Rook Islands

The Rook Islands are the setting of Far Cry 3 and The Far Cry Experience. It is where Vaas, Citra, Hoyt Volker, Buck and Dr. Earnhardt are based, and is full of relics such as ancient ruins and World War II bunkers and tunnels. The Rook Islands consist of two major islands — the North Island and the South Island (actually four islands separated by streams) — along with three smaller islands.

Background

The Rook Islands were once considered a tropical paradise. They are filled with tropical forests, green grasslands, thick swamps and steep mountains, but years of violence and neglect have caused them to fall into a state of permanent turmoil. The once peaceful archipelago used to belong to the thriving native tribes, most notably the Rakyat, who once controlled the islands in their entirety. However, lawless pirates and militiamen have since violently taken over the archipelago.

In the 15th Century Zheng He, a Chinese explorer, passed the islands during a voyage to map the oceans. They proved an ideal location for one of his most loyal warriors - Lin Cong. After Zheng He left the islands, Lin Cong stole one of his colossal treasure ships, the Chaoyang, which contained massive amounts of gold and treasure collected by Zheng on his many voyages and promised his crew wealth and power which he promptly delivered. Once Lin Cong and his men secured and hid the ship, they set out to enslave the natives, the Chinese invaders forced the native slaves to build shrines as well as some towns and temples in his name. At this point, Lin Cong and his men were considered lords of the islands (with Lin still in complete control), the island's newfound empire was short-lived, however, as a vengeful Zheng He returned for Chaoyang and his traitorous old ally. After a relatively minor battle, Zheng He wiped Lin Cong's empire from the island for good (with the help from the Rakyat who took the opportunity to rebel), but not before Lin Cong could steal away his most prized possession: the Chaoyang. Rook Islands rumours and myths state that the ship was never found.

Centuries later, a Japanese Brigadier General named Takeo Masaki had his men land on the isles to start up a small air force/army base during World War II. The natives were then forced to the centers of the isles, with some being imprisoned and most being killed. The soldiers were then able to build bunkers and fortifications across the island's perimeter with the natives effectively driven back. However, just under a year after landing on the Rook Islands, the terrible news of Japan's bombings finally reached the island's radio station, Private Kashiwara, and Superior Private Shimizu. With tarnished pride, loved ones dead and faith in their country crippled, they spared their comrades from the devastating news by sabotaging the radios and radio towers. This caused great tension between Kashiwara, Shimizu, and their superiors, eventually leading the decorated Major Tanida to kill several of his own men, whom he believed were traitors working for the Americans. There were also two top secret projects, named Project Tenka and Project Kyouken, that were in the works led by a Doctor Fujita, under orders from the General. After being deserted on the island with the rest of the Japanese soldiers, Fujita grew increasingly paranoid until he finally descended into madness, before he met his untimely demise. During the 1980s the Rook Islands had an economic boom from large amounts of money coming into the island from mining. Occasionally, Privateers will be heard discussing the topic. This was most likely the time when the Rook islands had some form of organized government like the one seen on billboards throughout the islands. Sometime shortly after the Rook Islanders attempted to govern themselves, Hoyt Volker landed on the island and brought on one of the darkest times in the Rook Islands already dark history.

2013 onwards

In 2012, Rook Islands have not progressed from its past issues. The population has grown tired and only wish to live their lives in solitude, no longer caring who inhabits the islands any more. The only resistance to the outside world is the people of the Rakyat, who believe the island was and still is rightfully their homeland. With the pirates still swarming the islands, the Rakyat are the only ones willing to fight back, and they prepare and wait for a sign from their deities.

After the events of Far Cry 3, the Rakyat reclaimed control of the islands. If the "Join Citra" ending was chosen by the player then the unnamed child of Jason Brody most likely will rule the islands, but if the player chose the "Save Your Friends" ending then it is unclear who would rule the islands since Citra would be dead. All that is known for certain is that the Rakyat will clean up their islands and return them to the way they once were, possibly even being assimilated into Indonesia, though most likely by force similar to Timor and Papua.

FC3 Worldmap Level 1 — Map of Rook Islands

Locations

FC3 multiplesigns 04 d mip0 — Flag of Rook Islands as seen in game

Location of the Rook Islands

Based on the wildlife, people, environment and culture seen in Far Cry 3, the Rook Islands are most likely located in either East Nusa Tenggara or the Moluccas of Indonesia. In real life, an Island called Rooke Island is located near Papua New Guinea. However, according to the local language used, Malay language and/or Indonesian language, the location may be around Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia where Bahasa Melayu and/or Bahasa Indonesia are spoken.

Based on the fact that the island has a bizarre mix of species from both sides of the Wallace Line - with tigers, leopards, bears and Komodo dragons from the Southeast Asian side, and Cassowaries, dingoes, and Birds of Paradise from the Oceanian - the most likely point on the map for the Rook Islands is directly between Bali and Lombok, where drastic differences in wildlife are also seen despite the islands' proximity to one another. The Asian black bear however is not naturally found in either Indonesia or Oceania.

Aspects of the Rook Islands that resemble Indonesia

Geography

Rook Islands: The Rook Island archipelago bears some similarities to the Indonesian archipelago.
North Rook Island: The northern island resembles a mixture of Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi and Komodo Island due to large jungles, large savannah, some beaches, small islands, farms and many towns can be found here. Komodo Dragons also common on this island but in the real life Komodo Dragons are endemic to Komodo Island.
South Rook Island: The southern island resembles a mixture of Papua and Maluku Islands due to its mountainous nature, large jungles, and beautiful marine parks.
Beras Town: Bears similarities to the island of Java, Sumatra, and Bali.
Citra's Temple: Closely resembles temples found in Sumatra, Java, and Bali.

Demographics

Rakyat: The Rakyat people resemble the Dayak people. The names of both peoples strongly resemble each other.
Rook Islander: The people of the Rook Islands closely resemble Indonesians and Malaysians.
Pirates: Indonesia has long been ranked one of the highest countries for illegal piracy, similar to Vaas' Pirates on the Rook Islands.
Privateers: Private Military Companies are becoming increasingly common within South East Asia specifically Indonesia, bearing a similarity to Hoyt's Privateers in Far Cry 3.

Wildlife

Aquactic animals

Language

The languages spoken in the Rook Islands, other than New Zealand Maori, resemble languages spoken in Indonesia.

ID: Indonesian, MY: Malay.

^ID&MYBerhenti: Stop (by Citra)
^IDSenapan ke bawah: Rifles down (by Citra)
ID&^MYBerikan saya herbal: Give me the herbs (by Citra)
^MYSelamat tengah hari: Good afternoon (by Dennis)
^IDRakyat: People (name of the people of Rook Islands)
^ID&MYBeras: Uncooked rice (name of Beras Town)
^ID&MYBangau: Heron (by Dennis)
^ID&MYLaba-laba: Spider (by Dennis)
^IDCinta untuk anak-anak kami: Love for our children (by Citra during Intercourse with Jason)

Trivia

In several places on the Rook Islands, such as in the Thurston Town on the South Island, billboards depicting the image of a man in a suit with words such as President and Vote can be seen. This is a suggestion that the Rook Islands have, or had, or were going to have some form of organized government. Neither the name of the politician featured on the billboard or indeed any form of government is encountered in-game. The voting, which is referenced to by the billboard, may have been interrupted when the Pirates took over the Rook Islands.

Billboard found in Thurston Town
Sometimes the locals will speak New Zealand Maori, 'Kia ora' meaning hello and 'ka kite' meaning goodbye. The pattern of speech is also similar, especially when a warrior yells "I will show you how a true warrior fights!"
There is a nod to the Rook Islands in Far Cry 4. If you happen to find a Knockoff GPS in random treasure chests or on the bodies of dead soldiers, the description in the guide book will read "Comes pre-loaded with a map of the Rook Islands, wherever the hell that is."
Another nod in Far Cry 4 is when performing Willis' First mission if the Lieutenant is searching for you he will say " When I find you, I will send you to the Rook Islands!"
In Far Cry New Dawn boxes with "Rook Island shit" written on them can be found.

Gallery

Videos

Far Cry 3 Official Island Survival Guide Welcome to the Rook Islands

Far Cry 3 locations
Global	Rook Islands (North · South) · Outposts · Radio Towers · Safe House
Cut locations	The Quartet · Zulu Camp
North Rook Island
Regions	Amanaki Region · Badtown Region · Hubert Shore Region · Northview Gas Region
Main locations	Amanaki Village · Badtown · Birdhouse Tower · Calvary Point · Citra's Temple · Dr. Earnhardt's Mansion · Heron's Perch · Rook Point Tower · Temple of Stone
Outposts	AM 12 · Amanaki Outpost · Broken Neck Home · Camp Murder · Cliffside Overlook · Cradle Gas · Cradle View · Hubert Shore Power · Hubris Farm · Kell's Boat Repairs · Mosquito Yard · Nat's Repairs · Northview Gas · Old Mines · Orphan Point · Rust Yard · Tequila Sunrise · The Neck's Diner · Valsa Docks · Welshore Wrecker's House
Other	Beras Town · Bihar Rock · Boat Repair Yard · Camp · Churchtown · Drug Crops · Hunting Ground · Island Port Hotel · Medusa · Nostalgia · Old Temple · Sunset Cove · Temple Gateway · Vaas' Island
South Rook Island
Regions	Break Point Docks Region · Gaztown Region · The Compound Region · Thurston Town Region
Main locations	Gaztown · Littlegate Bridge · The Compound · Thurston Town · Turtle Hill
Outposts	Break Point Docks · Bridge Control · Dry Palm Storage Depot · East Ridge Camp · Harmanse Gas & Repair · Krige Valley River Fishing · Lazy Shore Marina · Lonely Shore Way · Longshore View · Maw Docks & Repairs · North Krige Crest · Satellite Communication Hub · Spine Ridge Site · Stubborn Kid Farm
Other	Airport · Alpha Camp · Cenote · Charlie Camp · Communications Center · Delta Camp · Drug Plantation · Echo Camp · Fuel Depot · Gorge · Romeo Camp · Sub Pen · Volcano