Pash

Located at the mouth of a great bay that opens up into the ocean, Pash is an economically and militarily powerful city- state that facilitates major international trade. The Pashan International Bank is the largest bank in Gathandia and contains a vast sum of riches. When Pash is threatened by a foreign power, the autocrats weigh the costs of fighting the invading force or simply bribing them to move on. This calculation, when also weighed by the aggressor, usually mitigates bloodshed.

Pash also controls a handful of mining towns located along the Vaenyth River, south and east of Vaenyth’s border. The climate ranges from mild to hot each year and is always quite humid.

Academic.

Pash has a large internationally acclaimed university that offers virtually any course imaginable but specializes in economic theory. Pashan merchants that retire for a quieter end of life will often teach these courses. The Pashan Academy attracts scholars from many nations.

Aristocratic, Political, and Militant.

Pash is ruled by an autocracy. Military generals are also legislators and magisters, overseeing every aspect of Pashan life. Both the Pashan army and navy are well-equipped, well-staffed, and well-trained. The military keeps everything in Pash carefully controled. Their borders with Vaenyth and Roshallan are both heavily guarded and fortified.

Mercantile and Trade.

Under the direction of the generals, the merchant lords and bankers of Pash play Vaenyth and Roshallan off of one another in order to keep either belligerent nation from conquering Pash. As Pash is built on both banks of the massive Great Bay, they thrive on running merchant ferries across the bay and docking international trade ships the world over. The river that feeds into the Great Bay is also quite rich in gold, so Pashan divers mine the gold from the riverbed to feed their economy. Pash has powerful and reliable banks that many wealthy merchants and royalty from dozens of nations will use to keep their assets safe.

Religious.

Most Pashans fervently worship the Celestial Council and the Avatars, believing that their devout faith is part of what affords them ongoing safety from both Vaenyth and Roshallan.

Social.

Pashans are not unkind, but they are generally quite cunning. Pashan merchants are ruthless hagglers, and the divers and miners are typically rugged and competent fighters. As hard-edged as Pashans usually are, they are also hospitable, believing that treating visitors well will reflect positively and draw more international business.

Underworld.

A huge crime syndicate thrives in Pash’s grimy underworld. It has its hands in every aspect of Pashan life, from mining to banking to ferrying merchants across the Great Bay. The crime lords also act as points of contact for other international syndicates, especially the mob bosses of Falth.

Points of Interest

Floating Islands. Large chunks of floating rock hover above much of the Great Bay and the river that feeds it. These structures extend up the Vaenyth Range. Pashan bankers have paid mages to fly to the rocks and determine if there is anything valuable to be gained from them. The assessment was conclusive: the floating islands are rich in Arcanium and Primor, two rare and valuable minerals with unique magical properties. Pash is currently in the process of determining how best to mine these resources.

The Great Bay. The Great Bay is so wide that it takes just over a day to sail from one side to the other. The Vaenyth River feeds into the Great Bay, which opens into the ocean at its mouth. The main city-state of Pash is built on both of the Great Bay’s banks and on the islands that dot the region.

Quest Ideas

• Pash’s enormous crime syndicate recruits the heroes to help siphon funds from the Pashan International Bank.

• Pashan merchants pay the heroes to infiltrate and expose the leaders of the city’s criminal empire.

• One of the most lucrative mining outposts has gond quiet, so the autocrats hire the heroes to investigate.

• The first floating island mine is about to become operational, but a dangerous creature has taken up residence in the mineshaft. Can the heroes defeat it?

• Roshallan, Vaenyth, or another nation poses a threat to Pash and is unwilling to accept bribes. Will the heroes help protect the independent city-state?