Season 3 Setting Updates

Freeport
Main article: Freeport

Freeport, near the Midtown Docks

The alley was dark for mid-afternoon. A fog had rolled in from the North, and would provide cover for his business. He strained his human eyes to locate the tiny rat etched into the dim alley wall. Feeling with his fingers, he found the slit between its front paws and rolled a gold piece inside.

"১ނᳯᳱଞୡ!"

Tracing the last arcane symbol in the air, the fog swirled by his will and filled the end of the alley. The fog darkened as a small figure approached. Kenku, messy dark robes, rat tattoo on the beak. A Mischief.

"I'm looking for the usual upkeep on recents in town. Paper again."

The Mischief outstretched a hand, then opened their palm towards the cobble.

"Ting t-ting," the Mischief mimicked the sound of seven coins hitting the ground.

He handed the Mischief a small purse. Eight gold. They handed back a handful of parchments.

"Is this all?"

The kenku thought for a moment, quickly penned a last note, then left.

"Interesting..."

_-_-_-_

"Repair of Kanara costs money, money turns industry. Choice guilds (list back) have seen increase wealth through their 'help.'  Kairosian merchants (list back) have plans to set up trade routes to Freeport, with described goods and requisitions.  Materials coming from East to build up the Midtown docks for this trade."

"Anti-Kairos resentment strongest in Edtown. Old grudges leave scars."

"Acquafredda Gang holds full control of Oldtown docks. 'Docking fees' will make goods from Acquafredda aligned ships cheaper.  Their 'protection service' has a reputation for fulfilling their obligation."

"Falcodisangue Crime Family patrol the waters around Freeport, 'taxing ships for safe passage.' The actions of other pirates in their territory is nigh nonexistent."

"Ban of 'adventuring' profession in Kairos and situation in Kanara have led many to Freeport. The supply of job posting not increased yet to accommodate.  Majority of high quality postings now require reputation or membership with a guild, less 'bad for business.'  Zendar Goldmane purchased a large ship, rumored plans to retake the ruins of Dragonsreach."

Kairos
Main article: Kairos

Excerpts dictated from a speech given by High Orator Siera, on behalf of the Nobility of the United Principality of Kairos:

Lady Anaira and Cornelius continue their unprecedented partnership between the Great Nobility and the Clergy of Kairos, securing their power with their continued allyship with the Temple of Athena. While it would improper to say our esteemed Protectorate are anything but impartial, many have cited their connections to Temple Athena and thus our Princeps.

...

Our wise patroness, Consort Anaira, has founded and funded out of their own generous pockets a program for aspiring Orators, and I am honoured to be Great Orator assigned to ensuring our future citizens are able to participate in this noble tradition. Truly, our leaders are heralding a new Kairosian Golden Age.

...

The Clergy remain divided, moreso as calls for more deities to be accepted arise even from within their ranks. Some believe in it morally, and Grand Champion Micha is a prominent voice in this conversation. Others, including my esteemed colleague Demoscrates, believe this straying from tradition would mean the downfall of their system, while others, like High Archon of Poseidon Thiela, fear the threat to their own power bases. Some have accused High Archon Electra and others of backing this movement as a political stunt to regain political power, despite the High Archon not having made a statement or formal decree as of yet, but internal and external pressure have been building. I would say this rule regarding religious freedom is no longer a rule that is as openly enforced as in the past.

...

Ultimately, the balance between the Nobility and the Clergy has been broken, and the Clergy, who had the upper hand for so long, have fallen hard.

...

The temple of Athena remains deeply unpopular with the rest of the Clergy for their role in collaborating with our Princeps; however, their service and exemplary performances as our military generals as Praefectus Classis and Praetorus Copiae have ensured their continued support and popularity with the Administration, the Nobility, and most importantly, with you, my fellow Kairosians.

...

Adventurers are no longer allowed within the city. Barja Mellt Tintreach leaves the Adventurers' Guild officially, disbanding the Kairos branch, and in coordination with the Consort Anaira has founded a Special Task Force, the Inquisitores, that are to fill the role adventurers have played; however, they are agents officially for Kairos and their numbers as of yet remain few.

...

Our pristine and gracious Consort, Lady Anaira, is growing within our hearts and minds from day to day as we become more familiar with her wisdom and compassion that so serenely guides us forward. Though there are a few who've expressed their disapproval, time has shown them to retract their statements. The Lady has even specifically devoted her own precious time to speak to these naysayers, and all I have to say is clearly her tireless efforts have worked. Those voices of disunity no longer plague our streets. Listen to and partake not of any rumblings or rumours that may make their rounds, as slander and conjecture race from lip to lip and ear to ear. There is no emigration of unlike minds. There is no unrest within our walls.

...

Kairos' entrepreneurs have dedicated their service to the rebuilding projects within Kanara, and in doing so, as a testament to our savvy and ingenuity, are multiplying their investments, all the while helping to shape Kanara in our likeness. Perhaps if they were more like us, such a tragedy would not have befallen them. There is wisdom in these words, and wisdom across the water, for many Nobles and folks of influence within Kanara are working with us on this project, ensuring our investments are repaid, and devoting their time and service to educating the populace about the benefits of our actions. They have been integral in keeping the peace and maintaining this collaborative effort between our cities, and should be commended for their service. I know our Princeps and Lady Anaira view them favourably for their actions.

...

It is an unparalleled time to be a Kairosian merchant due to our unique connections with Kanara. Many Kanarans recognize our service and are choosing to pay premium and higher prices for our goods, and grant us generous discounts. We should thank them and continue to honour their hospitality with our patronage. Moreover, our deals with Freeport have never been safer or easier. Relations with the pirate city have never been better in this most opportune of times, as their supply has never been so vibrant, varied and myriad. With such supply comes a drop in price, take note! Regulations are being put in place by our esteemed Princeps to formalise this trade and to ensure the continued safety and investment of all parties.

...

Our humanitarian efforts to rebuild Kanara are demonstrative of our compassion, kindness, and generosity. Anaira has asked all citizens to donate a share of their earnings to help our comrades across the water. These donations are to be included within the next round of taxes. Volunteers every day are joining the Copiae and Classis in an effort to help with the efforts. This is the kind of unity and support we as a people must continue to demonstrate from day to day. We are fortunate in these times that we were not so deeply impacted by the fiends as the other cities; however, know that it is not luck; rather, our fortune is a natural result of who we are. We are the United Principality of Kairos—and we will keep it so for eternity.

Kanara
Main article: Kanara

From our still-warm ashes grew their cold, cold pillars.

Rebuilding began promptly; the cities' bones, the bricks it lay on, were left to raise again. But they were twisted, shaped into the image of our "saviours." Our courtyards made into forums, our alleys choked tight. Statues erected to commemorate a debt whose memory oozed from every inch of mortar. Kairos would not let slip this opportunity to mold us in their image.

Next came the boots whose heavy footfalls would pound our sorry place into the bricks. For our supposed protection, Kairos "lent" us their soldiers. Patrolling the streets, always watching, always listening, always recording, as Kairosians do. Where there was light, there were eyes; where there was darkness, there were blades. We could not take even a single breath away from their "protection."

Within the bricks of our own homes, our business was not ours to mind. With their boots on our necks, Kairos would ensure every good, every luxury, every single damned thing they struggled for even a moment to procure would now be delivered to them by us. Our farms turned to their plantations, our smithies turned to their manufactories. And when we struggled to feed or defend ourselves, they were there with crocodile tears and outstretched hands, waiting for gold.

And our spirits, harbored within the hallowed bricks of the Adventurers' Guild? They lay now in ruin, a testament to what adventurers rend unto a city. Because, of course, it is the adventurers' fault that we cannot defend ourselves, cannot breathe freely, cannot even feed ourselves. Yes, it is all the adventurers' fault; Kairos has even taken the time to spread the word to ensure there would be no confusion.

Some of us could not stand idly by and watch, and so fled into the mountains, waiting for the day when a brick might shatter the glass house Kairos has built on our backs. Others attempt to crack the faux democracy Kairos now constructs, before it can be set in stone. Whispers and grumbling make up the rest of our meager resistance, kept down by the practiced hand of Kairos.

Kanara will survive. But we cannot recognize the bricks of our fair city.

General: A Call to Adventure
A letter is posted on prominent message boards throughout the three major islands, as well as circulated throughout the archipelago via trading ships:

Greetings, Adventurers of the Archipelago!

As you may know, we've had a rough three years, between the Kanaran guild hall reconstruction process encountering mysterious delay after mysterious delay, our...less than polite exclusion from Kairos following the demon king incident, and the current frosty attitude towards us in Freeport. I don't know who gave us the reputation of being "bad for business," but whoever you are, rest assured! We have a new plan, and it's gonna go well, we swear.

Behold: the SS Guildhall, the finest ship that our fine leader, Zendar Goldmane himself, could acquire.

(an illustration accompanies the letter)

We'll be stopping by all three major cities in the archipelago over these next few months, sticking around long enough for all of you to close out your business and come aboard! After that, onwards, to Adventure!

We've located a new home base for the Guild—a land of mystery, conquest, adventure, high risk, and high reward. If we succeed, our names will be exalted in the halls of history. If we fail, we forge the path for others to succeed in our wake. Where, you may ask, is this fabled land of wonders? Well, to that, I say, look no further than the continent!

Our preliminary scouts have found a place prime for settling—Dragonstooth Bay, a sheltered inlet of shimmering sand beaches and relative safety, home to the former settlement of Dragonsreach; there's even a few buildings already standing! All we need now, dear adventurers, is you! Climb aboard, and when we're all together, we'll forge new paths into the Continent, writing our names into the annals of history!

Ports of Call:

Kairos - Dock 15D, subsection C, from September 1st to September 7th

Kanara - Dock 3, from September 10th to September 17th

Freeport - Oldtown Docks, two from the Mass, September 20th to September 27th

Any adventurers seeking to join beyond that date shall have to charter their own ship, and meet us en route!

We intend to make landfall on the continent on Friday, October 4th, when we will begin posthaste with settling and taming this wild, unexplored wilderness of magic and mystery that lies before us.

A short note, tacked on underneath all posters put up in Kairos, reads:

The city of Kairos formally approves this posting, and requires that all adventurers inside the city and the surrounding principality make their way to the SS Guildhall at once. Adventurers in Kairos after September 7th will be fined, censured, and forcibly removed from the island, until such time as they arrive upon the SS Guildhall.