Fotu'uz

 

Settlement Type: Village

Region: Swamp

Population: 641

Description:

The village of Fotu'uz lies southwest of the Aetu Mountains, in the Faxhadi Swamp. The village is built on a series of elevated wooden platforms connected by well-worn paths and makeshift bridges. Beyond the village the ground gives way to quicksand in several places. In addition, there are many dangerous predators in the area from the Giant Carnivorous Bloodfrog to swarms of vampire-flies that can drain all the blood from an adult human body in minutes.  

Despite these dangerous,Fotu'uz is a busy village. It is the site of a (1)gas harvesting operation. The villagers collect and store a methane-like gas from the swamp that has various industrial uses. Gas-harvesting is a dangerous occupation, and 60% of gas-harvesters die before their fifth year either from poisoning via inhalation of the gas, or by being caught in one of the frequent explosions associated with storing the gas. The companies that run the operation are always looking for new workers and pay reasonably well, all things considered.

Fotu'uz is also the home of the noted alchemist, Ambia Thuro. An aged human sage, Thuro fled persecution in Zadoul, and settled in the Great Swamp. Her workshop(2) in Fotu'uz attracts both students and sages with an interest in the alchemical arts. Convincing Thuro to talk about the subject, however, can be difficult. Mercenaries employed by various factions still sometimes attempt to kidnap the old woman, and she never goes anywhere without her dedicated bodyguards and a few alchemical weapons tucked into the folds of her robes. She prefers to be left alone, to conduct her research and record her findings. Visitors who pester the old woman are likely to receive stony silence or, worse, a world-class tongue-lashing.