Pak Made Wijaya, known as Penjaga Adat"The Keeper of Traditions"is a wise and steadfast village elder born around 1765 in a coastal village near Sumbawa Besar, the island’s historical capital.


"Pak Made Wijaya is pronounced as'Pahk Mah-deh Wee-jah-yah.'The 'a' sounds are like the 'a' in 'father,' and the 'e' in Made is like the 'e' in 'bed.'"

Now in his late 50s, during the early 1820s, Made is the respected leader of his community, a man who upholds Sumbawan traditions amidst the pressures of trade, colonial influence, and natural disasters like the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption. His village looks to him for guidance in both practical matters managing rice harvests and fishing expeditions and cultural practices, such as leading harvest festivals and resolving disputes with ancient adat (customary law).

Made’s weathered face, lined with the wisdom of decades, tells of a life shaped by the sea and the land. His deep-set eyes, framed by a furrowed brow, hold a calm authority, while his short, silvering hair is often covered by a woven palm-leaf cap, a traditional Sumbawan headpiece. He wears a simple kain (cloth) wrapped around his waist, dyed with natural earth tones, and a loose but well made symbolic tunic - a family heirloom symbolizing his role as guardian of his people’s heritage. His hands, calloused from years of labor, grip a walking staff, though hecarries the Sumbawa Parang at his sideas a symbol of his readiness to protect his village.


As Penjaga Adat, Made is a pillar of stability, known for his fairness in settling disputes and his deep knowledge of Sumbawan lore, including tales of the Naga, a serpent spirit tied to the island’s rivers and mountains. He leads with patience, fostering unity through shared traditions, but his greatest flaw is his resistance to change as he clings to the old ways, sometimes dismissing new ideas that could help his village adapt to a changing world, like Dutch trade demands or modern farming tools. Despite this, his people trust him implicitly, though some younger villagers chafe at his rigid adherence to tradition.

In 1790, at the age of 25, Made was a young fisherman and farmer, already showing promise as a leader in his village. One evening, during a ritual fishing expedition to honor the sea spirits,a sudden storm capsized his boat,washing him ashore near a sacred mangrove grove. As he regained his bearings, he noticed a glint among the roots a Sumbawa Parang, its Naga-carved handle half-submerged in the mud, its blade catching the moonlight. The parang felt heavy with purpose, and Made believed it was a gift from the ancestors, left by a previous elder to guide the next generation.


He took the parang as a symbol of his destiny, using its 23.25-inch length and broad, 1.1-inch blade to clear land for his family’s rice fields and protect his village from threats like wild boars or rival clans. Over the years, as he rose to the role of village elder, the parang became a mark of his authority, carried during ceremonies and council meetings, its Naga carving a reminder of his duty to protect both the physical and spiritual well-being of his people.

Sumbawa Parang Datapoints

Handle Design: Naga-carved, featuring a serpent motif symbolizing ancient power
Blade Appearance: Catches moonlight, suggesting a polished or reflective surface
Location Found: Half-submerged in mud among mangrove roots near the shore
Symbolic Weight: Feels heavy with purpose, believed to be a gift from ancestors
Historical Context: Discovered in 1790 during a ritual fishing expedition
Associated Ritual: Used in a traditional offering to honor the Naga sea spirits

How the Blade Became Enchanted

In 1815, the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tambora devastated Sumbawa, killing tens of thousands and plunging the island into chaos. Made’s village suffered greatly, ash buried their fields, and famine weakened the survivors. At 50 years old, Made knew he had to act to save his people, not just through leadership but by invoking the ancient spirits his ancestors revered. He carried the Sumbawa Parang, now a cherished relic after 25 years of use, and journeyed to a sacred hilltop where his village had long held rituals to honor the Naga.

Under a sky still dark with ash, Made performed atraditional offering, placing rice, sandalwood, and a small fish at the base of a stone altar, then raising the parang as he chanted prayers to the Naga.The ground trembled, and the Naga appeared asa towering serpent with scales like polished jade, its eyes burning with ancient power.“You have kept the traditions, Penjaga,” the Naga said, its voice a deep rumble. “But your people falter. Offer your resolve, and I will make this blade a shield for your village.”


Made agreed, pledging his unyielding commitment to Sumbawan traditions.The Naga infused the parang with its essence, its steel glowing with a soft golden light.The blade became enchanted, now called Naga’s Ward, granting a +1 bonus to attack and a special ability: once per day, it could cast Protection from Evil and Good, reflecting its role as a guardian’s tool. The enchantment strengthened Made’s resolve, but it also deepened his resistance to change, binding him even more tightly to the old ways as the Naga’s influence grew within him.

Pak Made Wijaya, Penjaga Adat - The Keeper of Traditions - D&D 5e Player Card Summary

• Name: Pak Made Wijaya, Penjaga Adat (The Keeper of Traditions)

• Classification: #Historical-Fiction

• Roles: Village Elder, leading his community through wisdom and tradition; Cultural Guardian, preserving Sumbawan customs and protecting his people

• Background: Sumbawan elder born ~1765, active in the early 1820s, post-Mount Tambora eruption

• Age: Late 50s, during the early 1820s in Sumbawa

• Appearance: Weathered and authoritative, with deep-set eyes, a furrowed brow, silvering short hair, and a face lined with wisdom

• Wearing: Kain cloth in earth tones, loose tunic, woven palm-leaf cap, bead necklace; carries a walking staff and the Sumbawa Parang

• Personality: Wise and steadfast, patient but stubborn, deeply committed to tradition; a calming presence in times of crisis

• Leadership Style: Leads with fairness and tradition, fostering unity through shared customs, but can be inflexible with new ideas

• Flaw: Resistance to change, clinging to old ways even when adaptation might benefit his village

• Social Skills: Commands respect through wisdom and fairness, skilled at mediating disputes, but struggles to connect with younger, more progressive villagers

• Combat Skills: Proficient with the parang for defense, using its enchantment to protect; relies on experience and strength rather than agility

• Epithet Origin: Penjaga Adat reflects his role as a keeper of Sumbawan traditions, symbolized by his enchanted parang

• Bond: His village and its traditions, which he sees as his life’s purpose to preserve

• Ideal: “Traditions are the roots that hold us steady in the storm."

Weapon Info: More Details
Made found this Sumbawa Parang in 1790 after a storm washed him ashore near a sacred mangrove grove, its Naga-carved handle marking it as a gift from the ancestors. He used it for decades as a tool and symbol of leadership, its 23.25-inch length and broad blade aiding in farming and protection.


After the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption, the Naga spirit enchanted the blade, naming it Naga’s Ward, a tool to shield his village.

• Class/Level: Fighter (Battle Master) 7

• Race: Human

• Alignment: Lawful Neutral

• Background: Folk Hero

Ability Scores
• STR: 16 (+3)
• DEX: 12 (+1)
• CON: 15 (+2)
• INT: 13 (+1)
• WIS: 14 (+2)
• CHA: 14 (+2)

Derived Stats
• Hit Points: 58 (7d10 + 14; 10 at 1st level + 6d10 [average 5.5] + CON modifier [2] × 7)
• Armor Class (AC): 15 (studded leather: 12 + DEX modifier [1] + 2 from Defensive fighting style)
• Initiative: +1 (DEX +1)
• Speed: 30 ft.
• Proficiency Bonus: +3 (Level 7)

Saving Throws
• STR: +6 (STR +3 + Proficiency +3)
• DEX: +1
• CON: +5 (CON +2 + Proficiency +3)
• INT: +1
• WIS: +2
• CHA: +2

Skills
• Athletics: +6 (STR +3 + Proficiency +3)
• Insight: +5 (WIS +2 + Proficiency +3)
• Persuasion: +5 (CHA +2 + Proficiency +3)
• Survival: +5 (WIS +2 + Proficiency +3)
• Passive Perception: 12 (10 + WIS +2)

Features and Traits
• Fighting Style (Defensive): +1 to AC while wearing armor.
• Second Wind: Regain 1d10 + 7 HP once per short rest.
• Action Surge: Take an extra action once per short rest.
• Battle Master Maneuvers: Knows 5 maneuvers (e.g., Commander’s Strike, Parry, Rally), with 4 superiority dice (d8).
• Know Your Enemy: Can assess an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses with 1 minute of observation.
• Extra Attack: Can attack twice per Attack action.

Maneuvers
• Commander’s Strike: Forgo one attack to let an ally attack.
• Parry: Reduce damage from an attack by 1d8 + DEX modifier.
• Rally: Grant an ally temporary HP equal to 1d8 + CHA modifier.
• Maneuvering Attack: Add 1d8 to an attack and let an ally move half their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Trip Attack: Add 1d8 to an attack and knock the target prone if they fail a STR save (DC 14).

Equipment
• Naga’s Ward: +1 Parang (Longsword equivalent), 1d8 + 4 slashing damage (1d8 + STR +3 + 1), Attack +7 (+3 Proficiency, +3 STR, +1 magic). Special: Once per day, cast Protection from Evil and Good.
• Studded Leather Armor: AC 12 + DEX modifier (1) + 1 (Defensive) = 15.
• Walking Staff: Used as a quarterstaff, 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage, Attack +6.

Actions
• Naga’s Ward (+1 Parang): Melee Weapon Attack, +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 4 slashing damage. Can use a maneuver with superiority dice.
• Quarterstaff: Melee Weapon Attack, +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage.
Notes: Made excels in leadership and defense, using his Battle Master maneuvers to protect allies and control the battlefield. His enchanted parang enhances his protective role, making him a steadfast guardian in combat.

Village Name and Location
Pak Made Wijaya lives in Desa Samudra Jaya (meaning "Village of the Victorious Ocean"), a small coastal settlement located near Sumbawa Besar, the historical capital of Sumbawa Island in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The village is situated on the northern coast of the island, where the sandy beaches meet the dense mangrove groves and the turquoise waters of the Flores Sea. It lies approximately 15 miles east of Sumbawa Besar, nestled between the sea and the rolling foothills of Mount Tambora, which looms in the distance to the northeast.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Layout:Desa Samudra Jaya is a modest village of about 200 residents, comprising roughly 40 families.The village is organized in a traditional Sumbawan layout, with houses clustered around a central open space used for communal gatherings, rituals, and markets. Homes are built on stilts to protect against flooding during the monsoon season, constructed from local timber (such as teak) and thatched with palm leaves. The central space features a sacred banyan tree, believed to house protective spirits, and a small stone altar where Made conducts rituals.

Surroundings: To the north, the village opens onto a crescent-shaped beach dotted with fishing boats made from hollowed-out logs, their sails woven from palm fibers. Mangrove groves border the village to the east and west, providing a natural barrier against storms and a rich source of fish, crabs, and medicinal plants. To the south, terraced rice fields—now struggling to recover from the ashfall of the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption—climb the foothills, interspersed with patches of jungle where villagers gather timber and herbs.

Post-Tambora Environment: The 1815 Tambora eruption left a lasting impact on the village. Ash still lingers in the soil, stunting crop growth, though resilient villagers have begun replanting rice and vegetables like taro and cassava. The air carries a faint smoky scent, and the once-lush landscape is dotted with barren patches where lava flows reshaped the terrain. Despite this, the sea remains a lifeline, offering fish and trade opportunities with passing merchants.

Cultural and Social Context
Community Structure: Desa Samudra Jaya operates under a traditional Sumbawan social structure, with Made as the village elder and leader,responsible for upholding adat (customary law) and mediating disputes.The village has a council of respected elders, including Made, whooversee communal decisions, such as organizing harvest festivals or negotiating trade with merchantsfrom Sumbawa Besar. Families are tightly knit, with roles divided by gender and age—men fish and farm, women weave and cook, and children help with chores while learning oral traditions.

Cultural Practices: The village blends animistic, Hindu-Buddhist, and Islamic influences, reflecting Sumbawa’s historical diversity in the early 19th century. Villagers honor the Naga, a serpent spirit tied to the sea and rivers, believed to protect their fishing boats and fields. Made leads annual rituals to appease the Naga, such as the Upacara Laut (Sea Ceremony), where offerings of rice and fish are floated out to sea in small boats made of banana leaves. The banyan tree in the village center is a focal point for storytelling, where elders like Made recount myths of the Naga and other spirits to teach moral lessons.

Economic Activities: The village’s economy is subsistence-based, relying on fishing, rice farming, and small-scale trade. Fishermen harvest fish, shrimp, and crabs from the sea and mangroves, while farmers cultivate rice and vegetables in the terraced fields. The village also trades sandalwood—a valuable Sumbawan commodity—with merchants from Sumbawa Besar, exchanging it for cloth, tools, and salt. The Tambora eruption disrupted this economy, forcing villagers to rely more heavily on fishing while they work to restore their fields.

Challenges: The aftermath of the Tambora eruption remains the village’s greatest challenge in the 1820s. Famine and disease have taken a toll, reducing the population and straining resources. Made’s leadership has been crucial in maintaining morale, but tensions simmer between older villagers, who cling to tradition, and younger ones, who advocate for new methods like adopting Dutch trade goods or farming techniques. External threats, such as occasional pirate raids from the Flores Sea, also loom, requiring Made to organize defenses with his enchanted parang, Naga’s Ward.

Daily Life and Atmosphere


Daily Rhythm: Life in Desa Samudra Jaya begins at dawn, with fishermen heading out to sea in their boats while women prepare meals over open fires, the scent of grilled fish and coconut rice filling the air. Farmers tend to the recovering fields, and children play near the banyan tree, weaving small baskets or listening to elders’ tales. Evenings are communal, with families gathering in the central space for meals, music (played on bamboo flutes and small drums), and storytelling under the stars.

Atmosphere: The village has a resilient, hopeful atmosphere, tempered by the scars of the Tambora eruption. The sound of waves crashing on the beach mixes with the rustle of palm leaves in the breeze, and the faint glow of oil lamps flickers from homes at night. Despite the hardships, there’s a sense of unity—villagers support each other through shared labor and rituals, with Made’s steady presence anchoring their hope for a better future.

Made’s Role in the Village
As Penjaga Adat, Made lives in a slightly larger stilt house near the banyan tree, its walls decorated with woven mats depicting traditional Sumbawan patterns. His home doubles as a meeting place for the village council, where he resolves disputes, plans festivals, and organizes communal work. Made’s enchanted parang, Naga’s Ward, is often displayed on a wooden stand in his home, a symbol of his authority and connection to the Naga spirit, though he carries it during rituals or when defending the village. His resistance to change sometimes causes friction, but his wisdom and fairness ensure the village remains united, preserving Sumbawan traditions in a time of uncertainty.