The Phosphorescent Cay: MZM1 Enhancement

The Phosphorescent Cay

Revisiting the heavenly island briefly detailed in MZM1 Teoatl Magic

Believed a myth by most, Vakaardo Island, also known as the Phosphorescent Cay, is rightfully thought to be a slice of heaven on Toril.

It’s is a very difficult place to find, though it’s location to the west of the southern tip of Kolan is relatively well known. Powerful currents seem almost conscious in their efforts to prevent large ships from making port, but interestingly enough, small crafts like canoes are left unaffected.

There are also creatures in the depths that are highly overprotective of the island and its inhabitants. One of these beings is named Pall-Moille. This titanic seahorse is an oracle of the deep and the humans of Vakaardo are among the few whom she will have regular interactions. Some on the island believe her to be a divine spirit and have even attempted to make mystical pacts with the Dreamer in the Depths.

The island itself has an unparalleled and wholly unique beauty. It’s waters are always warm and free of sharks, but at night time, they virtually explode with bioluminescent life. Most of this is due to microscopic life, but large jellies, crustaceans, sea worms, squid and even fish contribute to the spectacular display of light. The island is never covered in darkness, having dim light conditions even in fully cloud covered skies.

Vakaardo has numerous portals to both Elysium (Xilen in the Maztica cosmology) on land, and in its nearest waters to the Silver Sea in Lunia on the first layer of Mount Celestia. A guardian being known as a sisiutl allows for transit between worlds at the largest of these portals, but it would be called to action should anything dangerous attempt to pass through. Octopoid humanoids known as zoveri have visited Vakaardo through this portal, sometimes intermingling with Vakaardan fisherfolk.

The human population of the Phosphorescent Cay stays relatively consistent and currently stands at about 500 souls. The humans however, are almost to the person, touched by the planes of Elysium or Mount Celestia. Those influenced by Elysium have the Hardy Body trait described in Morte’s Planar Parade and similarly those influenced by Mount Celestia have golden brown skin tones and the Light trait. The former tend to inhabit the interior of the island and the latter on the shores, though they all intermingle in the major population centers.

Teoatl magic is prevalent at Vakaardo, perhaps in some part due to its planar connection to the Silver Sea or the close association with the great beast Pall-Moille. It’s Teoatltamers have developed much in the way of new sea magics, both in spells and powerful items. Generally, the Vakaardans develop non offensive magic, but they are no fools and are fully aware that if their island were ever exposed, they would need to be able to defend themselves.

LOCATIONS

1. Yollotl. The name of this large village of 300+ souls means "heart" in the Maztican tongue and it can be found on the quiet western shore of Mantli Lagoon. Yollotl is truly the heart of the island and all folks come here to socialize, trade and bring news of elsewhere on the island. A queen named Ameyalli resides here in a modest hut, but she does not often need to preside over her "kingdom" with any sense of urgency. Instead, her hut is always filled with children whom she adores, and she also has a fondness for baby tortoises that find their way into her hut for the goodies she provides. Ameyalli is in fact an incredibly powerful teoatltamer and there is magic hidden throughout her hut. Anything dangerous is kept far from the reach of children.

Elsewhere in Yollotl, there is a sizeable market where fish and other goods are sold. It is possible to find common items of magic here such as jars full of bioluminescent light and fishing lines that are nearly unbreakable.

2. Mantli Lagoon. Mantli is a word for mother and is often used by the folk of Vakaardo to refer to the great seahorse Pall-Moille. Once a generation, Pall-Moille is known to make an appearance in the lagoon, leaving her lair of the Great Tree of the Deep near the Sea of Corynactis to impart her wisdom on humanity. Other than Pall-Moille the Great Seahorse, the lagoon is a breeding ground for sea turtles, who have a cadre of tortle druid protectors ensuring their safety.

3. Watch Tower of Ikniutli. Despite Vakaardo's current state of perpetual peace, the island has not always been so protected. Once, long ago, a titan of the deep known as a palophonti set itself ashore, killing indiscriminately and attempted to settle itself here. An angelic being (a deva) named Ikniutli was summoned through one of Vakaardo's many portals and rallied the island's few warriors to finally turn the giant scorpionfolk being away. It was from this battle that the inhabitants were introduced to PAll-Moille as well, who vowed to never allow such a blasphemy occur again.

The deva remained upon the island as an honored guest for centuries before disappearing unexpectedly. The tower he erected has not been explored since in honor of the noble celestial, lest he one day decide to return.

4. The Quiet Field. Measuring only a few hundred feet on a side, there is a zone south of Yollotl that is a completely dead magic zone, where no dweomer functions - even the most powerful of teoatl magics. The source is completely unknown, but it appeared sometime during the historical event the rest of Toril often refers to as the Time of Troubles.

5. The Glass Trees of Meztli. The southernmost island outside Vakaardo proper has a growth of crystals known as the Crystal Trees of Meztli. Though beautiful, these trees glow with such intensity in moonlight as to make the island unlivable for those with any form of vision. Conversely, the magic of their light allows those who are blind to see while the moon shines in the sky. The island is visited by those born with various disabilities, who bvelieve the crystals have other, less well-known healing properties.

6. The Caverns of Citlalli. A strange inhabitant has taken a lair here. A dragon once simply arrived from the stars above and settled in some ancient caves. The dragon minds its own business and in return is left alone by the human inhabitants. This dragon, whom the Vakaardans have named Citlalli (a name meaning "star"), is actually a young solar dragon which is detailed in Boo's Astral Menagerie.

7. Isle of Radiance. The easternmost Isle of Radiance is a wild place known for its various portals to the heavens. Under the water's surface to it's south, a sisiutl named Ēlōxōchitl guards a large portal (large enough for Huge creatures to pass through easily). On the island itself, there are numerous portals to Elysium, but they are unstable and impossible to map. New portals appear every day while others disappear. The veil between worlds is thin here and creatures that live here for long may be touched one of the aforementioned planes as detailed in Morte's Planar Parade. The bioluminescence here is at its most luminescent, and the most powerful of teoatl magics have been developed here.

8. Lake of Dreams. The main source of freshwater in the Phosphorescent cay comes from the Lake of Dreams. It's calm, ultraclean waters are sweet tasting and are the main ingredient in a magic item known as a Potion of Sweetwater. There are freshwater fish in the lake, and even the occasional freshwater predator. A benevolent ahuizotl is known to protect folks from the worst dangers.