The events take place in an imaginary land based on the societies of ancient India. This fictional world features some of the topography of the real India such as rivers, forests, grasslands, and a northern mountain range. The Danda-Vana forest is especially important because it still has remnants of the early days of the world when animals could talk. It is in and near this forest that Tamar meets the woman he shall love, the king of 4704 The Iron Ring the monkeys, the Naga-loka, and a talking bird. Talking animals would seem to be very strange, but Tamar takes the wonders he experiences in stride.