Kibosh

Kibosh is a Gnome-controlled region of moderate size; roughly three to four hundred thousand gnomes live there at any one time.  It is located in a large area of rolling hills, just east of the Empty Forest on the continent of Argones.  A road that runs a few miles to the south brings trade nearby, and the gnomes welcome visitors to the weekly market day held just down the river.

Between thirty-five and fifty thousand extended families live within Kibosh, each in their own large dwelling.  In addition, the area features an underground amphitheater, four maesteries, a community hall, a public hall, and a large storage/granary facility where extra dry goods and supplies are stored for the region in case of emergency.

The region itself follows very little in the way of orderly city planning.  Each major family dwelling and workshop is built within a hill, and most of the internal space of the hill is devoted to living and working areas.  Farther below ground are the public facilities, with passageways branching out from them in all directions.  It is doubtful that any one citizen of Kibosh knows where every single one of these tunnels leads, or even how to access them all.

At first glance, the homeland of the gnomes appears to be a paradise.  City streets are bright and clean, the universities and libraries are the finest in Argones, everyone seems happy and helpful, and crime is all but unheard of.  But Kiboshian society teems with layers of intrigue and blackmail invisible to Human eyes.  The Trust, a ruthless secret police force, eliminates any threat to society.

Kibosh isn't a tyranny.  Each major city has a democratically elected ruling council and a representative as one of the Maesters of Kibosh who govern the nation; the Trust reports to the Maesters.  The Kibosh gnomes built this system, and they are quite happy with it.  Their streets are safe, and as long as you play by the rules of the game, the Trust ignores you.  Outsiders find this casual acceptance of preemptive assassination to be terrifying, but the residents of Kibosh genuinely trust the Trust.

The gnomes of Kibosh live within a web of intrigues.  The Trust condones their actions, as long as they break no laws and don't threaten the state or the status quo.  A gnome charlatan can connive to steal a jewel mine from another gnome - as long as the charlatan accomplishes the deed through cunning, negotiation, or deception rather than violence or outright theft, and as long as the mine stays in the hands of Kibosh.  The same applies to adventurers planning schemes in Kibosh.  Violence draws attention and deadly consequences from the Trust, but intrigue is perfectly acceptable.

The Trust is a network of spies and assassins.  Most agents of the Trust simply pass information through dead drops; some estimate that a third of the nation works for the Trust in this capacity.  When the Trust identifies a threat, it acts preemtively.  Trust agents prefer to solve a problem without violence - by sharing a piece of information or a whispered warning sent via a message spell.  But the Trust won't hesitate to eliminate a threat, whether with poison, spell, or blade.  Typically, a target never sees the agent of their demise.

Most consider the Library of Korranberg the finest repository of knowledge in Argones.

The Korranberg Chronicle is the leading source of news in Argones.  Gnome chroniclers travel across Argones in search of stories.

The major cities of Kibosh maintain temples and shrines dedicated to every religion.  Most citizens of Kibosh explre a few faiths before settling on one; others practice multiple religions.

In a nation shaped by intrigue, you need someone you can rely on.  For Kiboshians, that's family.  Aside from orphans, family is king in Kibosh.  Family businesses, favorite relatives, and family schemes are common topics of conversation.  Family members may call on an individual for help over their adventuring career, but they may also turn out to be valuable resources.

The Kiboshians prize knowledge above all else.  Many sages, charlatans, and spies are common, reflecting their love of intrigue.  Melee combatants are rare among Kiboshians; the soldiers of Kibosh include rogues, bards, wizards, and artificers.

Some citizens of Kibosh will naturally have ties to the Trust.  A vast number of gnomes serve as the eyes and ears of the Trust, reporting interesting information to a Trust handler.  Active agents may receive missions tied to current adventures:  those fighting the Emerald Claw might have a secondary assignment to eliminate a specific Claw agent or acquire a particular object from their base.  Although many Trust agents are spies, the agency recruits characters of every class and background.  The variation in class abilities reflects specialized training and granted abilities - the magical equivalent of spy gadgets!

The gnomes of Kibosh place a high value on appearances.  They design beauty into their architecture, featuring delicate carvings, elaborate railings and balconies, and lavish gardens.  Every community contains murals and statues scattered throughout.  Most fixtures and buildings are designed for those of small stature, but buildings constructed for taller folk also exist.  The Kiboshians have a talent for illusion and for bonding elementals, and they incorporate both of these forms of magic into everyday life.

Walking the streets of Korranberg, one might never know that the war occurred.  Kibosh avoided most of the violence of the Last War, and cosmetic magic and illusions were employed to repair the few cities that suffered damage.  Many Kiboshians prefer to ignore the war completely, referring to it as "that unpleasantness to the north."  Nonetheless, Kibosh was a staunch ally of Hosuth during the war, providing the nation with ships, intelligence, and elemental weaponry.  This aid left the nation with enemies.  The Order of the Emerald Claw has launched attacks on Kiboshian communities, and certain cells of Hosuth's Swords of Liberty accuse the Kiboshians of manipulating Hosuth.  The Trust has contained these attacks, but it always anticipates more trouble ahead.

The jewel miners of eastern Kibosh often clash  with the goblins of the Howling Caves and the kobolds that live in the Seawall Mountains.  These skirmishes could expand into wider conflicts.

Overall, however, little has changed in Kibosh because the Trust keeps the nation on a steady path.  Adventurers who travel through Kibosh would be wise to avoid causing trouble or drawing the Trust's attention.