Aldega Archipelago

Timanduk
''As I sat upon Nulkab’s ring, sharing a meal with my friend, I found myself thinking about how all of this came to be. My city, sprawling on the shore of Timanduk, humming with life. I looked upon the shrines we made as crocodilian jaws gnashed through sinigang; I watched Rajah Humabon leave his study for the first time in the week and greet his neighbors. To the north in the village of Nadasaloy, their leader bore his mantle with pride despite the stains of his past. And in the south, the ever-shifting villages of Ashen Fields even now: after so many years, I look forward to my meals with Datu Taklub among the thriving crops of his people.

The three cities of my homeland never existed when I was a young girl. For so long, there was only myself. But with knowledge, care, and love, this island has become so much more. Despite the scars the land now bears, it still shines as a jewel across all of the islands.

If I had known that my search would take me away from it all so frequently, perhaps I would have made sure it had not become so beautiful.''

Demographics
Over the generations, people from all mortal races have come to Timanduk and called it home, making it perhaps the most diverse among the islands. The port metropolis of Kaylahon attracts religious pilgrims of all backgrounds, eager to visit the city’s two revered prayer halls—and touring traders, who look to exchange their wares for the bountiful crops and seafood that Kaylahon provides.

Humans comprise most people of Timanduk. But present as well are elves and gnomes, balat-kayo, and dragonborn. Dragonborn visitors, in particular, are drawn to the patpatayin groves, curious at the possibility of bitnayan pythons being part of their spirit cycle.

Nevertheless, some races have special connections with the island—especially with Nulkab, Timanduk’s hulking volcano. The tiefling-dominant community of Ashen Fields migrates along the eastern side of Timanduk, using their innate connection with Nulkab’s fiery eruptions to tend their farms with controlled burns.

Geography
The grand city of Kaylahon occupies most of Timanduk’s western coast. Marked by the sprawling grove of tree houses silhouetted against Nulkab’s flaming summit, this metropolis serves as the island’s major port. Shimmering pink sand greets travelers new to Timanduk divided by two major features: the craggy inlet of the Cove, where Kaylahon’s community and boatmakers, and the turquoise mouth of the Daluyan river. Following this river inland leads you to the trade village of Nadasaloy, home to the mythic balete tree of Timanduk.

On the opposite side of Nulkab, however, the island finds a much fiercer disposition. Without the shelter of the mountain ranges, the eastern side of the island finds itself buffeted by floods and storms. Here, you can find the charred swathes of land belonging to the migratory community of Ashen Fields.

The island itself is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef, which helps calm the tides and eases the ferocity of storms. Many beyond the shores of Timanduk refer to this section of the sea as the Merchant’s Splendor, after the gentle and welcoming waves that greet traders eager to dock at Kaylahon. However, the inhabitants of the island know the sea by the true name of its spirit—Tulaylupa, the lonely.

Climate and Lifestyle
The seasons are characterized by the sibling winds: Habagat the storm wind, humid and temperamental; and Amihan the summer wind, cold and constant.

To the people of Timanduk, the year begins with the thunderous rumblings of Habagat’s first storm. The deluge is welcome to people who grow rice, a crop that loves flooded fields. Other places may endure the worst of the typhoons, the volcano weakens any storm that dares to pass through it. And while it is still folly to underestimate the danger of typhoons, the ones that pass through Kaylahon and Nadasaloy are nowhere near as destructive.

Amihan, on the other hand, is the cold, summer wind. Their winds blow away the typhoons, although sunshowers may still occur from time to time. Nights are cold, but by the daytime the full might of the sun brings intense warmth. Amihan is the time of harvest, of weeding the fields, and of preparing for the next crop. The end of the year is a time of cool reflection.

Of special interest are the times in between seasons, when one wind weakens while the other begins to gain strength. When both winds are present, the weather shares their characteristics. Hot days give way to humid nights, and storms come in between days of overbearing sun. There are two in-between seasons, each being two moons long. These are times of trade and war, when feasts are loud and feuds are passionate. As the strengthening wind brings in folk from one direction, so too does it mark the time for another group of traders to set sail.