The Rock of Ba'al

The Rock of Ba'al is a settlement found on an asteroid at one of the tail ends of the Mindfield. The area in which it is located is known as the "Tears of Selune" is believed to be the remains of a destroyed moon. Despite being a haven for pirates, the rock is home to the only temple to Anach-Tyr, a god of Justice, that can be found in the inner rim of planets.

Natural Resources

Lake Baal fills a chasm and provides most of the water that sustains Aster Baal’s population. The chasm extends through the gravity plane of the asteroid, so that Lake Baal has two surfaces—its topside surface and another in a cavern deep inside the Rock.
Although the lake means that a shortage of water isn’t normally a concern on Aster Baal, the water supply becomes depleted every few years. To replenish it, the Baalian navy embarks on an expedition to latch onto a nearby ice asteroid and bring them back. Before being brought into the Rock’s gravity plane and aimed (carefully) towards the lake, the ice is broken up into manageable pieces.
Oxygen and food are produced by vegetation on the lower side of the asteroid. Most of the work at tending the fields and groves was done by convicted criminals as part of their sentence.

History

The Rock has changed hands many times over the ages, and whilst the original inhabitants are unknown, explorations into its inner caverns revealed that Illithids, at some point, lived on the rock. It is believed that Beholders then came to the rock, exterminated the incumbent Illithids, and then proceeded to exterminate each other in round after round of infighting. Neither of these facts are backed up by records held by respective Illithid or Beholder societies.
After the abberant years had passed, ruins suggest a small settlement of around 200 Dwarves held the rock for around 200 years, before leaving with little trace. There is also evidence of an Imperial Elven recreation station, but they also appear to have abandoned the rock eventually.
The Rock as it is today traces its roots back to roughly 170 years ago, when the eponymous Captain Ba'al established a pirate refuge here. The asteroid became a haven for thieves and cutthroats, and among them a few merchants and entrepreneurs set up shop. Even in a climate of lawlessness, the place evolved into something resembling a settlement of citizens. After Captain Ba'al’s death, the burgeoning city became known as Aster Baal, in his honor, and its location as the Rock of Ba'al. Eventually, the merchants and tavernkeepers who made their livings on the rock began to outnumber the pirates and brigands, bringing an end to the days of abject lawlessness. For the next several decades, various pirate captains held sway in the city, but none of them demonstrated an interest in trying to take over sole leadership of the city.
Eventually, the merchants and tavernkeepers who made their livings on the Rock became as numerous as the pirates and brigands who sought refuge there. One of the pirate captains, Cozar, sensed that times were changing on the Rock—that the days of lawlessness were coming to an end. Through a series of strategic alliances and shrewd business deals, he consolidated his political power and dubbed himself Prince Cozar, the Rock’s first overlord. Under Prince Cozar’s long reign, the city evolved from a pirate hideout into a major city, attracting profit-seekers, adventurers, and other more respectable types.
Upon Cozar’s death, the rule of Aster Baal passed to Frun, his son and heir. Frun was far from an able politician. Rather, he was a hedonist whose overindulgences compromised his authority. Business leaders and other influential types grabbed power where they could, and by the end of his reign, Frun was little more than a figurehead. His only notable accomplishments were the renovation of the royal palace and the construction of the arena that bears his name.
Frun was succeeded by his son, Calabar, whose bearing and tastes resembled those of his father but whose time as the overlord lasted only days. Calabar disappeared under mysterious circumstances shortly after taking the throne; a body was never within the the rock's air bubble. A maze of political intrigue followed, eventually resulting in the succession of Calabar's younger brother, Prince Andru, who had a group of malcontents arrested and executed for the disappearance of his brother within days of his accession.
Though his place on the throne is secure for now, Prince Andru is merely one player a network of powerful players. He has a host of agents and forces loyal to him, but he must act with consideration, since he has opponents who would rather see Aster Baal ruled by a more ineffectual leader or by a council that could more easily be influenced. Andru maintains his strong base of support because he is a serious and intelligent person—often likened to his grandfather, Prince Cozar, in this regard—and he isn’t easily intimidated.

Tourism

As a bustling port city on the border of the inner ring of planets, the city hosts numerous attractions. From the high-brow Man-O-War restaurant on Lake Baal, a Royal Theatre Company and a district full of temples to the Happy Beholder Tavern, the Arena of Frun markets for pockets of all depths, there is something for everyone on the Rock of Ba'al.

Alternative Name(s)

The Rock

Type

Asteroid

Location under

The Tears of Selune

Included Locations

• Aster Baal