The Barony of Kabu

Kabu is the subject of many tall tales and outlandish myths, but perhaps the strangest aspect of all is that all the tales insist that the island barony was once part of the mainland. This idea is widely accepted, though many of the origin stories are treated with suspicion or dismissed outright. The home of bards and haven for lore-fanatics, Kabu is largely made up of Kenku, whose ability to repeat anything they've heard verbatim has resulted in the most reliable record of lore and history in the Grand Duchy. The oral accounts of the Laureate Bards is considered to be so pure and accurate to the original accounts that written accounts are created only in the case that the entire isle should sink into the sea and kill all inhabitants simultaneously. For this reason, an additional Kenku bard has been sent to the other baronies, further ensuring preservation of the records.

The primary focus of these bards-among-bards is located in the College of Lore, housed in the **Monument of Departure**. These devoted bards work towards outfitting their members to preserve history through recitation and memorization of history, arts, disciplines, and even high-level industrial production methods. After all, if the secret to steel was somehow lost, the Grand Duchy would be left vulnerable. This is the most well-funded college in all Meradyne, and is personally supported by the Grand Duke. As such, it is an impressive sight, with a scene of the legendary Tears of Deinya prayer depicted in the courtyard, the statues gleaming in the daylight. They say the marble was imported from the north, from far across the sea. The Monument of Departure is where the famous Great Library of Kabu is located, from which sprang the Lore Gods (allegedly).

The other college in Kabu can be found in Sister Sickly's Nightclub, located near the **Eastern Seaward Quarter**. Far from sickly, this fashionable nightclub houses the famed College of Eloquence. Here, beings of all origins come to gain street-cred and prestige, donning their most stylish dark clothes and preparing their most noteworthy verses. Shocking, deep, heartfelt, jarring, offensive or overblown, just make sure it's *noteworthy*, lest you get booed off the stage. It's hard to come back from that, especially if word gets out that you bombed in Sickly's.

Now, that's just the cream of the crop. There are performing houses for all disciplines and all levels in Kabu, and most of the entry-level karaoke bars, stand-up clubs and improv troupes can be found in **Ninepins**, in the central-southern sector of Kabu. Butted up against the high hill in the center of Kabu, one old wag joked that in the case of a proper storm, those stilted houses "would get bowled over like ninepins", and the name simply stuck. And to be sure, there have been structures that collapsed, but it's worth rebuilding for the iconic charm of the stilt-borne lodge style homes, a throwback to the days when the Kenku stuck to the woods.

Being a trade city, the **Kariu's Harbor** is the artery of Kabu. Owned by an enormously rich Kenku, the harbor is run with machine-like efficiency, with accurate books, tight schedules and effective inspections. Kariu is a stickler for rules, and will repeat them at you, word for word, in the voice of his former mentor, if you disobey any of them. Jetties made of tremendous stone bricks face westward from island into the Sea of Kabu, providing additional safety to ships. Many ships bound for Dossial stop in at Kabu anyway; what better place for a safe stay-over and some R&R?

Now, if formal stageplay is your thing, you need to head across the hill from Ninepines to the northern side; here you'll find yourself in **Sin'Dretheleon's Bluff**. Here, the theaters are on heavily-terraced plots of land, surrounded by luxurious vineyards and well-tended orchards. All types of formal plays and musicals are held here, from thrilling, swordplay-heavy pirate tales to heavy, melancholic dramas. So sit back, order a tremendous glass of wine and take in the skill the Raven Lord's Troupe has to offer.

Lastly, in the verdant crescent north of the Bluff, you will find a little area simply called **Paradise**. And I'm sure it was at one point. While it has fallen from divine standards, it is still quite the idyllic scene, with grazing pastures, rich farmlands and fruiting vines and trees arranged in attractive little patterns. If one managed to acquire one of the lovely homes found here (see Ido period houses, Japan), I imagine spending your retirement farming your own food and taking in the sunset would be a delightful retirement. All the same, where there are farms and ranches, there are predators, and Paradise has seen some real savages in its time.