Marquet

Beyond the winds and waves to the far southwest of Wildemount, across the Lucidian Ocean and the Ozmit Sea, one can find the chain of islands called the Hespet Archipelago, and, farther still, the shores of the continent of Marquet. The pebble beaches of the Bay of Gifts greet weary travelers, where the port city of Shammel offers gambling and extravagance to the traders who travel from afar.
Beyond the port lie the rocky Aggrad Mountains, which spread for hundreds of miles, filled with deep chasms and endless caves housing predators lying in wait. The mountains eventually give way to the immense Rumedam Desert, sometimes called the Marquesian Desert, whose scorching sands stretch from horizon to horizon. The overwhelming heat, deadly sandstorms, and ravenous denizens of the dunes threaten any caravan that attempts to cross these arid lands in search of any oasis of civilization.
Near the center of this harsh desert, surrounded by a sprawling network of small villages, is the grand city of Ank'Harel, the center of culture, history, and power for Marquet. Ruled by the mysteriously undying J’mon Sa Ord, the streets of Ank’Harel are safe and rich with music and culture, a sharp contrast to the desolate lands that surround this metropolis. The Hands of Ord, the internal guard of the city, are guardians of the nearby villages and townships, but they can only reach so far. Farther south, the blistering sands give way to scrubland and marshes tangled with the rugged mountains that surround the smoking Suuthan Volcano and the dangerous clans that worship it.
The Rumedam has a sister desert, the Panagrip Sands. To the south are the Gloomed Jungles of Aeshanadoor, home to an erudite orcish society called Yios.
The Hellcatch Valley is near the center of Marquet, and despite its dusty, badlands terrain it is home to a number of independent cities and villages. To the southwest are the spire-like peaks, plateaus, and fertile valleys of the Taloned Highlands, governed by the Stratos Throne from the region's heights. To the northwest of the Hellcatch Valley are the Serpentwind Peaks, and within that range is the jungle valley of the Oderan Wilds.
Somewhere in Marquet lies the region known as Shumas. Though outsiders may note the name's connection to the Vault of Shumas, a hidden temple in the the Aggrad Mountains that belonged to one religion from the beginning of the Age of Arcanum until another religion's adherents brutally took it over just before the Calamity, the reason for this similarity remains a mystery.
The deserts of Marquet echo a once lush landscape that housed a prominent civilization during the Age of Arcanum, one that ended in terrible conflict between warring nations during the early years of the Calamity. The battles that raged here reduced the verdant lands to sand and ash, burying a multitude of secrets that factions across Exandria are willing to go to any lengths to claim.

Culture

• Kurrak fruit. A fruit that looks like a mango with a spiny, rough exterior. Difficult to hold, but has a delightful flavor comparable to a sweet water experience
• Fusaka is a cooking spice used to season meat. Fusaka has a pungent smell, like a mix of dried cheese with a hint of cedar. Its flavor is zesty with an almost meaty aftertaste.
• "Be pleased" as a common expression of politeness, accompanied with a small bow, preferably with the hand down towards the stomach
• The Marquesian language is spoken by many humanoids on the continent; it is the main language spoken in the trade and tourism hub of Shammel Bay, but a majority also speak Common with varying proficiency. Marquesian became the language of the Clovis Concord elite and of the pirates of the Revelry due to Marquesian people settling in the Menagerie Coast.
• Merchants of import often outfits consisting of very light linens of a dull egg-shell white, with trims of gold and purple, paired with deep blue pants.
• An example of a weapon with a Marquesian flair is a Scimitar of Speed, a finely crafted sword with pearlescent gems embedded in the hilt.
• Gambit of Ord is a Marquesian card game.
• An antiwar folk song from Marquet, "Let the Sword Grow Rust", is a code-song used by the Golden Grin.
• The Cobalt Soul maintains at least one satellite archive in Marquet to collect information and artifacts.
• Sandkheg's Hide

Sandkheg's Hide

Sandkheg's Hide is a potent alcoholic beverage produced in the deserts of Marquet. It is made using the acidic bile or spittle of sandkhegs found within the Rumedam Desert.
Bottles of Sandkheg's Hide are made of dark green glass, wrapped in the chitin of a sandkheg, and corked with a wax seal. Its smell is similar to vinegar wine with an earthy, herbal aroma. It has a pungent acidic taste that burns the tongue and throat of the imbiber, making their body feel numb and intoxicated. Due to the numbing of the mouth, the imbiber often has difficulty speaking.
Price per bottle: 350 gp

Type

Continent

Included Locations

• Gloomed Jungles of Aeshanadoor
• Hellcatch Valley
• Oderan Wilds
• Rumedam Desert
• Shandal
• Taloned Highlands

Included Organizations

• Grim Verity