Piccarda (Pick-CARD-ah)

Overview

Situated in an isolated valley created by the Sundering, the city-state of Piccarda is half ruins, half opulence. Huge mountains of flash-cooled lava created mountains of obsidian that tower over the entire valley and made land travel to the city nearly impossible. Most travel and trade is done via the river that cuts underneath the mountains and through the city. The terrain creates a wind tunnel that directs storms through the area and makes the weather unpredictable. Despite these difficulties, the farms in the valley have managed to produce enough food to sustain the city’s population.   The wealth of rare minerals in the area sets Piccarda apart from other cultures. Raw materials like gold, granite, and gems of every kind are refined into works of art by the crafters in the city. Even the poorest citizens wear jewelry of delicate obsidian–as common in the city as it is uncommon everywhere else.   After an unsuccessful attempt to expand their borders, the city was locked into a treaty that forced it to send a significant portion of its wealth to the Lotus Empire in reparations, including a small district of the city itself. This arrangement has stunted Piccarda’s growth for decades. Recent improvements in production have helped the city overcome this obstacle and put it in a position to renegotiate terms.   It’s impossible to mistake someone from Piccarda as being from anywhere else in the world. They carry themselves with purpose and command the attention of every room they enter. Care and intention go into every aspect of life for a Piccardan, from their appearance to their values. Nearly every citizen belongs to one of the guilds that rule the city-state and contribute to its success, in one way or another.   Every species is represented in the city. Sylvans are the least common group by far, but are not completely absent.
 

Culture

Outlook

  People from Piccarda are generally suspicious of strangers, as everyone in the city usually has an ulterior motive. They are fiercely passionate and quick to unite for a common cause. To rivals, they are ruthless–grudges are tended to like gardens. Most long-standing disagreements in the city-state end when one party (and all their supporters) has passed beyond the Veil, permanently. Regardless of guild affiliation, Piccardans are proud of what they have built and see themselves as a bastion of culture and civilization in an otherwise broken world.   Piccardans view the Sundering and its cause from a logical perspective. Many believe that it happened due to some destabilization of the barriers between planes, likely from a ritual gone wrong. Any claim that the Sundering was a punishment from the gods would be laughable in the city.  

Look and Feel

The guilds of Piccarda constantly squabble over resources, placing a huge strain on the city and creating a massive wealth disparity. Places that are more exposed to threats–or are represented by less powerful guilds–are repaired less frequently. Some areas have been left uninhabitable for years.   This disparity also shows in their dress. Those of high status wear tailored clothing made from imported materials and jewelry showcasing gems from the valley. Gold is the metal of choice for accessories; those who can’t afford it make due with brass, copper, or plain obsidian–the most common and cheapest option in the area. In the city, people wear well-fitted jackets or bodices with skirts, usually made of linen. Cloaks are worn even in clear conditions, as the weather can change at a moment’s notice. Embroidery is used to add individualized flair and style to clothing. Those who work in the mines and outside the city tend to wear looser and less decorated clothes that allow more freedom of movement.     Citizens of all ages carry weapons or wield magic in case of attack. Undead attacks from within the rubble are a constant danger, though some groups do their best to mitigate them. Elementals of all kinds are a particularly common threat and cause significant damage wherever they turn up; they are dealt with by the more militant guilds. It's not uncommon to see people wearing armor as they go about their day. Some clothes even incorporate reinforced plates for more subtle protection.  

Religion

Religious practices are as varied as the populace. There are shrines throughout the city where people leave tributes to the gods. Leaving offerings is partly for the god, but is also seen as charity–it’s not taboo to take an offering for yourself if you’re in need. Taking without need is not only in extremely poor taste, but also a sure way to change your fortune for the worse. Some guilds tend to invoke the gods more often than others, but it's extremely rare to find devotees of only one god.   Most Piccardans see death as an act of chance. Typically, those who are fortunate enough to return from The Crossroads indulge in life immediately afterwards–usually by partying all night. When a person passes beyond the Veil their Ash and Excess masks are hung somewhere in the home to honor them.    

Holidays and Traditions

Days of Ash

The Days of Ash start five days before the sun sets between the obsidian mountains. There are no fires permitted during the holiday, so food must be cooked days in advance. Citizens remain inside as much as possible. If they must go outside, they dress in all gray and wear featureless masks. The five days are spent as quietly as possible to mimic the silence of the city immediately after the Ashenfall; these days are meant for contemplation. Once the sun sets on the fifth day, everyone gathers in the Grand Plaza. The Grand Vizier makes a public statement, typically a speech or a prayer, and lights a candle. This candle is used to light five others, those five light another five, and so on, until everyone’s candle is lit. In a city where so much is divided, these lights are a symbol of unity. Candles are placed in windows and burn down overnight; it is considered bad luck for your candle to go out without burning the whole wick.  

Days of Excess

The first Days of Excess were held in 75 AF and have become a yearly event. On the night of the last harvest, the entire city parties as one to celebrate their good fortune. The party continues for five days, the counter to the Days of Ash. As Piccarda recovered, these parties became more and more extravagant. Elaborate costumes celebrate the wealth of Piccarda in every sense. In recent years, this tradition has evolved to include some darker aspects after the sun sets. There are plenty of rumors of what happens on these nights, but nothing is ever confirmed. Masks are worn to maintain anonymity throughout the celebration. The mask aesthetic has caught on in general throughout the city–some of high society have taken to wearing them at other events as well.   All households in the city contain a statue that represents the savior of the city, Torazan, who is said to have moved Piccarda by guiding it along a lava flow during the Sundering. The style of the statue is up to the owner, but not having a statue at all is considered extremely bad luck. In times of hardship, a family will take ash from the fireplace and cover the statue with it. When the hardship is over, the ash is cleared from the effigy. The same is done with mourning, except the ashes are allowed to disperse naturally. Once they are completely gone, the mourning period is over. This timeline varies greatly based on how the household acts. Some families lock doors and windows to keep the ashes in place as long as possible, while others will keep them open to blow the statue clean as soon as the day is over.  

Amidst the ruin and confusion stood one man – a scholar known as Torazan. He was a master of runes and people from every corner of the world came to study with him. All other details of his life before the Sundering have been lost to time, but let us imagine he was kind. Let us think he was gracious. Let us hope that he was loved.   Torazan did not hide from the calamity. He did not panic. He did not run. He walked against the tide of bodies, and the liquid earth, and the falling boulders, and the drifting Ash. When he reached the edge of the city, he faced the wall of lava and commanded it to stop. The elements bent to obey.  

Excerpt from "The Tale of Torazan" by Isabella Garné

 

Superstitions and Taboos

• Mind Your Manners. Proper etiquette isn’t only about respecting others–it also shows that you respect yourself. Courtesy is expected with every social interaction, even–and especially–between rivals. Those who don’t show any refinement are simply not worth the time of day.
• Failure is Part of the Process. If you’re successful all the time, you’re not pushing yourself to be the best you can be. When you do fail, learn from it, and move forward. It is important that people be allowed to fail–offering help is seen as a grave insult and citizens will avoid asking for help if at all possible. A person should stand on their own. Of course, when Piccardans are asked to help, they are more than happy to oblige.
• Be Prepared For Anything. Piccarda is constantly at the mercy of unstable magical energies and weather patterns that are as changeable as the wind. Pair this with the machinations of different guilds and the streets can turn from peaceful to hostile at a moment’s notice.
• Seize Everything. Life is unpredictable. Any day could be your last, so make the most out of all of them. Build your legacy while you live, or you’ll be forgotten before the ashes on the statue are even gone.
• “Take the Straight Road.” This is a common phrase heard on the streets, often making fun of the fact that there isn’t a single one in the entire city. As Piccarda was rebuilt, it was designed to alleviate the dangerously high winds that cut through the valley. The saying has evolved to describe the folly of trying to solve a complex problem with a simple solution as well.
  

Geography

When the ashes fell on the land around Piccarda, the ground did more than quake. Boulders and magma shot hundreds of feet into the air before crashing back down on the once idyllic landscape. Lava flows moved upward and hardened into steep walls. When the rocks found their way back to earth, they destroyed life and buildings without bias. Piccarda itself–the only city built of stone in the area–slid across the molten ground like ice. Accounts from the time describe the sudden start and stop of movement like the pull of a magnet. When the ashes settled five days later, it was clear that nothing had come through the ordeal untouched. The population was cut down to a tenth of what it was and has yet to fully recover.   The city now occupies a narrow valley between two steep mountain ranges formed by the lava as it cooled. The mountains are made of mostly obsidian and arch impossibly over the landscape like a shell. Traversing the lower mountains that ring the city is possible, but dangerous and far slower than going by river. Rock slides constantly block or make it difficult to navigate out of the valley by land. The river Lotamos cuts through the mountains and provides the only “easy” route in or out.   The weather can be harsh and unpredictable due to the wind tunnel effect of the mountains and the instability of magical elements in the area, but the temperature is mild year round. Those who live outside the city proper have storm bunkers for emergencies.  

Government and Laws

Piccarda is governed by Il Corpus, the ten guilds currently operating in the city. Also known as “The Corpus” or “The Body”, this collective coalesced shortly after the Sundering. When one person tried to seize control of the city, the citizens organized a resistance. They formed the Paramonos, a guild which set the guidelines for government in Piccarda. This guild still operates today. Other guilds formed as new powers and needs emerged in the city.  

The Voting Body and the Grand Vizier

Il Corpus is composed of five representatives from each guild. At the head of this 50 member voting body is the Grand Vizier, who only votes to break ties. The Grand Vizier serves for life; upon their passing, Il Corpus elects a new Grand Vizier from the pool of all guild members. Torazan Hall is the seat of the Grand Vizier and where Corpus meetings are generally held.   The Grand Vizier's role is to run sessions and arbitrate violations of bylaws, as well as oversee the various administrators needed to keep everything running smoothly. They act as a point of contact with other cultures. Despite their title, the Grand Vizier is little more than a figurehead and is beholden to the will of the Guilds. The Grand Vizier traditionally wears plain clothing and no jewelry to represent their constant duty to the city.  

The Guilds

Ten guilds make up Il Corpus: Paramonos, Maestri Scrivantico, Operatia, Maestria dell'Arte, Casa d'Oliara, Maestri Scambio, Ash Gleaners, Kiklos, Soldatore, and La Cambita. Guilds manifest when there is a strong commonality among people–usually an ideal or occupation–that is then recognized by the existing guilds and incorporated into a new guild.  

Laws

For such a political city, there are only two laws that are culturally enforced– prohibition of stealing and murder. There is no official law enforcement. Disagreements can and often do escalate into much deadlier conflicts. Those who have been wronged find their own justice with hired agents or see to it personally.  

Agriculture and Industry

The volcanic ash–and perhaps the Sundering ashes as well–made the land available for farming very fertile. Agriculture in the immediate surroundings is enough to keep the population from starving, but not enough to be comfortable. After the Sundering, Piccarda replaced its imports with locally produced goods. Their main export is precious gems. Fissures from the eruptions opened up pathways to previously undetected materials. The rare stones, minerals, and gems sell well with traders and in the city. They are used locally in architectural elements, furnishings, and accessories. Obsidian, granite, gold, diamond, quartz, and several other resources are all mined to varying degrees.
 

History

Pre-Sundering

The legends of what Piccarda was like pre-Sundering would be written off as exaggeration if it weren’t for the ruins that give glimpses of what it once was. Markings on stones show the remnants of intricate rune work that supported towering structures, akin to the architecture of Hightower in Fola. There were no guilds; one person ruled the city with a team of advisors. The stories say they were just and intelligent, and the city prospered. Any information that would give insights into what the city was actually like is buried deep within the rubble and has yet to be recovered, if it’s there at all.  

Post-Sundering

In 37 AF, two misfortunes happened at once. A bad storm caused massive flooding along the Lotamos and destroyed a large section of crops; at the same time, large waves of undead emerged from the still-ruined sections of the city and overran the streets. Albiz Caverado, the Grand Vizier, argued for expansion outside the valley to escape these dangers. The Soldatore was formed and marched out as soon as possible.   Thus Piccarda entered into The Veil Wars. Though their initial advance was successful, Caverado was no tactician, and the Soldatore was under-equipped for a sustained campaign against a fortified area. Eventually, Piccarda’s forces were pushed back to the valley by the Lotus Empire and Caverado was forced to sign the Treaty of Danfa, which greatly disadvantaged Piccarda. As part of the agreement, the Soldatore was limited to 2% of the city’s population and 25% of all raw materials from the valley must be sent as a tithe to help the invaded areas recover. The Lotus Empire also occupied the city to ensure the treaty was followed. This led to the creation of the Attawa District,a section between the Grand Plaza and Torazan Hall that is officially part of the Lotus Empire.   A few years later, the Blood King’s Peace was forged and made hope of future retaliation impossible. What became known as Caverado’s Folly significantly limited the role of Grand Vizier. New restrictions were implemented that limited the Grand Vizier's ability to act on foreign policy without approval from the rest of the guilds.   After the Blood King’s Peace was forged, any time someone entered into what was officially foreign soil, they needed to do it with express permission from the other party to avoid the Peace’s effects. For the first few decades there were fatal consequences–deadly accidents and severe illnesses were common, but there was at least one incident of a group sent to collect a tithe that was driven mad and killed each other. Fear of these effects kept tensions from escalating too high, but in 103 AF, a group of young Piccardans snuck into the Attawa District on a dare during the Days of Excess. To their surprise–and relief–the youths were only stricken with an infection that left them bedridden for nearly three full weeks, and tales of this led researchers to discover that the power of the Blood King’s Peace has been, in fact, waning.   Today, Piccarda still chafes under the Treaty of Danfa, but has regained much of what it lost about 80 years ago. New innovations in production have made operations more efficient and allow tithes to be paid without the need to ration. Many believe that Piccarda has long since repaid its debt and a renegotiation is due.