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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