Vilakku

Taking a step away from THE LIGHTLESS, let’s take a peek into its parallel universe: Gatherer’s Bounty. The setting of VINE VEIN takes place here, and on Vilakku. As depicted below, during the 1st Age of the 1st Era, Vilakku was still a united supercontinent. And while it would continue to be well into the 2nd Era (each Era spanned a thousand ages), its wide open landscape would become drastically altered.

You may notice right off the bat the differences between Unfeasted and Vilakku. This is not a ‘modern’ world, and in fact worlds are known as Alina Bairns in this universe. The people of Vilakku evolved through a rough span of millennia, not unlike in the Shifting Memory universe and on Unfeasted. However, where those humans have achieved modern technology and convenience, Vilakku’s population has not yet become so fortunate (or unfortunate). Existing within what we would consider a ‘medieval era’ Vilakku’s people still struggle with land-grabbing, wealth plundering, and the constant struggle and shift of kings, lords, ladies, and queens.

Age 1 of Era 1, and the 8 Original Tribes of Humanity

Mother Nature began showing interest in Vilakku from Ages 1-7.

Ages 1 & 2 saw her begin to dip her hand into the Alina Bairn, gently ushering all life away from the edges of Vilakku towards a singular point that only she knew existed.

Age 3 wildlife begin to migrate in mass towards the unknown point on the continent. At the same time, humans begin noticing temperature spikes, intensely strong winds, fissures, livestock deaths or missing.

Ages 4-7 the Eight Tribes of Humanity struggle to keep themselves from being picked up by the hurricane winds that every age have gotten stronger and more frequent. Many are killed during this time, being swept into the sky, and dropped someplace else, while homes are blown away as well, and families are separated.

Age 8 comes and nothing is able to withstand Mother Nature’s wind. All life is picked up and swept into the western corner of Vilakku, an area that was called Malstray. Many millions were killed during this natural disaster, animals, Leviathans, and humans alike. The people of Malstray were a proud people, and were one of the first humans to give not only their villages names, but their entire territory as well. Their civilization was one of the most advanced at the time, and this life-changing event would much of their progress rendered moot, as the lives of every human and animal on the Alina Bairn was collected right on top of them. There had never been much dispute over territory before this time, as Vilakku was a vast continent, and the sparsity of human civilization was spread apart enough to discourage much fighting. This event would come to be known as the Sweeping Winds, and all that survived being swept from their homes, and deposited into Malstray, they would be known as the Windswept.

Malstray, Malstray, Sweet and Plenty, Lands Unending, Now Never Empty

Once the Sweeping Winds had calmed, the true test of survival began for all who had lived through the disastrous phenomenon.