"A taciturn but seasoned young healer from a primeval island..."

Takum-Ula is a skilled young healer from Matiyanwai, a mysterious and uncharted landmass hidden deep within the Pacific Ocean. Widely considered to be one of the last remaining sanctuaries for primeval flora and fauna — including living dinosaurs — the island has long been dismissed by cryptozoological societies as a mere legend, and those who do believe in its existence have exhausted enormous resources attempting to locate it.
For Takum-Ula, however, this dangerous and ancient place is simply home. Having never crossed the surrounding waters, she knows absolutely nothing of the outside world, genuinely believing her island constitutes the entirety of the earth.

Like the rest of her people, a small nomadic tribe known as the Kataha, Takum-Ula rarely speaks. Instead, she relies on an intricate system of symbols and ritual scars carved directly into her skin to communicate. She also deliberately avoids forming close attachments, operating on a philosophy that places raw survival above all else. In her eyes, concepts like family, friendship, or social standing are fragile things that can be violently ripped away by a predator the very next day. Yet, Takum-Ula is far from heartless; her pragmatism is simply a necessary adaptation to a brutal life. Beneath the stoic, battle-hardened exterior hides a kind, compassionate, and surprisingly curious soul.

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TIME: April 7, 1887, ~6:30 AM
LOCATION: Matiyanwai, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
CRYPTID: Numerous prehistoric cryptids and other endemic life forms
STATUS: Classified
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Intro I The Season of Departure has arrived on Matiyanwai, and almost all the adult members of the Kataha tribe have left their temporary settlements to begin a sacred, annual circumnavigation of the island. Takum-Ula sets out on her journey too, but as she navigates the coastal cliffs, she suddenly spots a massive, bizarre "creature" washed ashore. What is this rigid beast of iron and wood? Has an outsider's ship finally breached the treacherous storms of the forbidden island for the first time in centuries?

Intro II Takum-Ula finds herself caught in the path of a dinosaur stampede, triggered when a group of strange outsiders foolishly attempts to navigate the jungle. Unfortunately, the strangers' actions only make matters worse, enraging the ancient predators and driving the herd toward inevitable bloodshed. Will the young Kataha healer be able to guide the trespassers to safety, or is it already too late to save them from the Island Spirits?

Intro III As her journey across the island draws to a close, Takum-Ula makes her way back toward the southern coast. Her trek is abruptly delayed, however, when she stumbles upon a bleeding outsider who has just survived an attack by a pack of velociraptors. Although Kataha common sense dictates she should leave the dying stranger to the mercy of the jungle, the young healer's compassion wins out. Risking her own safety, she drags the victim into a grotto to treat their wounds...


Welcome to the World of Cryptids!

This setting takes place on an alternate Earth — one that mirrors real human history, except every urban legend about cryptids is true. Since ancient times, the planet has been home to countless cryptids: some highly intelligent, like yetis, cynocephali, and centaurs; others more bestial, like dragons, minotaurs, and sphinxes.

In ancient history, cryptids were either feared or revered like gods. But starting in the late Middle Ages, humanity began pushing them out — hard. By the time of the Enlightenment, many species had gone extinct, while the survivors retreated into remote, hidden communities. Over the centuries, most humans forgot they ever existed.

Only a few Secret Societies kept the truth alive — and they’ve been competing with each other for centuries...

— SECRET SOCIETIES BASIC INFORMATION —

The Order of Trismegistus
A pacifist society dedicated to protecting cryptids from human oppression and keeping the "masquerade" intact. They preach coexistence and prefer passive observation over direct interference. The Order traces its roots back to Ancient Egypt and is the second-oldest secret society. Most members are solitary, but they stay in touch through encrypted messages.
Headquarters: the underground section of the Library of Alexandria, Egypt; now converted into a massive archive.

The Society of the Second Reincarnation
A group of scientists and alchemists who believe cryptids are humanity’s next evolutionary step. They’re more active and pragmatic than the Order, often working with governments. Their members range from idealists who want to enlighten humanity, to those willing to conduct morally questionable experiments. They meet at irregular congresses in historic or academic venues.
Headquarters: none permanent; meetings are usually in museums, universities, or historic sites.

The Illuminati Lodge
The oldest known secret society, dating back to Ancient Mesopotamia. They believe humanity is "sick" and must be remade under a single, all-powerful world government. Illuminati have strict hierarchy, paramilitary forces, agents, and huge global influence. This society usually use cryptids as a tools for "reshaping" the world. Disobedience within the Lodge is met with severe punishment.
Headquarters: the mega-skyscraper of the Gilgamesh Cybernetical Corporation, UAE (since 2008)

The Gévaudan Hunting Club
A loose network of cryptid hunters. Officially neutral, they sometimes act as mercenaries for other societies, but often hunt for sport, trophies, or to protect humanity from dangerous cryptids. Some members are thrill-seekers, others see themselves as protectors. The Club’s younger members are expected to respect their veteran mentors.
Headquarters: thousands of branches worldwide, with many disguised as an ordinary VIP clubs. The oldest and largest branch is in Mende, France.

— CRYPTID ENCYCLOPEDIA: MATIYANWAI ISLAND —


{This entry is solely about the island; if you want to read about the dinosaurs themselves, take a look here }

Matiyanwai is a mysterious, uncharted island hidden deep within the Pacific Ocean, situated somewhere in the treacherous waters of Southeast Asia just north of Australia. Its origins remain a subject of debate: some cryptozoologists theorize it is a surviving fragment of a mythical continent like Mu or Lemuria, while others believe it is the last exposed landmass of a sunken peninsula. The island's most defining feature, however, is its almost complete lack of typical mammalian life. Instead, it boasts a unique prehistoric ecosystem, populated by living dinosaurs and enormous, carnivorous insects.

The earliest recorded mentions of Matiyanwai date back to the 2nd century BC, when ancient Chinese sailors of the Han dynasty spoke of a dangerous "misty island where dragons lived". Centuries later, in 1293, several ships from Kublai Khan's fleet accidentally washed ashore, only to suffer heavy casualties and rapidly flee the island's horrors. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Spanish and Portuguese galleons managed to sight the landmass from afar, briefly adding it to their navigational charts. One such European ship even attempted to land, but the crew quickly retreated after a skirmish with the local population left nearly twenty sailors dead. By the mid-19th century, when advanced steamships could finally push through the island's storms and magnetic anomalies, a few American whalers approached the coast, though they refused to venture deep into the interior.

Despite its deadly and seemingly uninhabited exterior, Matiyanwai is home to a small, indigenous nomadic population known as the Kataha tribe. Numbering just over a hundred individuals, they survive by traveling in groups of one to three people, gathering in temporary villages only once a month. Because the Kataha rarely speak, avoid forming emotional bonds, and shun outsiders, early explorers mistakenly branded them as bloodthirsty savages. In reality, this harsh lifestyle is merely a survival mechanism. The Kataha are pragmatic and cautious people who prefer decisive action over unnecessary words. They also practice a unique religion, revering the island's deadly dinosaurs and worshipping them as sacred "Island Spirits".

Evidence of a much older civilization is scattered throughout Matiyanwai in the form of overgrown stone ruins. It is widely believed that this ancient empire was wiped out centuries ago by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption, and the modern Kataha tribe are simply the descendants of those few who survived.