Iblydos

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Iblydos

(Region)

Demonym

Iblydan

Adjective

Iblydan

Images of Iblydos

Source: Campaign Setting, pg(s). 153 (1E)
World Guide, pg(s). 7 (2E)

Demonym and adjectival forms are sourced from Lost Treasures 28 and Distant Shores 7–11.

Iblydos is an archipelago of independent city-states located off the coast of Casmaron in the Obari Ocean. Iblydan societies are among the oldest known human civilizations in Casmaron.

History

Very little is known of this ancient land in the Inner Sea region, although it is often grouped with other ancient empires of that continent, such as Kaskkari and Ninshabur, even though it is unclear whether they were located in the same general region. Those few histories which mention a connection with those lost empires indicate that Iblydos had longstanding contact with the cyclops nations of that continent, whom they labeled the "Koloran".

Influence of Ghol-Gan

The people of Iblydos owe their existence to the cyclopes that emigrated from Ghol-Gan during that doomed empire's decline, and though the giants have dwindled in number since, they and humans continue to co-exist on the archipelago.

The greatest mortals earn the rite of myth-speaking, in which the cyclopes foresee how that hero might attain mythic power through great deeds. The cyclopean prophetic arts of myth-speaking date back to the Age of Destiny, when the Iblydan sisters Aelyake and Diaphorea became the first to fulfill their prophecies and become hero-gods. They respectively founded the cities of Aelyosos and Liachora, and Aelyosos fulfilled her myth-speaking destiny by slaying the immortal hydra Syggasis.

The number of petitioners of myth-speakers rapidly grew, and many of the issued prophecies involved the slaying of creatures that most humanoids considered to be monstrous, such as hydras, minotaurs, and wyverns. As attacks on monstrous beings increased, the harpy Ekriathae pursued her own myth-speaking by luring three cyclopes with her song and compelling them to grant her a prophecy to fulfill. After fulfilling this forgotten prophecy and becoming a hero-god, Ekriathae sought vengeance on behalf of Iblydos' monsters and hunted down their hunters.

However, over the millennia hundreds of combatants, artists, explorers, and leaders fulfilled their mythical destinies to become hero-gods. Many of these hero-gods have since ruled one of Iblydos's city-states, granting spells to followers and heralding in a new age of prosperity or tyranny.

Modern society

Since the deaths of Aroden and prophecy itself, the tradition of myth-speaking has failed with troubling frequency. The last surviving hero-gods age and dwindle, and a new generation of heroes must arise to combat the greatest threat to the islands: the thalassic behemoth Ousmariku.

Iblydos is now a prominent region in the Obari Crossing trade route, with ports such as Aelyosos in the west and Hoimpeia in the east serving as ports of supply and trade for ships traversing the route between the Inner Sea region and Vudra.

Cyclopes have a stable society here, though some have begun to feel that they should go out into the wider world and rebuild the former empires of their people. These cyclopes are joining a group called the Resurgents, which began about 500 years ago when a cyclops oracle named Kebekma reported having a vision of the cyclopes needing to participate in a bloody war with deep sacrifice, but it would end with Ghol-Gan and Koloran being re-established. Even though many saw these words as little more than senile ramblings, the seed of the idea had been planted and slowly spread.

Geography

Vast mazes exist beneath Iblydos.

Prominent settlements and city-states include western Pol-Liachora and eastern Hoimpeia, the cosmopolitan city-state of Dhuraxilis, the vineyards of Pol-Ptirmeios, the aggressive military city-state of Pol-Sylirica, and the city-state of Pol-Reanpharos.

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Culture

Forms of wrestling originate here as well as in Arcadia. The Iblydan form of wrestling focuses on grappling techniques so that if a trained wrestler ever finds themself on the battlefield, they will still have the means to fight even if they are disarmed. The most zealous of Iblydan wrestlers have returned after death as grappling spirits to engage in one final match.

Economy

The Obari Crossing trade route, which has its western terminus in Katapesh, passes through Iblydos on its way to distant eastern Kelesh and Vudra. The Iblydan traders who have mastered this dangerous route are among the Inner Sea's most celebrated merchants, bearing exotic goods and secrets to wealthy buyers across Golarion.

Iblydos is also home to some interesting weapons, such as the doru, gastraphetes, and phaleros.

Religion

Iblydan religion is dominated by faith in their hero-gods, with many retaining their faith in those who have died. Some Iblydan spiritualists draw upon the phantom spirits of fallen hero-gods, and the reincarnation cult of Ekrian Revival venerates the ancient harpy hero-god Ekriathae. Shrines also exist to the deity Gozreh in cities such as Aelyosos.

Iblydos is the birthplace of the mortal who would someday become the demon lord Baphomet, and his faith retains a strong following here.

There are those in mysterious cults devoted to the belief that cyclopes are some form of divine being. These practices are generally some variant of the Adoration of the Eye.

Inhabitants and ancestries

Iblydos is known as the birthplace of many infamous monsters, including the medusa, hydra, harpy, and chimera. The mystical ancestry of sphinxes has almost as long a history in Iblydos as they do in Osirion. The ancestries of half-humanoid centaurs and bull-headed humanoid minotaurs also originally hail from these lands.

Among the many dangers off the coast include portunuses, originally from the Plane of Water.

The japalisura Holkomion, who claims to have rediscovered the art of myth-speaking, lives in Iblydos.

Witches

Ancient Iblydan myths include tales of fierce witches of great power and vengeance, a legacy that continues into the modern era. Such witches were renowned for their powers of hypnosis, herbalism, prophecy, and the distinctive ability to turn their foes into swine or other animals. Iblydan witches are also feared for their false hospitality, which they use to ambush their foes.

Medusas

Medusas are iconic figures in Iblydan myth, and several Iblydans are descended from medusas.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.