Nation of Ishui
Off the Western shores of Tokavah, lies the nation of Ishui. Ishui is comprised of hundreds of islands, littered across the turquoise seas. From towering volcanic peaks shrouded in mist to tranquil inlets adorned with pristine beaches, every island holds its own adventure. Off the coasts, the seas hold their own allure. Coral reefs line the Shallows, while monstrous denizens lurk in the Deep. The waters of the Ishui islands are rich in the biodiversity of life.
The Ishui people have an internal wonder and curiosity of nature. Many are scholars who attempt to understand the tapestry of the natural world. Some are caretakers, preserving the cycle of life in their ecosystem. Others are explorers, traversing the many uncharted islands of Ishui.
While many Ishui seek to explore the world, others find the answers they seek in the past. Just as the ocean stores its profound mysteries in the fathomless depths of the abyss, time has concealed its own secrets in the annals of history.
The Ishui people place great importance on learning about and preserving the past. Much of their knowledge is from stories passed down from generation to generation. Any books or scrolls of the past are highly revered to the Ishui.
Yet there are many other mysteries that surround this nation. The different island chains that make up Ishui, mirror the constellations in the night sky. With astronomy already being so critical to its navigators, many Ishui have branched off into the study of astrology, trying to find the answers they seek from the stars above. The knowledge that their worldly abode is somehow intertwined with the celestial wonders above, has been woven into the fabric of their social identity. Over the years, tribes have formed around these identities. Rivalries often bubble beneath the surface, as different individuals advocate for their vision of the islands' future. A council of elders, each with their own motivations, are the ones tasked with maintaining the delicate balance of harmony and unity of the Ishui.
With an almost unquenchable thirst for knowledge, the Ishui are explorers and scholars, astronomers and astrologers, trying to understand everything's place in the cyclical nature of life.
Ishui Names
Given Names
Ishui given names are based on Hawaiian or Polynesian. Japanese names are less common, but still heard regularly. Names are also often blended between the two. For example: "Kai" (meaning sea in Polynesian) could be paired with "Haru" (meaning spring in Japanese) to form the name "Kaiharu," symbolizing the rejuvenating power of the sea.
Names often draw inspirations from nature and elemental concepts.
Ishui names can use multiple symbols, for example: Mizu'hina'nami combines "Mizu" (Japanese for water) with "Hina" (Polynesian for moon) and "Nami" (Japanese for wave): representing the moonlit waves on the water's surface. More than 4 symbols is uncommon, but not unheard of.
Family Names
There are no last names in the culture, and each name is unique within the family. If a parent chooses, they may use a portion of their name as part of the child’s name, but no parent would give their child the same exact name as theirs. For example, Parent: Kaiyo'kaze, Child: Kaze'nui.
Name Examples
Kaimana
Kalea
Valu
Maru'kai
Tatsu'haru