Barsk: The Elephants' Graveyard

APPENDIX TWO: THE ISLANDS OF BARSK

Barsk is a watery world with only a single, uninhabitable continent located at its south pole and two chains of islands. These archipelagos lay just south of the equator and stretch east and west to span nearly a fifth of their hemisphere. The planet’s ubiquitous cloud cover ensures none of this is visible from orbit.

Within the archipelagos the islands differ from one another in shape and size, the largest as much as eighteen times the size of the smallest. Some possess natural harbors, some do not. All are within a day of hard paddling from at least one other, and most have a neighbor close enough that ferries transit back and forth from dawn to dusk. Beyond minor patches of beach, all are covered with rain forests representing several dozen types of meta-trees that could easily be considered the dominant native life form. On every island, the Fant have built their homes high in these trees, in a section that is always referred to as the Civilized Wood.

Belp—a central island of the eastern archipelago, famous for having a shape like a Lox’s left ear.

Emmt—a popular destination for young bachelors traveling from Keslo.

Gerd—a smallish, nearly circular island that is considered the central island of the western archipelago. Fant often refer to other islands in the chain with respect to their position relative to Gerd.

Kelpry—an island south and west of Gerd in the western archipelago.

Keslo—an island located near the northeastern portion of the western archipelago. It is home to Jorl ben Tral.

Phran—an island north of Gerd but still a good ways south and west of Keslo. On an eastern beach of Phran, Pizlo believes he will see his fifth moon in the near future.

Relfa—the westernmost island of the eastern archipelago, it is a popular destination for groups of young men crossing over from the other island chain.

Telba—an island to the north of Keslo. A Speaker there published a book of imramha after interviewing various adventurers.

Yargo—a tiny island in the southeastern section of the eastern archipelago, it is famous nowadays as the birthplace of Margda, the Matriarch of Barsk. Her childhood dwelling, once home to nearly a hundred children, mothers, aunts, and female cousins, is now a vast museum, complete with research library and gift shop. Tours are given twice daily.

Zlorka—a part of the western archipelago, it is considered the most cosmopolitan of islands. Zlorka is the only land mass on the planet to touch the equator. It is home to the premiere university on Barsk, as well as the anchor point for the space elevator that transports goods to an automated station in orbit.