Quajih

Settlement Type: Village

Region: Swamp

Population: 157

Description:

The village of Quajih lies deep in the heart of the Faxhadi Swamp. The village is very isolated and receives few visitors. It is largely self-sufficient and surprisingly prosperous.

The majority of Quajih's population consists of Elves. The second largest racial demographic consists of Frogkin, amphibious humanoids with frog-like skin and webbed digits. A scattering of other races can be found within the village confines.

Quajih is ruled by Lady Yazia, a noble elf-lady of advanced years and great cunning. The prosperity of the village can be attributed directly to her governance.

It was Lady Yazia who established Quajih's local industry, the production of poisons and their antidotes. Quajih is quite well known in certain circles for the quality of their poisons, and the efficiency of their antidotes. The materials are produced entirely in town, then transported discreetly to Port Uleca, where they are sold to various interested parties by Quajih's poison-merchants.

Visitors to Quajih are very rare, and most are involved in either the poison trade or the healing arts. Most stay at the home of Lady Yazia, which also houses the poison/antidone production facilities. At the center of Lady Yazia's compound is an enormous tree, with leaves as red as blood.  This tree is the source of Red Death poison, the one poison produced in the village for which there is no antidote available. Lady Yazia herself creates the Red Death, and sells it only to monarchs who agree to pay its exhorbitant price.

Individuals who tamper with the tree meet a gruesome end: nailed to its branches and left to die a slow, painful death. Some say that their blood and suffering nourish the tree, adding extra potency to its poisonous substance. Local superstition holds that on moonless nights, the spirits of the slain poison-theives can be seen, perched in the branches as black-eyed, red-feathered birds. Because of this, no native resident of Quajih will wear red.