Mythic Vistas: SpirosBlaak - Property Is Theft!

24
of the church, the school has apprenticed some of the Archduchy’s
more powerful and famous wizards. Enrolling requires a series of
tests, many of which are without an easily determined purpose,
but students passing them can study whatever form of magic they
desire—so long as they observe the rules and pay their tuition.
The Eye of Heaven
Mounted at the city’s heart in a freestanding tower, the tallest
structure in the city, the Eye of Heaven is an immense telescope.
A philanthropic wizard erected it nearly three centuries ago, and
bequeathed it to the city upon his death. Guards protect the Eye
of Heaven, and it is only open to the public during certain hours.
During the remainder of the day, use of the telescope is portioned
out between the universities.
People of Note
The following are people of note in Askalan.
Duke Marcus Derillian I
Male Spiran 2nd-level noble, LE.
The eldest son of the late Duke Duvane Derillian, Marcus is the
latest duke in a line ruling Askalan for 600 years. An ignorant,
portly young man whose vices make him appear twice his 23
years, Duke Derillian pursues his own interest, caring not for
furthering the cause of knowledge or improving his people’s lot.
Having reigned for a lile under a year, the young duke heeds the
advice of the Enlightened Council of Scholars, but his independent
nature grows daily.
The Enlightened Council of Scholars
An elected council of six wise men and women, usually Askalanian
academicians, the council advises the duke and ensures the voices
of the educated are not ignored. Although they legally possess
no governing power, the incredibly high number of students and
scholars in Askalan, along with the city’s dependence upon its
education and knowledge-related industries, gives the council
members much influence. The council members are elected every
six years, although staggered, so there is never a time where there
is more than one seat vacant. However, although there is the
possibility for new blood, the membership rarely changes, as the
Council itself determines its composition.
Rector Arphias
Male Spiran 10th-level priest/20th-+ level wizard, NG.
A priest of Cinnoldis, Arphias has taught at the Basilica for as long
as anyone can remember; the Basilica’s rolls indicate that he’s been
around since before 300 B.F., when most records were destroyed in
the city’s sacking. Arphias is an exceptional tutor, and he trained
many of the Archduchy’s most notable spellcasters—heroes and
villains alike. Tales concerning this human wizard’s extremely long
life vary, but the most popular involve magic potions, forbidden
magic, soul eating, and, most inconceivable of all: Arphias may
actually be Cinnoldis himself.
Karditious, the Philologist of Askalan
Male mentor 6th-level expert/10th-level Askalanian academician.
Unnaturally old, even for one of his kind, Karditious is widely
recognized as the wisest and most learned individual in the
Archduchy of SpirosBlaak. A devoted seeker of wisdom, Karditious
chaired the Enlightened Council of Scholars for over 100 years, but
retired to live in the Grand Library almost three decades ago. This
elderly mentor rarely accepts visitors and much prefers to continue
his quest for understanding in solitude.
Chapter Four: Customs, Communities, and Geography
Dreij, City of Gold
Treasurer (Duke) Xyxal Garlnne’mom
Symbol: A gold trimmed heraldic shield
containing a rearing red dragon silhouee
holding three arrows within its rear talons.
Population: 78,000 (22% bakad, 52% human,
6% halfling, 8% dwarven, 2% kavbroed,
%10 other)
Special Population:1,000 mint guards, 5
Dreijian infantry legions, 2 Dreijian cavalry legions, 1 Dreijian
artillery legion, 2 Dreijian musketeer legions, approximately 3,000
mercenaries hired by the various guilds, 640 city guardsmen, and
6,000 house slaves (45% human).
Duchy Population: 256,000 (14% bakad, 43% human, 6% kav, 18%
halfling, 3% dwarven, %16 other).
Duchy Boundaries: Reaching halfway to Askalan along the Coastal
Road and north to the tip of the Isle of Laervas, the Duchy of Dreij
also claims farmland into the Fristian Grasslands for a few dozen
miles.
Religions: Gamia, Dooned, and Arkanocles.
Imports: Gold, silver, argentum, copper, and platinum.
Exports: Coins, and just about anything that anyone could sell or
buy.
Languages: Common, Goblin, and Lycanthus.
Alignments: Lawful neutral and neutral evil.
This is the second most fortified city of the Archduchy, despite its
small size when compared to many of the others, but with good
reason: Dreij houses the minting facilities of all the Archduchy’s coin,
as well as that of most individual duchies, as well. The mint rests at
the very center of the twin-walled city, close to the duke’s manor in the
Guild District, and all streets seem to lead to its high, imposing walls.
Dreij is called the City of Gold because of the incalculable amount
of wealth that changes hands daily within this city rather than
for its appearance. In actuality, the city is drab, utilitarian city. Its
architecture lacks any semblance of imagination or artistry: the
city’s walls are made of darkly stained wood or dull-gray stone, its
streets are of packed earth—save the main avenues used by the mint
and guilds, which are cobbled instead—and even Dreij’s bright gas
lamps cannot prevent the bland buildings from blending into the
night once the sun sets.
Surprisingly short on decadence for a city of its size, there are
few “rowdy” inns and brothels but no legal sporting arenas in
Dreij. In exchange for this lack of zest is the incredibly efficient
workforce making Dreij the most profitable city in the nation. The
wealthy guildmasters and prosperous bureaucrats point to these
facts whenever the lower caste complains about the long shis
and meager rewards inherent in the city’s merciless systems of
indentured, penal, and slave labor.
Relations
The other duchies fear disagreeing with Dreij too much or too
drastically will bring about open trade sanctions and “unavoidable
labor problems” potentially affecting their own economies, so
they generally leave Dreij to its own devices, so long as the city
doesn’t overstep its bounds. The guilds within the city know these
boundaries well; they make a daily habit of testing them.
The stranglehold the independent Duchy of Kirvos has upon
the production of black powder annoys the merchants of Dreij,
and it restricts the profits of any bakad house seeking to enter the
black powder market, making several houses desperate to end the
kav’s monopoly. The rulers of Kirvos threaten mighty Dreij oen;
they’ve informed the City of Gold its people’s constant aempts to
undermine or sabotage their black powder production will not be