Betaal

A small nation that makes its home on the tops of several of the Cloudpiercer Mountains, Betaal’s size in no way reflects its significance. Its people are tough, innovative, and capable of surviving with quite little. The Betaalese are also held to be generous and hospitable with foreigners, although few ever reach Betaal’s highest cities in the peaks of its tallest mountains. Academic.

Each of Betaal’s towns has a monastery where scholars, clergy, and mystics can study or meditate. These monasteries focus much more on the spiritual aspects of the humanoid experience than on traditional academic topics, although Betaal’s two largest cities do have large libraries as well. Aristocratic and Political.

Betaalese society rejects the idea of a ruling elite and believe that those capable of shepherding other people’s souls should do so on both a spiritual and political level. As such, Betaal’s religious leaders - the Prabi - are also its political leaders. If such a leader ever displays an exorbitant lifestyle, they are removed from their order, as asceticism is one of their central tenets. Mercantile and Trade.

Betaal has little in the way of natural resources, other than yaks and snow. Betaal exports both wool and water in abundance, and the dry nation of Kandif regularly buys water from Betaal. Betaal also exports philosophy, fictional literature, and artistic works, though they must first import dyes and other mediums for these artworks from other nations. Betaal imports raw and finished materials, along with foodstuffs, from any nation that they can reach for trade. They generally trade with Kandiff, Noord, and Doshairiel. Militant.

Taking life is heavily frowned upon in Betaal, which is generally a highly pacifistic nation. When Betaal is attacked, mystics and psions will use their telekinetic powers to cause avalanches or illusory spectacles that will dissuade aggressors from attempting to take Betaal. Religious.

The Prabi practice extreme asceticism. When they are not legislating or counseling their constituents, they often meditate. Many are known to be capable of astral projection and other great psionic powers, and they purport to have spoken directly with representatives of the Celestial Council.

It is believed that when a Betaalese monk is chosen to lead a town, they are invited into a psionic mind palace that has been around for thousands of years and contains the wisdom of every Prabi that came before. Social.

Like the monks that lead or train to lead the nation, many of the Betaalese common folk also practice asceticism, though not to the degree practiced by the monks. Most commoners do not see the need for any wealth beyond enough food and shelter for their families, and perhaps some entertaining books or games to pass the cold, dark nights. Betaalese are hospitable to foreign travelers and will usually offer guidance through the steep and treacherous mountains. Underworld.

Shinus are independently operating cells of skilled assassins that wear folded cloth armor, allowing them to approach their victims silently. Most underworld activity in Betaal is performed by Shinus. A small group of highly skilled Shinus, operating outside the purview of the theocratic rulers of Betaal, will infiltrate and destabilize nations that they think might threaten Betaal. Some of these Shinus also become mercenaries, selling their specialized services to any with enough coin. By both taking life and hoarding wealth, Betaalese Shinus are antithetical to the teachings of the official leaders. Tapsankad

The oldest Betaalese city, Tapsankad is nestled just beneath the highest peak in Betaal. The peak of the mountain is left bare as it is a holy site where monks go to engage in astral projection and, when the time comes, to transcend beyond this world. Tapsankad is a city rich with ancient history, having been founded before the World-Quake. Within the city, Tapsankad contains many residences, some modest markets, and curated parks lush with cold-weather plants. The citizens of Tapsankad hold festivals on each solstice and each equinox, which are the only days each year where hedonism is not viewed in contempt. Quest Ideas

• The heroes must climb the Cloudpiercer Mountains to reach Tapsankad. There, they must entreat the monks to send more water and spare Kandif from a terrible drought.

• One of Betaal’s towns has been attacked by an icy monster. The Prabi ask the heroes to go defeat the monster and liberate its citizens.

• Tension is mounting between the Prabi and the Shinus as the Noords threaten to conquer Betaal. The heroes must decide who they agree with and seek to broker a peace or, short of that, throw their support behind one faction or the other.