Tornoa

Home of the Great Games

Tornoa is a neutral island polis in the Pyrmar, most akin to Ithaca by way of Olympia. It is situated near the southern mouth of the Mesodo passage, roughly equidistant between Krypteia, Pelekys, and Xyria. Sheltered within the passage proper, the island enjoys relatively gentle and consistent weather year-round, with storms that blow in from the ocean largely breaking on the western ridges and leaving the lower vales, plain, woods and coast to bask in mostly clear skies, subtropical breezes, and a light rain that comes at lunch each day like clockwork.
Tornoa is renowned for the proliferation and quality of its ash and olive groves. Rare manna is able to be tapped from the sap of ash trees of this island, due to its favorable climate and rich volcanic loam. Meanwhile, the olives grown here produce the most desirable oil in the Firesea, prized by noble courts, famed chefs and wealthy clients to the extent that the island actually has to import lesser olive oil to support the needs of its residents, since so much of its own product is earmarked for export. Many rare beasts are sheltered in the wooded valleys cupped between the two ridges at the "back" of the island, but most famous are a protected population of sabertoothed dire lions of particularly elite lineage.
It is however best known as home to the Agonestrion, the premier athletic competition of the Ithean world. These trials and competitions, often simply called the Great Games, were founded by the famed pygmy warrior Psalm upon taking lordship of the island following the Daemon Winter a century ago. Those seeking to prove their might, agility, endurance, and unassailable skill flock to the Agonestrion every two years, and those who acquit themselves well earn great honor for both themselves and the communities from which they hail. The contest has also become a soft proxy war for prestige between various poleis, by way of the athletes and warriors they sponsor to the trials. Meanwhile, the residents themselves bear witness to the deeds of countless warriors and athletes coming through, and so tests to prove and compare their own ability have become an established part of Tornoa's culture.

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Tornoan PCs

• Proficiencies: You gain one bonus skill (Athletics, Intimidation, or Performance), and either a kitchen, game or vehicle proficiency.
• Steeped in Glory: You gain one exploit die as a Fighter of your level, and learn one first rank martial exploit. This die recharges after a short or long rest, and if you are a martial character it stacks with those from your class.
• Unassailable: You can spend your exploit die as a reaction to add it to any saving throw, or to increase the amount of hit points of healing or temporary hit points someone or something is granting to you at that moment. If you use this for a save and the save still fails, you get your exploit die back, but not your reaction.

Type

Large town