Katuppilan (concept)
Biozone: Katuppilan
The Katuppilan is the name given to the dense mangrove forests and mud flats along the Kashiryan coasts. This massive forest fills much of the waterways and river systems of the south, making travel difficult into the interior. The mudflats, marshes, and brackish waterways of the broadleaf swamp forests have been more settled than the saltwater forests further off of the coasts, which remain mostly uninhabited. The winter monsoon season hits Katuppilan hard annually, and precipitation levels remain high in the region year round. During high tide, much of the mangroves are completely submerged. Despite how rich these mangroves are in flora and fauna, local inhabitants tend to avoid venturing too deep out of fear and superstition for the creatures that live there. Tigers, crabs, and giant frogs are just some of the animals to inhabit these forests, but with much of the interior unmapped and uninhabited, the mangroves hold many secrets.
The wild backwaters of Katuppilan are said to be one of the most mysterious and dangerous places to hunt in all of Kashirya. The dense labyrinth of mangroves and swamp make traversal difficult, but the rich and mysterious creatures that are said to lurk in the brackish depths draw hunters and adventurers from all over. That is not to say they survive the journey, but we hope to fare far better fates than them.
Or at least, we did. Katuppilan has proven to be more dangerous than anticipated. Our small river boat has already suffered enough damage from the dense roots beneath the water's surface to force us onto the marshy soil earlier than we would have liked. Now on land, we've trudged deep into the mangrove's web, leaving markings behind where we can to not lose our way in this watery maze. Every step seems to sink me deeper into the mud, but we must carry on. Hopefully we can still find our way back.