Ancient home of magic and academia — resplendent and renown! Water-bound, the citadel is divided into districts by a myriad of waterways that permit daily boat transport. Denizens of means wear lavish costumes and masks to illustrate their rank or affiliation. With limited private defences, Taravast has relied on the good will and military influence of its neighbours, paying in the tutelage of its many sorcery schools. Newcomers are both frequent and welcomed.
CONCLAVE & DOXE Taravast lies under the stewardship of the Conclave — a largely domestic diplomatic alliance that includes foreign officials and merchants, as well as recent common delegates. The coalition is led by the Ilia Doxe — a position now held by Macaluso Spina, after a party-assisted civil revolution that deposed his grandfather Bonaccorso. Vannozza Spina — cousin and previously rival of Macaluso, as well as her grandfather's intended target of bodily possession — serves as counsellor. Macaluso is keen to develop relationships with neighbouring nations, although word that Taravast financed the undead Brotherhood with magical weapons during his grandfather's rule has estranged several citadels.
Macaluso Spina is a friend to the party. He is supported by the witches of Bessis, who have slaughtered their once enemies-then friends-then enemies once more: the court sorceresses of Attaryl. Supporters of Bonaccorso, the Attaryl specialised in prolonging lifespans, mental magic and illusions — feats that sparked and stoked a magical rivalry between Taravast and the elusive, undead-savaged citadel of Ellethia
While Taravast devotes itself to decorum, the siege of the Beastmaster and Huntress during the party's stay, along with civil rebellion, have all but decimated the necromantic and healing districts, as well as the witches' sector. The main canal dividing the bookish, trade and political north from the artistic and magical south is crossed by ten bridges — each hosting artisans of different trades: jewellers and forgers, painters, poets and thespians, costumers, potters, sculptors, cartographers and dealers of books and ancient text, sellers of delicious foods and wares, keepers of animals and exotics, and... curious potion brewers and talisman sellers. Taravast is governed by perpetual spring.
NOTABLE LOCATIONS
■ Palace of the Doxe: a centrally positioned, sprawling estate held by the acting Ilia Doxe. Under reconstruction after Bonaccorso Spina's command to burn down the civilian protesters that had encircled it. ■ The Spina hunting grounds: a peripheral mansion in north-eastern Taravast — home to Vannozza Spina. ■ Rooms of Justice: the Conclave's immense negotiation chambers. Open to the public. ■ Magical academies:schools of various reputes and affiliations. Many require hefty tuitions. ■ Healer Halls: the home of medical arts, covering magical, spiritual and bodily rejuvenation. Local healers are thoroughly attested and ethically bound, and often report back to the Conclave. Damaged during the recent siege. ■ Necromancers' district: where corpse-revivers, illicit potion brewers and the keepers of interesting magic loiter. Many necromancers are skilled in healing and willing to proceed with more experimental or risky interventions. Likewise greatly impaired by the recent offensives. ■ Merchant squares, banks, theatres, bridges. ■ The beacon: shrouded in the heart of the piazza, forgotten and defunct. Breathed its last after reanimated Attaryl witch Hatisse opened it to send some of party members to their home worlds. The beacon transported some travellers, but — aged and its energies depleted — could not withstand full journeys for the entire group.
ARC II: TARAVAST
Taravast lies under the stewardship of the Conclave — a largely domestic diplomatic alliance that includes foreign officials and merchants, as well as recent common delegates. The coalition is led by the Ilia Doxe — a position now held by Macaluso Spina, after a party-assisted civil revolution that deposed his grandfather Bonaccorso. Vannozza Spina — cousin and previously rival of Macaluso, as well as her grandfather's intended target of bodily possession — serves as counsellor. Macaluso is keen to develop relationships with neighbouring nations, although word that Taravast financed the undead Brotherhood with magical weapons during his grandfather's rule has estranged several citadels.
Macaluso Spina is a friend to the party. He is supported by the witches of Bessis, who have slaughtered their once enemies-then friends-then enemies once more: the court sorceresses of Attaryl. Supporters of Bonaccorso, the Attaryl specialised in prolonging lifespans, mental magic and illusions — feats that sparked and stoked a magical rivalry between Taravast and the elusive, undead-savaged citadel of Ellethia
NOTABLE LOCATIONS
■ The Spina hunting grounds: a peripheral mansion in north-eastern Taravast — home to Vannozza Spina.
■ Rooms of Justice: the Conclave's immense negotiation chambers. Open to the public.
■ Magical academies: schools of various reputes and affiliations. Many require hefty tuitions.
■ Healer Halls: the home of medical arts, covering magical, spiritual and bodily rejuvenation. Local healers are thoroughly attested and ethically bound, and often report back to the Conclave. Damaged during the recent siege.
■ Necromancers' district: where corpse-revivers, illicit potion brewers and the keepers of interesting magic loiter. Many necromancers are skilled in healing and willing to proceed with more experimental or risky interventions. Likewise greatly impaired by the recent offensives.
■ Merchant squares, banks, theatres, bridges.
■ The beacon: shrouded in the heart of the piazza, forgotten and defunct. Breathed its last after reanimated Attaryl witch Hatisse opened it to send some of party members to their home worlds. The beacon transported some travellers, but — aged and its energies depleted — could not withstand full journeys for the entire group.