Munda

Munda
The settlement of Magma at dusk.
A map of north–central Cinder with Munda shown in dark green.
Population	1
Denizens	bca_
Demonym	Mundan
Coordinates	-2350 750
Capital	Fort Munda
Nation Type	Tribal

Munda is a small tribal nation in the dense jungle of the Mondego Lakes region. It is almost entirely surrounded by Ashannar, which called it the "bca_ Containment Zone" prior to declaring war in August, 2024.

Etymology

Munda is the archaic, Hispano-Celtic word for Mondego and roughly translates to transparency, clarity, or purity. This word refers to both the lakes that surround Munda and to the waters that Mundans seek to bring forth from it.

History

Discovery and Settlement

The Sinkhole, one of the few locations still flooded due to the first Mondego flood.

Munda was first explored on the first day of the server, when bca_ passed through the Mondego Lakes region on her way to found the town of Anneimd in the far West. The location would remain largely untouched until the first Mondego flood, when large sections of the jungle were placed underwater, and the Sinkhole was flooded. The waters of the sinkhole now serve as the boundary between Ashannar and Munda territory. 

After the gods banished the waters, in May 2024 bca_ returned to the area to act as a base of operations for future flooding. Simultaneously, the people of Ashannar came to the area, settling in the region and constructing numerous structures. A verbal agreement to preclude conflict was reached between Ashannar and Munda with the following terms:

1. Munda cannot expand towards any other islands
2. Munda cannot expand the island or modify the surrounding terrain and ocean
3. If Munda joins Ashannar the first term is void

Growing Tensions with Ashannar

Beginning in early May, Ashannar began showing Munda as claimed by Ashannar on maps and referred to it as the "bca_ Containment Zone". Soon after, the first sign of real-world conflict would break out when Ashannar stole three sniffers living in the jungle and transported them across the sinkhole. One of these sniffers was found tied up in Durial and was recovered. This theft prompted Munda to place bamboo spikes and warning signs around the island of Munda. Over the next few months very little changed and the settlement of Magma was slightly expanded.

By early August the tidings of war were apparent. As Munda first began asserting itself on the international stage, both through further development and by being placed on a map, warnings of a possible invasion by Ashannar were commonplace. As a result, Mundans began work on Fort Munda as a safe location in case of a prolonged siege. This and an obstinate attitude towards foreigners only increased scrutiny however, and soon two wars would begin.

War

Fort Munda in lockdown soon after Ashannar declared war.

In early August 2024, tensions escalated when Danrejk, a representative of Danouvia-Scneimunt, triggered a lockdown at Fort Munda by repeatedly pressing a clearly marked button despite the stated warning:

⚠WARNING⚠ Press this Button and I Declare WAR

This act was interpreted as a declaration of war, as per the sign. Danrejk was quickly attacked and fled the scene. Munda—desiring not to be bullied by more powerful nations—cited previous hostilities such as the theft of sniffers by Ashannar, and responded by declaring war on Danouvia. Fort Munda was subsequently sealed to all foreigners as Munda prepared for war.

Following the incident with Danouvia, the Ashannari Empire declared war on Munda under the pretext of quelling a "minor rebellion." This action violated the prior verbal agreement between Munda and Ashannar, which had maintained peace in the region. While the Ashannari dismissed Munda—not directly mentioning Munda in the declaration and scrubbing the island from later maps—bca_ emphasized Munda's resolve to resist aggression. Munda offered terms of surrender to Ashannar, demanding recognition of Munda’s sovereignty, the return of any occupied lands, and a symbolic Heart of the Sea.

As of August 10, both wars are ongoing.

Geography

A map of Munda and surrounding territories, published August 4, 2024.

Munda is located on a jungle island on the boundary between the lakes of Small and Little Mondego. This island is artificially separated from the mainland by the remnants of the first Mondego flood.

Culture

A typical Mundan hut, showcasing the use of local building materials and stilts.

Munda is a self-sustaining community that relies heavily on its natural resources. The residents of Munda manually farm almost all of their produce and raw materials, including cacao beans, bamboo, kelp, wheat, and exotic flowers. The land is rich in biodiversity, with Munda being the only known location where pitcher plants grow in the wild.

The architecture in Munda reflects the community’s resource pool and cultural beliefs. A strong belief in the inevitability of another great flood shapes much of Mundan life and has led to the construction of buildings on stilts in Mundan towns and villages. Typical Mundan huts are constructed from bamboo frames with roofs made of woven kelp and are high enough off the ground to be walked under, adding to Munda's unique aesthetic. Mundan villages are often centered around giant jungle trees, which serve as natural landmarks and community gathering points. The terrain is left largely untouched.