Jungle and Mountains

Plants amazingly dominate this green world by employing poisons, recruiting defensive armies, feeding off the dead and using animals for pollination and seed dispersal. For predators this world presents exceptional challenges, not only in finding prey in such a tangled place, but in how to deal with the toxins that so many animals and plants are laced with.

Over the millenia, rains have come and gone, rivers have snaked and weaved, an infinite number of trees have grown and fallen, while grasslands have been swallowed and reborn.

With every change, there has been a new opportunity for a vibrant life, from gentle forest elephants to tiny multicoloured killifish. The green heart of Africa is a bubbling cauldron of evolution, a giant experiment with life.

A place that is clearly dominated by Wyld forces, the Jungles of Ushirikiano Kisiwa mimic the great jungles of Rwanda, Uganda and North Western Kenya, with a plethora of mysterious life. The natural cycle of life is prevalent here and many occupants say that just wandering through its uncharted territory is a feat beyond achieving in 24-48 hours. Many of the feral Bagheera and Mokole find this area to their liking and often navigate its seemingly never-ending flora with ease of instinct.

Mokole harbor a sacred wallow here, unlike the infamous joke of "Uzima Wallow and Pool" this particular wallow holds power that is of great significance to the forming of Ushirikiano Kisiwa.

The Great Baobab Tree

Just inside the jungle, where it encroaches on the savanna area, is the Great Baobab tree. Often times referred to as the Graves of Hallowed Heroes, there is great mystery in this old Baobab. Upon inspection in the Umbra, the Baobab is vastly different than its physical reflection. It appears as a mere sapling as opposed to the very old flavor of the physical world.

Perhaps the most mysterious events that take place on this Baobab Tree is that it has gone into full bloom under the full moon spontaneously before bursting into bright blue embers and revealing glyphs on its roots. A local timu of Ahadi Members, including the renowned Kamau Juawamba, made the discovery of the Baobab and its connection to life and death.

Also of note is that beneath the great Baobab's roots lie the bodies of dozens of warthogs. Not normal warthogs, mind you, but the Grondr themselves that were brought here after an expedition into the Forests of Tanzania at the base of Kilimanjaro. It seems that the Grondr bodies had been lost and possessed by hordes of maggots, bugs and flies. Controlled by this unnatural force, the timu had no other choice then to destroy their leader, Worm Maw, and his Skullpig minions.

Since that date, many of the troubled heroes of the past have been buried beneath the Baobab's roots to join their brothers in arms. Each time, their name is showed in the glyphs corresponding to their Member Breed on one of the roots of the Baobab tree. It is almost as though the Baobab expects to protect these bodies from the harshness of the earth so that they can be reborn.

Chui Sanctuary

Chui means 'leopard' in Swahili. It's not hard to guess who the occupants of this sanctuary are; it's almost entirely dominated by the Bagheera and their feral kinfolk. This area is made of thick underbrush, vines and trees as far as the eye can see. One of the most amazing facts about these trees surrounding the Chui Sanctuary is that many of them have joined in a great circle with twined limbs and trunks that almost resemble a massive tree house. The circle that remains in the center is a coveted area for storytelling and performing rituals sacred to the Bastet. It is lined with large stones, carved with glyphs of the Bagheera and the names of those who have great precedence in the Ahadi. The only one of note that is still living is Mchaji.

Though this area is hard to find and not linked to any of the other areas in succession that are shared with the Ahadi, it is closely watched when visitors come by. Pairs of eyes can be found peering out of the thick leaves and vines that make up the patch-work of the circle of trees. The Bagheera have marked this territory and marked it well as being claimed by the likes of their tribe. And though it is what one would expect to see in a Bagheera Den Realm, it is not a place of power. Aside from hosting Taghairms outside of the monthly rite at the Ceremonial Stage, this place is merely a sanctuary for the felines of the Tribe who seek solace in the shadows.

Mzrururaji Falls

The 'Wandering' Falls is a place of sanctuary and solace to many great beings of the island. From elephants to the coveted and rare Gorillas, this is where their central balance is held. Many of the Island's natural Fauna can be found here on a daily basis gathering the essentials from this great pool of water. It is a place of mystery for the occupants of the island, as it is unclaimed by any of the Member Breeds, it is a place that 'belongs to Africa's spirit' as the mystic Bagheera, Mchaji would say.

In the dense jungle surrounding this area is a rock formation that is not unlike one of those in the Rift Zone. However, this tower of stone is interrupted by the forces of the Wyld as the formation itself is covered in vines, almost as though it is covering an ancient city that once existed. This area is often referred to as the 'Congo' of Ushirkiano Kisiwa because of the mystery surrounding its appearance in the center of the jungle and the prospect of being an uncovered marvel.

The falls, themselves are made up of several shelved rock formations which travel down in a great fountain of fresh water at all hours of the day and night. The pool beneath has never been contaminated, nor fussed with. Many of the Mokole's kinfolk come here to bask in the depths and often times do when the Wallow gets crowded. For any who find this secret 'garden', it is truly a marvel that the Island's occupants feel thankful for.

Kuakisi Wallow

Named for its reflective surface, literally meaning Reflection in Swahili, Kuakisi Wallow is a place of both great solitude and great social gatherings for the local Mokole. Though called a Wallow, the water holds no permanent Clutches, nor does the Wallow itself hold great power, it is primarily a place for the Mokole to come, share their stories, complete rites, rituals, mnesis quests while in the company of those closest to them. In the early hours of the morning, the sun reflects quite brilliantly off the surface, some of the Mokole say they have seen amazing sights in the reflection- tales of great, golden Kingdoms that once stood, along with images of the great Kings of the Past.

While the Wallow is open to plenty of the Island's occupants, it's very well known that it may not be the brightest decision to take a dip in the noon-day sun, for this is when the Mokole hunt in Clutches. Stories can be heard the island-wide about Hunts the Depths, the great Liopleurodon that lives beneath the waves, although he is usually out in Lake Victoria. But why take the chance?

If one were to dive into the waters of Kuakisi, they would find that the Mokole have made quite a place for themselves on the shelf that provides the 'bottom' of the wallow. Several of the Mokole and their more feral kin have taken up residence here, marking it with elaborate glyphs and tales of Mnesis quests and association with the Memory. Many of the feral Mokole hide their personal belongings in cubby holes that are lined in the shelves of the surrounding Wallow. Each one knows exactly where they have put their things, and they'll know if something is missing. This could be anything from a surplus of food, to precious fetishes.