which make themselves a constant in the Gorilla Isles. Something rather rare for the isles makes itself apparent here though, a naturally blooming cherry blossom region (These are also only seen on Cape Capuchin.) This part is known as the Everbloom Valley and is rumored to be the birthplace of Earl. The further north one would find themselves in the Gorilla isles, they would find mostly deep and towering mountains covered in a thicket of jungle. Within these mountains, there are various smaller tribes and monasteries. The deep jungles have been seen as spiritual since as far as historical records of the isles go. A majority of the tribes move outward towards the coast to put more of an emphasis on tilling the lands and trade with other parts of the world. But the ones that stayed remained very traditional, practicing various aspects of the Gorilla culture, some not even becoming encultured into Safashuism, practicing the non-theistic religion that many different Gorillas practice. The Gorilla Lands have a range of Volcanos that separates them from the isthmus connecting both Gorilla and Orangutan isles. The region is known as the black coast and famously inhospitable, only being traversed when absolutely necessary as most travel through the isthmus is done after taking a boat across the Black Coast. The Orangutan isles are located to the east, across a long and narrow isthmus. This region is commonly known as the ‘Marshes’ or ‘Lowlands’ due to its naturally low altitude compared to the isles and sea that surrounds it. The marshes span hundreds of kilometers across, the land is mostly covered in shrubbery or shallow water which are host to hundreds of native and unique species of wildlife. Most of the land's cities are situated on the coasts as further inland. Where the marshes grow to their greatest extent is known to be inhospitable to life. This region does have much more than just marshes. Despite its namesake, it has planes to the north more reminiscent of the Banana Forest as it has sparse plains. Whilst to the south, there are towering coastal cliffs and mountains tearing into the sky. The south is also a very popular shipping destination as there is frequent access to both the Uran and Forlorn ocean’s as well as the sea of time. The Natives of the Orangutan lands tend to be Safashuist, having been converted in a similar manner to that of the Gorilla’s. Most Orangutans that live outside of the cities live in tribes that seldom interact with one another. Even with the isolation though, they tend to stay up to date with the modern times of the isles opting for more technologically advanced methods of doing things. In the far southeastern reaches of the isles is the Forlorn Ocean. It is known to have three major isles (With many more outlying and smaller isles such as the Bababa which shall not be covered) Wabirdia, The Starlands, and the Brood Lands. While on maps, it seems that these isles are all relatively close to one another, yet in reality when the Yeti Cartographers built these maps they had to put them closer together to make the map an even shape. The region is known for its very rough seas and colder than average temperature. The region is host to bizarre wildlife and cultures as the majority of the apes inhabiting these lands have had very little interaction with the wider isles outside of marchans reaching their lands or the odd interactions that happened in early history. Wabirdia is an isle split in two through the middle, on either side towering mountains and river valleys flow through creating a beautiful balance in the land. Most of the folk living in Wabirdia are smaller nomadic tribes who migrate throughout the mountains. The native species here are the Lesulas, Marmosets, Grivets, and Mangabeys. All four of these species are rarely seen outside of the two islands. Most of these mountains are known to be very wet, receiving ample amounts of precipitation even during the dry season of Wabirdia. This is believed to happen because of the stream of weather moving southward from the polar regions. The Starlands are composed of one major island with many smaller islands surrounding it. It isa large and barren cold desert, known for being incredibly inhospitable only falling short to the Brood Lands in its danger compared to other isles. These isles are home to both Marmoset and Sasquatch who are known for their resilience. The Starlands are also famously known for an odd property or rather compound present within the sand that has oddly addictive and hallucinogenic properties to it. Throughout history, the rulers of this vast isle have often neglected these things. North of the Forlorn region lies the region known as the Lonely Sea board, these isles are at the expanses of the ocean and on the reaches of what is considered the true isles and what is not. But that doesn't mean that these isles are not home to some of the most important places in the isles. This region contains Okah and both the native lands of the Dark Apes and Light Apes. Okah is a moderately cold junglee series of islands. This isles is home to both the Langurs and Red Shanked Doucs. Okah is split into three islands, North Island (Home of the doucs), South Island, and East Island (Home of the Langurs.) Okah has mountains though they are relatively small in comparison to the mountains in the rest of the isles. Southward, lies the Light Ape Isles. As insinuated, it is the home of the Light Apes and birthplace of Safashuism. The light ape lands are known for being exceedingly beautiful, receiving ample amounts of sunlight and very little unfair weather despite its location. As the name implies, it is the home of Safashuism and the seat of many great kingdoms and empires of the Light Apes. It's one of the oldest continually inhabited Isles, having records going back to very shortly after the ice age. Across the gray sea is the Dark Ape Isles. In stark contrast to the Light Ape Isles, this is the home of Creedism and the Dark Apes. What sets the region apart the most from the other isles, is that there is a large amount of volcanic activity causing some of the light from the sun to be blocked out. This creates an effect that makes everything appear black and white. The Dark Apes are incredibly secluded from the rest of the isles, not really extending beyond their sphere of influence in the dark ape isles for thousands of years now. The most heavily populated region of the isles is known as the Molnkans (For the purpose of timesake the Scattered Isles and Banana forest are included). This region is inhabited by the Macaques in the great pines, the Gibbons in the deep oaks, the Capuchins on the cape, the Chimps in the jungles, the Lemurs in the scattered isles. For thousands of years, this region has always been at the forefront of conflicts due to the large number of species and rivaling interests of all the species present. Yet even now, trouble is still found here but now it is primarily the Chimps against whatever species it chooses for the time being. Beginning at the top is the Macaque Pines. As the name suggests, it is inhabited by the Macaques and is the seat of the vast Macaque Empire. With how far north the pines are, it practically borders the northern isles leading to there being a prevalent minority of Arctic Macaques within this part of the isles. The pines are cold and mostly covered in taigas, which is where the name of ‘The Pines’ comes from. The pines border is marked by an expanse of mountains separating them from the oaks which extend far south of the pines. The Gibbon Oaks are home to both the Gibbon and Simakobu tribes which live in unison with one another both sharing relatively equal parts of the royal courts and a seat on the throne through a multitude of royal houses. The Oaks borders all the major parts of the Molnkans, often sharing border disputes with at least one of the nations. The Oaks are categorized by the moderate temperature and giant forests of dense oak trees spanning from the isthmus all the way to the northern pass almost touching the Glaciers. The seat of the Gibbon Kingdom lies in Pluton, a city lying on the end of a reservoir of water in the north central region of the Oaks. To the east of the Oaks is Cape Capuchin, home of the Capuchin tribes. Cape Capuchin is very warm for its location, being home to one of the only natural cherry blossom forests in the entire isles. The Cape is known for its mango trade, being the top producer of mangoes in the entire isles. Another unique species to the Cape is the capybara and its subsequent genealogical cousin, the giant capybara which is a large species of rodent that inhabits the region. The capital of the cape is Calou’s rest, home to one of the first democracies in the entire isles. Taking up the southern half of the Molnkans, is the Jungles. The jungles are home to the Chimpanzee, one of if not the most prevalent species in the entire isles. As the name implies, the region is a vast majority of dense jungles. For thousands of years ever since their colonization at the hands of the Light Ape Empire, the Chimps have been built up to pursue greatness in the isles. The Jungles have been home to some of the most powerful nations in the entire isles and offer a rich and robust history in practically every corner of the lands. Lastly, there are the greater Tetralands. These lands encompass a large series of isles which are located in the western central isles. These are: The Baboon Savannahs, The Howler Redwoods, The Proboscis Isles, the Gigantopithecus Isles, and the Elder Isles. The regions here are very diverse both geographically and culturally. The Elder Isles are the home of all the modern civilizations of the isles. This is what is thought to be the progenitor of all nations and all species that originated from them. In the modern day, it is a cultural hub of most of the current isles having no native species but instead a kingdom with inhabitants coming from all reaches of the isles. The Elder Isle is rather cold and mostly made up of planes with mountain cover spanning across the north. But in the south there are vast and ancient forests which hold many mysteries. The Redwoods are a large redwood region, inhabited by the Howler Monke species and known as ‘Pob’ in the ancient tongue. The Howlers are an ancient species that have lived there for thousands of years, creating a vast lineage and culture of kinship. The redwoods have famously cliffy and rocky coasts to the north and more mellow sandy beaches to the south. While in the central parts there are deep and massive redwood forests with large cities within the trees that the Howlers inhabit. The Proboscis caverns, as they are most commonly known as, are quite possibly some of the most magically intune parts of the isles. It is common for those born here to possess innate magical capabilities aside from that typically learned from their species. The caverns are only dubbed such because of the extensively mapped and used underground of the Proboscis Isle. Above the ground, it is relatively mildly mountainous and covered sparsely in trees. Most Proboscis are known to live underground as opposed to the typical arboreal lifestyle of other species. In its proximity to the chaos isles, it gets a fair share of heat moving by the jet streams down towards it. In line with the magical properties of the Proboscis Isles, islands and chunks of land are known to float above the ground on their own accord. Typically these chunks of land never extend more than one hundred meters in size but there are some larger examples. The most well known example of such is known rather uncreatively as ‘The Proboscis Sky Island’. Unlike the other pieces of land around the Proboscis Isles, this island is similar in size to that of Thaw and has some type of control shared by the descendants of the wicked King Anka that inhabit the island. The Gigantopithecus steppe is connected to the most southerly point of the Proboscis caverns by a short and mountainous isthmus. Across the isthmus lie large cliff-like coasts that distend into a large central and jungly steppe. In the center most points of this steppe, mountains jut forth from the earth and are known to be a sacred and holy spot for Gigantopithecus. This region is dotted in small settlements, pilgrimage spots, and temples to honor their Gods. The region is much cooler than that of the Proboscis Isles, and it is not uncommon to have storms of snow even at such a tropical place. There are many smaller isles, such as that of the Bababa or the c******s Isle but they are not of pertinence to these tales. Just know that the largest of isles do not constitute the entirety of the isles. Spread throughout many small islands and land masses are diverse species and cultures of apes.