Sjobo

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Continental, Oceanic & Airborne Regions: Altha-Feor | Bottenhavet | Gignes | Jatua | Millagea Ocean | Nack | Ro'thas

Bottenhavet: Sjobia

Sjobia: Sjobo Sjobo City, Population approx. 10,000 "As you enter Sjobo, you truly feel the magnificence of its culture primarily through the sheer size of the walls and buildings, not to mention the colossal mountain that was carved out eons ago. The city spans over a mile from one cliff to the other and has five primary sections that lead upward like a colossal staircase. The huge fortress acts as a massive dam against a consistent onslaught of avalanches from the northern Barragian Peaks, which in turn opens the way south up, known as the Protected Valley."

Eleven districts (referred to as Steps) make up the entirety of the city, the Government Step being the largest and the highest, where Lord Brostre resides. Citizens of Sjobo must obtain some form of special access to reach the top.

Gateway Step
There are a slew of guards surrounding this area. The entrance fee is 10gp for all travelers. There are several people entering the city, mostly from nearby towns and villages, seeking safety from the bands of raiding dwarves. After going through a rudimentary customs processing, the incomers can request a basic map of the city surface (much of the city consists of underground sections and a labyrinth of passageways).

Military Step
This step has been crucial to the protection of Sjobo through the thousands of years of its existence. Not only does this step provide protection of Sjobian citizens within the walls, it also recruits and trains volunteers for battles fought abroad. Dietrich, the Sjobo military recruitment officer, can be found in the southern building near the center of the Step.

Slum Step
The majority of Sjobo's inhabitants live here. It is widely known that much of the less favorable citizens of Sjobo dwell here as well, and many criminal organizations have their roots in this step. There are three major inns/pubs located in this district.

The Arse of Bottenhavet
Blouken the bartender (TH 10057) talks of several different rumors surrounding the Deceiver's War (which got its name through the variety of rumors, yet it isn't officially referred to as that). Such rumors include that Brostre himself ordered the assassination of Tagnar, or that perhaps the Firebeard Twins, Bromis and Hrafin, conspired towards the assassination of their own uncle, or perhaps there was a third party involved, maybe some overzealous or racist regime took out the dwarven lord. There is a post on the wall that includes jobs for people looking for an extra gold coin in their pocket.

Yabur's Inn
Yabur himself is a rather rude individual and doesn't share much information without the party buying some mead, ale, or cheap wine first. He talks about the perceived outcomes of the war, saying that as of now the war is at a standstill and if nobody really steps in or changes strategy dramatically, the two sides will end up destroying each other completely, and that will be the end of Sjobo's glory.

The Mangy Minstrel
The innkeeper here, a woman named Nalim, simply tells the party of the conspiracy behind the Deceiver's War, mainly that there are rumors of a third party plot to start the war for alternative means. She says that there could possibly be some religious impacts in this war, aside from political and economic goals. If the party shows her the journals of Suj Harrener, she tells them that she knows of him, a famous archaeologist who lived thousands of years ago, and that the library might have more information on this mysterious character.

Industry Step
Lars, a half-orc excavator is willing to hire anyone to help in the process of carving out ice tunnels far beneath the ever-pressing avalanches immediately on the northern side of Sjobo. This step has many blacksmiths at hand, but most of their wares are sent over to the Mercantile Step for selling.

Amiri's Estate
This large house belonged to the wealthy tiefling merchant known as Amiri. It was burned to the ground in TH 10057 with Amiri's charred body found inside.

Residential Step
Several different people of various degrees of middle-classes reside within this Step.

Cabbage's House
The gnome known as Cabbage lives in this eccentric tower.

The Cliff's Shadow
The only major tavern, located on the easternmost point of the district. The keeper here is actually out on leave, but his son, Pock, is serving as the barkeep for now. He complains about how the otyughs underneath the step have become increasingly aggressive and have attacked anybody that stumbles even remotely near their layers. He tells them that an old gnome lady, Cabbage, has been trying to find someone who could clean these things out.

Academic Step
The Academic Step has been closed off to the public temporarily due to a “Studious Project Underway.” There is no way in as of now.

Library Step
The Library here is massive, containing hundreds of thousands of books and other historical records of the world of Bottenhavet. For political reasons, the section containing the known history of the Draernic Dwarves has been blocked off. If the party mentions the Suj Harrener documents to the head librarian named Garrelin, he will lead them down to the section containing the remainder of the archaeologist's historical artifacts and documents, several stories below the main floor. They won't find much, except to know that the half-elf traveled throughout the northern realm and discovered many findings, many of which are irrelevant at the moment. There is one document, however, that describes his plans of searching for a mysterious and ancient city that has long been forgotten. He has found some interesting artifacts elsewhere that suggested a very different atmosphere of the Bottenhavet area than what it is now: an everlasting winter.

Theatre Step
There are signs up advertising the new play coming up in a few months titled, “The Demise of Tagnar, the Wicked.” Other than that, nobody is really around.

Temple Step
Many temples to various gods have been built here. However, the primary and most popular deity of Sjobo is the Raven Queen. The everlasting winter in Bottenhavet seems cause enough for many to give homage to the goddess of winter and death.

Mercantile Step
Shops line this step for everyone in Sjobo. With the right amount of coin, you can buy anything from weapons and armor to common trinkets and knick knacks to the best Sjobian candy money can buy.

Adventurers' House
A house that had been burnt out after an attack from Isthaarix on TH 10057, December 24. The adventurers of the Northern Strife, Part 2 adventure arc bought this house to refurbish it and use it both as a place of residence and commerce. For more information on this specific transaction, go to Episode 6: "Isthaarix Attacks."

Government Step
The largest step in the city, the government step has a common chain of command ending with Lord Brostre as the emperor of Sjobo. However, there are complicated twists in the governing of Sjobo. While Brostre remains the undisputed leader of the bustling city, many elected officials see to the upkeep that is necessary for a city of this magnitude to remain prosperous.

Sections: Main | Campaigns | Characters | NPCs | Locales | Culture | History | Artifacts | Maps

Continental, Oceanic & Airborne Regions: Altha-Feor | Bottenhavet | Gignes | Jatua | Millagea Ocean | Nack | Ro'thas

Bottenhavet: Sjobia

Sjobia: Sjobo