Over 6,000 years old, Gebel is the
oldest city in the world and the first Phoenician city,
although it may have started as a Badaran colony. The city worships the mother
of Gebel, Ba’alat Gebel in The Great Temple overlooking the sea. She’s a god of the sea,
love and beauty, and the women of the town are known regionally as the most
beautiful.
The town’s scenic
beauty, openness to ideas, embracing of nature and worship of the goddess of
love, and a population with a lot of young
students (and a ‘non-lawful” alignment), has resulted in a “romantic”
reputation.
The city exports
cedar and pine, along with salt and red pottery. It has a large number of farmers who
wish their children to one day attend the local Academae, so there is an
abundance of food in the town, much of which is exported. Its primary draw is
The Phoenician Academae, an academy focusing on practical
magic.
The Phoenician Academae is the most respected arcane school in the
region and builds up slowly in its study from what was lost in Barothai,
teaching ethics and philosophy along with magic in hopes of avoiding past
mistakes.
Purple robed wizards study arcana, along with history, nature and
nobility, with expectations they will one day be advisors to kings throughout
the world. Students are required to take
a level in druid through their
training, and are brought into the druidic mysteries as well. To be admitted to
the Academae, students need to be neutral somewhere in their alignment or
flexible enough in one axis that they can be “turned” through study.
Those of the academy believe their teachings have appeased the
various forces of nature who hunted other cultures for their past transgressions.
GEBEL (Gebal)
NG Large city
Corruption +0; Crime +1; Economy +3; Law +3; Lore +8; Society +4
Qualities abdundant, academic, peacebonding, religious tolerance, romantic, well-educated
Abundant
The
settlement has access to extraordinary natural resources: rich farmland, a deep
lake, excellent hunting grounds nearby or even a convenient source of magical
sustenance. The local food surplus makes the settlement a major exporting hub,
and increases the standard of living for its inhabitants.
Reduce
the purchase price of most forms of locally-grown food and livestock by 25% or
more.
Peacebonding
By
local law, any weapon larger than a dagger and all wands and rods must either
be peacebound or stored at the local sherrif’s office or jail (at the
settlement’s option) for the duration of the visit. Peacebonding a weapon
involves winding a colored cord tightly around the weapon and its scabbard, and
then impressing the local seal in wax. Removing the peacebond requires a full round action before
the item can be drawn. (Disable Device DC 12 to untangle the bond as a move
equivalent action; bond HP 5, no hardness).
Religious Tolerance
The
settlement is known for its widespread religious tolerance, and many faiths
have temples, cathedrals or monasteries here. Religious debates in the public
square are common.
Romantic
The
settlement’s inhabitants are renowned for their stunning beauty and charm, and
the location has been made famous in dozens of romantic songs, poems and bawdy
limericks. Affairs of the heart are common here, among the town’s hotblooded,
lusty inhabitants.
Increase
Society +1. Double the amount of minor magic items available for sale in the
marketplace. Such trinkets are a popular, if expensive, token of affection
here.
Well Educated
The settlement’s inhabitants are
incredibly well educated and known for their sharp wits.
Danger +10
Danger +10
DEMOGRAPHICS
Government Magical
Population 24,000 (90% human, 5% elves, 5% other)
Noteable NPCs
Grandmaster
Tanith
Mistress of the North Wind, Unmashtart
Adad the Groundskeeper
Mistress of the North Wind, Unmashtart
Adad the Groundskeeper
MARKETPLACE
Base Value 8,000 gp; Purchase Limit 50,000 gp; Spellcasting 9th
Minor Items 8d4; Medium Items 3d4; Major Items 2d4
