Pathfinder Region Deepdive: Katapesh

[Music] the heart of the inner Seas illicit drug trade where until recently even human lives could be bought and sold freely is a most curious country ruled over by a secretive alien cabal this this week I'm discussing the unique nation of katapesh the powerful and independent nation of katapesh is separated from the ancient fonic Kingdom of oyan by the Brazen peaks in the north from the Magocracy of NEX by the alemian river in the South and from the central Wang expanse by the barrier wall mountains in the West the power of modern katapesh has been

secured through its dedication to trade its bazars are well known across garan not just for their size but for their incredible variety of wees no item is too rare or too taboo to be found somewhere in the tents shops and wagons of the nation's many merchants in katapesh those with the gold make the Rules and the only question that remains then is how much gold one needs to afford their desires but it was not always so for thousands of years kapes was the home of simple Nomadic Desert tribes and then came the Empire of oyan

bringing with it the first settlements and the first written records so let's wind back the clock and start our deep dive the way we always do with the history of katapesh the empire of Assyrian was founded Inus 3470 and its Founding has been used by historians to Mark The End of the Age of Anguish and the beginning of the age of Destiny the age of Destiny is characterized by the reemergence of humanity after the long hard Millennia of the ages of darkness and anguish that followed the earthfall cataclysm under the rule of successive pharaohs the

land prospered and expanded they spread West to occupy the lands of modern day Thia but also of great interest to the early Pharaohs were the Fertile lands south of the alemian river which the Assyrian people referred to as the southern reach in order to reach these lands however the Empire of Assyrian had to cross the treacherous Brazen Peaks along the way early osani explorers established small settlements along the pale River and along the coast these settlements included The Villages of Kel Marain alatar and yavo along the river as well as three stars and tiven Reed

along the coast they did not yet Build a settlement at the mouth of the scorpus river despite its obvious strategic location as according to Legend the river valley here was protected by a powerful Sphinx that they could not displace in any case the Empire of oyan established a long Coastal road that skirted this protected Valley and then extended down to the alemian by minus 3,000 they had established the city of quantium at the mouth of the alemian further south for Thousands of years after this the region currently known as katapesh essentially served as a Mercantile

Highway fering the valuable produce and raw materials of the Southern reach up to Assyrian and fing back finished goods and luxuries back to the southern settlers this is because the lands of katapesh beyond the coastline and the immediate environs of the pale and scorpious River were treacherous even back then much of katapesh is Desert and the few oases and Slightly wetter Hill lands were the domains of vicious NES and pampies or else the layers of Dres wyverns and Manors still nomadic tribes of badawi humans varino desert elves and shm catfolk had mastered the deserts in

this time mostly keeping to themselves but also venturing into the osani settlements along the rivers and coasts when they had Goods to trade with the settled humans of oyan as discussed in my G and next videos Inus 1125 oyan Entered into a 6-year period of Civil War although little changed for the Empire's catap pesi settlements at the end end of the war in minus 1108 an exiled Prince named GB established a country in the most remote stretch of the Southern reach this began a decline period for the Empire not long later Inus 987 an archage

named NEX established his own country breaking away the rest of the Southern reach Inus 842 Thia also separated from Assyrian The nations of NEX and GB would ultimately enter into a devastating war with each other which lasted from the year minus 892 to the year 576 AR as the conflict in the southern reach killed much of its foreign trade and as oyan continued to decline economically the city in osan's ceresi territories dwindled like untended fruits on the vine as human settlers abandoned these territories in this period a number of Nome settlers came to the region

Especially to settle in the cities of yavo and tiven Reed and they effectively kept them going through the decline period they also established the gnometown of finder plain in the southern kateshi deserts as well the kateshi territories however remained a part of the empire of Assyrian throughout the entirety of the first and 2 ages in fact settled catapat remained a part of the empire of Assyrian all the way until the Assyrian collapse of 1532 after a major slave revolt that year the PESA Empire of Kesh conquered the entire country of Assyrian launching their Invasion from

their Western satrapy of kadira the keshite Empire had been founded in kasmaran in the last years of the age of Anguish and its line of emperors had been unbroken since its founding it had steadily grown in power and influence over the course of the age of Destiny and age of enthronement until it encompassed a half dozen satrapies Each the size of a country in its own right the conquest of Assyrian marked a significant victory for the Empire the most substantive expansion westwards since the conquest of kadira Inus 43 the kashite conquest in 1532 was transformative

for katapesh while oyan already had a large population in its major cities and ports katapesh cities had been dwindling as previously mentioned Kesh interest in both the region and with nexian trade renewed Investment in the catap pesi cities kesit immigrated in large numbers to the catap pesi settlements and they brought with them their culture and religion the saronite faith spread quickly across the land the kellish practices of Genie binding and the use of wishcraft to rapidly expand the cities and to build elaborate structures and buildings was also brought to the territory kage catfolk from the

deserts of Central Casmir also came to settle in the Territory along with the land's native shm it's worth noting that the conquest of Assyrian was not simply imperialism it was all in service of the growing conflict between the keshite Empire and its northern rival the Empire of talor in 2080 as discussed in my recent anderan and Central mangi Deep dive videos the Talon Empire retaliated by establishing a beach head in these lands talor conquered the southern reaches of modern katapesh along the border with NEX claiming not just a vast stretch of the katapesh desert but

also the entire Northern banks of the alemian river leading all the way to the vital nadell Gap connecting Eastern Garand and the mangi expanse before the Empire of Kesh could mount a significant defense against this incursion tor's large army was wiped out by another unexpected Force the forces of the Guerilla King of the mangi expanse thereafter keshite armies wasted no time in reclaiming the Talon conquered lands meanwhile the saronite faith that had come with the keshite empire Empire had also been spreading rapidly in the Assyrian mainland of the north though the faith was flourishing it

was occasionally coming into conflict with the local osani faiths see my oyan Pantheon religion video for more details on the religious practices of the people before the coming of the kites in the middle of these struggles specifically in 2217 a Militant serenite group emerged called The Cult of the dawnflower setting fire to fonic temples and vandalizing osani artifacts although the ruler satraps were obviously proar Ray as a group the destabilizing nature of this sect caused the satraps to Exile the Cults leadership the cult was banished from sis and the oyan Heartland some traveled West to

Thia but others traveled south beyond the Brazen Peaks led by a devout Priestess named vti these sinites would Establish a place they would call sarin R Bastion in the remote Southern reaches of the barrier wall mountains despite its harsh environs in time this settlement would come to be known as the city of suu the second largest city in the region this militant sanite order would eventually face internal Discord of its own as some members would begin to doubt fet's leadership a splinter group abandoned suku to seek out more fertile lands and find a more practical

Place to live than among the Arid Southern mountains they reached the mouth of the scorpus river and according to their writings this Splinter faction of sanite pilgrims was admitted to settle there by the Valley's aformentioned Sphinx protector these pilgrims audacious iously named their new home in the fertile River Valley the Golden City for a while the golden city grew rapidly drawing interest from various Settlers of all Races and Backgrounds including a large number of pomat dwarves from the north even while all this was going on in the territory that would become katapesh a growing Schism

had also emerged between the satrap of occupied oyan and the PESA Empire a Schism which had in fact been exacerbated by the Exile of sinites to other lands in 2250 3 the crap was found dead in his Palace and a sunflower one of the symbols of the cult of the dawnflower had been placed in his mouth For The Heirs of the satrap this was the last straw as being a member satrapy of the keshite empire was providing neither the security nor the political or economic value it once had the satrap successor named himself an independent

Sultan and oyan became an independent sultanate ruled by a kesi sultan starting in 2253 the greater Empire of Kes lacked the resources in that time for a proper reprisal and the separation happened More or less without further incident the lands of katapesh were naturally retained as part of the new sultanate of Assyrian a little later in katapesh in 2589 during what is now called the year of scouring winds tragedy struck the new golden city at the mouth of the Scorpius a sandstorm lasting 33 days destroyed almost all plant life in the golden City's Valley killing

hundreds and nearly burying the city itself most fled many to suku where priests proclaimed The sandstorm to be a judgment against the city's undev out populace from 2689 to 2692 however a mysterious badawi woman named Nar walked out of the desert and began clearing the ruins of the Golden City others joined her in her task by the end of this period the city was resettled and Nar and her followers renamed the city sandstar now no longer a strictly saronite City explorers Alchemists and researchers flocked to it though their presence and growing wealth Also served to

ignite banditry in the area especially among the land's indigenous n population Nar remained with the city becoming the new muhafiz or governor in 3249 an alchemist named atoru discovered the cacti growing near sandstar had mutated since the year of scouring winds at tor's experiments on the cactus produced a narcotic substance he called pesh by the following year the sale and use of Pash had spread across the land and abroad drawing criminals And Merchants of all kinds to the city muuha Nar was still alive at this time now having been governor of sandstar for 37 years

already the elderly muhafiz was assassinated by a leader among the city's growing Bandit population this Bandit was named ji and over the course of the next few years he rested control of the Golden City from The Alchemist Lords that had acquired power under nar's Reign he renamed the Golden City once again this time naming it katapesh For it was the heart of the pesh trade by the end of 3250 mercenary armies in the pay of ji and his allies established what they considered greater katapesh katapesh city was named the capital of this new nation state

and all the lands from the Brazen Peaks to the yian river Broke Free from the sultanate of oyan ji took the position of merchant king of katapesh which he held for just over 12 years the town of suu remained independent from the rest of the nation For a while after this from 3256 to 3257 n slavers began raiding suku and for two Relentless years the null Raiders sold slaves from independent suu to katapesh the result of these raids not only eventually led to the incorporation of suu into the kapachi state but also led to the

erosion of control The Cult of the dawnflower had over the city as many citizens of suku began to feel betrayed and abandoned by their goddess after ji's death in 32 62 a succession of Various Bandit Warlords seized the title of merchant king of katapesh for themselves not many were able to hold power for more than a few years at a time and despite the high value of the pesh trade the Lords of katapesh were unable to control the flow of wealth from one Bandit group to another and it became an increasingly Lawless and unsafe Place

One new major city did emerge in this wild period in 3496 the slaver Captain IL Mattis okeno declared Herself the first pirate lord of port Keno the makeshift Port originally began as a convenient place for pirates to stop by to collect water and Provisions without relying on the well surveilled ports of the Mainland but Captain okeno encouraged other Pirates to convene there to create a convenient Center for their more illicit businesses Captain okeno ruled the port city for over a decade but she was killed when she tried to unite several other slaver groups Under her

flag for 300 years after her death okeno continued to serve as a pirate Port without centralized leadership despite various attempts to unify the Pirates under a single banner then in 3725 something remarkable happened an alliance of creatures of Otherworldly alien origin arrived possibly by Starship or maybe by some other magical means these aliens a breed of witch weirds numbered five in total arriving about 10,000 years ago their Sudden appearance in 3725 is widely speculated upon but the prevailing Theory among experts is that they simply recognized in Lawless katapesh a good place to seize power and

establish a thriving mertile Empire of their own some say they marched into the City by night at the head of an army of Highly disciplined soldiers and simply crushed the leaders of the various Bandit gangs occupying the city before any form of resistance could be organized others say The pack Masters arrived in airships that so utterly terrified the city's Bandit Lords they fled into the deserts and never returned in truth there is no actual record documenting exactly what happened as the five packed Masters have had all records of their arrival carefully scrubbed they have since

quietly ruled the city and Country from their palace away from the public eye and inquiring minds though perhaps the truth of their arrival to katapesh may Be hidden somewhere between the various Tales exchanged by the common folk of the land despite the aliens having access to Advanced Technologies from across the Stars very few of these have been introduced into katapesh and where they have been positioned they have been deployed carefully and with strict oversight the most prominent example of witch Weir technology being adapted to enforce law in katapesh is the creation of the alums discussed

in more detail in My construct Creature Feature the alums are skull-faced automaton likee constructs that house a real living Soul they are a slave form of construct however typically containing the soul of a retired member of The Zephyr guard who has been offered immortality in exchange for a life of service in defense of the order of the PCT Masters special pendants call Char arms of Alum control guarantee the Loyalty of these Alum constructs the PCT Masters brought a Necessary degree of Law and Order to the Lawless lands of katapesh they continued to exploit both the

trade of pesh and slaves to drive their wealth however in fact they adopted an anything Go's policy when it came to trade in general but with stricter enforcement on banditry theft and murder they were able to turn katapesh from a lawless land to the Beating Heart of a thriving Mercantile Empire by 37:30 the city of katapesh expanded its Grand Bazaar and Opened its Infamous night markets where anything at all could be bought and sold and by 3750 the city had expanded to include a greater set of outer walls built on a scale unlike anything seen

outside of the powerful magocracy of Nex to the South naturally not everyone embraced this anarco capitalist alien regime in 4112 a new order of paladins of sarr emerged in suku to combat Regional slavery and soon they began to perform covert raids out of suku to free All slaves held or being sold in katapesh they initially had only moderate success Against The Growing Power of the PCT Masters and many of their order were in turn captured and enslaved by the Alam and the Zephyr guard around this time an ifre Prince from the elemental plane of fire

came to katapesh as well Prince jaul he was called and he was a servant to Queen imer Elemental Queen of the plain of fire who is discussed in more detail in My elal Plains video in an effort to impress his Queen Prince jaul began to excavate the remains of the powerful spawn of rovagug that had been buried in the Brazen peaks in the early years of the age of Destiny in the course of his excavation jaul became the ruler of a temple devoted to rovagug a place that is now known as The House of the

Beast jaul dark works in the region partially fractured reality and this attracted the attention of a jathum princess named Nesi she led a party of Heroes from the elemental plane of air a group known as the Templars of the five winds to face jaul and his minions jaul supported by The Cult of rag and nefesi accompanied by the Templars of the five winds faced off against each other in the shadow of the pale mountain in Northern Cates this took place in the year 4300 although nefesi was unable to kill javu she was able to banish

him to a forgotten demiplane called kashon once used as a Magical retreat by the powerful Ark Mage NEX javu would remain bound there for almost 400 years but the work he had begun in the pale Mountain lingered unfinished awaiting either his return or for one of his surviving disciples to pick up his work in 4606 katapesh remained relatively unaffected by the global disruption of the death of Prophecy in 4701 noes from the white Canyon led by Chieftain wrath sandstalker besieged suku paladins of Aade arrived to reinforce their saronite allies The Siege broke but the paladins

of aade mostly perished in the Battle of Red hail in 4705 the GRE corsers a small Navy made up of dur and Freedom Fighters sank three catap pesi slave galys the Packa Masters began to offer large rewards for the destruction of the corsair's fleet in 4709 the E Prince jaul would Escape his extra planer confinement and attempt to complete his work to resurrect the spawn of rovagug Near the pale Mountain the exact details of this return are played out in the first edition Legacy of fire Adventure path by 4710 anti-slavery operations conducted by such activists

as the suku paladins of saren Ray meant that a significant number of enslaved individuals had managed to escape most fled into the remote regions of katapesh beyond the bustling bazaars they found shelter anonymity and employment among the badawi villagers and Nomads of the Catap pesi deserts in these Hinterlands a group of former slaves developed their own pesh paste as a natural stimulant that could in fact help combat the devastating effects of refined pesh addiction with the profit from pesh past they aimed to expand their pesh cultivation sites and assist more enslaved catap pesi in escaping

to rural Villages the plan met with success but the introduction of this alternative form of PES to the market began to Attract the attention of the packed Masters by 4720 the packed Masters had dispatched bands of mercenaries into badawi territories to seize their pesh crops however in a surprising turn of events the badawi villagers and their allies emerged victorious in the initial skirmishes the badawi pesh Growers Guild declared their alliance with the fire Brands fact an anti-slavery faction that had emerged in Western gar some years prior other Firebrand allies came to katapesh to reinforce The

Growers Guild fearing a disastrous and bloody Uprising the badawi Revolution was abruptly halted when the PCT Masters agreed to key turns in 4722 they marked the end of legalized slavery in the nation with a further tacit agreement allowing The badawi Growers Guild to continue selling their new pesh in the common market this brings us to today these recent events have compelled the PCT Masters to take a More direct role in governance than they have had to take in the last 10,000 years the sudden emergence of pesh paste followed by the badawi Revolt left them struggling

for control for the first time since their mysterious arrival the PCT Master's leading human liaison pact broker Hashim iban SED has offered deep reassurances to cates's various Guild Masters that the pack Masters have the situation under control but some groups are beginning to advocate for a coup To protect their interests the PCT Masters have been cultivating a deeper relation with cates's noes including the establishment of the first ever null Battalion of the Zephyr guard with this sudden influx of military strength the pack Masters are likely to be able to hold down control regardless the civil

unrest has marked the first time Outsiders are questioning the stability of the packmas regime and therefore the consequences for cates's political Standing abroad are more precarious than ever before what this means for the dark markets of C katapesh only time will tell the government of katapesh as touched on in my history section katapesh is governed by an enigmatic organization of rarely seen robed and masked aliens known as the PCT Masters the circumstances of their arrival in 3725 are shrouded in mystery but for a thousand years they have remained the Undisputed masters of the country Regardless

of their origins The Pact Masters angru jar kiluk morius and and Aron rule the city quietly from their palace avoiding public scrutiny their edicts are conferred to the populace via their Chief servant pact broker Hashim iban SED who oversees day-to-day governance on behalf of the pact Masters responsible for upholding their judgments and laws while speculation persists about iban SED harboring a Personal Agenda he currently enjoys a Stable and respected position iban SED also presides over the merchant Council responsible for trade policies and Market regulation but but he tends to adopt a more L Fair approach

to any matters outside the sphere of Commerce the fact is the entire country primarily revolves around Commerce ensuring a constant and smooth flow of business guilds play a crucial role here and individuals are free to engage in trade as long as they belong to the relevant Guild Merchant Guild membership is typically cheap but often comes with strict observances and neglecting tax obligations results in harsh Guild retribution monthly councils between the pack Masters and Guild Masters are conducted to arbitrate disputes approve fee schedules and administer punishments for violating trade laws theft is severely punished with first

time offenders losing a hand and facing branding while second time offenders are Executed on the spot by The Zephyr guard other crimes are typically met with fines or sometimes even overlooked if they don't directly hinder Commerce destruction of property however is a serious crime resulting in forfeiture of an item of equal value despite the pack Masters rarely being seen their extensive network of spies and the Vigilant Zephyr guard ensures they are aware of all occurrences within katapesh the Zephyr guard are further reinforced By the alums powerful Golems strategically placed throughout the city and Country to

maintain order the katapesh gazeteer katapesh can be divided into five major territories the uaga highlands centered around the pale Mountain which Rises like a great gray Spike of granite above the surrounding Hills and Crags of both the eastern barrier wall and the jagged Brazen Peaks are the uaga Highlands occupying the northwest region of katapesh this Territory was the site of the popular first edition adventure path Legacy of fire the river valleys the pale and scorpious rivers provide katapesh with its only stretch of fertile land most of the country's population lives along this stretch with a

vast vast majority of the nation's population to be found in the city of kapes itself Stone spine and the North coast stonespine island and its surrounding isets along with the treacherous Shoreline of cates's North Coast Coast are notorious pirate territory the residents here often don't even consider themselves to be a part of the catap pesi state and tend to follow their own laws and rules the southern barrier wall centered around the city of suu the Southern barrier wall territory comprises various deep mountain regions treacherous Dry Hill lands and at its Southeastern reach a stretch of

deep murky swamp land despite being remote it's not free from Commerce cates's Second largest city of suu is connected with the nexian city of an to the South by the famous nexian road called the barara uchafu or the road of dirt the katapesh desert the South Eastern corner of the country is mostly desert along the coast the barara Damu or the road of blood connects the nexian capital of quantium with a few cities along the stretch of desert and ultimately to the capital city of katapesh today this region has grown in significance as it Is

here that the badawi Growers Guild grow their new pesh paste the aaga high Islands the Northwestern Highlands of katapesh serve as a natural barrier separating the nation's heartland from its neighboring regions Assyrian to the North and the mangi expans to the West these Peaks also play a crucial role in isolating katapesh from the Abundant Western rainfall that nourishes the Lush mangi expanse here precipitation is confined to High Mountain Lakes and Snowcapped Peaks later coursing through deep cut Canyons during the Spring thaw nourishing the pale River in contrast to the bustling cities along the coast the

highlands present a Wilder environment a frontier inhabited by resilient individuals who sustain themselves in spite of the land rather than because of it this region is characterized by Untamed Wilderness and formidable creatures including barbaric null tribes and hungry Manor while the laws of Katapesh nominally extend to the highlands the influence of the packed Masters is rarely felt here they are accustomed to Solitude forging their own path and cultivating a spirit of Independence that borders on stubbornness important locations in the uaga highlands include the painted flutes on the Far Western Edge of the uaga Highlands rests

a vast Canyon filled with pillars of colored Rock these totem likee formations carved by Wind fill this Canyon with whistling sounds as the strong winds grind away at the hudo and refine their Eerie elegant forms when the winds reach the right Speed The Natural Music here turns hauntingly beautiful no mortal compose the songs the hoodo play and every time they sing the tune is different dedicated musicians sometimes travel to the painted flets to listen to the Eerie moans and whistles of the wind sawing at the rocks and gather inspiration for Their own work these windy

valleys have also attracted a number of air Elementals and jathum air Genies who have made homes for themselves in the Deep Canyons here the Western valleys between the painted flets and the pale Mountain territory there lies a series of valleys and canyons a collection of lowlands between one cluster of mountains in the East and one in the west these reach as far north as the gem basket a location discussed in more Detail in my central mangi expanse video and as far south as the southern barrier Hill lands and Fort longjaw the major valleys and canyons

here include the litha veale the Serpent's Canyon and The naus Veil The northmost Valley is the litha veale which was once Lush and fertile carrying some of the moisture of the mangi expanse to the west and was tended by a dedicated Grove of Druids unfortunately the litha veil fell under a curse which turned its high Druid the Priestess oras into a Medusa the Valley now houses creatures of living Stone who are slavishly loyal to their dark mistress immediately south of the litha veale is another wide Canyon that spans the Brazen Peaks known as Serpent's Canyon

it was once a significant pass but is now frequented less Often by civilized Travelers due in part to the corruption of the litha veil in the north but also due to increased null activity Nomads now only cautiously Traverse it wey of its many potential dangers on the south side of the Serpent's Canyon lies another gently wooded Veil this is the Nao Veil guarded by the Survivor of The lith ofil Druids this circle of Druids still seeks to break the curse on their former home the Medusa orases power is still too great to challenge however and

so The Druids have focused on defending their New Haven and preserving its natural state until such a time as they can formulate A plan to defeat or break the curse on oras the Northern Cascade on the Northern edge of the uaga Highlands close to the border with oyan lies a beautiful pair of lakes lake vorn and Lake fors which are fed by a high waterfall known as the northern Cascade this Cascade is fed by melting snows from the high Brazen Peaks which flood directly into the broad Lake vorn before cascading down a series of smaller

Falls known as the Viper's tongue to reach Lake fores which lies on a teered step below it the northern Cascade as it is known is a natural wonder but of little interest to the inhabitants of the Brazen Peaks beyond that since the land around the Lakes is Rocky and rugged the Peaks High and the trails difficult even in good weather furthermore lake vorn is rumored to be the home of a monstrous sea creature called the vorra a creature that reputedly devours Intruders who linger too long in its territory Skeptics claim no water-born creature of any

great size could live in Lake vorn as there is not enough food in the lake to sustain it nor any means for it to leave to hunt elsewhere but the taale persists with descriptions of Warra ranging from draconic and Serpentine to tentacled or beaked some have even found what appears to be the remains of crude altars and offerings on the pebbled Lake Shore perhaps indicating some mysterious worship of the Lake Monster itself the Ruins of marage Shar the ru the Great temple complex of marar its proud columns toppled and its statues of strange beings disfigured

by the scouring winds lies in a deep Canyon shadowed by the surrounding mountains those who have explored the Ancient Temple have reported that at the heart of the ruins stands a great crumbling Gateway bearing the image of a sphinx-like creature and beyond that a 63t tall pillar sculpted so that it Appears to be made of a great many petrified humans explorers have taken to calling it the sacrament of the faithless the nomads of the the region refused to even speak of marar and none can say what strange Faith was once worshiped here further study has

been deterred by the Canyon's protectors a sizable pride of ravening unnatural Lions each bearing black soulless eyes and The Uncanny ability to speak a strange guttural Tongue the Brazen Trail lying some ways to the east of the ruins of marar Lies the Brazen Trail the Brazen Trail is a Highlands Caravan trail that traverses the Brazen Peaks along some well-worn roads skirting around VAR mountains to avoid the peak's frosty upper reaches the road connects the katachi settlements of bronz hook kelain and thall with the oani settlements of safani and epek the trail is worked only by

the most experienced caravaners men And women that are familiar with the terrain and territory and know how to ward off null raids and wyvern attacks the trail also crosses a number of prominent landmarks about 15 miles north of bronze hook along the old trade route lie two freshwater lakes resembling Footprints these are called the Giant Steps and the lakes have been rumored to be sites of buried treasure though the authenticity of these claims is questionable as the caravaners here are Fond of telling Tall Tales only 5 or 10 miles north northwest of the Giant Steps

are the plains of Yos a Plaine of tall grasses that line the slopes just south of the Brazen Peaks notably along the stretch of the Highlands there can be found a 40ft tall date tree which Towers above the surrounding Hills allegedly this tree grew from the corpse of the legendary osani hero jfar afet who died here fighting a mighty red dragon Druids and other Primal spellcasters who have Made this treack report that the tree communicates with those who have the ability to speak with plants and that it is a long memory dating back in many

centuries on the oyan side the trail also passes by the old PT dwarf necropolis of ericus described in more detail in my Assyrian Deep dive video and skirts around the treacherous null burial ground known as The Bone Garden where Undead nolles are known to wander finally it reaches the relative saf of The crook River and the various Assyrian settlements that lie along those Waters the silver Tarn just south of the ruins of marar Lies the silver Tarn this high mountain lake is named for both its still reflective Waters and for the old Silver Mines in

the surrounding area which have left several abandoned tunnels that can still be found cut into the mountains around the Tarn the original excavations look Dwarven and were likely the work of miners from the Hammer fall Falls further south the deeper portions of the mines might even still be viable but few Prospectors have dared to Brave the hazards of the Brazen Peaks to investigate the pale mountain and the house of the Beast revered and feared and among the tallest mountains of the Brazen Peaks the severely sloped pale Mountain Rises to a height of over 13,500 ft

the Mountain's composition of speckled Granite gives it a distinctly Lighter color than the surrounding Peaks although the rock that comprises the peak can be found throughout the area the unusual concentration found in pale Mountain has long baffled miners the folklore of this superstitious NS of the region explain the mystery in a variety of ways with many claiming the mountain is comprised of the bones of a Titanic monstrosity that once ravaged the area possibly true given the presence of the House of the Beast along its Western Slopes as described in my history section The House of

the Beast was first constructed by a power mad e fre named jaul but he was banished by the Templars of the five winds and the princess nefesi in his absence the Cults of rag claimed dominion over the house of the Beast these Cults comprised prominently of NES and trites the greatest among them was a NL warlord named the caran king who was eventually resurrected as a morg see my Undead Deep dive video for More details on this creature type and continue to hold power here even after his own death the story of jaul In The

House of the Beast features prominently in the legacy of fire Adventure path the halls of hammerfall west of the pale Mountain lie the hammer Falls fed by melting snow these Majestic Falls Cascade down from the mountains roaring ing over tall Cliffs and foaming through teers of Rapids down towards the pale River where the swirling White Waters Calm somewhat before flowing past Kel Marain in the open Plains the largest of the falls is known as the Anvil near the river's Headwaters deep in the mountains cascading over a plunge of more than 150 ft to a broad

pool below long ago the rock face behind and around the Anvil was riddled with natural caves worn by Millennia of water expanded and enlarged by Dwarven stonemasons the halls of hammerfall were once a significant dwarf Community certainly the largest such Community in the lands of katapesh with a far-reaching trade Network that connected them with the pet dwarves of Assyrian in the north and with Mighty dongan in the South unfortunately the hammerfall dwarves disappeared several centuries ago making them all but a legend to the shorter lived races of the Highlands many tales try to explain their

fate whether falling to a mysterious ailment or dying upon the blades of cruel NES but none know their Fate for certain the halls of hammerfall have remained lost and sealed for Generations from time to time a daring prospector brags of maps showing hidden Trails or secret entrances or even claims to have been there and back perhaps with a small Bobble to prove the Tale But if anyone has truly found the old Dwarven halls or learned their fate they have successfully kept it to themselves the Onyx Hall tucked away on the shore of the shadis smir

at the base Of a spur of the Highlands is the old Manor of Onyx Hall sheltered by overgrown Poplar and Hemlock and surround Ed by brambles the hall made of slate dark granite and marble was once owned by a wealthy suku family as a Retreat House situated far from the bustle and Intrigue of City Life much of the family's wealth was accumulated through the slave trade and Legend has it that a woman in the highlands placed a curse upon the family after she her Husband and their children were sold to separate owners in distant lands

never to see each other again ever since that time over 200 years now onx Hall has stood abandoned but not uninhabited they say those lured to the manner by tales of the fabulous heirlooms accumulated there have never returned slain by some nameless horror so other treasure Seekers have become increasingly rare the pale River originating from the high snow melts of the pale Mountain the Pale river runs through deep canyons and Cascades towards the lowlands meeting with the hammer Falls before flowing out of the mountains near karain passing bronze hook th Hall and yipo before cutting

across the Plains and meeting the scorpus and then finally from there flowing out into the obari at the great city of katapesh while the river is not overly wide it is fast flowing and sometimes surprisingly deep and cold especially in the springtime when it Swells with fresh melted snows from the Peaks giving it foamy White Caps and leading some to nickname it the ale River kelaran Kel Marain is one of the many small towns and Villages that can be found along the pale River part of the connective tissue that allowed the Empire of oyan to

maintain a thriving trade rout with a Southern reach during the days of the old Empire Kel Marain was the village closest to the headwaters of the pale and therefore Also the closest to the pale Mountain unfortunately like many of the small towns along the pale it came under hard times during the Assyrian decline period and under even harder times after the pesh trade brought about kateshi independence and the then kesi Sultans of occupied Assyrian broke ties with them alt together for Kel Marain things came to aead in 4689 at that time Kel Marine was in

the grip of a terrible plague and the town's Elder priest of sarray a man named hun sought aid from a traveling Seer named zalos zalos was in fact a disciple of the Demons of abadin particularly zurel The Horseman of war and his magical influence turned the surviving towns folk against each other Hal run eventually had zos Bound in the Crypt beneath the temple but by then it was too late for the town so in a fit of guilt Hal run took his own life by drinking poison of course news of the Town's destruction drew the

attention of of cates's elusive and ruling PCT Masters who had long overlooked the well-being of the people of the uaga Highlands Desiring to bring the abandoned Village of kelmarin back into the economic fold and fearing it might fall into the hands of the dangerous Denis of the northern Wilds in 4709 they dispatched a merchant princess from a prominent mertile family named Alma ravesi with a caravan of settlers paid To rebuild and reestablish the town when Alma arrived she Enlisted the aid of a band of Heroes as detailed in the legacy of fire Adventure path to

rest control of the Village from the Calis null tribe Kel Marine's troubles didn't end there of course as the afrit prince javu escaped his Exile in this adventure path bringing with him an army of evil Genies to besiege the town brought there by a strange brass tower that burst from The Village's battle market like a malignant Plant the same group of Heroes once again liberated Kel Marain and likely saved the life of Alma now serving as the town's muhafiz second edition sources don't specify what has happened to to Kel Marine since that time but it's

entirely likely that Alma is still the town governor and that if the PCS of that Adventure ultimately settled there bringing with them vast wealth from the city of brass where their Adventure ultimately took them that Kel Marine has Since evolved to become a cultural center for the entire uaga Highlands region bronze hook southeast of kelmarin Lies the town of bronze hook located at the head of the kateshi side of the Brazen Trail which connects the aaga highlands with the ayani city of epek the town folk of bronze hook earned a healthy living fing goods and

passengers across the pale River and charging tolls for the use of the hook forward as the old trade route fell into disuse though So too did the fortunes of bronze hook the town continued to subsist of what little tray trickled through the old road but desperate times called for desperate measures so bronz hook increasingly asked no questions about trade passing through the town or along the river this included slavers of various sorts and their miserable cargos exotic creatures and things coming out of the bronze Peaks the constabulary has always been hardpressed to keep order in

This town especially when a substantial number of visitors pass through bringing with them coin and opportunities to drink and brawl in the local tap rooms that the authorities are often on the take and more likely to be found starting brawls than breaking them doesn't help either thce Hill the young farming and trading town of thce Hill can be found in a shallow Valley between its three namesake Hills on the edge of the kateshi plain where the flow of the Pale river waters the grasslands to the east and south thill is home to fewer than 70

humans and halflings and is known for its olives which flourish in the Groves along the hills the small community grows much of its own produce shipping the rest along the pale River to buyers mainly eastwards towards a Heartland of katapesh the town's humble successes in the 12 years since its founding have made it a soft and potentially tempting Target for Raiders and its people are becoming more aware of it the town has a central Palisade which is defensible but it's small outdated and poorly maintained manned only by a few untested Guardsmen the people of thce

Hill seek competent Defenders knowing it's only a matter of time before they must defend all they've created white Canyon snaking through the heart of the bronze Peaks this deep Canyon was cut by ancient Mountain Streams that have since dried up altogether leaving a narrow Gorge surrounded by high Windswept Cliffs only small scrub and spiky grass grow in the clifts of the rocks and the base of the canyon is covered with Rocky glittering sand the Shadows are deep here which shoots its various inhabitants quite well null tribes have controlled white Canyon for some time largely keeping

to their domain and the surrounding areas just South of the mountains so Travelers and Nomads of the Highlands alike know that going to White Canyon means almost certain capture and enslavement the river valleys the landons around the pale and scorpious River represent the most fertile territories of katapesh and consequently their most densely populated areas the greater Valley territor is considered to stretch as far west as the barrier wall Hills as far south as floaters Pond and The sparad in Jungle and as far north as the Brazen Peaks and the Fang and sepit passes important locations

in the katachi river valleys include py Crest not far from the Fang pass a solitary Mountain scarred by volcanic eruptions can be found a desolate Peak with no signs of scrubber brush on its scorched slopes the hardened tracks of magma resembling veins of pitch trace the Contours of this now dormant volcano this is py crest and its forboding Visage Harbors genuine perils for those daring to venture into its Heights a community of EP Genies from the elemental plane of Fire have made their homes here going back over two centuries air atmad is purported to be

the leader of this group but the exact nature of their purpose here remains shrouded in mystery as the E here seldom Venture beyond their lirer they do fiercely repel any who approach who and in recent years they emerge from their volcanic Stronghold to engage in a battle with a company of jathum air Genies wiping out a merchant Caravan that was unfortunate enough to be used using the pass when the battle commenced the Fang and sepid passes two passes that allow for the transport of good between Assyrian and cateres can be found in the kateshi river

valley territories the widest pass in the Brazen Peaks is the Fang pass but it is also among the least trafficked and most treacherous it does however Connect the kateshi village of yavo with the city of epek in oyan while relatively safe on the catap pesi side on the oyan side it leads directly into the South desert and Crossing that desert requires the aid of skilled desert Nomads who know the lands and dunes well furthermore there are dangers on both sides of the passes the E of py Crest on one side as just discussed and the

noes of Fort Fang on the other side Fort Fang is a significant NL Enclave Discussed in more detail in my Assyrian Deep dive video for this reason even though it's a narrower pass most prefer to make use of the sepit a little further east on the south side of the sepet pass the headwaters of the scorpus river can be found while on the North side the source of the ASP can can be found Travelers can make a short and difficult trk through the pass but remain relatively close to clean drinking Waters at all time this

pass Also effectively connects the substantial ayani city of Wati in the north with both katapesh City and El Fatar in the south at the top of the pass the Hostile sepit on the ayani side provides a safe place for travelers to rest and resupply yavo the village of yavo is a small settlement located near an oasis north of the pale River its foundations were established in the middle years of Assyrians First Age strategically Located near an oasis that could be used as a stopover for merchants using the Fang pass in fact it continues to serve

as a place where one can sell almost anything to its curious inhabitants however it shranks substantially when trade with the southern reach of Assyrian dried up during the decline period between the first and second age and especially later when the next G War May trade with the southern lands less and less valuable eventually the Settlement's original human inhabitants mostly move moved on and yavo became one of a few kesi villages with a predominantly gnome population more recently still constant harassment by NL Raiders eventually forced the Gnomes to migrate Beneath The Oasis where homes and workshops

were dug into the rock beneath the pool itself most dwellings have secret Escape Routes and the settlement is carefully monitored by guards for fear of Discovery from Hostile Outsiders few visitors are accepted into the community and those select few are searched thoroughly before being allowed entry a little paranoia as they say in yavo is a small price to pay for the feeling of security the inhabitants of yapo these days are also motivated to remain in the area despite its dangers and remote location for the potent quality of the pesh that grows here the underground labs

of yavo churn out high quality Poes a product in High demand in katapesh markets and a number of gnome Alchemists of yavo have lucrative trade arrangements with several dealers the crouching Jackal in the Arid expanse of cates's northern desert desert a colossal Stone figure rests in the Sands slowly weathered by the ceaseless passage of time standing nearly 70 ft tall this Monumental structure is sculpted to resemble an immense crouching Jackal a prevalent but Unfounded rumor suggests that those who dare to sleep in the shadow of the crouching Jackal risk undergoing a transformation into a wear

Jackal a dangerous lycanthropic creature common to the stretch of the desert there's also a belief circulating that during ancient Wars the crouching Jackal awakened transforming into a colossal Golem that prowled the desert crushing cates's adversaries beneath its Stony Paws one renowned Bard in katapesh sings Of how the blood of a martyred paladin dribbled on the paws of the crouching Jackal can open a doorway into an ancient stronghold regardless of the veracity of these various claims there are those willing to investigate and find out two grizzled old dwarves gravet truther and Kip Travis operate an industrious

Mining and excavation Enterprise in katapesh and have started Excavating the area around the crouching Jackal and studying the statue itself The two dwarves claim to have come into possession of an ancient scroll depicting other structures surrounding the statue and believe their efforts will uncover these lost structures buried beneath the sand perhaps they will provide answers to the question surrounding the mysterious statue or even find the secret entrance into a hollow interior which they firmly believe exists even if it weren't for their useful camp near the structure That Travelers can use to resupply at the crouching

jackal's imposing figure would still hold importance for travelers as it can be spotted from distances of up to four miles making it a practical Landmark for anyone seeking to navigate the expansive desert landscape The Shrine of the sleeping Dove over a century ago a devoted follower of saren Ray embarked on a sacred pilgrimage to suku unfortunately their Journey was marred by tragedy when Just days away from their destination they fell victim to a merciless Ambush by wear Jackal and were brutally slaughtered the pilgrims lifeless bodies lay exposed in the unfor giving desert for over a

week their white robes catching the winds and drawing the attention of passing Travelers the somber Discovery prompted a group of suku paladins to intervene giving the Fallen pilgrims the dignity they deserved the paladins entred the Deceased in the very spot they met their untimely end and in a gesture of piety they erected a shrine dedicated to sarr there since then this Hallowed Ground has been held as a place of high reverence for the faithful of the Dawn flower it has become a sanctuary where Travelers can find respit and safety shielded from the influence of malevolent

entities that instinctively avoid the consecrated area for those with the right disposition who spend a Night at The Shrine the sacred site confers Vivid and purposeful dream messages from an ethereal figure cloaked in radiant light El Fatar like hel Marain in the uaga highlands this once ancient city was abandoned and fell into ruin and disrepair during a decline period but has much more recently been reclaimed and now has a new lease on life these expansive city ruines were rediscovered by a daring Pathfinder who also stumbled upon a vast network of Catacombs concealed beneath its dilapidated

surface subsequent years brought an influx of adventurers down to the ruins who were drawn by Tales of unimaginable buried Treasures protected by fearsome Guardians some returned with spoils While others vanished Into the Depths as tales of the Subterranean mystery spread a burgeoning town emerged amidst the ruins initially centered around the catacombs it expanded substantially when a resourceful Rogue Unveiled a second level beneath the catacombs attracting a fresh wave of Fortune Seekers the recent discovery of a third level solidified alatar status as a permanent settlement the plethora of captivating artifacts uncovered here have enticed Scholars researchers

and historians to the city alatar residents engage in a bustling trade offering Provisions spelunking equipment maps of varying accuracy detailing the catacombs and an array of pottery carvings Paintings and other Salvage relics procured From The Underground Labyrinth several adventuring groups have chosen alatar as their base of operations both driven by the shared goal of unraveling the Mysteries underlying the catacombs and claiming the undoubtedly vast treasure troves still concealed within members of the band of the Blazing way proudly display glass amulets containing Perpetual Flames as symbols of their allegiance Ruther feran the unswerving Their chelish leader

is a skilled fighter fixated on the potential riches buried beneath the sand his rival is Aruna Riki a vran explorer who leads the stars of the earth adventuring party she ostensibly professes a greater interest in uncovering knowledge than accumulating wealth even though she eagerly secures her portion of the bounty recovered by her group but it's not all fun and adventure in alatar while treasure Seekers happily sell the Ancient fins they've been digging up here they are disturbing legitimately dangerous ruins one region yet to be disturbed are the Deep catacombs of itak aguru a long dead

Cult of ayani serpent worshippers these tunnels and Chambers remain as yet Untouched by mortal hands their walls lined with intertwined serpent bodies made of inlaid precious metals with gems for eyes but mindless Undead Wonder their beded Halls former cultists who had been buried alive in The Labyrinth when the cult was put down elhc a vile Lich who displaced the high priest as the head of the cult in its waning days sits perched on a great gold statue of a coiled serpent at the catacomb Center quietly biting his time until some fool hearty Adventurer opens the

door to his long locked tomb Vargas swamp spanning almost 30 miles the Vargas swamp stands as the largest swamp in katapesh its diverse Flor attracts various types of herbivores Which in turn have drawn Predators such as alligators vipers eels and chws a small tribe of iuki is also made the swamp their home as one of the oldest swamps in katapesh Vargas swamp conceals numerous Stone ruins as well as the remains of various ancient Villages the water level here is a tendency to fluctuate unpredictably which some have attributed to a rumored Green Dragon said to reside

within the swamp in the heart of the swamp is a towering stone Monument not unlike the crouching Jackal of the desert This 70ft Tall Stone statue of a reclining cat is called the creeping Watcher the creature depicted is no natural cat either its seny cat-like body appears to be adorned with carved Stone scales and its head has a distinctly reptilian look to it unlike the continuous structure of the crouching Jackal The creeping Watcher features separate materials for its yellow eyes which have defied all Attempts to EXT ract or even chip the unyielding Stone the origins

of the creeping water much like those of the crouching Jackal remain shrouded in mystery widely perceived as the more Sinister of the two statues some posit The Watcher serves as a site for dark ritual sacrifice and ancient pacts best left undiscovered the ruins of slyther Cove on the outskirts of the Vargas marking the transition from wet swamp land are The channels of suth ma whose underground reservoirs transformed the terrain into treacherous mud in some stretches here concealed beneath seemingly harmless sand the area is riddled with quicksand pits posing a constant threat to unsuspecting Travelers and

animals local residents are well aware of the dangers but Outsiders frequently fall prey to the sucking pits Vanishing Without a Trace where the suth ma Sands meet the jungle Can be found the ruins of slyther Cove this Village derives its name from the Abundant population of snakes lizards and various reptiles that once thrived within its confines 20 years ago an unforeseen flood permanently elevated the Waters of the Vargas swamp to a new level resulting in the destruction of most structures in sther Cove disheartened by their Misfortune the survivors chose to abandon the ruined settlement 8

years later rumors Circulate that the flood was no natural Calamity but an orchestrated event a result of dark sacrifices and entreaties to evil deities possibly linked to the enigmatic creeping Watcher of the swamp Brave Fortune Seekers occasionally Venture into submerged ruins of slyther Cove in search of answers but some never return their disappearances attributed to the various vicious reptilian predators that lurk therein the sapka Salt Flats and Floaters Pond 40 m south of slyther Cove lie the sabka Salt Flats characterized by a superficial Basin covered in gritty salt Laden Sands sabka stands as the primary

reservoir for nagri salt a crucial component in the production of pesh while other Salt Flats dot the kateshi desert sabka distinguishes itself as the largest and most sought after seasonally Farmers make pilgrimages to sabka engaging in the process of sifting salt from the soil And transporting sacks of this precious commodity back to their homes Merchants also frequent sapka Gathering nagri salt for subsequent sale in the bustling markets of katapesh just west of the flats lies an oasis called floater's Pond it is nourished by Subterranean streams and emerges as a beautiful blue Basin amidst the deeply

salinated Sands here saline infusion from the flats renders the Waters of floater's pond exceptionally Buoyant this unique quality makes drowning nearly impossible within its confines and offers an extraordinary experience to those who Venture into its Embrace a resourceful community of shm cat folk who have abandoned their nomadic ways have settled here where they engage in a patient and meticulous process to extract the special nagri salt from floater's pond this method involves immersing linen sheets in the buoyant Waters and subsequently laying Them out to dry under the scorching sun while the extraction process may be laborious

it has brought a measure of wealth and prosperity here allowing the community to acquire various foreign luxuries as they have grown their settlement the sparad and jungle about 20 mi southeast of the Salt Flats and 20 mi south of the Southern Bend of the river Scorpius lies an expanse of tall tropical trees called the sparad and jungle here tribes of uky make their Homes sister tribes to the swamp dwellers in Vargas to the north on the southern edge of the jungles a stepped pyramid called the Pyramid of the Agate King leans westwards against the desert

part partially engulfed by the soft ground of the forest crafted from weathered Granite the pyramid's blocks bear slender veins of vibrant red and gold marble with iridescent pearl colored a gate forming mesmerizing ripples along the steps ascending the Structure Center believ to House the Eternal Repose of a long forgotten Legend known as the Agate King the tomb cradles not only the remains of this mythical figure but also the opulent Treasures he sought to carry with him into the Afterlife since these levels have been looted over time the pyramid has drawn a mly array of occupants

ranging from Bandits and cultists to Savage humanoids Genet Manor Genet Manor is a Large catap pesi Villa overlooking a particularly Majestic portion of the river scorpus it was commissioned by the wealthy druman calistrat taml pad also referenced in my druma region Deep dive video all told Genet Manor is a modest Affair at least in so far as the standards for druman Holdings go it is a two-story building of ornate Stone built around a Central Atrium in the cadan style and surrounded by a protective wall when the calistrat or his servants Are not present care of

the manner Falls to a retired catap pesi Zephyr guard named garad Po and his wife domitilla significantly ganet Manor served as a site of a confrontation between the members of the Pathfinder society and members of the aspis Consortium led by the notorious Sorceress levilla cosmopoly in the course of a hunt for a rare tan manuscript called the mutani manual of Marshall Mastery the detail of this encounter are played out in the First edition Pathfinder Society Adventure the Genet Manor Gauntlet the city of katapesh the final major point of interest in the river Valley's territory is

of course katapesh City itself however because that is such a detailed location in its own right I will hold coverage of the capital and save it for the end of the video findable via the chapter markings below Stone spine and the North coast stonespine island is a very large island Off the Northwestern coast of katapesh surrounded by a string of smaller Isles that range so close to cadira that they ultimately actually make for a narrower sea crossing here than exists between oyan and cadira at the straight of marev in the north beyond the Pirates the

only native peoples of these islands are a Hardy breed of seafaring NS as well as their cousins the redridge null tribe a more rugged breed of mountain NES who can be found in the Steep reaches of the Stpine mountains the breathtaking waterfalls that Tumble from the ston spine mountains were the reason Pirates first began to use the area just west of the yellow Harbor as Anchorage the many CES and natural Harbors across the island also served as excellent cover for the visitors activities for over a thousand years the islands were used as a sheltered place

for pirates to rest get provisions and hide from retribution from hostile Nations before that the Island saw only brief action when kadira used the island as a staging ground from which to invade katapesh in the 16th century Captain IL matis oeno proclaimed herself ruler of the Cove in 3496 giving the port the name it's still carries today and she ruled it for many years before her attempt to unite the Pirates ultimately led to her demise despite the lack of centralized leadership the port thrived for centuries the pact Masters arriving two centuries later Annex Stonespine Island

into katapesh but allowed slaving to continue under a kateshi governor or muhafiz since then the territory has maintained Unity with carefully targeted raids and strategically held alliances muhafiz Moro medasi pragmatic and unscrupulous enforces minimal laws here leading through intellect rather than Brute Force his network of allies and informant spans the region and it is said he employs a Charmed gug as a Personal bodyguard which he reportedly purchased for 23,000 gold pieces in oken's flesh fairs important locations in this region include the city of okeno located beneath the imposing peaks of ston spines mountains okeno is

devoid of traditional walls or fortifications instead its defenses lie in the Fearsome reputation of the pirates that Moore here theal natur Harbor at the mountains Foothills provides Serene Anchorage resilient even in the face of the Fiercest monsoons stretching about 700 yards across the bay accommodates even the mightiest warships rising from the waters like a monolith carved from a single Bedrock Stone town flourishes the city's vibrant heart crafted from this Ashen Stone it hosts bustling mundane markets and serves as the dwelling place for common folk including Artisans and Merchants following the unloading of cargo ships find

anchor at the AG a new dock this tiered Marina constructed from Ancient ship Timbers rises above the sea presenting a bewildering Maze of peers walkways and cranes constantly battered by storms and Mists from the stonespine mountains new do has become a patchwork result of centuries of makeshift repairs governed by Captain permelia pegleg cockle and her wear rat helpers this area serves as a taxing point for visiting ships and its stability is as precarious as the ships it hosts at the North End of Stonetown the black circus Hosts weekly entertainment spectacles Infamous across okeno and beyond

for its bloody performances Master of Ceremonies ikarus a tling necromancer oversees the elaborate production above Stonetown the elite reside in lofty bow sprit with broader streets and better maintenance bow sprit contrasts with the rest of okeno while the lower streets and attractions like the black circus welcome visitors those venturing higher undergo close scrutiny along the Bowsprit rise the notorious High Road safeguarded by Vigilant guards leads towards the upper mountains ensuring the security of the nearby pesh fields and Mountain tracks leading to concealed slaver strongholds at the Northeast end of the high road lies the Palace

of a member of ston spine Islands noes lines of Chieftain a most famous slaver known as the hyena princess Nano this Palace is graced by spring water falling from high in the stone spines the water is Used to great effect here with a whole Wing built above a lake the paranoid princess Nano cannot always be found here however as she has many enemies and she changes her home from time to time even taking quite humble lodgings on occasion provided each can offer her daily baths in milk as is her royal preference in stark contrast with

the rest of bowsprit at the end of bowsprit Pier a flotilla of old strung together vessels forms the fleet this repugnant Haven for Sailors seeking rest is a vast mazike structure of old ships floating in the harbor while this General condition is deplorable the stern a more refined section caters to those who can afford its higher prices Admiral zban ment oversees the fleet wielding Authority with a quick temper and a menacing whip south of Stonetown and bowsprit okeno sprawls into a Labyrinth of sunless alleys and streets a maze of treacherous dead ends and Corners where

Cutthroats lurk eagerly targeting those with bulging Pockets regardless of the path taken all roads here eventually lead to the notorious flesh faires for which the sprawling neighborhood is named sprawling auctions where lives are commodified the old flesh Fair the grandest of them all resides deep in this District witnessing the passage of hundreds and thousands of lives the okeno tanning pits can also be found here overseen by local Traders this is An open courtyard where Tanners work amid the stench of animal cadavers piled up high against the nearby buildings the harbor District comprises the oldest part

of the city and includes the yellow Harbor the original and oldest dock as well as Harbor Island a secure island in the center of the bay with a large lighthouse built precariously over a stone Fort along the yellow Harbor clinging to the rocky Shoreline various bars taverns and other establishments Offer entertainment for pirates on Shor Leaf here nolles employed to serve in the local watch keep a sharp eye out for trouble other points of interest in the harbor District include the rat's tail an opulent gambling house owned by R halmus A halfling wear rat Alchemist

which offers a unique blend of charm and danger halus is reputedly the wealthiest person in okeno and Harbor's aspirations of becoming the city's Governor known for his uncanny memory and dangerous Charm halmus happily admits that his personal motto is The House Always Wins two major temples can also be found here the shrine of thear dedicated to Gaz a bustling temple in Stonetown presided over by Tian priests Naro and aaiu despite their feisty nature the siblings are highly valued for their effective blessings placed on departing ships also the chained Vault a notable Bank of abidar boasting

a toing structure housing an intricately decorated Interior with a large golden candal abum the presence priest and judge Justice henal maintains a Stern and humorless demeanor offering a rare example of incorruptibility in okeno the shipyard houses skilled ship Builders and Artisans with phac tuba as the most prominent ship Builder while shipwreck Plaza a Market Square formed from lashed ship Timbers offers somewhat luxurious residences that have attracted wealthier patrons from among the city's criminal Elements finally there is the Palace of Honey Stone the residence of muhafiz Moro medasi himself a golden structure surrounded by beautifully maintained

Gardens rumored to house exotic slaves and monstrous creatures the palace is heavily fortified recent rumors surrounding muhafiz Moro medasi suggest the governor is increasingly at odds with the secretive PCT Masters which might explain why increasingly he is rarely seen outside the manor fort stone Jaws located high up on the red Ridge Hills stonespine Islands null country is a large cadan Fort it's believed that its original function was to serve as a military Camp when ston Island was being used as a staging ground for the cadan Army at the turn of the 16th century after the

island was abandoned it came to be occupied by noes who gave it its current name but it was later repurchased and cleaned up by the Sion of a major cadan Merchant family Pasha Mulia alji had become a prominent representative of kadan interests in Absalom and thought acquiring a fort and building a relationship with the Pirates of okeno would allow her to more safely transition cargo from Southern cadira to Absalom without having her Goods seized on the way Mulia alji even served as a Pathfinder Society representative for the cadan faction before she vanished abruptly from Absalom

Affairs after a scandal revealed she had been Responsible for the murder of Talon Baron jao Delino in 4711 after this she retreated to fort stone Jaws got heavily involved in the slave trade and became a major underground information broker Mulia aljur is a character featured heavily in a number of Pathfinder Society adventures and this particular property of hers fort stone Jaws is featured in The Adventure the slave master's mirror the ston spine archipelago in addition To stonespine Island various other Islands comprise the greater ston spine archipelago off the eastern coast of the stone spine is

black Sand's Island noteworthy for its beaches of black sand and the dormant volcano that lies at its heart the large island off the western coast is called six shells Island and a little further west from this Island lies another major island in the chain before the mainland sand Haven island of particular note is that a small catap Pesi port town can be found off the coast of sand Haven called Kiren with a population of just over a thousand permanent residents the town of Kiren functions as a legitimate stopover and resupply point in the archipelago and

therefore sees a good deal of ship traffic making its way from the obari to the Inner Sea the packed Masters have invested to make sure chiren remains relatively secure from all the Pirates in the region but beyond its immediate Waters all bets are off and very many Pirates mostly headquartered in okeno make these Waters among the most treacherous outside of the shackles some Pirates of renown operating in the stpine archipelago include ziren Bay this kesi pirate commands The Galley undertoe and has been a prominent figure in okeno for over a decade Captain Bay displays a

dual nature exuding diplomacy and Grace on land while embracing a Cutthroat demeanor at sea captain kitha Saltspray the halfelf captain of The Galley branded chain maintains a reserved and distant manner even refraining from socializing with her officers in Port persistent rumors suggest she has a past as a slave herself yet Captain salts spry exhibits no sympathy for the captives she sells Captain Bret venau the chelish captain of the gallan sea gargoyle remains tight lipped about his departure from celiacs he does however happily share Tales of Confrontations with shackles Pirates and rival slavers and celiacs making

him a lively presence in oken's taverns when in Port The Smuggler Port of Driftwood when viewed from the water the Driftwood Inlet appears to be surrounding Ed by forbidding sheer walled Cliffs giving it an unwelcome and treacherous appearance however those acquainted with the region understand the navigational tricks required to maneuver around the rocks and access the inlet here the initially Imposing Cliffs give way to unveil a shallow sheltered Cove despite the thriving hidden port here Driftwood remains relatively obscure among legitimate trade ships but Smugglers and pirates on the other hand have disseminated knowledge of Driftwood

within their clandestine networks The Cove now serves as a small Harbor for those seeking a discrete port P from which to launch assaults against affluent yet underrot vessels Occasionally Bandits and Smugglers choose to conceal their ships in Driftwood while conducting onshore activities but they typically deploy a substantial contingent of guards this precaution is necessary as leaving ships undefended in Driftwood has proven to result in their mysterious disappearance the southern barrier wall cates's Southwestern territory is centered around the city of suu it is dry Barren Mountain Country an Impractical site to construct a major city and

yet suu the second largest city in katapesh can be found here The Devout Cult of sarr that founded the city initially called the Bastion of saren Ray expressly chose this site for its remote location because at the time they had been exiled for their extremist ideals by the sultanate of Assyrian despite its remote location suku has continued to grow and prosper thanks in part to the construction of the famous Nexian road called the barara uchafu or the road of dirt which is served to connect it with the nexian city of anopia into the South the

road is the safest way in and out of suku safer than braving the deserts of katapesh certainly as nexian magic protects it and it is patrolled by wandering nexian War Golems important locations in this region include sulku the wall city of suu is an island of civilization in a Perilous and unforgiving land where both NL and human Raiders have broken their claws and Blades against the town's formidable defenses even in relatively calm periods Bandits and slavers lurk outside the protective walls preying on vulnerable targets despite these constant threats suu's Gates have traditionally remained open housing

a healthy population of over 5,000 residents and welcoming Traders from all across Garand and Beyond indeed in the Busier trade Seasons the City's population can swell to accommodate over 7,000 people making rooms at taverns and in quite costly in the early period of the age of lost Omens saronite paladins use Salu as a strategic base from which to combat slavery in the surrounding region they launched raids on slave pens reaching as far as the nation's capital in their fervent efforts however the noble cause faced a setback when the majority of these abolitionists were Captured instilling

fear of brutal reprisals and ultimately leading to the cessation of their Endeavors thankfully the fire Brands and the badawi pesh grower Guild were able to succeed where the saronite paladins could not and since the repeal of the flesh faires in recent years these paladins have focused their attention instead on matters of local security their presence in the city however didn't prevent null forces under the leadership of Warchief wrath Sandstalker from besieging suku with overwhelming numbers in recent years recognizing the imminent danger lady sinor sought assistance from her allies in the Church of aam in a

climactic and decisive Clash known as the Battle of Red hail suu's Defenders successfully repelled The Siege but at a considerable cost including the death of Lord hanf osar and most of the aadan paladins who had come with him civilian casualties were high as well and although the NS Were forced to retreat they were not conclusively defeated presid presently murmur circulate that the null forces are regrouping in the mountains sparking fears among sukus leaders that the hard one piece may prove to be short lived within the safety of the city walls suu today looks much as

it did before the siege of red hail a settlement of multi-story stone buildings most of them walled and subdivided into compounds with several owners in a central Courtyard such compounds May house the headquarters of trading houses extended families perhaps even along with a family business or groups of Artisans sharing living and working spaces together larger buildings feature wind catchers to fight the burning heat or magical means of climate control if the inhabitants can afford it most buildings feature brightly colored doors and those belonging to sarin Ray's faithful are often painted red in her honor poor

Citizens however live in cram tenements or Shacks built from whatever materials they can scavenge the city of suu is divided into six districts Temple Hill the town Central District is dominated by The Majestic lambent Citadel which was constructed at the point of the highest natural rise towering over almost everything else in the wall City constructed in 3722 following the successful defense of suku against various slav raids the lamp and Citadel Of saren Ray stands as a testament to the town's renewed favor from the goddess the cathedral with its famed stained glass Dome is a grand

structure providing shelter prayer chapels housing for clergy and pilgrims a hospital and a well-guarded treasury lady shanar Sor a hero of the siege of suku leads the temple actively participating in its management and charitable Works across the road from The lambon Citadel is the town hall this Central Building hous is The town's Council chamber the offices of Lord muhafiz kelar and the courtroom adjoining structures accommodate the main guard Barracks Armory and suu's prison Maran hidea the guard Commander collaborates with the head of training at the Citadel Adar Badin ensuring they remain ready for anything the

complex serves as a hob for civic affairs with Lord kelar remaining approachable despite the town's many demands at the North End of Temple Hill the Church of Aade is the second largest temple in town a much more modest and more recent construction than the lamban Citadel it serves a Congregation of aadan worshippers High Priestess Samir brahan disillusioned by the loss of aadan paladins during the recent Siege is growing skeptical of the ruling sanit finally on the Eastern rise of Temple Hill just across the way from the town hall is the new market larger by half

than First Market located on Riverside New Market is the largest Open Air Market Market in suu vendors Hawk their Wares to visitors here with the goods being sold having come from across Garand and aastan the market also serves a hub for trade houses and has attracted mercenaries and Specialists seeking Caravan work East wall the Southeastern and Southwestern districts East wall and West Wall respectively were most heavily hit during the various sieges in suu's history they are therefore today the Most heavily reinforced and monitored with Lookouts constantly scanning the southern desert for any signs of raiding

parties East wall offers a number of valuable services and entertainments to visiting Traders and Merchants a famous casino and Gambling Hall owned by Hamad kadr can be found here those in the know are aware that Hamad has a special relation with a nearby Condor company and he targets skilled inebriates offering debt relief in exchange for a Written service agreement led by rosom quasi the Condor company offers bodyguards and Caravan guards at what sound like reasonable rates however this is because the pay and benefits for the guards themselves are quite poor and many have been lured

into joining by Promises of paying off their gambling debts so many of these Warriors are sullen and LAX and as often as not abandon their charges if faced with any real danger another point of interest in The East wall district is the alumium observatory the home and workshop of noted Celestial scholar gamar DTA The Observatory is the Premier Place of study on the hallucinatory effects of prolonged sun exposure gamar is also well versed in a range of scientific topics and is often sought out by visiting academics West Wall like East wall West Wall has been

reinforced and refortified in recent years with exceptionally thick walls and a great Many guard towers several soldiers Patrol the city's High walls along the southern stretch at all hours of the day and night West Wall's thick fortifications Also Serve to protect numerous establishments that cater to visiting merchants and pilgrims located in the shadows of the high Western Wall break stride Inn is a renowned Inn and Tavern managed by retired Adventurer erene Finch erene staff is always comprised of numerous liberated halfling Slaves another well-known lodging in West Wall District caters specifically to saronite pilgrims the dawn

flowers pure rest it is called and it is known for its aesthetic atmosphere in keeper atash Ramen a devout member of The Cult of the dawnflower directs much of her profits to the lamb and Citadel Riverside a small tributary of the alemian runs along the west side of the city though the size of the tributary varies Considerably depending on the season Riverside District is the central district facing the river and likee West Wall it caters predominantly to the cities seasonal visitors local points of interest include the First Market smaller than New Market First Market caters

mostly to locals offering everyday goods and Hearty meals the song Emporium within the market run by U wakei sells not only common birds but also unique and intelligent avien Companions for those well versed in the art of falconry the demarquez Armory run by dwarf Smith RAB demarquez the bustling Armory is not only a popular spot to pick up armor and weapons by citizens visitors and mercenaries but also does a steady business supplying weapons and armor to the town guard as well the Gilded dreams pesh parlor owned by dbir gazim gilded dreams specializes in unique pesh

variants the upper floors exude luxury while the sellers cater to A poorer and more desperate crowd deir also functions as an effective information broker in town and is rumored to have connections with various Bandit groups keb's atars and tonics run by goalie Keb this shop specializes in refined pesh concoctions and alchemical products golly Keb is a prominent supplier of pesh to deir gazim pesh parlor and the shop is also known for its other experimental and exotic offerings the North End the northernmost District in suu is also the artistic Heart of the City local Artisans and

performers can be found here sections of the North End are quite poor however and the North End is also the location of the dusty foot slum Dusty foot houses refugees pesh addicts and other unhoused patriarch Edris CED a philanthropist of the saronite faith has long advocated for better conditions and improved services for the city's poorer residents Beyond this the dominant feature of the North End is the rising Dove Amphitheater suu's main public performance space hosts various events especially saren Ray themed plays Amphitheater director Cameron Jalal always keeps an eye out for potential performers another less

well-known local in the district is the house of soaring Illusions a known performance art group's compound serving as living and working space the troops leaders offer their home to paying guests to fund Their ambitious Shadow theater pieces Hillside suu's Eastern side is built into the jagged Cliffs of the Southern barrier range so its central eastern district is called Hillside the city's wealthiest residents live here and it includes the headquarters of some of the city's prominent Merchant houses prominent such trade houses include the madanit house and the Three Lions Consortium and their buildings here serve as

offices residences and storage For valuable Goods they are heavily guarded and theft from them can lead to Pursuit by deadly recovery agents the aspis Consortium also owns a large and impressive building in Hillside other points of interest in Hillside include zetune supplies a general supply store owned by husband and wife ambal and mesed zetune the Thrice blessed Coffee House run by fiz kendi a popular spot for finalizing business deals and the serpentine blades headquarters led by AA Steo this mercenary company is known for its bravery and honesty AA actively seeks new members but imposes challenging

tasks on them before they're allowed to join so that they may prove their Merit Fort longjaw situated Northeast of suku close to the border with the northern Highlands proudly stands a fortress bulwark against the constant threat of null aggression a vivid red flag adorned with a stark white Jawbone cleaved by a gleaming Silver sword of Billows above the wooden Stockade under the leadership of Janna seconden stride a skilled catap pesi Captain the longjaw Rangers hone their null fighting prowess through daily activities such as extensive scouting hunting for slaver tracks setting up deceptive lost Caravans as

decoys and questioning Travelers for any indications of null presence visitors seeking to camp at Fort longjaw experience cautious Hospitality Janna Permits travelers to stay a night within the fort but requests donations to support the stock A's maintenance a fee which she waves in the case of those in evident distress especially those who have faced null ambushes Travelers reporting such attacks undergo thorough interrogations with Janna seeking specific details to Aid in pursuing and confronting the asants suspected dishonest visitors face Janna's wrath being stripped of weapons and Provisions Before being sent out into the desert alone Janna's

reputed short temper pensioned for Bloodshed and intense hatred for NES creates an aura of fear among Outsiders Tales of her fiery outbursts discourage casual visitors from approaching the fort unfaced by the lack of company Janna relishes the Solitude while the well-provisioned fort stocked with dried rations water ale arrows and salvaged weapons and armor from defeated noes manages to remain Largely self-sufficient The Beehive deep in the barrier wall mountains The Beehive boasts a labyrinth the network of Chambers interconnected by winding tunnels rendering it a secure and easily defensible complex possibly built originally by dwarves The Beehive

now plays host to a hive of formans ant-like humanoids who originally hail from the same world the elves first came from industriously engaged in the excavation Of new tunnels and Chambers they have so far displayed minimal interest in the rest of katapesh or the external World in general the Strategic position of the Beehive along the southern road to NEX coupled with its well-known entrances have contributed to its historically consistent turnover in population but the formans have endured here in part due to their lack of possessions and non-threatening nature towards other groups despite this persistent rumors

Circulate about Hidden Treasures left by previous Smugglers or valuable or noes concealed in the deepest corners of the caverns that eluded the dwarf's previous Explorations the zaret mines formerly known as the mines of tar otka the now depleted Platinum mines have been renamed zolet meaning the dark Death in kesi this is because in the late years of the mines operations they became overrun by Undead Predators drawn by the Allure of potential riches treasure Hunters who have ventured into zaret share fragmented and frequently conflicting stories leaving the exact nature of the undead inhabitants unknown surviving explorers

have however reported the presence of a Dwarven ghost named tib who materialized before them relaying the story of how he met his demise engulfed in poison gas upon breaching a Subterranean chamber the tales surrounding tibs purpose however are conflicting with some asserting that He seeks a lost possession like a pickaxe While others claiming he searches for a worthy recipient to impart some secret knowledge about a lucrative Platinum vein a further rumor suggests tib was a former partner to the dwarfen excavators of the crouching Jackal I referenced earlier graet TR and Kip Travis regardless a recent

development regarding the mines is the appearance of a group of dwarves at the sweater Lodge in the Cates desert with The intent of reclaiming the zaret mines rejecting the notion that the mine was depleted these dwarves have insisted the miners abandoned it after accident uncovering a cursed Shrine to norgorber leading to the release of the shadowy entities that now occupy it armed with holy relics and accompanied by a cleric of tag the dwarves seek to purify and reclaim the minds common field more a cluster of homesteads than a formal Town common field stands out in

katapesh for Its high concentration of pesh crops while some fields are modest measuring only 30 ft on each side others sprawl across almost an acre the community comprises 22 Farmers their families in Hired Hands amounting to a population of over a 100 the farmers of commonfield generally characterized by their honesty and diligence approach strangers with caution due to the value of their precious crop having been targeted by thieves and Raiders in the past each Farmer must post guards around their crops day and night occasionally Travelers passing through commonfield propose trading a day's labor in the

fields for a night's accommodation and a home-cooked meal the farmers usually accept such offers providing the traveler contributes earnestly to the fields and agrees to leave their weapons in the kitchen during the night since the emergence of the badawi pesh Growers Guild in the katapesh desert to the Southeast the farmers of commonfield have considered joining the guild and abandoning their agreements with the pesh trade Guild masters of katapesh City despite the their favorable opinion of The badawi Growers fearing potential reprisal they have yet to finalize on this decision commonfield lacks a single ruler instead tradition

dictates that the five wealthiest Farmers convene weekly to discuss matters such as coordinating guard patrols assessing The Season's progress addressing issues like insect or rodent pests affecting the crops forecasting weather for the next month or other relevant topics among the current council members two individuals Stand Out relle g a solid and socially awkward half elf with a business-minded attitud ude and Carrick cstone a lively patriarch of a large halfling Farmstead the evergrow swamp evergrow presents a stark contrast to the stereotypical image of the dark and Forboding swamp here golden sunlight filters through a lce of

vibrant green Vines and furled leaves the swamp features clear shallow ponds teeming with multicolored fish surrounded by thick fronds musical frogs and humming insects sunflowers and tropical blossoms Adorn the edges of the pond while thriving bushes Laden with heavy seed pods Trail their branches in the water this Lush and vibrant environment makes everg growth a Haven for herbalists as Nearly any plant sought can be found within its borders in addition to the Natural inhabitants unsavory characters such as nolles Smugglers and bandits Venture into evergrow in search of rare plants and herbs one unique feature of

evergrow is that it is the only place in Cates where Cobalts reside this community of giant lizard herders whom they conspicuously res Sy are a remarkably pacifistic and pleasant lot atypical of most Cobalt communities Situated at the edge of evergrow and consisting of a collection of huts perched on stilts lies the town of bug Harbor the town earns its name from the multitude of insects that populate the swamp including dragonflies water striders mosquitoes and black flies while bug Harbor has only a few hundred permanent residents it sees a steady flow of visitors due to its

thriving trade in herbs and plants Alchemists herbalists Wizards and Druids fre Quently journey to bug Harbor in search of rare components or seeds of plants on the verge of Extinction the town's economic success is also tied to a clandestine field of false PES concealed within the evergrow these slimy bulbous Plants release a Milky sap that mimics the appearance of pesh however instead of providing a pleasant Euphoria the false pesh induces vomiting and fever and sometimes even death naturally those in bug Harbor who are involved in the Trade of false pesh work diligently to conceal their

activities recognize ing that interference in the pesh trade could attract the attention of the packed Masters the cat pesh Desert from the alemian river to the sparad and jungle in the sabka Salt Flats kapes is almost entirely sand blown desert the southern half of the desert leading to the nexian border is the most dangerous part dubbed the trackless storm its defining Characteristics are wind storms and the ever shifting Sands that bury and uncover landmarks overnight these constant sandstorms vary in intensity ranging from mild Dusty clouds to Wild tempests that can strip skin from bone the

inhospitable nature of the desert here deters all but the most desperate Travelers the rest of the desert while sparsely populated is home to a number of specialized communities particularly nomadic groups like The Vinoy desert Elves and the shm cat folk the indigenous badawi tribe of humans was also mostly nomadic but they have begun to settle into large camps in recent years and have been a politically influential force in the country as a whole the badai pesh grower camps highly concentrated in the western reaches of the desert not far from the cluster of farms known as

the common fields the badawi nomads began harboring escaped Slaves in large numbers around a decade ago as the saronite paladins of suku were having increased success in liberating slaves across the country in the remote recesses of the desert these slaves learned to grow and harvest pesh having moderate success in selling their pesh paste through various back channels only a couple years ago the popularity of their PES pesh aroused the attention of The Pact Masters who raised an army of zephyr guard and their powerful Alaman forcers to raid the badawi pesh Farms despite the odds the

badawi nomads and the emancipated slaves that formed the majority of that community supported by paladins from suu held the line against the PCT Master's forces after Zephyr guard armies were forced to retreat at the end of the initial badawi Siege the badawi PES grower camps declared themselves a member cell of the fire Brands an anti-slavery faction that had been growing in promis across the Inner Sea Firebrand cells across the Inner Sea declared their support for the badawi camps and seeing the International Community galvanized against them forced the PCT Masters to rethink their strategy in 4722

caving to International pressure from the firebrands the Packa Masters outlawed slavery in katapesh and recognized the badawi camps as a new kateshi trading Guild allowing them to continue their pesh trade but now through legal taxable Channels this has been a mixed blessing for the badawi as since that time the pack Masters have enforced greater control over the camps using the various legal means at their disposal The Observatory some 20 mi east of the badawi camps and 50 Mi south of floater's pond is a mysterious Stone structure it measures 20 ft on each side and is

situated on a flat plane in the North End of the desert four crumbling pillars Mark the corners of the platform And at its Center lies an ornate carving of a butterfly the origin of the observatory is shrouded in mystery and no one knows who built it the stonework however appears Dwarven which is unusual for katapesh especially in a shrine dedicated to desna some speculate that the platform is the only remaining part of an older Dwarven ruin the purpose of this mystical Observatory becomes apparent to those who lie face up on the platform within the square

of Sky framed By the pillars the heavens appear enormously magnified Stars pulse like heartbeats comets streak across the sky like flaming arrows and the celestial Panorama unfolds in a captivating display of cosmic Wonder while the observatory itself possesses no known Mystic Powers Beyond its ability to amplify the sky it remains a popular attraction for astronomers prophets and followers of desna who seek divine inspiration amidst the celestial Spectacle finder plane with a population of over 2,000 gnomes fer plane is the largest of cates's predominantly gnome inhabited settlements the city is led by waxless Bean a charismatic

Bard who has held power unexpectedly long given the traditionally transient nature of leadership in ferlan indeed the Gnomes of fer PL are known for their transient lifestyle with constant influxes and departures of citizens families rarely establish permanent homes here drawn Away by The Lure of Adventure and the surrounding desert as a result the citizenry undergoes almost a complete turnover every few years it is often said a visitor to finder plane May return after only a year to find that they no longer recognize anyone the city operates on a unique system where houses become free property

if left unlived in for over a week any gnome visitors arriving in fer plane can settle in any of the Dozen unoccupied houses and Personal items Left Behind become the property of the new owner residents who leave and return cannot expect to find their Old House available and new owners have no obligation to return items or property to returning citizens this constant cycle of turnover leads to newcomers bringing supplies and valuable items which they trade with the current residents and eventually leave behind for the next traveler the Monument of ccas on the Western edge of

the catap PES desert a cracked headless Stone torso lies half buried in the Sands the Torso if fully in would have measured at least 20 ft in height the statue exhibits slightly reptilian touches leading some to theorize it may have originally been a serpent folk or Naga the only clue to its origin is the name cell kalas engraved on the statue's back behind its shoulder blades one of the torso's arms still attached protrudes from the sand And its Granite hands appear to have been hollowed around a missing weapon the size of the empty grip suggests

that the statue once held a weapon with a hilt possibly a sword metallic scrapings around the hand indicate that the weapon was forcibly removed at some point the ultimate fate of the weapon remains unknown of course however this hasn't stopped enterprising vendors in katapesh from capitalizing on this mystery and each year several counterfeit ccala Swords get sold as Priceless heirlooms to gble buyers sanctum of sand the sanctum of sand is a sprawling ruin half buried by the desert that once served as a religious site although this specific deity worshiped remains unknown the structure of the

ruin suggests that the deity may have been of L or benevolent nature while the presence of abandoned cell-like sleeping quarters hint at a Convent or Monastery possibly for Followers of aori however other features such as a large underground Storehouse and broken spiraling Tower seem more in line with the worship of abidar or sarr many priests and Scholars have visited the sanctum over the years in an attempt to identify the deity associated with the ruins but no definitive conclusions have been reached while monsters occasionally inhabit the ruins the frequent presence of armed explorers has deterred them

from establishing more Permanent presence here Mirza Mirza was once a typical Oasis town a waypoint for travelers braving the hard desert however a mysterious disaster befell the town leaving nothing but desiccated and withered corpses in its wake every drop of moisture seemingly drained from their bodies for a period Mirza remained abandoned before the Desert Sands eventually covered the structures The Oasis dried up and the town faded from memory altogether recently however some Malevolent Force has stirred The Haunting memories of Mirza and its tragic residents Travelers report sightings of disturbing mirages or Worse still the sight

of a welcoming town by a sparkling Oasis only to be replaced by claws of the desiccated dead bursting forth from shallow Sands the mystery of Mirza and the nature of the evil that plagues it has continued to elude investigators most today give it a wide birth the sueda lodge established by the Pathfinder leis Morgan 50 years ago sua Lodge serves as a basis of operations for Pathfinders and other explor is seeking ancient to syriani artifacts in the region of katapesh leis Morgan the log's founder passed away 8 years after its establishment and subsequent Pathfinders have

taken on the responsibility of maintaining the lodge the current caretaker is the dwarf Ranger VAR pendin a knowledgeable and enthusiastic individual with a Fascination for cates's history pendan focuses on cataloging and preserving artifacts brought to sua providing shelter and supplies to fellow Pathfinders and engaging in knowledge exchange with adventurers in the region pendan May enlist capable and trustworthy adventurers for small tasks offering more information on promising excavation sites to those who prove themselves The Lodge itself is a low Stone building with guest rooms a Kitchen a pantry a library and a dining hall another building

serves as a living quarters for pendan and an underground chamber houses the archives accessible through a secret door in the main Lodge a well in the courtyard Taps into an underground stream and a protective wall of clay bricks surrounds the enclosure with pendan holding the key to the metal gate providing access through the the wall the lodge acts as a hub for adventurers and Scholars alike fostering Collaboration and Discovery in the pursuit of cates's Rich historical Secrets the palace mortalis at some unknown point in kateshi history a colossal Beast died in the Arid Sands here

speculated to have been an ancient primordial dragon or some other Titanic winged Behemoth its true nature has been lost a time only the giant curving rib cages that rise from the desert like a cresting wave remain today over the years resourceful Travelers have Repurposed the immense rib cage as a shelter they use canvases cloaks and various materials stretched between the massive ribs to create makeshift leanos that offer protection against the Relentless Desert Sun and blowing Sands as a popularity of this natural shelter grew a mosaic of Tarpin blankets Shields and sails now covers the bones

and has turned it into a common stopping point for travelers Caravans adventurers and experienced wonders often speak of Spending the night at Palace mortalis as they Traverse the vast and unforgiving Cates desert the Sable Sands tarpet Travelers occasionally mistake the dark blur on the horizon near Sable Sands for an oasis only to discover it is a black 100ft diameter tarpet that swallows up anything foolish enough to venture into its depths other curious phenomena are attributed to the Sable Sands as well for instance despite the rising temperature throughout the day the local Here remains remarkably cool

another clue that the pit might not be entirely natural is that along the southern stretch of the pit the presence of a dust weathered tombstones indicates that Sable Sands once served as a graveyard yet the identities of those interred and the origins of the site remain shrouded in mystery it is possible the pit itself is the result of some curse or other that resides on the graveyard and certainly the site sees no shortage of Undead creatures emerging from the black morass to stalk the living tiven Reed tiven Reed is another small town like yavo located

along the long road that connected osan's main Kingdom to its fertile Southern reach Tian Reed was one once a more significant settlement a part of the old Assyrian Trade Network as the Empire of Assyrian fell into decline tiven Reed came to be occupied by cates's growing gnome population in the middle years of the second age this Moderately sized gnome settlement is slightly larger than yapo but not quite as large or as eccentric as finder plane kept vibrant and Alive by the Gnomes tiven Reed continues to be a popular stop for merchants seeking markets for perishable

Goods that won't survive the journey up to katapesh or down to quantium Tian gnomes are also known to have particular fondness for pesh which southbound Merchants plying the great Coastal Road are well aware of and happy To bring with them in exchange the Gnomes of tiven Reed many of whom are of kenpark Kindred offer intricate Clockwork devices that find a ready Market in the city of quantium to the South the three stars this mysterious Trio of pyramids is located on the Southeastern edge of the catap pesi desert an ancient Assyrian Town once flourished here not

far from the coast and along the road to the southern reach but the town has since disappeared and Only The Monuments Remain the pyramids are constructed from smooth blocks of yellow stone and crowned with pointed blocks of transparent Crystal that emits a radiant glow especially pronounced under the light of the full moon though their enigmatic appearance have drawn countless Scholars and explorers there remain no known entrances leading to the interior of the pyramids most Scholars suggest these pyramids likely contain the tombs of one of the many Regional Pharaohs that emerged in the tumultuous period between

the first and second age of oyan however one persistent Legend suggests a different narrative according to this Tale the three stars serve as the resting places for three benevolent and alien beings different versions of the legend propose that these sleepers will either awaken when Garian becomes too chaotic for their liking prompting them to either depart or restore peace or that a chosen individual holds the Key to Awakening them some even speak of a fourth star a secret hidden pyramid purportedly containing the means to unlock the other the three the city of katapesh sprawling across a

blistering hot Sand Valley lies one of the most astonishing and marvelous cities in all of garan the grand Metropolis the Golden City of katapesh enclosed by high walls the city is well known as a marketplace where anything one desires can be acquired Exchanged or sold for the right price katapesh epitomizes organized chaos with gold reigning Supreme and commerce taking precedence as the great deity fr with setbacks including a period in which the city suffered a 30-day onslaught of scorching Sands during the year of scouring winds the city has continued to reinvent itself perched above a

series of black glass-like Cliffs known as the obsidian wall cateres gazes upon the obari ocean from A Sandy Promontory below these Cliffs a level expanse extends to the Sea hosting some of cates's bustling Port areas the city's perimeter is enclosed by a 40ft high Sandstone wall adorned with ramp parts and inter dispersed with crenelated Towers these are well patrolled by The Zephyr guard the standing army of the city's Elusive and ruling alien oligarchs the pack Masters the city is compartmentalized into five distinct Districts The Dawn gate the Docks the inner city the lower City and

the Twilight gate alongside these major city sections three smaller communities find Refuge within the shade of cates's towering walls dog Town clusters around the dawn gate the day stalls a Congregation of vendors and beggars exists outside the serpent gate and a community named the sprawl comprising Craftsmen vendors farmers and Fishers resides near the Twilight gate south and east of the sprawl Castle Clarion and Its environs just barely qualify as a fourth Community outside cates's walls winding through parts of the city the river scorpus passes through the serpent gate meanders into the sprawl and ultimately flows

out into the obari ocean a network of bridges span its width facilitating the passage of small watercraft and connecting the different areas of katapesh enabling sift transport of people and goods the dawate district similar to the lower City this District of katapesh evolved around the original City walls during the Oasis age a period marked by an influx of newcomers attracted by the city's Allure Dawn gate hosts many of cates's affluent business owners and numerous upper middle class residents the immaculate repository serving as a prominent Temple of abidar Master of the Vault of Jalal Abdul oversees

the temple providing services such as document notarization business contract preparation and scale Certification abidar clergy plays a crucial role in ensuring Fair Trade Practices across the city the Gilded shell this turtle-shaped structure covered in gleaming metal plates belongs to the skilled armor malus Fu malus along with his team crafts Masterwork quality suits of armor incorporating new and exotic materials provided by customers zulan's Ranch this horse ranch is run by guildmaster analan Zulan and breeds exceptional horses and camels Known for their extraordinary speed analan is a legendary hangler and is also known to offer desert riding

lessons albeit at an exorbitant fee the golden Scarab a renowned Gambling Hall owned by Krabby jugle a goblin Rogue the golden Scarab features various games from standard card games to Exotic caged animal fights the basement here is set to host the most intense and violent games in all of garan constantly introducing new and bloodier challenges The smoking ruin once a residential and business area the smoking ruin was devastated when a rift to the elemental plane of fire opened up unleashing destructive Elementals the area remains unrepaired haunted by the Restless Souls of the victims locals continue

to seek adventurers willing to enter the ruins and put the souls to rest the docks stretching out from cates's Eastern Shore are over a dozen lengthy mazike peers capable of accommodating numerous Seagoing vessels warehouses stores and sizable ins line the docks servicing the bustling sea trade facing the Inner Sea a colossal copper statue of a horn giant weathered and adorned with seagull droppings stands Sentinel like its original Builders long since forgotten anexa panthia fish manery visitors paying a silver piece admission fee to this establishment are treated to a display of rare and exotic sea creatures

anexa panthia a collector with A ponon for the unusual pays generously for rare finds to enhance her collection C L she is interested in a sea monster rumored to have sunk the star runner and she is discreetly recruiting adventurers to join her Expedition ahead of her competitors jexer and young salvage company D jexer and Wilbur young seasoned Sailors operate this Warehouse specializing in Salvage operations and underwater Expeditions they sell both magical and mundane aquatic adventuring Equipment and are preparing to investigate the recently attacked and sunk Merchant vessel the star runner seeking Salvage rights for the

wreck tril's bath house trilia a halfelf proprietor offers weary Travelers a Haven for relaxation and private bathing Chambers for a modest fee visitors can enjoy a hot scented bath jerich Call's ALS owned by Jericho Ashworth a retired adventur turned brew master this popular Cantina serves a variety of alses beers And wines Jericho Brews special concoctions named priest in a bottle blending the pleasure of spirits with healing properties aside from the beverages Jericho provides useful information to adventurers and possesses a map to catacombs beneath the pale Mountain detailing various traps and Guardians the inner city surrounded

by ancient Sandstone walls covered in faded timeworn carvings and curious designs the inner city is the oldest of cates's Districts the inner city is also home to the walled Palace of the pack Masters its soaring Towers easily seen from anywhere in the city many ancient marbles dating back to the city's earliest existence 2,000 years ago rival each other in size grander and Mystique from the grand Coliseum the marble Sphinx and the golden Oasis to the glass pyramids and the screaming Obelisk all of these and more can be found in the inner city the College of

dimensional Studies a doed building serving as an institution for Arcane studies focusing on Alternate dimensions and interdimensional travel students use a massive telescope here to study the stars and the observatory is open to the public on certain nights for a fee the college lacking traditional doors relies on teleportation magic for movement alaran steel restaurant this unique establishment is part restaurant part weapon shop it is run by master Weaponsmith diab alfaran and he makes Masterwork quality weapons made of fine dreamish steel he also enchants weapons and patrons can wait to get their weapon Enchanted while they

enjoy a nice plate of cuscus made by diab Alan's wife who is also a Master Chef glass pyramids two transparent metal plate pyramids house the remains of powerful Dwarven Wizards gbria and trar who sought to harness magic located beneath the city rumors of entrances and Disappearances surround these pyramids attracting Scholars and adventurers alike the golden Oasis the last remaining Oasis after the year of scouring winds surrounding a large pond fed by the river Scorpius it is a lush spot with date palms Legends suggest patient and steadfast individuals may gain inspiration from the gods here the

pond also hosts various fish and aquatic plants the grand Coliseum an enormous Stone Coliseum with tiered benches Capable of seating 10,000 Spectators various events including both Gladiator matches and the sport of Rook take place here Rook is a violent sport in which two teams compete to get a ball through a hoop because the game play is quite rough adventurers are often approached to join guilds and teams with each Year's season culminating in a grand tournament the marble Sphinx a colossal statue though not made of marble depicts a sphinx and is believed to be harmless Only

the most faithful of lashu know it's truly a creation of the mother of monsters a mighty Sphinx of the ancient world turned to stone by her the massive Stone structure today continues to attract sightseers and Scholars the nexian embassy the embassy of NEX maintains good relations with katapesh and is run by Ambassador narut heris the nexian embassy also housed members of the steel Falcons for a while a group discussed in my anderan deep dive video That was unwelcome in kapes for a long time due to their abolitionist stance the screaming Obelisk a massive fire made

of smooth Carnelian functioning as a timekeeper similar to a sundial its enigmatic symbols and the harmonic whistling sounds it makes in high winds add to its mystery xandre pesh Palace a popular pesh parlor renowned for master Xander's ability to satisfy all the desires of his guests the palace is filled with private chamber statuary and Well-trained servants catering to various needs and desires the lower City lower City in Cates is the largest and most crowded area of the city it has the city's big docks and probably the world's biggest bizaar the lower City Bazaar stretches the

whole length of the city and you can buy or sell almost anything there andri the churen a tent where skilled doctor andri also a gifted Illusionist offers Services he can enhance beauty or provide disguises Using both magical and mundane techniques amed's carpets owned by ammed a high-ranking member of the Weaver Guild this tent is a maze of rugs tapestries and sleeping pallets most noted ammed is known to sell a small number of flying carpets here as well Aromas and aphrodisiacs a colorful tent run by Chang a tling herbalist offers relaxing herbs aromatic teas and other

services the Azure star a popular Cantina resembling a large gray tent With sky blue stars the Azure star is known for exotic Cuisine and entertainment attracting both locals and visitors syndra's exotic pets run by syndra and offering a variety of rare animals from different regions this establishment is ideal for those looking for Unique familiars or Animal Companions Council Hall and jail block once known as actp keep a scandal involving its previous owner massine actp has led to its conversion to a jail In Council Hall the doomsayer stand a circular deis used by prophets preaching obscure

faiths the more vitriolic of these mad Ramblers sometimes come into conflict with the Zephyr guard jangle shop a tent owned by the jangle Brothers selling rare and mysterious it items with often exaggerated histories the ramps Stone and Timber ramps connecting inner and lower city known for occasional fatal accidents and elicit exchanges the scorpion sting a tent Offering a variety of poisons run by jinia deib also acts as a point of contact for the Guild of Assassins the Temple of nethys a pyramid-like building dedicated to nethys god of magic a God who was particularly significant in

the history of oyan they also offer curatives and magical Research Services the Twilight Gate District Twilight gate a section of Cates surrounded by outer walls dating back to 3725 reflects the influence of the pack Master's Vision parts of this city were a shanty town during the Golden City era but were repaired and refurbished during nar's Reign the Twilight Gate District is now a blend of ancient and modern and has become a site of tourist attractions providing both ruins and contemporary structures the Pathfinder Society Lodge amid cyclopian ruins the three- tiered Pathfinder Society Lodge stands a

base for the global Pathfinder society and headquarters for cates's local explorers Guild overseen by Venture Captain Aurora steel Bloom the lodge houses Pathfinder teams offering a library with field agents chatbooks historical treatises maps and rare TOS Aurora secured the placement of two Alum Golems for protection complimenting the magical Wards safeguarding the building against intrusion The Red Pyramid this ancient three-sided pyramid from the Golden City era constructed with red bricks once once intuned a noble-born wizard Plundered long ago the pyramid is now a bustling tourist attraction for a small fee visitors explore the pyramid encountering traps

set by tomb Raiders skeletons of failed attempts false burial Chambers and eventually the authentic one despite being a well-used establishment it is rumored that some undiscovered tunnels might still exist the grand alchemist's Tower a tower in crenelated structure the grand alchemist's Tower is the residence of Cates's leading Alchemist and Guild Master of the order of Alchemists and potion makers the ruined Monastery originally a Temple dedicated to lashu during the NL Bandit Lord's rule the stone building adorned with sacrificial Engravings now stands abandoned despite its state of overall disrepair the Eerie atmosphere does attract visitors and

rumors suggest that they occasionally use the site for dark worship Activities The Sisters of the quill this two-story Building is the dwelling and workplace for dedicated women preserving the written word led by Sister mea they offer offer translation and reproduction services for a fee of three silver pieces per day gladiator's Guild Hall constructed from Bones and HIDs this massive Guild Hall hosts Gladiators Guild members training in various Chambers surrounding the arena weekly public pit fights draw gamblers and aspiring Fighters with successful Gladiators often advancing to the Grand Coliseum dog town dog town the most squalid

and dilapidated area in katapesh serves as a dwelling for the unhoused ner duells and smallscale business Proprietors its name is derived from the substantial null population residing here along with transient workers like Prospectors Miners herbalists and Drug traffickers the rabid dog nestled amidst ramshackle warehouses and Mining offices east of the Dawn Gate Road the Rabbid Dog is a perilous Tavern owned by Moss Pelt an old null primarily catering to nolles occasional visitors from other ancestries also frequent The Establishment The Tavern is notorious but a skilled null guide named shank whitelock can often be found here

and can lead Expeditions across katapesh and even to distance suu the charred meets situated on the eastern part of Dogtown charred Meats is a repugnant butcher shop run by charget a no cleric of eroa Specializing in repurposing discarded meat portions charget secretly engages in Corpse trading selling various creature remains especially humanoids for considerable price ghouls concealed in Gray robes guard her business and Carry Out collection missions when fresh corpses are scarce the day St district for travelers on route from suu to katapesh the day stalls provide a glimpse of the Grand City through a shanty

town of vendor stalls tents and Kiosks a precursor to the larger lower City Bazaar the day stalls attract those eager to spend their gold on tempting goods and services Doro Brewery run by ano Doro an alchemist turn Brewer this extravagant stall offers a variety of alses alongside standard alchemical items chho the talking dog a small stall featuring chho a talking dog cursed from human form and His companion tolac these two put on amusing performances for visitors but are also seeking a pendant That might lift Cho's curse alen's camels owned by alamad alen this stall specializes

in breeding and selling catap pesi camels known for their suitability as mounts and pack animals in the region some camels are trained for battle and alamad also provides all necessary gear at standard prices the smoke lady a black and purple striped tent houses the enigmatic smoke lady a fort teller who uses illusion magic to project an image composed entirely of Swirling smoke the sprawl among the three communities beyond the city walls the sprawl is the least likely to Captivate visitors primarily a residential area it accommodates local laborers seeking Refuge from the chaos beyond the city

walls the population comprises fishermen Carpenters Masons Chandlers Brick Layers and thatchers offering their goods at standard rates urg's are PA Shel situated along the Eastern Bank of the river scorpus south Of the Twilight gate yur's repair shop caters to watercraft in need of repair owned by Jurg Al shelar a retired dwarf Wizard and former member of the Red Steel Raiders the shop performs both mundane and magical repairs the river in constructed in 3748 the three-story Inn made of riverstones and mortar with Stout Timber beams boasts a magnificent design despite changing ownership over the years it's

still offers some of the city's best Rooms at more affordable rates than most of its competitors the current owner marvy's Quin is a fastidious but kindly sort the castle Clarion area constructed just over a century ago by the retired Explorer osin Clarion Castle Clarion stands proudly on a cliff overlooking the Inner Sea the Castle's bottom features a private set of docks catering to the claran family's shipping needs hosting almost a dozen black sailed vessels called the claran fleet the Castle consists of Slender Towers soaring to impressive Heights connected by covered Flyway Bridges the sparkling porfy

wall walls and red slate roofs make castle Clarion a conspicuous Landmark visible from both Land and Sea Lord Clarion a loyal subject to cates's government diligently follows the city's laws and ordinances beyond the castle itself the Cliffside Tavern also perched on the Cliff's Edge overlooking the Inner Sea is a favored local for those Seeking a quiet place to dine and Savor drinks while enjoying the Sea Air and view it also famously serves as a romantic rendevu for couples looking to get out of the hustle and bustle of the main [Music] City