#bonissa

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A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO BONISSA: PANTHEON

Codex: The Pantheon of Bonissa

Religion in Bonissa is a tricky thing. Bonissa has a pantheon of gods, the primary ones corresponding to the four principal natural elements in their belief system, with lesser deities playing supporting roles in their mythology. However, Bonissa also prides itself on being a society of advanced scientific learning and understanding, even as it pertains to the Fade and arcane matters. Thus, if you ask the average Bonissan about their gods, you are likely to get a patient explanation that they are metaphors, convenient personifications of elemental forces that govern our lives, both physical and ethereal. The gods in this view are not literally real, but simply a helpful cognitive construct. The myths that surround them are parables that were cooked up by the primitive ancients and are now useful primarily as stories to teach children moral lessons.  Ask those same questions in certain quarters of Low Town or among the palace servants who pass dutifully unnoticed at the periphery of Bonissan court life, however, and you will get a much different answer. To these denizens, particularly those of gnomish or elvish blood, the gods are very real and very literally will intervene in mortal affairs from beyond the Veil. Much like many of the more primitive elvish tribes, they also believe that the myths are real history, that the gods at one time possessed the actual ability to pass freely across the Veil, and frequently would very literally walk among mortals in the material world. The strange thing is, insofar as I can tell, this view is shared by the Cult of the Shifting Sands, a very learned and respected, if also esoteric and clandestine, organization. Even stranger is that the Cult seems to enjoy status as Bonissa’s dominant religious institution despite the average citizen, and even many nobles and officials, knowing nearly nothing about its inner workings and beliefs.

-- From A Compendium of Beliefs and Superstitions in Greater Valkana, Fifth Edition, by Professor Ibid Genitivi of the Storm Coast Academy, Wanocce

Major Deities

Ōn, the God of Air, patron of knowledge, justice, and commerce; his avatar is a shaman; his animals are the great birds, principally the eagle; his common attributes are wands, scepters, scales, crosses, crown; Ōn is the king of the gods who led them to victory over the primal chaotic forces that existed before the birth of the universe and gifted chosen mortal species with sentience and the power to reason

Lurra, the Goddess of Earth, patron of the harvest and of the hunt; her avatar is a huntress; her animals are wolves, halla, bears, and other forest creatures; he common attributes include gems, fruit, bow and arrow, horns, sand, wood, plants; Lurra is the queen of the gods, in some versions of the myth Ōn’s wife and in some his twin sister, who taught mortals how to farm, hunt, and survive off the land

Vodda, the Goddess of Water, patron of lovers and of the arts; her avatar is a bard; her animals are fish and other sea creatures; her common attributes include cups, shells, pearls, lyre, palette, masks; Vodda is the princess of the gods, in some versions of myth the daughter of Ōn and Lurra and in some versions their younger sister, who taught mortals to feel emotion

Gar, the God of Fire, patron of war and of the forge; his avatar is a warrior; his animals are dragons, reptiles, and serpents; his common attributes include swords, blades, hammer, anvil, helmet; Gar is the prince of the gods, in some versions of myth the son of Ōn and Lurra and in some versions their younger brother, who taught mortals to forge weapons and tools and how to use them

Minor Deities

Nave, the Goddess of Death; her avatar is a spider; Nave is in some versions of myth the mother of Ōn and Lurra and in some versions their older sister, who saw the necessity that for mortal life to have meaning, they must be granted the ability to die. This act was seen as a betrayal by the other gods, and so Nave was cast down into the depths underground, which are considered her domain.

Yalan, the God of Lies; his avatar is a shadow; Yalan is in some versions of myth the twin brother of Ōn and in other versions is Ōn’s shadow come to life. Fearful that mortals would one die try to unite and make war against the gods in hopes of winning immortality, Yalan the Trickster taught mortals to lie, ensuring that chaos and discord would forever plague their lives. This act was also seen as a betrayal by the other gods, so Yalan was banished like Nave, this time confined into the shadows, never able to step foot in the light.

Argia, the God of Light; his avatar is a chevalier or paladin; his attribute is the sun; Argia is the first of two twin children of Ōn, in some versions of myth Lurra is his mother and in other versions he and his twin sister were born wholly from their father. Argia was the gift of light that Ōn placed in his domain, the sky, so mortals could have daylight by which to read and study, to congregate and organize into societies and establish laws, to nourish the ground so that Lurra’s food can grow and to provide the warmth needed to kindle Gar’s flames. Most versions of the myth contend that Argia was murdered by the trickster Yalan as revenge for his exile and out of jealousy that Argia’s light diminished his domain. 

Ametsa, the Goddess of Night; her avatar is a priestess or healer; her attribute is the moon; Ametsa is the second twin child of Ōn and twin sister of Argia. Argia was the gift of night that Ōn placed in his domain, the sky, so that mortals would have the ability to dream and thus journey through the Fade, the realm of the gods and the source of magic. As such, Ametsa is often a favored patron of mages in Bonissa. Additionally, in the myth of Argia’s death, rather than allow her brother’s soul to pass into the realm of Nave, she allows his soul in her domain, the night sky, until it is strong enough to be resurrected. This was said by the ancients to be why the sun disappears every night but then returns in the morning. To hide Argia’s light from Nave’s detection, Ametsa fills her night sky with other lights, the stars, allowing her brother to blend in. This association with the myth of Argia’s death and rebirth has also caused Ametsa to be cast in the role of psychopomp, the shepherd of souls passing through the Veil, and thus makes her particularly favored as a patron for Bonissa’s necromancers.

[titansface]

A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO BONISSA: TRAVELOGUE (II)

Codex: Walk Without Rhythm - Quest Log

<< Back to Day One

Day Two

Early in the morning, after many of your party have only received half a night’s rest at best, the sound of a loud air horn repeatedly blaring carries through Ilse’s suite, waking you. Upon investigation, you find that Garek has arrived to visit his cousin with a large entourage in tow. The source of the air horn noise is actually the data pad carried by the gnome Ziza, Garek’s personal valet-concierge-hype man. Ilse and Garek go into an adjoining room to speak privately while Ceru, who only just returned from her revelries at the Brass Cog and has not yet been to bed, negotiates with Ziza to re-establish peace and quiet. The other members of the party attmept to eavesdrop on Garek and Ilse’s conversation, determining that the topic of conversation is Alric’s behavior at the previous night’s dinner, during which he spoke out against the Rockfort Foundries deal and besmirched the Order of the Serpent, among other things. Garek warns Ilse that a report has been prepared for Queen Irulan and suggests that she may want to intercede with the Queen on Alric’s behalf, as she usually does.

After Garek and his entourage depart, the party decides to return to Low Town to further investigate the mysterious warehouse that Hunter and Amai discovered. Ceru stays behind at the palace to catch up on her sleep. While the rest of the party makes their way to Low Town, they notice number of signs indicating that most of the major streets, including the main highway connecting Low Town to High Town, are going to be closed this evening for the Night of the Air parade that kicks off the opening ceremonies of Ankommenstag. As a result, it appears that travel of any significant distance within the city will be slow and difficult tonight while the parade is in progress, particularly moving back and forth between Low Town and High Town.

Side Quest: Toil & Trouble 

Back at the warehouse, the party finds the warehouse seemingly empty with both front and rear doors once again locked. The lock on the back door appears damaged and therefore unpickable, and Krazztar detects an alarm ward placed on the front door. Without another clear way inside, he dispels the ward, and Faendal is able to pick the lock. They don’t find much out of the ordinary on the main floor other than an envelope left conspicuously at the front desk of the defunct warehouse’s former reception area. The envelope has a wax seal bearing the same vortex sigil that Hunter and Amai had seen last night. 

They also find a doorway that leads to a stairwell descending into a basement. Krazztar detects another ward placed on something downstairs and dispels it without learning exactly what it was protecting. Down in the basement, the party finds a large obsidian altar shaped like a giant anvil. Surrounding it are a circle of 24 dressmaker’s mannequins, each adorned by a ceremonial robe. Off to the side of the room is a chest containing a variety of ceremonial or ritualistic props, most of which appear to be in sets of four, including four candles, four ceremonial daggers, four chalices, four golden disks bearing the vortex sigil, and four wands. They also find a box that contains four syringes, four vials of spice melange, and four vials of a distillation solution. The party decides to put everything back as they found it and then return upstairs.

The party then tries to come up with some way to open the sealed envelope without damaging the envelope. During their deliberations, however, they hear a noise outside the front door like keys jingling. They rush to hide, but the door does not open, and they surmise that whoever was planning to enter heard someone inside and decided to turn around. The party decides to take the envelope with them and quickly leave the warehouse. On their way out, however, they spot at a distance a shadowy figure retreating from the front side of the warehouse. Frank tries to detect the blood mark she placed on the wigs from the hidden room the party had found on the previous day and senses only the faintest trace, as if the figure had only a single strand of hair from one of the marked wigs clinging to its clothes.

The party returns to the palace and opens the envelope, discovering it to be in the same code as they had seen the previous day. Having watched Alric decipher the previous note, Rethkka is able to decode this one, discovering it to be a note from Soror Ignem to someone identified only as “High Priest”. The letter reports that the cleaning and preparations were complete, including the delivery of the “payload”. She goes on to say that she will not be present right when guests begin to arrive but should be able to join before the ceremony begins, and further states that Nachash, who is arranging for security, will likely stop by the warehouse during the day to survey it.

The party asks Nettle if she knows anything about the vortex sigil that keeps turning up, and she easily identifies it as the symbol of the Cult of the Shifting Sands. The party decides to visit the Temple of the Shifting Sands in the Temple District of High Town. They ask Ilse to arrange a visit on short notice. Ilse reaches out to Eoghan, who is the cult’s liaison to the palace, and she agrees to give the party a tour of the temple that afternoon since she is already there. They also attempt to ask around to see if anyone at the palace knows who Nachash is, but no one has ever heard that name except for one of Garek’s maids, who says she overheard him and Eoghan mentioning that name, though she doesn’t know to whom it belongs.

The party arrives at the temple and is greeted by Eoghan. She walks them through the two public areas of the temple, the Courtyard of Earth, which is flanked by the temple’s public library and archives, and the Cathedral of Fire. She explains the relation between these areas and the Bonissan pantheon while also answering the party’s questions about the cult, its membership, and its standing in Bonissan society. She also takes them to a third area where normally non-members would not be permitted, the Promenade of Water, which contains a large reflecting pool and is flanked by private offices of the cult. While walking along the promenade around the pool, Faendal looks through the windows into the offices and sees the shadowy figure from the warehouse looking back at him. 

Eoghan then explains that there is one more area of the temple, but she cannot allow non-members to go there. She does however encourage the party to stop in the library on the way out, since it contains many books on arcane lore that cannot be found anywhere else.

(to be continued)

Coming Up

Tonight is the opening night ceremonies of Ankommenstag. There will be several celebrations throughout the city, including the Prancing Pierogi in Low Town and the Obsidian Wyvern in High Town. There will also be a parade from the Low Town Market to the Royal Palace in High Town, which will make travel within the city difficult.

Also tonight, there will be a secret event held in the mysterious warehouse in Low Town’s Harborside District. It appears that members of the Cult of the Shifting Sand are planning some sort of ritual.

You have a standing invitation from the Order of the Wolf to return to Low Town and interrogate the dwarf brigands who attacked you in the market.

Wirik, a dwarf engineer from the Ministry of Abundance, has offered to give your party a tour behind the scenes of the palace security system.

Later this week there will be other events, including a combat tournament and a grand ball at the royal palace. These may be opportunities to gain influence and prestige.

[titansface]

BONISSA BONUS: Q-BRANCH

Codex: Aurun’s Bag of Tricks

Aurun revealed to you that he has brought along several magical items from the Storm Coast Academy archives that may help you with your quest -- as long as you don’t mind that they may have been procured by less-than-legitimate means.

Fade Pocket A black velvet cloth about one foot on each side, when laid right side up, it becomes a magical portal into a pocket dimension that can hold an object of 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 yd maximum size. The cloth can then be folded up and transported as normal, and the object remains secure inside the pocket dimension until the cloth is unfolded again and the object retrieved.

Charm of Command A red polished stone charm carved into a relief of a king, when pressed to the skin of a sentient being, it allows its user to give a single short command, which the target must obey to the best of his or her ability. The charm fuses to the skin of its target for five minutes or until the command has been fully satisfied, at which point the charm crumbles to dust and the effect ends.

Hand of Fate A severed and dried monkey’s paw with three of its five fingers raised, the other two lower, a user who verbally invokes the “hand of fate” when attempting any difficult action will be guided to certain success by the hand’s power. The action attempted must be within the physical capability of the user. Automatically succeed a test roll, three uses

Door of Opportunity A rectangular stone pencil case with a crude drawing of a door carved into its lid, it contains a nub of green crayon that allows its user to draw a working door onto any surface that can be opened and closed once. The door has a maximum depth of one foot and opens onto whatever naturally lies on the other side of the surface. Four uses

Scent of Desire A small vial of perfume with a paper label marked with a simple hand drawn heart, when applied to the skin, it makes its wearer more alluring to  +5 to communication (seduction) tests, each use lasts for 4 hours or until the perfume is washed off, 10 uses

Mask of Pedrolina A short cylindrical tub of white clay with crude drawing of a mask carved into its lid, when applied to a user’s face as a mask, it creates a glamor that aids the wearer in disguising oneself. The glamor is more effective when the wearer is attempting to pass as a type of person rather than a specific person. When attempting to pass as a specific person, the effect is less convincing to someone who knows the person well. +5 to communication (disguise) tests, each use lasts for 1 hour or until the mask is removed, 5 uses

Psychic Ink A small vial of ink with a paper label marked with a simple drawing of a brain, when used to write a word or phrase upon a piece of paper, the paper will be perceived as the actual thing described by the word or phrase -- or at least that person’s best idea as to what it would look like -- by anyone who reads it. The effect is not able to confer upon the reader any knowledge that he or she does not already possess.  Four uses

Scrying Stone A pink marble sphere allows its user to view a single scene of up to 1 minute in duration once per day. The user can choose to either a single known person, known object, or known location as the focus of the scrying. Aurun cautions that only people possessing a strong will should use it. One use per day, one minute duration, user must make a willpower(self-discipline) or willpower(faith) test after each use

[titansface]

A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO BONISSA: TRAVELOGUE (I)

Codex: Walk Without Rhythm - Quest Log

Day One

You travel overnight on a military boat and arrive in the early morning, docking in Bonissa's Low Town. 

You are taken to the Royal Palace, where you establish yourselves as Ilse's personal guests staying in her private quarters. She introduces you to her personal servants, Cordelia, Nettle, and Garlen, as well as her pet drake Muad'dib.

Protector Erskine, an officer of the palace guard, searches your personal belongings but does not find anything objectionable. Your party however finds Erskine's manner very objectionable.

Aurun, who accompanied you to Bonissa from Wanocce, reveals that he has brought along several magical items that he believes may be helpful to you in your quest, as long as you do not mind that he stole them from his job at the Storm Coast Academy's archives.

Low Town

Nettle accompanies the party back to Low Town as a guide. At the Prancing Pierogi tavern, your party start an impromptu eating competition that pits Cupcakes against several competitors. Your party is able to make a fair amount of coin wagering on the competition. In the process you also incur the favor of the tavern's proprietor, who appreciated the entertainment you provided and invited you to return the following night as guests of honor during the Ankommenstag opening ceremonies. You also establish contact with a gnome engineer named Kowalski, who is in fact a relative of the Kowalskis you know in Nestora. He may be of use should you need anything exploded.

While in Low Town you stop by the Low Town Market and browse the various goods on sale from the street vendors and storefronts. In conversation with Nettle, Rethkka learns that the type of mana-powered blaster weapon she has been looking for may be available at the palace from the Order of the Serpent's armory.

A quintet of dwarf brigands ambush the party in the market. An elf rogue who had been observing the party from afar also comes to their aid and helps them defeat the brigands, who turn out to be not much of a challenge. At the same time, the party notices another shadowy figure observing them from an alley across the market.

City guards from the Order of the Wolf appear and round up the three brigands who survived the battle. Nettle is able to produce credentials storm the palace that spare the party from any scrutiny for their part in the combat. The elf rogue who aided the party gives her name as Melohari and says that she works for an organization that makes it their business to keep tabs on persons of interest in the city. She also says that her organization frequently is contracted for work by House Dracaedis and that she will be a guest at thebes's palace tonight.

The party then investigates the alley where the shadowy figure was observing them and find an ornate key lying on the ground as well as hidden maintenance hatch leading into the sewers. While exploring the sewers, searching for traces of the shadowy figure, the party splits. One half of the party finds another maintenance hatch that has been wired with traps. The other half of the party finds a giant albino alligator, who turns out to be sentient and able to communicate psychically, and whom you are able to appease with an offering of tribute in the form of a grilled cheese sandwich.

Upon disarming the traps on the maintenance hatch and picking the lock, the party is able to access a small, sparsely furnished room that appears to be some sort of dormitory room or perhaps prison cell, except there is no readily apparent way out of the room. Exploring the room, you find a footlocker filled with wigs, theatrical makeup and prosthetics, and a nondescript pauper’s robe. There is a wardrobe in the room that is empty save for some high quality clothes hangers whose quality and apparent cost seem incongruous with the rest of the room. Additionally, a vent is found to hold two hidden items, a small ornate snuff box filled with spice melange and and equally ornate scroll case containing a scroll written in code, which the party cannot decipher.

The party finds a hidden door leading out of the room and is able to trigger it, discovering that it leads into what appears to be a storage room or armory for the Order of the Wolf. Footsteps and voices coming from the floor above seem to indicate that this room is situated under an active guard station. The party decides to leave the way you came in, through the sewer.

Royal Palace

Back at the Royal Palace, your party washes the stench of the sewers off yourselves and prepares for dinner with the royal family. You find that Ilse has a visitor in her quarters before dinner, her half-brother Alric.

The party heads downstairs to the Lesser Dining Room, where nearly a hundred people are sitting in the antechamber socializing before dinner begins. Ilse begins circulating around the room while the party are left to observe the guests and approach any persons of interest. The prevailing sentiment of the guests seems overwhelmingly favorable towards House Dracaedis. There are several expressions of disdain and distrust for the city-state of Tolan and its citizens.

Amai sees Melohari, who appears to be a part of a group of four women. She asks Ilse about her, and Ilse explains that Melohari’s organization is one of several in the city that are employed by nobles to spy on each other and perform other clandestine work in hopes of gaining advantage over political and business rivals.

Ceru strikes up a conversation with a dwarf engineer named Wirik who works for the Ministry of Abundance’s R&D Division. He reveals that he helped design the palace’s defense system and is working in the palace during the Ankommenstag Festival to personally make sure that it is functioning properly during this important week. Ceru invites him back to Ilse’s quarters to introduce him to Rabbit, and he is suitably impressed by the technology in play. He offers an invitation to tour the palace security system behind the scenes. 

Rethkka finds Alric at a table playing a complex game with a group of friends, which he says is called Owlbears and Oubliettes. She asks him if there are any representatives of the Cult of the Shifting Sands among the guests, and he points out High Priest Eoghan, a human woman who is part of the large entourage that has gathered around his cousins Garek and Bertok.

Amai notices a very striking qunari woman enter the room and speaks with her. The woman is very beautiful but has extensive scarring around her mouth. She says that she left the Qunari because she disagreed with some aspects of their philosophy and felt her talents would be better utilized if she set out on her own to see the world and seek her fortunes. It is ultimately revealed that she is Birener, the emissary from Rockfort Foundries. When she later tells her grandfather, Maraas, about the encounter, he says that the Qunari would often be distrustful of mages and would sew the mouths shut of mages who were found to be practicing forbidden kinds of magic.

Queen Irulan then appears and invites the guests into the dining room proper to eat. The party splits up at different tables to better observe and engage the guests.

Rethkka sits with Alric and shows him the coded scroll that they found in the hidden room in the sewers. He is able to decode it and reveals that it is a list of the party’s names and physical descriptions.

Krazztar sits at a table directly next to that of the royal family so that he can eavesdrop on their conversations. He hears them discussing the upcoming tournament as well as plans to celebrate the opening ceremonies of Ankommenstag at a club called the Obsidian Wyvern in High Town tomorrow night.

Krazztar also speaks with a young mage at his table named Tamlaros, who is a junior secretary of the ambassador from the city-state of Anjiksa, who is negotiating the renewal of trade agreements with Bonissa in advance of Ankommenstag. Because their work is mostly done, Tamlaros, who is also an arcane scholar, plans to spend most of his time exploring the libraries in Bonissa, particularly the palace library and the library at the Temple of the Shifting Sands. He says he has heard those two buildings also have private collections with even rarer books of arcane lore, but that his requests to visit the private collections have so far been denied. 

Irulan circulates to each table, greeting her guests and having a brief conversation with each of them. Rethkka takes this opportunity to ask about the Cult of the Shifting Sands, and Irulan offers to arrange for the party to visit their temple.

As the evening winds down, Sovereign Lord Caedmon finally makes an appearance. Ceru and Krazztar join the queue to speak with Caedmon, greeting him as diplomats from Nestora and thanking him for his hospitality.

Ceru then joins Wirik and a group of his colleagues from the Ministry of Abundance, including his boss, Lord Minister Thesephi, who are socializing with Birener and Alric. The topic of conversation is spice harvesting and refinement, and it quickly takes on the wonky tenor of shop-talk. The group then decides to adjourn to a favorite local tavern, the Brass Cog. Birener declines the invitation but Ceru convinces Alric to tag along. Faendal, Krazztar, and Nettle follow behind stealthily in case any danger arises.

Late Night

Meanwhile, Hunter notices a small paper note has been passed to him, suggesting that he investigate an address in Low Town’s Harborside District. He recruits Amai to accompany him, and they borrow a motorcycle from the palace motor pool.

At the Brass Cog, the contingent from the Ministry of Abundance get VIP treatment and drink with abandon late into the night. Faendal and Krazztar notice that Nettle is displaying surprising acumen at stealthily following and observing the party, and she explains that Ilse has been teaching her certain skills to help her effectively spy on palace staff and visitors, low-level espionage apparently being a favored pastime in Bonissa. Ceru proposes to the party to play the rocket dog game with Cupcakes, and the assembled drunken nerds immediately begin engineering a ramp with altogether too much fervor and zeal. Alric beats a hasty retreat, as do Faendal, Krazztar, and Nettle.

Back in Low Town, Hunter and Amai arrive at the address, which is a seemingly abandoned warehouse. They attempt to pick a lock but cannot, so instead they ring the buzzer at the loading dock entrance. A pair of surprised humans answer, both dressed in clothes more suited to High Town than a derelict building in the Harborside District. Hunter and Amai say that their motorcycle ran out of fuel and ask if they have any. The pair, who introduce themselves as Soror Ignem and Frater Lucem, let them in to grab a can of fuel from inside, though they appear anxious to get the strangers out of the warehouse as soon as possible. While Amai retrieves the fuel, Hunter asks to use the restroom. The warehouse is immaculately clean and the bathroom is stocked with fine soaps, towels, and other amenities that would befit nobles more than longshoremen or warehouse workers. With some tactful investigation, Ignem and Lucem reveal that they are preparing the building for an event on the following evening. Sensing that the pair’s patience is wearing thin, Amai and Hunter decide to leave.

Later, as the sun rises over the Brass Cog, after several hours of trial runs, careful measurement of trajectories and velocity, diligent note taking, and iterative revisioning of the ramp design, the Rocket Dog sails gloriously through the air, silhouetted against the rising sun for one perfect moment, an unmitigated triumph for the scientific method.

Coming Up

Tomorrow night is the opening night ceremonies of Ankommenstag. There will be several celebrations throughout the city, including the Prancing Pierogi in Low Town and the Obsidian Wyvern in High Town. 

Also tomorrow night, there will be some sort of secret event held in the mysterious warehouse in Low Town’s Harborside District.

You have a standing invitation from the Order of the Wolf to return to Low Town and interrogate the dwarf brigands who attacked you in the market.

Queen Irulan has offered to meet with you to assist in arranging for your party to visit the Temple of the Shifting Sands.

Wirik, a dwarf engineer from the Ministry of Abundance, has offered to give your party a tour behind the scenes of the palace security system.

Later this week there will be other events, including a combat tournament and a grand ball at the royal palace. These may be opportunities to gain influence and prestige.

Continue to Day Two >>

[titansface]

A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO BONISSA: INSTITUTIONS

Notable Locations

High Town Half of Bonissa is nestled in the mountains that overlook Bonissa Harbor. High Town is home to the nobility, high ranking government officials, and most affluent citizens.

ROYAL PALACE - north most and topograpically highest point in Bonissa, seat of government and home of the royal family

PALACE SQUARE - large public square in front of the Royal Palace, flanked by twelve massive clockwork statues, surrounded by Citizens' Hall, Hall of Justice, Exhibition Hall, and the Bank of Bonissa

HIGH TOWN MARKET - heart of High Town, bustling district of merchants, taverns, tradespeople, entertainment halls, and social clubs

COLISEUM - major public entertainment venue, hosts tournaments, sporting events, music and theatrical performances

new> CLOCKWORK DISTRICT - hub of science and technology in Bonissa, home to the Ministry of Abundance, numerous laboratories, research facilities, and institutes of scientific learning

new> THE BRASS COG - a popular tavern in the Clockwork District, featuring potent, alchemically-enhanced beverages and clockwork-driven, Rube Goldberg-ian mechanisms

new> THE OBSIDIAN WYVERN - a very exclusive social club in the High Town Market

new> TEMPLE DISTRICT - religious and educational hub in Bonissa, home to the Temple of the Shifting Sands, the University of Bonissa, the Royal Museum, and the Library of Bonissa.

new> TEMPLE OF THE SHIFTING SANDS - the crown jewel of the Temple District, headquarters of the Cult of the Shifting Sands Low Town The other half of Bonissa sits at the foot of the mountains directly surrounding Bonissa harbor. Low Town is home to blue collar workers and other citizens of modest means

LOW TOWN MARKET - bustling heart of Lowtown brimming with merchants, taverns, and entertainment; popular with foreign visitors and the only part of Low Town that High Town residents deem worth visiting

THE PRANCING PIEROGI - a popular tavern in the Low Town Market

HARBORSIDE DISTRICT - docks and adjacent area on the northern edge of the city with a high concentration of factories, warehouses, canneries, and foundries

new> MYSTERIOUS WAREHOUSE - an ostensibly abandoned warehouse in the Harborside District that appears to be used by members of the Cult of the Shifting Sands for some secret ritual

Notable Organizations

CULT OF THE SHIFTING SANDS - An enigmatic but influential blood magic cult, it has been an institution in Bonissan culture for centuries. It is widely known that the cult advises the Sovereign Lord on the production of spice melange, although most ordinary citizens know little of its beliefs, practices, or the exact nature of its connection to the spice.

ORDER OF THE DRAGON - Fourth and largest of Bonissa’s four military orders. This order is responsible for defending Bonissa against foreign aggression as well as protecting Bonissa’s mining and trade interests beyond the borders of the city-state.

ORDER OF THE WOLF - Third of Bonissa’s four military orders. This order is responsible for policing the citizens of Bonissa and mediating disputes within the city’s borders. It serves all functions that would normally be shared between a city’s guards and its judiciary, including investigation, arresting, prosecuting, passing judgment, and sentencing.

ORDER OF THE SERPENT - Second of Bonissa's four military orders.  This order is responsible for investigating high crimes against the state including treason, espionage, sedition, and misappropriation of state funds. It is also responsible for palace defense, protection of the royal family, and spying on the two lesser orders on behalf of the throne.

ORDER OF THE WORM - First and most elite of Bonissa’s four military orders. This order serves as the personal bodyguards and shock troopers of the Lord Sovereign. They also spy on the Order of the Serpent on behalf of the throne.

new> MINISTRY OF ABUNDANCE - One of the civilian ministries that comprises the Bonissan government, it is responsible for overseeing the mining and refinement of Bonissa’s natural resources as well as agriculture, environmental sciences, scientific research and development, engineering, and computer technology.

[titansface]

A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO BONISSA: THE FESTIVAL OF ANKOMMENSTAG

Codex: Ankommenstag

Ankommenstag is the most important feast day in Bonissa. It commemorates the arrival of settlers to this island and the founding of the City-State of Bonissa. Considered the start of a new year in the Bonissan calendar, the day of Ankommenstag is traditionally a day of ceremony and pomp when major trade agreements and other important compacts are renewed and new agreements are executed. The days leading up to Ankommenstag however are meant for celebration, and the streets and taverns of Bonissa are flooded with revelers and visitors. These days of celebration, collectively referred to as the Festival of Ankommenstag, begin a week before the feast day as countless independent events, large and small, are held across the city. The few days immediately preceding Ankommenstag have special significance during which official events are held to correspond to the story of Bonissa’s founding.

The Night of Air (3 nights before Ankommenstag) Opening night ceremonies begin at sundown. A grand parade marches from the Low Town Market Square to the Palace Square in High Town. Twin celebrations are held in each of the two squares, and many taverns and social clubs in both the Low Town and High Town markets will host their own parties that frequently extend into the next morning. The Night of Air commemorates the divine revelation to Bonissa’s founders of the need to prepare to leave their old homeland.

The Day of Fire (2 days before Ankommenstag) The Grand Tournament is held at the High Town Coliseum. Residents who cannot afford to attend will gather in taverns across the city to watch the live broadcast feed. These viewings naturally feature wagering on the tournament matches and are also often accompanied by smaller competitions, performances, and exhibitions in the taverns between matches. At night, people gather on rooftops, balconies, and in open public spaces to watch a fireworks display over the Bonissa Harbor. The Day of Fire commemorates the great war that forced Bonissa’s founders to flee their ravaged homeland.

The Day of Water (1 day before Ankommenstag) A day of fasting is traditionally observed between sunrise and sunset on the day before Ankommenstag. Citizens will often spend the day in prayer, meditation, or study. For visitors, it is often viewed as a welcome respite from the preceding days of excess. While it is not required for visitors to fast, those who at least refrain from heavy meals or consuming alcohol will be viewed favorably by locals. The Day of Water commemorates the long and arduous sea journey endured by Bonissa’s founders as they searched for a new home to settle.

The Night of Earth (1 night before Ankommenstag) On the eve of Ankommenstag, the most powerful and influential citizens, as well as the most honored visitors, will attend the Grand Ball at the Royal Palace. For those not fortunate enough to rate an invitation, other formal dances are held at taverns and social clubs across the city. Where you spend the Night of Earth is viewed as a definitive indicator of your standing in Bonissan society. The Night of Earth commemorates Bonissa’s founders landing on the island that would become their home.

Ankommenstag The Day of Arrival is generally viewed as a somber and ceremonial day. Aside from ministerial ceremonies at the Royal Palace, nearly all businesses are closed and citizens generally spend the day at home with family preparing the large multi-course meals that are customary for Ankommenstag dinner. Ankommenstag commemorates the settling of the island and founding of Bonissa.

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A VISITOR'S GUIDE TO BONISSA: QUEST BRIEFING

Codex: Walk Without Rhythm

Sovereign Lord Caedmon is planning to enter into an agreement with a foreign company called Rockfort Foundries to sell off a substantial portion of Bonissa's spice melange reserves. The deal, which will be finalized on the upcoming feast day of Ankommenstag, is being brokered by an influential blood magic cult called the Cult of the Shifting Sands. Ilse opposes the deal because she feels it is too risky and could be disastrous if spice production were to drop. She has also learned that Rockfort Foundries is in league with your arch enemies, the Children of Chaos, which does not bode well for what they intend to do with the spice.

Objectives:

Stop the sale of spice melange to Rockfort Foundries.

Investigate Ilse's suspicions that other members of the royal family have been coerced into supporting the sale, either through blackmail, magic, or some other means.

Investigate the connections between Rockfort Foundries, the Cult of the Shifting Sands, and the Children of Chaos.

Gain influence and prestige among Bonissan society to aid in your goals.

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A VISITOR'S GUIDE TO BONISSA: CHARACTERS

Codex: House Dracaedis

The current ruling dynasty of Bonissa has endured for centuries, pre-dating even the beginning of the Chaos Wars. Power is passed from the Sovereign Lord to a chosen heir, always a member of the royal family and nearly always a blood relative. In determining succession, a prospective heir’s merit and fitness for leadership can often weigh against birth order and proximity of relation. As a result, potential heirs in each generation develop zealous and often bloody rivalries as they compete to curry favor and demonstrate their guile.

Below is a running list of key non-player characters your party has encountered or heard about.

The Royal Family

CAEDMON, Sovereign Lord of Bonissa, a human male who spends most of his time inside a mechanical suit of power armor with sophisticated life support systems

IRULAN, Queen of Bonissa, Caedmon's wife, elf female

GAREK, Caedmon's son and heir apparent, human male rogue (duelist) whom your party met as a tournament combatant in KARROS

BERTOK, Garek's brother, human male warrior, also a tournament combatant in KARROS

ILSE, Caedmon's niece and adopted ward, human female warrior whom you met and befriended in KARROS, your main ally and benefactor in Bonissa 

ALRIC, Ilse's half-brother, human male mage, fourth of the quartet you met competing in the tournament in KARROS

Ilse's Staff & Confidants

CORDELIA, middle-aged elf woman, Ilse's senior handmaid

NETTLE, young elf female, Ilse's junior handmaiden

GARLEN, middle-aged elf man, Ilse's footman

MUAD’DIB, Maude for short, female drake, Ilse's animal companion

Other Palace Staff

PROTECTOR ERSKINE, Bonissan noble, human male rogue, high-ranking officer in the ORDER OF THE SERPENT, responsible for palace security

new> ZIZA, a gnome male, personal valet-concierge-hype man to Garek

Other Palace Visitors

BIRENER, Qunari female mage, emissary from ROCKFORT FOUNDRIES, staying as a personal guest of Garek

TAMLAROS, human male mage, junior secretary to the Ambassador from the City-State of ANJIKSA and also an arcane scholar

High Town Residents & Visitors 

EOGHAN, human female mage, a High Priest of the Cult of the Shifting Sands, personal friend of Garek

MELOHARI, an elf female rogue, member of an organization hired by the royal family and other nobles to perform services requiring a very particular set of skills

WIRIK, a dwarf male engineer, normally works for the MINISTRY OF ABUNDANCE, a civilian government department, but is consulting with the ORDER OF THE SERPENT during ANKOMMENSTAG due to his familiarity with the palace’s defense systems, which he helped design

new> LORD MINISTER THESEPHI, a human female noble, head of the MINISTRY OF ABUNDANCE, and a member of the Sovereign Lord’s cabinet, she seems to have a keen interest in Alric

new> LORD MINISTER VALAINE, a human female noble, head of the MINISTRY OF TRUTH, and a member of the Sovereign Lord’s cabinet, has sought Ilse’s, and by extension the party’s, assistance in investigating her missing daughter, ANEMONA

new> CRINA, a human female noble, Lord Minister Valaine’s younger daughter, who sent the party an anonymous note directing them to investigate the mysterious warehouse in Low Town in hopes that they would be able to save her sister, ANEMONA, whom she believed to be in danger

new> CRINA, a human female noble, Lord Minister Valaine’s older daughter, who went missing during the Night of Air celebrations of Ankommentag

new> SOROR IGNEM, human female mage, ostensibly a resident of High Town, but found in a seemingly-abonded Low Town warehouse late at night

new> FRATER LUCEM, human male mage, another apparent High Town resident found with Soror Ignem in the Low Town warehouse, making preparations for an event of some kind

new> NACHASH, a shadowy figure who has been observing our party’s movements in Bonissa and has been hinted to be a sort of enforcer for the Cult of Shifting Sands

Low Town Residents & Visitors

LEV ZELENSKI, Bonissan citizen, human male innkeeper, proprietor of THE PRANCING PIEROGI tavern, has invited your party to be guests of honor at the Ankommenstag opening night celebration

KOWALSKI (3), gnome male rogue, engineer and demolitions enthusiast, champion competitive eater, vagabond and urban forager, currently staying at THE PRANCING PIEROGI (but they don't know that), cousin to the two Kowalskis you know in NESTORA

new> DONULIR, dwarf male warrior, member of the ORDER OF THE WOLF and boyfriend of Ilse’s servant, CORDELIA