The Great Apiary of Beaucoup

I never knew there could be so much buzz in a valley until I stumbled upon the Great Apiary.

— Phidi Strideheart, Traveler.

Overview

This apiary is known for producing and trading enormous quantities of honey. It is located in the bee-filled Bourdonnement Valley. The Fleur Tribe took notice of the valley and realized its vast honey making potential. They established a permanent apiary so that the bees could be domesticated enough to begin a great honey collection operation. The Apiary became so successful at caring for the bees and collecting honey that it quickly became the go-to place for anyone looking to buy a truly staggering amount of honey.

The Honey Terrace

This stepped landscape flanking the great Donnant River known as the Honey Terrace is home to the greatest number of bee hives on the continent. The terrace once hosted potato crops during the 900s, but poor farming methods resulted in a depletion of nutrients. The valley was then abandoned between 989AGC and 994AGC, and so potatoes became harder to obtain by the peoples of the continent.
It took nearly two centuries of rains, floods, and strangely beneficial Magic Storms, and a change in the climate of the region before there was enough fresh and rich soil to grow new and healthy plant life. Most of this life took on flowers and trees that were of particular interest to bees, and the rest is history. The terraced structure of the hills remain albeit with very worn edges. In some places, the edges appear to be as sharp as they ever were, and in others the hill is now a completely smooth slope.

The Town of Beaucoup

When the success of the area as well as its consistent cool but pleasant climate became known, many of the tribe's once nomadic members began to establish permanent homes in the area. Eventually other trades cropped up to sustain the town including hunting, fishing, and farming. These trades combined with the decidedly dominant beekeeping trade has combined over the years to produce some truly delicious combinations of food with honey. Every culinary delight in the Bourdonnement Valley has honey either as an appetizer, as a side dish, or incorporated into the entree. The valley continues to explore new ways food and drink can be paired with honey to this day.

A Magic Shield for the Terrace

Beaucoup is one of a few towns on the continent to use two magic shields; one to protect the inhabited town and another to protect the valley. One may find two active Schutz Crystals within the settlement. Because two crystals need to active at all times to protect the town against Magic Storms and other such phenomena, the town employs two mages to oversee the maintenance of the active crystals. The mages are also responsible for procuring new Schutz Crystals that will eventually need to replace depleted crystals.

Type

Town

Location under

Continental Island of Dammerung

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Floating Blossom Introduction

Starting in 1265AGC, a trader sold a Floating Blossom Tree seed to the peoples of Beaucoup, including instructions on how it is the planted and what to expect.
After several years, the inhabitants have now constructed pools specifically meant to grow and sustain the tree. This was done because they soon realized that the tree and the bees were unusually symbiotic with one another.
Since then, honey production in the valley has nearly doubled due to the consistent presence of twelve floating blossom trees that are well cared for.

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Demographics

• Hin - 30%
• Gnome - 20%
• Fairies - 15%
• Elf - 10%
• Human - 10%
• Tabaxi - 10%
• Other - 5%

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Note(s) from the Archivists

I've been to that valley. You would not believe how loud the buzzing can get when you get anywhere near the bee hives. The bees were cute though! - Archivist Enna