Sunday, February 19, 2012

Stories from the South Seas


The South Seas is a vaguely defined area of the Tranquil Ocean extending from Pyronesia east and north to unnumbered islands extending south from Southeast Eura and south to the mysterious south polar continent of Australis. The area is a crossroads of trade and a meeting place of exotic cultures that has captured the popular culture imagination of people in the City.

Many of of the islands in the South Seas are inhabited by people called loosely grouped as Oceanians who are believed to be the descendants of ancient Mu. Though this continent long ago disappeared beneath the waves, mysterious ruins attributed to it are sometimes found on isolated isles.

Most Oceanians are friendly--but not all. There are still rumors of strange rites and even cannibalism. Exaggerated sailors’ tales, perhaps.

There are dangers other than humans in the South Seas. Utilizing primitive smoke-belching steamships, the Demon Islanders have claimed a territory in the wake of the Great War. Here it’s hoped they can be contained, but they remain a menace to the region. Also, the Crab-men, ancestral enemies of the Oceanians, still attack settlements and even unwary ships.

8 comments:

Sean Robson said...

You always have the coolest pictures in your posts, Trey. I love the one with the man suspended above the beautiful Oceanian woman... and the spears.

This post has conjured the idea of a weird Gilligan's Island. That show had everything: witch doctors, head-hunters, volcanoes, Science!, lost treasure. And let's face where, other than Weird Adventures, can you find a polymath like the Professor? This dude's expertise ran the gamut, from obscure linguistic dialects to electronics, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology and engineering. I sure wish I knew Science!

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

The insects alone would probably be enough to deter me from those far-reached jungle scenarios, let alone the legends.

Trey said...

@Sean - Thanks1 I wish I knew Science! too. That sort of thing allows you to do everything from build a mutant-hunting computer to performing an autopsy. It's lesser cousin (Medicine!) merely allows you knowledge of every sub-field of medical knowledge.

@Mike - I can dig that.

Pierce said...

I love crab people, I picture them as Mirelurks from Fallout and the Galthrim from Dark Crystal.

Trey said...

I don't know the Fallout creatures but the Galthrim are about right. I usually think of Clawful from Masters of the Universe.

Alex Osias said...

The spear picture is awesome! Oh, and I think that there's space for some missionary action here.

Trey said...

Good point, Alexander. There are definitely missionaries there--and sometimes spies posing as missionaries.

garrisonjames said...

Wow, this is wide open for some Solomon Kane goes island-hopping...
Are you going to do something with the tramp steamers and down-on-their-luck pilots like tha told 'Tales of the Brass Monkey TV show? that could be a lot of fun!