Borca: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 12:53, 28 March 2013
Borca | |
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Culture Level | Chivalric |
Ecology | Full |
Climate & Terrain | Temperate forest, hill, mountain |
Year Formed | 684 BC |
Population | 34,200 |
Races (%) | Humans 95%, Halflings 4%, Other 1% |
Languages | Balok, Mordentish, Falkovnian, Luktar, Halfling, |
Religions | Church of Ezra, Church of Hala |
Government | Aristocracy |
Ruler(s) | Ivana Boritsi, Ivan Dilisnya |
Darklord(s) | Ivana Boritsi |
Nationality | Borcan |
Analog | Romania, Italy |
Related Categories | |
Locations in Borca | |
Transportation in Borca | |
Inhabitants of Borca | |
Former Inhabitants of Borca | |
Flora of Borca | |
Fauna of Borca | |
Native Monsters of Borca |
Canon Information
This section contains canon info from officially published sources |
Borca is a nation ruled by noble poisoners, filled with poverty-crushed peasants, and ruthless social climbers. Loosely modeled after real-world Italy during the time of the Borgia family's rule, Borca is also the birthplace of the Church of Ezra. The ruler, Ivana Boritsi, is eternally young and beautiful, but her touch is death. Likewise, Borca is a land of pastoral beauty that is rotten and foul beneath the surface.
Borca was created for Camille Dilisnya, and passed to her daughter when Ivana assassinated Camille. During the Grand Conjunction in 740 BC, Borca absorbed neighboring Dorvinia, ruled by Ivana Boritsi's cousin Ivan Dilisnya. Born on the same night and sometimes called "the Dark Twins," the cousins had long corresponded and considered themselves close friends. After their countries merged and they were forced to become co-rulers, however, they grew to loathe one another.
Flora & Fauna
Geography
Small Cities
Large Towns
Small Towns
Hamlet
Chiara - Chiara was fallen upon by the Whistling Fiend.
Authority
Temporal Rule
The Sefs
Ruled by Ivana Boritsi and Ivan Dilisnya
The Stapans
Spiritual Rule
The Church of Ezra has ruled the spiritual life of Borca since the church was founded by Yakov Dilisnya.
Contemporary
Church and State
Government
Law
Law-Enforcement
Extra-Judicial
Intelligence Gathering
Military Footing
Casus belli
Present
Future
Missing Dread Possibility from Gaz IV
Blood Banking
Many Borcan banking houses insist that a borrower fill a small vial with her own blood, which the banker keeps until the loan is repaid. Most folk believe this is merely a symbolic gesture or intimidation tactic. It often is, but a few bankers can call upon dark forces to enforce their contracts — or know someone who can. Should a borrower attempt to renege on her debts, the bankers can use sympathetic magic — a technique originally stolen from theVistani — to inflict grievous punishments from afar. The greater the debt, the more powerful a spell the lender is likely to use to ensure compliance. Debt collectors typically utilize troublesome spells like bestow curse or geas rather than deadly spells like flesh to stone or phantasmal killer; dead men cannot pay their due. See the Sympathetic Spell feat in the DM’s Appendix for one such method for lenders to reach out to errant debtors.
Extra-Judicial Justice
Somewhere in Sturben is the Cerulean Chamber, meeting place of the infamous League of Nine, a self-appointed court of justice composed of apothecaries from Borca’s ruling houses. When the law fails and duels are not an option, those who think themselves wronged can petition the League for retribution. No petitioner ever meets the League members in person. The Nine work through various proxies, and although they know each other by name, they ritually don cloaks and masks during their tribunals. So secretive is the League that many who have used its services are still unsure that it actually exists. If the League accepts a petition, the Nine convene to debate its merits. They mete out only one punishment: the subtle slumber. Within a month of the League reaching a decision, the “guilty” party will almost inevitably die of “natural causes.” On that day, the petitioner receives a bill for the League’s services, usually equaling half the legal fine for the victim’s murder.
These genteel assassins operate by several rules that are not well known to the public, however. First, the League is lawful evil, and its members’ primary goal is to strengthen their own positions. They mete out “justice” as best suits themselves, so they will not execute members of their own families, nor will they strike directly against the sefs. Second, once a petition is made, the ruling lies entirely in the League’s hands. Should the Nine decide that the petitioner is the true wrongdoer, it is she whose end is near. The unwitting accused soon receives the bill.
Inns & Taverns
Ilvin
References
Van Richten's Arsenal, p. 33
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp7,13,15 | ||
Secrets of the Dread Realms - pp8-9 |