[Isle] The Isle of Mōlia

[Fax Celestis]

Inhabitants of Mōlia

Civilization
In theory, the four small towns on the island of Mōlia are run by an eight-person council of members, but in fact Konani Mele (see below) runs the show.

The people of Mōlia have access to the wheel and basic farming techniques. Their highest and most recent development of technology is the loom, which is still an expensive and rare piece of equipment to have. Woven clothing is starting to come into vogue, beginning with the priest-caste and some of the more influential hunter-caste. Those who cannot afford such clothing, or those who do not wish to have it, wear simple clothing made of boarskin (for the farmer-caste) or tigerskin (for the hunter- and priest-castes).

The theocratic society set up worships a variety of deities with Kānāwai at their fore. However, unknown to the populace of the island, there are no deities that they worship that are not Kānāwai: he takes the forms of many deities and plays both ends against the middle, all in a gambit to gain power for himself.

Despite being religious, the people of Mōlia are a superstitious lot and place a lot of value on the luckiness of actions, omens, and portents. Hexers and soothsayers are members of the priest-caste and are accorded a modicum of respect for their ability to both predict and modify the future.

Inhabitants of the island fall into three distinct castes: farmers, hunters, and priests. Farmers are the lowliest members of society and are not given a voice in the council--not that the council does any ruling anyway. They are required to provide food and shelter for hunters and priests without question or reservation at any time. They also provide for the majority of the populace themselves and get very little in compensation.

Hunters track the island, hunting game to bring home to feast upon. Primary prey for the hunters are wild boar, though they also hunt waterfowl, fish, and other small game. Their primary weapons for these hunts are shortbows and a variety of claw-class weaponry (see the Treasure section). Hunters are also tasked with protecting their villages from predation, mostly in the way of large jungle tigers. Hunters have two seats on the eight-person council and are required to have their own home. They are also required to provide shelter and food to anyone of the priest caste without question at any time.

Priests maintain the four temples on the island, and all of them report to the High Priestess. Anyone who shows magical talents is brought before Konani Mele and blessed before being brought into the priesthood and formally trained.

Caste is marked by anklets that the people wear. Farmers anklets are brown, hunters wear red, and priests wear blue. Those proud of their caste occasionally adorn their anklet or work their color into their other clothing, but this is not necessary.

Classes in Mōlia
The people of Mōlia make no distinction between arcane and divine magics, instead choosing to see all magic as gifts from the divine. Most spellcasters in their society, then, multiclass between spellcasting classes, the most common of these being cleric and sorceror. The mystic theurge prestige class is also frequently used and represents a mastery over a greater breadth of magic than most; as such, those with levels in it are often ensconced in authoritative or honorific positions.

Hunters most frequently take levels in the Ranger, Monk, or Rogue classes, as heavy armors have not been yet developed by the Mōlians and they prefer to defeat their prey with a single, decisive strike from the shadows.

Those of the farmer-caste are most frequently members of the Expert class, with the more prominent and tactful entering the Exemplar prestige class.

Konani Mele, the High Priestess
LE Human Female Sorceror 8/Cleric 3/Mystic Theurge 8

Konani Mele ("Bright Song") is the High Priestess of Kānāwai, the God of Law and Justice, and as such is the de facto leader of the Isle of Mōlia.

Konani is present at a large number of events, regardless of their frequency or importance. This is partially due to her desire to be faithful to her god, and partially due to her nigh-obsessive desire for law to be strictly followed.

Konani uses her spells in what can be considered a questionably-moral way. Infants are brought to her to be blessed, but her "blessings" are actually masked castings of silver scimitar, set to trigger if the target ever murders anyone. For years this has been going on, and it has become something of a social legend that those who raise their hands against their fellows in anger are inexplicably struck dead or dying after the act. This has noticeably cut down upon murder and violence, but not to the point where it is completely eradicated.

Konani is also wary of any other spellcasters within the populace. Whenever a citizen starts showing magical inclinations, she marks them with a censure spell. She and any other clerics of Kānāwai--which make up 90% of the spellcasting population on the island--are able to see these marks nearly at will. Spellcasters that show further promise--those that meet 5th or 6th level--have a private meeting arranged with Konani where she lavishes them with food, drink, and occasionally vestal virgins before concluding the night with another "blessing"--this one is in fact the block advancement spell, which prevents other spellcasters from nearing her incredible magical powers. Despite knowing about conquer self and even possessing two scrolls of it, Konani does not possess the capability to either cast the spell or the desire to use it.

Konani also punishes severe violations of standing law with judicious applications of stone curse. The resultant statue is broken up and cast into the sea soon after, so that the criminal will be forgotten. Unbeknownst to most of the populace, not all of those stricken this way are criminals: some have merely found out about Konani's questionable tactics for keeping order or have attempted to journey off of the island--a crime punishable by death.