An aerial view of a town on the island of Ahi Moko, the southern-most island of the Mahi Moko archipelago.

The fire kokei of Ahi Moko are crafters and farmers. The local volcanoes and volcanic vents fuel Ahi Moko society, providing them with nutrient-rich soils to grow precious crops, gorgeous materials like obsidian and geodes to craft jewelry, and a natural affinity for heat and intuition with which to forge tools, parts, and artwork.

This particular village is the home of Huo Dan, chief of the fire kokei. His small, humble home sits across from the ceremonial fire stage where he tells the stories of the Lord of the Machine, Tetsujin, the great being who raised all kokei out of darkness. In the village below, crafters like Kai construct useful tools with which to build, farm, and decorate

Black sands, from eroded lava rock washed ashore, surround the island, giving the beaches a black glimmer not unlike the previous obsidian the fire kokei have learned to utilize in so many ways. The waves here are gentle, providing little sport but making the island fittingly quiet for its warm coziness.

Ahi Moko will actually be the starting location of @project-afterman‘s comic. I wanted to give a good overview for our amazing team of writers and artists of just where our adventure will begin. Like so many stories, it is a comfy, quiet place, where peace is the norm… and where danger and darkness would seem least likely to strike.