True City

As long as can be remembered Bogbrook was a centre for Grippli gatherings and safety. The centre of the True City is dominated by the Matriarch’s Hut, and is surrounded by a series of advisors’ huts. It is the seat of government for the Grippli and is also considered holy ground due to the proximity of the temple to Erswetz.
True City starts on the east end and is separated from New City by a low wall of moss and dirt. An arbor gate of moss and vines, called Moss March Arbor, serves as the entrance/exit between the two sections of the city, though it is not guarded. Most of the roads here are dirt or just worn paths through the soggy marshlands around them. Burrows are not terribly deep in Bogbrook, and many also reside in huts above ground. Treetoppers prefer to make their homes in the trees and many vines can be seen hanging from tree to tree. Most non-Grippli do not spend too much time in True City as it can be hard for them to navigate. There are the occasional vine bridges that carry people from tree to tree, but they are not heavily maintained as most Grippli would just leap from branch to branch, using the vines as support. Those that visit are usually accompanied by Grippli who can show them the way, and they most often just go to the Matriarch’s Hut to visit Melanor.
The Matriarch’s Hut is quite large and is situated atop a mound that rises out of a surrounding swamp lake. Paths to the centre of the mound exist at uneven intervals and the other huts lie on more solid bits of island masses. Melanor Blotcheye sits on a throne of wood and moss when greeting guests or other dignitaries. She can also be seen wandering the room or greeting visitors up close and personal. She is not fond of showing others her superiority nor does she like being subservient. She works at creating a sense of equality, where both sides can gain something out of it. She has the largest council chamber in all the Grippli settlements and often invites non-Grippli advisors to help her with making some decisions. She maintains the Grippli way, and ensures that all know her word is law; however she is very intent on making as many people happy as possible. Her most trusted advisor is Plangt Burblespeak, and he has mastered many languages, though not without a very noticeable Grippli accent. Melanor and Plangt see eye to eye on almost all issues but they are both smart enough to know that varied and contrary opinions will result in the best decisions. Plangt is most often the one interacting with the dignitaries, emissaries, and visitors before introducing them to Melanor.
The Golden Flies temple is the only permanent temple to Erswetz on Starhelm. In other Grippli lands the worship of Erswetz is most often done in the Matriarch’s Hut, in makeshift shrines, or around the central pit. Situated near the Matriarch’s Hut, the Golden Flies temple has its base deep into the marshland and rises out of the lake. Small stone outcroppings from the lake make a path, albeit a slippery one, to the front door. Most Grippli traverse it easily, or swing their way over to the open foyer. The head priest of the Golden Flies temple is a Treetopper Grippli named Lartch Flysmear, and is often found concocting strange elixirs, potions, and salves within the temple. Many come to him for aid in fighting diseases, curing the sick, or best practices in finding strange remedies. He is constantly covered in mashed insects, plants, mud, and other Grippli ingredients. He often appears to be only half-listening as his mind races with interesting and new ideas on apothecary issues. He is very welcoming though, and the Grippli trust him with their lives.

Type

District

Location under

Bogbrook