Jasiirad Plateau

Jasiirad Plateau, or more commonly, Jasiirad, is an isolated town set to the north of the Forkensen expanse. One of the main dwelling places for Tabaxi and other creatures who seek solitude. its nigh-unscalable cliffs, remote location and hardy nature make it a less than ideal target for raiders, warlords and conquerers. As such it has been a peaceful place to live for many decades. As it is removed from the mainland by significant seas it has developed its own customs, traditions and ways of life, it does maintain a loose connection with the outside world provided by the East Illum Company through its shipping to and from the mainland. Many common folk from the mainland doubt it exists or that it is as peaceful as it is proclaimed to be. Stories of dark cults, devious pirates and other similar tales of distant lands fill the minds of most from Huldaths cities when they hear the name Jasiirad, and not all of them are without merit. The Deep Eye, once the main source of income for the island when gemstone miners dug deep into the rock spire to pull out the earths wealth, is now a danger to all on the island. After tunneling too deep the miners found themselves deep within a cavernous expanse of tunnels below hundreds of feet of sea. Quickly it became apparent these tunnels were inhabited by hungry and angry creatures. Almost entirely destroyed during "The First Eruption" the town now picks one member from each household to serve within the Order of Octum, a guardian force of martial elites who protect from any other monstrous incursions from below. As a way of appeasing the monsters below, and due to the lack of a robust law and order system, criminals, even those caught stealing, are often "Put under the gaze of the eye". This punishment has been used on all criminals within Jasiirad, from those stealing to eat to murderers and more. They are cast into the eye with a dagger and a prayer and told they may never return to Jasiirad. None know where the tunnels eventually lead and no stories of a survivor escaping them has ever been told. Near the central market is one of the main meeting places of the Island, named The Whispering Shrine. While the name would imply a quiet place of worship it is infact the most boisterous area of the island, here information, stories, services and just about any other intangible good is traded and sold here. Where people who wish to hear news of the mainland or the latest court intrigue will pay good money to listen to the stories of even the most humdrum of newcomers to the island.

Demographics

Majority
Human and Half-Elf Minority
Tabaxi, Aarakocra (Within the Flutter Spire) Enclaves
Elves, Gnomes, Halflings

Government

Ruled by High Octum Arbiter Muriso who is supported by the senior Octum Knight in matters of court. A small council of 3 prominent townsfolk is then chosen. the 5 together decide matters that affect the daily lives, policies and other aspects of those who call Jasiirad Home

Industry & Trade

Jasiirad fishes for its supper primarily, a small fleet of fishing boats work tirelessly to reap the bounty of the seas due to the lack of arable land present on the plateau. Almost all families, big or small, will have window boxes, small gardens, and other means of supplementing their food stores that do not rely on the seas, and, as such, the East Illum Trade Company makes significant profits selling fruits, vegetables, and other food items to the residents of the island. The Aarakocra provide support to the fishing vessels where possible, scouting for shoals of fish and warning of oncoming storms ahead of time and have become an integral part of island life. Jasiirad also exports, again through the East Illum Company, many pearls to the mainland to be made into jewelry or used by wizards for their various spells. Much of the taxation applied to these is funneled to the Octum Knights, making them a well-equipped fighting force. The endless pier is a small but prominent feature of the island where 2 airships can be docked though due to the high winds occasionally experienced within the island, they are not a common sight.

Infrastructure

The only access (legitimate at least) to the island is through "The Risers" a system of man-powered elevators near the docks to the southeast of the island. They are said to be able to move 1000 people in both directions each day, the truth is there are often lines at the docks as merchant ships unload their cargo and lift it to the plateau. Several key bridges link areas of outlying peaks to the main plateau as well. moving around the island is straightforward with paths cut directly into the stonework.

Guilds and Factions

Muriso Palatinate
The Muriso Palatinate is the ruling faction of Jasiirad and is currently overseen by the matriarchal figure of Lady Alwina Muriso. They are responsible for all matters of state, law and order within the island and are respected figures. The Palatinate also has several smaller offices which are held by non-family members. The Palatine Guard
The household guard of the Muriso Family numbering 20 strong is housed within the keep. Each of the guards is extremely skilled and swear loyalty to the family from their 15th birthday until death. Each guard has 2-3 squires who serve under them that make up a larger fighting force if required. The head of the Palatine Guard, Lord Commander Obsidian Claw has led the Palatine guard for the last 32 years and is said to be one of the finest swordsmen alive today. The palatine guard carries out the punishments for crime by taking the convicted to the deep eye and casting them within. Tebarus' Sanctuary
Tebarus Sanctuary is a reclusive group that lives on the island and is said to be masters of the arcane arts. there are several members who live within the sanctuary and provide magical and arcane services to those with the coin to pay for it. Rumor surrounds their living on the island with stories ranging from wizards fallen out of some noble court of a distant land to them hiding from forces they summoned and lost control of. The truth of the matter is that they, though they do not openly admit as much, live on Jasiirad because they are shunned by other wizards from a time beyond living memory where they used less than savory means of prolonging their own lives. The Golden Pinnacle
The golden pinnacle is a small training monastic house. Here followers of the way of the sun-soul live to better harness their own power and practice in their chosen artistry. Removed from the troubles the mainland often brings with it, they instead focus on inward perfection and are isolationist even within the island, choosing to live over a bridge away from the town itself. The Octum Knights
The Octum Knights reside within the Octum Garrison, a fortified position on a seperated island between The Deep Eye and the town itself. They have maintained a constant vigil here under the ruling clan of Jasiirad since "The Dawn of Teeth", the day that monsters first erupted from the deep eye and into the town. Now they stand guard against such creatures.