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Sunday, January 15, 2023

R.P.G. Spelljammer Sandbox - Part 9 - Iberia Prime

 


 


The edge of the empire has been written mostly by outsiders.  While it currently is part of Astra Byzantium, it has been invaded and has changed hands multiple times and the culture of this region reflects this. It is known as the sphere of passage as it is a melting pot where the local centaur population mixed with elves and goblinoids, orcs, and humans from Carthage, Greece, and Italia into something that is distinct.  Centuries of conflict have scarred the land, but it has settled to some degree and is now a common base of exploration and commerce.

About Centaurs.

It can be argued that Iberia’s one unique thing is that of its sizable centaur population.   While in the past they were more tribal in nature, they have been culturally transformed to farming communes that control the territory and rely on a chief who often is the patron (or matron) of the family.   These are designed around a citadel for self-defense. These farms produce wheat, vegetables, pigs and other livestock.  They also are recruited by the armies of Astra Byzantium for their unique properties to act as runners on planet as well as used as a power source for many Spelljammer designs.  Despite some legendary scholars coming from the species, Centaurs are often considered farmers with all the stereotypes associated with that within the empire.  still their religious sites to the older gods are open air communal sanctuaries on hilltops, topped with bronzed statues.

Abuela

Dubbed “Grandmother” in an ancient language, it is an older sun that is beginning the slow transition from yellow sun to red giant.  It won’t be completed for millennia, but it gives the place a period of transition that makes people resigned to one day having to leave.

Hispania

The main planet in Iberia space can be described as a mega terra.  It would be about 3 times as large when compared to terrestrial earth and as a result, has stigmatized the need for space travel before the various invasions.  Now it has been split off into sections to best administrate and based on cultural demographics.

It's mostly rocky and somewhat harsh, but it's also known for its date trees growing wild and suitable as a food source in space if properly cultivated.

Cartaginense

This was a recent split off from the larger province of Tarraconense.

Saguntum is the capital of this region that is right in the heart land of the region and was the trigger of a great war between Astra Byzantium and the now people of Astra Carthage.  It has only been minted recently as a governmental center and has been hiring adventurers like crazy to smooth over the rough edges of the region.  It is also known for its order of Palladins dedicated to "traditions."

Avila is a striking walled town that is known for its wizard's college where most magical items are sent to for study. 

The Town of Toledum is known for its metal working and Toledum Steel is legendary through the empire and beyond.

Retiro is ambitious project nearby Toledum. The legendary female Centaur Scholar and Cleric of Athena, Lucía de Castro was on the forefront of the "female spirituality movement" and has the legendary castille as a retreat for women of all races. It has been under siege by both orc forces and hardliners but has never fell. It has the most amazing beautifully manicured gardens and fountains inside it's stone walls.

Gallecia

Located in the northwest of the planet, this kingdom is a holdover of a long ancient invasion of goblinoids.  They have mixed with the local Celtic population to create a diverse culture that follows druidism and various other local practices.  While ostensibly loyal to Astra Byzantium, they have their own way of doing things.

There is this pilgrimage trail in the name of druidism and ancient gods that those that believe need to take once in their lifetime, but it's fraught with danger.

Lustitana

One of the hardest conquests of Astra Byzantium, the local Centaur population fought hard on behalf of what would one day be Astra Carthage until they were ultimately defeated.  Now centuries later, they are effectively Byzantium citizen, but one with an edge.

It's capital city, Emerida Augustia, has been populated since prehistoric times and is rumored to have originally been an orc settlement from times long past.   It is a major metal Transporting hub to the rest of Astra Byzantium.  It is also known far and wide for its massive production of Paprika for trade.

It is also known for being a place where the river Lethe crosses over into the prime material plane.  The river is clearly marked as to fall into it will mean forgetting all that they cherish.   The town of Zaragoza has developed a systematic aqueduct to remove the water from it safely to allow habitation.

Tarraconense

The Northeast region was one of the first locations to be conquered by Astra Byzantium and as a result, it is the most similar location to baseline Astra Byzantium Culture.  However, it is a place of consistent strong winds that it uses windmills to harness for industrial work.  It's capital Tarraco is the longest Astra Byzantium Settlement and is known for its quarries and its seafood from the nearby ocean.  It also has a surprising number of Orcs from outside the empire that come here for work, and then go back with their earnings.

The Town of Pampaelo is known for having the largest population of native minotaur in Astra Byzantium.  They have this ceremonial fight where a Centaur Champion fights a Minotaur Champion which is the big draw of the year.

Of note in the region is the "Silver Hell", a massive silver mine that stretches for miles and belches, dark smoke into the heavens.  Creatures from the depths often stop silver production and as a result, adventurers are often sent into the depths for "pest control."

The Sima de los Huesos, or "Pit of Bones" is a massive pit of bones from an era long before anybody can remember.  This has a garrison as there is a fear of Necromancers plundering such a macabre treasure trove.

The town of Leon is known as the proud lion that has evolved from an Astra Byzantium fort to a place of training and war.  It is the big war college of the area and is also a place where adventurers can be trained...for a price.

Ribadesella is known far and wide for its eucalyptus fields.  They were brought in by orcs from orc space when they came to settle. As a result, this is a town of "civilized" orcs.

Bilbao has a very distinct human culture and is known for its artificers.  In fact, a common export throughout the empire and beyond are it's mechanical spiders that are useful in industry and in warfare.

Tartesso

This southern kingdom in the southern hemisphere was settled by people from Carthage Prime and mixed with the local population.  It is renowned for its metal extraction for copper, tin and gold.  They have leveraged this mining operation into being incredibly wealthy.  Chariot racing is also the big sport of this region, but it often has been refined to be a paired team of centaur driver and human charioteer.  They also have the space port, Menesthei along its edge so they can take advantage of their proximity to drowned space for the harvest and salvage available.  It is referred to as Betica Province, but locals prefer its original name.

Its main administration city Córdoba is known for its baths and its temples to many gods.  A lot of the money earned by the well to do has been used to harness the rivers and to develop many gardens behind fortified castles and temples.

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Balearic Moons

This chain of Moons orbit Hispania with the four largest being Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.  They are popular tourist destinations from both the planet Hispania and from beyond the sphere.  These moons were settled by the people from Astra Carthage and then Astra Greece and are renowned for their bards. 

Ibiza

While not the largest island, it’s fortified town is essentially the capital of these moons and is known for it’s marshy landscape.

Cuélebre

The great red, green gas giant is named after a legendary dragon.  It is an inhospitable world, but people often enter it’s dangerous landscape as a cultural practice of the well to do of Iberia is to send ships filled with grave goods into it’s depths.  It is a conduit to the negative energy plain so many of it’s dead do not remain dead to make things complicated.

Despite its harsh nature, it is a blessing to the people of Iberia Prime as it deflects incoming astral bodies from striking the massive planet of Hispania.

Canary Moons

These are habitable moons that ride around Cuelebre and act as a bridge and waystation to outside the system.  They are volcanic moons (with the legendary Mount Teide being particularly legendary) which the locals use as a power source for livability.  It is also known for its giant lizards, dire rats (which are domesticated by the locals), and the canaries that give the moons their names.

The Pyrennees

The Asteroid belt is a layer of debris and has a far orbit within Iberia Prime

The town of Beget is in the Pyrenees Asteroid Belt.  Despite its isolation, it is self-sufficient and is used as a retreat by folks to get away from it all.

Fisterra

This end of the world is a small asteroid outpost that contains a fortress to act as the first line of defense against invaders.

 

 

 

 

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