Fioll

Return to Southern Regions

Description:
While the region of Baibose is the religious and cultural heart of the civilization, and thus they take their name from there, this is the living heart of the human kingdom. It is a vast, fertile grassland with herds of wild, charismatic megafauna. Farms line the irrigation canals that spread water from Lake Metri, but walled cities rise up from the plains as the more notable features of the region.

The capital, Fioll, sits on the banks of Lake Metri and is home to the royal family as well as the aristocrats and those who serve the court. On the opposite bank is the city of Metri. Where farmers are not earning a living, the plains surrounding Metri are filled with wildflowers most of the year. In contrast to this beauty, the city itself is poorly maintained and poverty is common as the production of the land goes mostly across the lake. Day-to-day running of affairs is left to the criminal syndicate the the Garland.

The Garland also has an active presence in the town that surrounds The Spire, which is a military training facility as well as the headquarters of the Army of Baibose. It is positioned in the mountains near the border to be defensible. The Garland has a tacit understanding with the army-so long as they keep a low profile and don't embaress the military or political forces of the kingdom they may run their petty larceny, smuggling, and extortion. When they go too far a few members are rounded up and made an example of before being returned to their leaders.

The town of Novo is, as you would expect, new. King Steven has established it as a joint effort with the academy. It is where, as he puts it, "we will build a better Baibose." It is a center of industry fueled by a combination of magic and the work of Baibose's young people. In fact, only young, single people are allowed to live there, but the pay is generous and many can send back enough to help their families significantly. This is disruptive, however, to the traditional Biabose practice of extended families living together in a house or cluster of houses until or even after marriage.

The other noteworthy location is the Old House. This is the home to the Royal Academy of Magic. It was originally simply an old house, as the founder of the Academy made a condition of his service that he never be asked to leave his home in the countryside. Over the years the house was added to, sometimes in ways that defy physics, so that now it has become a tall, eccentric tower with different levels made of different materials and constructed in different styles. There is a level that is lousy with gargoyles and built in the style of a gothic cathedral; another is made entirely of a clear material that resembles glass but has never been scratched or stained despite many witnessing evocation lessons in that story over the years. The base of it remains the same simple house, which any carpenter would tell you should never be able to support the other twelve stories stacked on top of it.

Latitude:
15 degrees south (in our world, north Australia, north Madagascar, central Brazil)

Average elevation (in feet):
1159 (roughly the elevation of Pheonix, AZ)

Biome:
Tropical seasonal savannah

Civilizations:
Baibose

Landmarks:
Lake, numerous cities, fortress, magical academy

Easy
Team may not take notable damage from this

Matriarchy - 100gp sapphire
A drow family has been prosperous ranchers loyal to Baibose since they moved here generations ago. The most recent matriarch treated her family like her herd: ride them hard and never let anyone step out of line. Since her passing, the family says her spirit has only become more judgemental and they can't live in the ranch house until she has been exorcised.

Mysterious Island - 100gp sapphire
There's an island in Lake Metri which has a few farmhouses on it, but the farms are clearly abandoned. Why did the farmers leave, and why would someone leave a gem behind when they left?

In Too Deep - 3 points food
A poor family has hidden away some of their food for a rainy day. Their daughter has gotten into some trouble, and if someone can help they're welcome to the secret cache.

Vermiculture - 3 points shelter
There is a clan that raises giant silkworms that can only live with certain environmental conditions which they have been cultivating for centuries. There are rumors that there is trouble amongst the worms, but the nature is unclear. They might be willing to provide some of their amazingly strong cloth in exchange for help.

The Middens - 1 point security
The cities of Metri and Fioll share a common spot to carry garbage. It's a disgusting place, but there are scroungers who live her, finding valuables amongst what was tossed away. It's said that they've fixed up some supplies the military mistakenly thought unsalvagable and will sell them for the right price.

Medium
Team will likely use some hit dice during the next short rest after this

Look Upon My Works, Ye Mortals - 300gp ruby
The ruins of an outpost of an ancient civilization are found out here. Researchers from the academy have found numerous magical artifacts, but they clearly haven't discover the ruby hidden out here.

Wild Centaurs Couldn't Drag Me Away - 300gp beryl
There is a tribe of centaurs who have lived on the plains for generations, technically on the land of Baibose but they have never sworn allegiance to the royal family. They keep to themselves and live a nomadic lifestyle. There have been known to be conflicts between farmers who build too close to their traditional lands, which the centaurs prefer to keep wild for the herds they follow, but these are rare. What might they be willing to trade for their topaz?

A Delicate Matter- 4 traits or [2 traits and an agenda]
Someone at court needs help and can't (or won't) ask locals. They need a foreigner to take care of it.

Old Makes Way for the New - 20 people
There are a group of farmers who have been dispossessed by the construction of Novo on the lands where their ancestors raised crops. They've been wandering, but are uncertain what to do next. The Garland has an offer for them, and while they know it's dangerous they don't know where else to turn.

Hard
Team will likely need a long rest after this

Newer, Bigger, Better- 500gp emerald
The shiny new town of Novo is heavily guarded, and only permitted residents can enter. However, the gemfinder is pointing to this area.

Feeding the Agenda - 6 traits or [4 traits and 2 agendas]
The Garland has a food charity in Metri which provides them their ostensible raison d'etre: they are supposedly a charity providing shelter and food to the homeless and hungry. (tEveryone understands this to be a cover even while they do not call out their other activities.) People in need really do eat and sleep here, and things are very quiet. In fact, the crime and danger right in this area are noticably lower than the rest of the neighborhood. If you learned how they accomplish this, maybe there's something to be learned for use in your civilization?

Baibose - Formal Introduction
You have to register in Fioll in the Department of Foreign Affairs to be a certified trading partner. You need to certify that you will respect the Baibose borders, allow diplomatic delegations to be safely treated, and allow open, tariff-free trade from Baibose in exchange for them offering the same. It's mostly a bureaucratic process, but it does require the king's personal seal.

Very Hard
If you're not careful and prepared, some team members may die in this adventure

Rescue - 6 points reputation (Triumph)
Genth Prison is in the middle of Lake Metri, and it's where Ter is held. The people who rescued Lady Gala can provide the layout and guards encountered during their mission, but they assume additional security has been added since they were there.