Bilgewater
Bilgewater is a haven for smugglers, marauders, and the unscrupulous, where fortunes are made and ambitions shattered in the blink of an eye.
Surrounded by treacherous straits and towering cliffs, Bilgewater Bay is as dangerous as those who call it home. Visitors are often seduced by seemingly limitless opportunity, and become permanent residents—realizing that the longer they stay, the more they can exploit others for power and wealth.
Surrounded by treacherous straits and towering cliffs, Bilgewater Bay is as dangerous as those who call it home. Visitors are often seduced by seemingly limitless opportunity, and become permanent residents—realizing that the longer they stay, the more they can exploit others for power and wealth.
Interesting Things About Bilgewater
- Bilgewater is mostly filled with criminals and that is built into their culture, but it isn't everything that they are. While most of its residents are sailors by necessity, there are many who never take to the seas. Instead, they maintain the town's defenses, entertain pirates on shore leave, or sell goods and services. A large number of these landlocked folk were born in this town or have fled authorities of other places.
- Within Bilgewater, each Ship captain is the lord of their own ship, but all business must be reported to Sarah Fortune, the current leader of Bilgewater, and her Syrens. Though she rarely makes her way to the lower parts of Bilgewater, she overseas operations, organize raids and protection of the island, and occasionally dulls out judgment on larger disputes.
- Bilgewater Bay is just a small part of the much larger Blue Flames (Serpent) Isles, but they stay there as part of an agreement with the Buhru natives.
- There is a commonly accepted truth in Bilgewater: the higher you climb, the less likely you are to drown. Those with money in their pocket will frequent the uptown taverns, enjoying fine drinks and merry conversation—even though, in a day or two, they will be back down at the wharf, wrangling a crew for their next dismal voyage.
- For the decades that Gangplank ruled, Bilgewater was a chaotic region where anything could happen. Now that Sarah Fortune has taken control, she has brought order as she's tried to clean up the streets of the town. Whether or not this has really been an improvement has been a point of contention to some more outspoken residents. With rumors of Gangplank surviving his dethronement, there are even those with hopes of returning him to power once again.
Bilgewater Characters
Bilgewater is a port city like no other - home to monster hunters, dock-gangs, indigenous peoples, and traders from across the known world. As such, all walks of characters can be made to fit in here. Characters can come here for any of a number of reasons such as to join a crew, avenge a loved one by challenging a pirate captain, or hunting down criminals for rewards.- The Pirate City. Even if you're a hero, you might have questionable connections or friends in low places. Backgrounds such as criminal, spy, or charlatan can reflect this tendency, regardless of your class. You could also be a folk hero who challenges the laws to protect the innocent, or an entertainer who plays in every dive in Bilgewater.
- What Are Your Ambitions? Everyone in Bilgewater has something that they're working towards. Are yours personal desires of wealth, newfound freedom, or just surviving to the next gig?
History
The city of Bilgewater began as an inhospitable stretch of land begrudgingly gifted by the Buhru to a group of refugees. These refugees sought to escape the oppressive rule of the mainland factions, wishing to start anew. Through luck and tenacity, these refugees built a life for themselves, and news of their new settlement began to spread. The cove that now forms Bilgewater was well hidden, dotted with spots to dock vessels, and better yet covered in abandoned ruins for shelter. These qualities made it an ideal hiding place for ships, and the settlers' resentment of mainland law made it an attractive port for pirates. As piracy ebbed and flowed in Runeterra with the rise and fall of factions, the cove remained a safe base for those evading the iron fist of naval forces.
Inevitably, as more crews began to use the cove, the settlement began to expand. Traders willing to deal in stolen wealth, and entrepreneurs ready to cater to these crews set up shop amidst the ruins of the cove. The hardy settlers began to construct more permanent buildings, using found materials to build on top of the ruin foundations.
As the population of Bilgewater began to grow, the Buhru natives, once again, were forced to act. They approached the people of Bilgewater and held council with those most influential in the settlement. The Buhru agreed to allow the expansion of Bilgewater, on the condition that the city would never expand beyond the bay's confines. The people agreed to the terms, and with this victory in hand, Bilgewater began to flourish.
Until recently, Bilgewater lived under the iron-fisted rule of Captain Gangplank
Inevitably, as more crews began to use the cove, the settlement began to expand. Traders willing to deal in stolen wealth, and entrepreneurs ready to cater to these crews set up shop amidst the ruins of the cove. The hardy settlers began to construct more permanent buildings, using found materials to build on top of the ruin foundations.
As the population of Bilgewater began to grow, the Buhru natives, once again, were forced to act. They approached the people of Bilgewater and held council with those most influential in the settlement. The Buhru agreed to allow the expansion of Bilgewater, on the condition that the city would never expand beyond the bay's confines. The people agreed to the terms, and with this victory in hand, Bilgewater began to flourish.
Until recently, Bilgewater lived under the iron-fisted rule of Captain Gangplank
Mythology & Lore
Bilgewater has a mixture of religious preferences due to the melting pot nature of the city.
Nagakabouros
Central to Buhru culture is Nagakabouros, a being view to them as the goddess of life, growth, and perpetual motion. Also known as the Mother Serpent, the Great Kraken, or the Bearded Lady, she is commonly depicted as an enormous, monstrous head with many spiraling tentacles. With Illaoi becoming the latest Truth-Bearer of the Buhru, several temples to the Mother Serpent have been dedicated in the city itself. While there are restrictions about which residents can enter them, there has been increase in reverence towards Nagakabouros.The Tithe
Insisting it is more than mere superstition, Bilgewater locals urge all seafarers to pay the Mother Serpent her due. Whenever they leave port, a ship's captain should throw an offering overboard - or face the ocean's wrath.
"Bile and filth! Just the place for some killing!" - A Now Dead Pirate
Government System:
High Captain, Sarah Fortune and the Syrens
Alternate Names:
Bilgewater Union
Founding Date:
787 AN
Location:
Blue Flames Isles
Demographics:
Humans 26%, Buhru 21%, Yordle 16%, Vastaya 14%, Other 23%
Prominent Religion(s):
Nagakabouros
The Blue Bird of the Sea, Janna
Other varied faiths
Common Languages:
Common, Buhru, Ionian, Northspeak, Noxian, Shuriman, Valerian
Notable Organizations:
Syrens
Jagged Hooks
Temple of Nagakabouros
High Captain, Sarah Fortune and the Syrens
Alternate Names:
Bilgewater Union
Founding Date:
787 AN
Location:
Blue Flames Isles
Demographics:
Humans 26%, Buhru 21%, Yordle 16%, Vastaya 14%, Other 23%
Prominent Religion(s):
Nagakabouros
The Blue Bird of the Sea, Janna
Other varied faiths
Common Languages:
Common, Buhru, Ionian, Northspeak, Noxian, Shuriman, Valerian
Notable Organizations:
Syrens
Jagged Hooks
Temple of Nagakabouros
