Marteralo

## Background

Marteralo is a country south of Isenvale and Volar and is located on the Southeastern coast of Alton. It is a land of plains and low, rolling grassy hills. There are a few small forested areas in the northwest, but the country is largely lacking trees.

While it is often called a country, the bulk of its population are in large coastal cities that act in an alliance with each other, ruled by the Ocean Lords. The business of Marteralo is seaborne trade, as the resource-poor country needs to import nearly everything. Its favorable location and many safe harbors make it a hub for trade for the entire Alton Region. The bulk of Marteralo are grassy plains severely lacking in resources and controlled by roving bands of goblins and ogres. With Isenvale destroyed, travel inland has come to nearly a complete stop, and the north-south trade roads have grown increasingly hostile. Communities along those routes which had some degree of security due to the traffic are increasingly under pressure from the goblins and Ogre Wives.

## Named Locations

### Applebottom Fields

A small cluster in the northwest section of Marteralo that exports its produce south to the coastal cities. The residents are largely on their own. They don't pay taxes, so they aren't protected by the Land Guard. The downside is that they are on their own when dealing with the ogres and goblins. The residents have apparently worked out an arrangement to pay part of their crop as tribute (protection) to the local Ogre Wife, Bazzazug.

* Mr. Jackson - a rather taciturn cattle rancher
* Poetry - a tiefling woman who herds goats

### Fallow Float Falls

A large waterfall flowing into the ocean from a river that runs between the Great Harbor Marteralo and Osasyr. Behind the falls is a lab where someone was doing research on creatures with multiple heads.

### Fort Divinity

A fort on the border of Isenvale garrisoned by clerics of a variety of faiths. The clerics, many of whom are from outside Marteralo are a diverse group who were hired to guard the border from any undead that cross from Isenvale. The fort is little more than a simple white stone tower with only enough space for the 13 clerics and their supplies. It was funded by Oslamir Harland

### Great Harbor Marteralo

The largest port and largest city in Marteralo, more people live in this city than live in the rest of the country combined. The city is surrounded by a fortified white stone wall, and fully loaded ballista sit atop these walls. The entrance gate is made up of figureheads, which were taken from pirates and ships that tried to challenge Marteralo.

##### Locations in the Great Harbor Marteralo

* The Blue Top Sector - A residential sector in the north of the city. There are two kinds of houses here, ones made of white stone with speckled blue tiled roofs, and ones made from the recycled wood of old galleys and warships. There are also a few small temples in this sector.
* The Docks District - In the east of the city is a district that is very cramped, crowded and chaotic, and it is impossible to tell where the city ends and the coastline begins, as wooden harbor docks trail on the ocean surface. The buildings here are made from old rowboats or dirty stone. Hundreds of ships are moored on the docks, from tiny fishing boats to massive war galleons. Some of the floating boats are used as establishments like stores and restaurants.
* Moonstone Alley - An area in the west of the city where magic practitioners congregate. There are many wizard towers and libraries here, and most of the buildings have three levels and are colored in purples and greens. A lot of high quality goods like jewelry, magical components, gemstones and expensive clothing are sold here. The air has an arcane odor to it, sweet yet smoky.
* The Ocean's Pinnacle - In the south of the city is a rock shelf upon which are mansions of varying sizes. There are nobleman's houses made of carved stone, large windowed buildings with ocean views, gardens of exotic flowers, and gold trimmed wagons make their way along the promenade. The three most prominent buildings are the estates of three of the Ocean Lords, Gusbrand Typperbottum, Brutus Valentinius, and Oslamir Harland.
* The Opulence District - A district with large temples to every god, and two temples to Uspa. There is also a library there.
* The Trade Port - South of the Blue Top Sector, this is where most of the trade happens and everything not sold in Moonstone Alley can be bought here. Kolliko does his business in a building called The Opulent Scales which functions as both a warehouse and an auction house. There are also a few lesser temples here. The Trade Port smells like low tide, sweat, perfume, incense, wood and fish.
* The Trade Ward - Also known as the Forge Ward, this is an industrial complex, with massive buildings and large foundries. The ward is walled off and is entered through a gate that is flanked by armed guards riding on armored axebeaks. Typperbottum has an office in this area.

### Jawn Bridge

A bridge southwest of Applebottom Fields that has been occupied by 6 goblins. The goblins originally would demand tribute from those using the bridge, but they have since started asking for a toll instead. The leader is a male Goblin named Skreb, who used to work for Ogre Wife Bazzazug.

### Kutchner's Cove

A settlement on the coast west of Quincunx. It was recently destroyed by a dragon that some people claim was yellow.

### Matiamond

Matiamond is a fortress garrison town about midway between Quincunx and the port of Marteralo. It occupies a rocky outcropping in a badlands area that is a frequent spot for goblin and ogre raids and ambushes. The area around Matiamond is heavily patrolled and has many watchtowers and outposts but despite this, the ogre and goblin tribes in the area are exceptionally aggressive and unrelenting in their attacks.

The city is more of a garrison and the majority of its inhabitants are members of Oslamir Harland's Land Guard, or land-based forces under Brutus Valintinius. Many troops are sent to Matiamond to train and gain experience, though among Brutus' marines, some regard the posting as a poor assignment compared to the elite who serve aboard ships.

The commanding officer in Matiamond is Captain Gregory Glencaire.

### Osasyr

A settlement east of the Great Harbor Marteralo.

### Point Prim

A settlement northeast of the Great Harbor Marteralo, about 10 days travel by land or 4 days travel by boat.

### Quincunx

Second largest city in Marteralo. Confined by walls that are too small to fit its population, the city is densely packed with incredibly narrow streets and is built up vertically. There are raised walkways above the surface streets forming higher layers where people live and work. There is a large presence of the Landguard just outside the city gates that guard the stables where beasts of burden are kept. Even though travel and trade from Isenvale is negligible since the Ashplague, Quincunx still sits at the intersection of five major roads and remains a hub of trade.

Axebeaks are the dominant beast of burden in the area.

##### Locations in Quincunx

* The Alesoaked Whetstone - a smithy currently closed because it's owner, Drake Finnegan, has been accused of selling weapons to goblins though his wife, Glenda, insists he is innocent.
* Even Scales Market
* Order of the Roaming Swords Guild Hall
* Sea Dragon's Drink - a modest inn
* Crown Pinnacle - a high-end bourgeoise in
* The Bellower - highest point in Quincunx
* Ocean's Charge Bunkhouse and Bar - a very rough and tumble establishment
* The Stables - located outside the city walls, but heavily guarded.
* The Goathead Inn
* Olive's Charm - a magic shop run by a gnome wizard
* The Bandage House - a hospital funded by Brutus Valentinius
* Blastbrand Blacksmithy - a blacksmith run by a dwarf

### Roskco-Er

Named after the first settler of the region, Rosko-Er is a shipbuilding town, despite the fact that it is two days inland.

Nearby forests are carefully tended and trees farmed to provide wood in the otherwise treeless plains of Marteralo, and the buildings of the town are constructed with used lumber from old ships. During good times, the town imported a lot of lumber from Isenvale to the north, but with that supply cut off, the shipbuilding industry has slowed considerably. Completed ships are moved by magic southward, or sometimes transported in pieces to be assembled at the port of Marteralo.

### Sam and Grant's Farm

Sam, her husband Grant, and their daughter Tara have a sprawling wheat farm a few days north of Quincunx. They are friendly and hospitable to travelers, though they charge a token amount to cover expenses of feeding them. They have a windmill to grind flour, and also house guests that are not trustworthy (or clean) enough to board in the main house.

* Sam, human woman. Very friendly and makes a wonderful pumpkin soup with chèvre.
* Grant, human male. Tall and lanky, friendly, but doesn't talk much.
* Tara, 6, friendly and inquisitive, spends her time outside with her rat terrier. She is very inquisitive and fascinated by the stories of travellers, especially dragonborn, and anyone with stories about dragons.

### The Sea Dragon's Bones

A series of jagged rocks off the Marteralo Archipelago. Many ships have been wrecked here including the Hesper's Wake.

## Notable Citizens

### Clerics of Fort Divinity

* **Marco Ross** - male Human, Arcane Cleric of Tel-Intura. De facto leader because he does the paperwork.
* **Nannu Steel-Step** - female Minotaur, Nature Cleric of Ginter.
* **Ciliren** - genderneutral Sun Elf, Cleric of Orun.
* **Fazdan Grumblemaker** - male Dwarf, Forge Cleric of Groumuth.
* **Construct 207 aka Lawsorts** - genderless Construct, Cleric of Oreyara.
* **Caltor Twin Mantle** - male Gnome, Knowledge Cleric of Almon
* **Waynette Wonder** - female Human, Life Cleric of Livrosea
* **Fardexl** - male Black Dragonborn, Cleric of Hoketh
* **Barter Greyscale** - male Grey Kobold, Cleric of Avan
* **Jillian Queen** - female Human, Cleric of Tel-Intura
* **Ramswell Bluesyu aka Sparky** - male Triton, Cleric of Uspa
* **Lyari** - female Moon Elf, Cleric of Illunay
* **Cavall Rock** - male Human, Cleric of Vetrion

### Ocean Lords

The Ocean Lords each have jurisdiction over a different area of Marteralo's government and society.

* **Oslamir Harland** - Lawmaster of Marteralo, and oversees the laws, courts, and jails. His banner is a red, limbless, serpentine drake intertwined with an anchor. The Land Guard are under his authority.
* **Brutus Valentinius** - Admiral of the Militant Navy, in charge with hunting down pirates and other ocean threats. Has a force of marines that often are land-based.
* **Vikark the Violet** -
* **Kolliko of the Coin** - Thri-Kreen, Ocean Lord of trade and commerce. Merchant Lord of Marteralo.
* **Winona Odes** - Storm Sorcerer, lives aboard a ship.
* **Admiral Gusbrand Typperbottum** - Ocean Lord of Infrastructure

### Ogre Wives

The ogre wives each have their own strongholds with ogres and goblin servants.

* **Bazzazug** - controls the area near Applebottom Fields, and exacts tribute/protection payments from the farmers there. She lives in an old fortress in the northeast of Marteralo.