May 8, 2019 8:21 pm
OOC:
aside from how I’ve been using the spoilers so far for intelligence proficiencies, I will also use them here to share knowledge that anyone of the correct class would knowThe city of Ilan Ketur is the seat of Gilgamesh, Satrap of Silence. Once a mighty general, Gilgamesh has developed a shrewd political mind and is as ruthless and unforgiving he was once in battle, he now is in trade negotiations and political maneuvering. With control over the fork in Eseru’s Blessing, the river that flows down from the Blackshield Mountains across all the Satrapies to the Ionic Ocean, Gilgamesh has bullied the other Satraps endlessly to make his Satrapy the most powerful in the province.
The city of Emzah, once a mighty Satrapy in its own right, now a vassal to Ilan Ketur. For as long as any man alive can remember there were five satrapies, but Nevud: Satrap of Medicine died suddenly without an heir about thirty-five years ago and Gilgamesh moved in on this vulnerable territory before they could mobilize a defense. He exiled the city’s councilmembers and installed his own puppet government, led by Governor Singor, called Singor Snake-eyes by his detractors. Emzah possesses no exclusive monopoly over any natural resource, but sitting nearly in the center of the Satrapies and Independent Cities makes Emzah and mighty control point. While the people of Emzah chafe at being reduced from a mighty Satrapy to a mere vassal, Gilgamesh’s control over the area has been absolute. There are rumors that with the strength of Emzah under his thumb, Gilgamesh may seek to take over the other Satrapies making himself an emperor, but the stagnation of any military momentum for the last three decades belies these theories.
[ +- ] History
Any student of history knows that the assumption of five Satrapies is really only about a century old and that in times past the Satrapies were in constant fluctuation and war. Relative stability began after a series of coordinated assassinations about one hundred years back that have never been solved.
This area is covered with numerous farming communities that swear fealty to Gilgamesh in exchange for protection. The primary threat to the people north of Eseru’s heart (the northern tributary of Eseru’s Blessing) comes from the Windshadow Woods. Home to highly territorial Drow and their uncharted capital of Benadem, a farmer that wanders too far into their territory may not find his way home and everyone knows that raising an axe to a Windshadow tree is certain death. Outside of this danger, the lands under the peace of Gilgamesh are relatively safe from banditry, slavers, and monsters.
[ +- ] Religion
The deities served in this region include Dagon, Sarai, Karduk, Eseru, Din Napisti and Butumt. All of these except Butumt have places of worship within the city (Butumt’s temples are only in more remote, wild places). The high temple of Dagon is in Ilan Ketur, while the high temple of Sarai is in Emzah.
[ +- ] Wizards
These cities each contain a school of magic. The Council of Seers is located in Ilan Ketur, the masters of divination magic. It is said that their influence has been of great aid in Gilgamesh’s rise to power and also have acted as a major restraint on his ambitions since then. Evocation magic is practiced by the Sages of the Unbroken Eye, located in Emzah. Evocation magic has a dual aspect to it in that it is the balance between healing magic and damaging magic. They work closely with the clerics of Sarai in Emzah to provide healing for any who need it, but they also can be called on for military service.
[ +- ] Fighters
The armies of Emzah have been sent off to patrol the outer reaches of Gilgamesh’s territory, upriver close to the Bronze Foothills. Emzah is protected by a newly formed corps called the Immortals (analogous to the Samurai subclass in XGtE), who fight with an unnatural seeming ferocity and unwavering loyalty to Gilgamesh. The armies of Ilan Ketur march further to the east, fending off any Drow foolish enough to be seen outside the Windshadow Woods as well as competing with military demonstrations from the Satrap of Eylah.