Location: Selene, north polar region; the Crater Plato, south of the Mare Frigoris Sea, north of the Mare Imbrium Sea, and west of Montes Alpes.
The Crater Plato is approximately 63 miles (101 km) in diameter.
Piedra de la Luna Municipalidad, or Moonstone City in the Common language, was founded 1576 CE by Lord Lancelo Bazia del la Madeira, an Iberian nobleman as well as a powerful Utilergist*.
Lancelo was born in the capital city of Cāmara de Lobos (chamber of the wolves), on the Madeira Islands, which was named after his family. Born the third son of the aristocratic Madeira family, Lancelo was found to have a talent for music and a spark of magic as he was growing up. From the age of 10 on up, his father, Count Victorio Fernando del la Madeira, hired a bard tutor to teach Lancelo. When Lancelo was 15 his father decided to send him to the Universidad de Sabedell, a well-known college of higher education to learn music and magic. The college was located just two hours travel north-west of Tarraco, the capital of the Iberian Empire.
While there Lancelo found out he had more than just a talent for music, he had a greater passion for building things, and he became an Utilergist, against his father's wishes. Lancelo stood up to his father, and declared he would decide his own fate, and follow his dreams of becoming the best Utilergist he can be. He made his dream come true. Secretly his father was proud of Lancelo, proud that his son was man enough to stand up for what he believed in and to make it on his own.
Lancelo studied long and hard, learning many crafts, but specializing in Architecture and Engineering (buildings, aquaducts, bridges, fortifications). He learned carpentry, stonemasonry, shipmaking, he even learned more about sculpting and painting. He can, if the need arose, be able to work as a blacksmith, armorsmith, and weaponsmith, even do a little jewelry. His main passion though is Architecture and Engineering. He is brilliant when it comes to these arts.
He left college at the age of 21 with an impressive resume of buildings he designed and helped to create through his magics, while at the school. He decided to travel the world to experience different types of architecture to add to his repertoire of skills. While visiting Byzantium he first heard about spelljamming, and was intrigued.
Hiring himself out as a ship's carpenter on an Iberian spelljammer galleon, he left Maj behind to travel the stars. Five years later, after many adventures with the crew, he came home to Madeira with his partner Ryshen Lemkule; a Warmage half-elf of Iberian and Isonian decent. The family was surprised to see him, and welcomed him back, they thought he had died somewhere in the world.
Lancelo had a dream, he was going to colonize the moon Selene, and build a beautiful city. A year after he came home, he finalized his plans, then he informed his family that he was going to move to the moon, and start a settlement there. Lancelo decided to name the town Piedra de la Luna Municipalidad, or Moonstone City in the Common tongue. Gathering supplies and colonists from Tarraco he left Maj on five of the biggest spelljammer galleons he could hire. Financial backing was from the Madeira family, and a silent partner, who happened to be the Empress of Iberia herself.
On arrival to Selene he spotted a large crater between two of the moons seas. On closer examination of this crater, Lancelo discovered a white granite with a pale blue hue to it, like the precious stone; he named it 'moonstone granite'. Moonstone City was built out of this native stone. Lord Lancelo using his magics built everything at first, but in time as more and more settlers arrived, and he knew he needed help, he started taking on apprentices (he has had five over the forty years that the city has existed) and teaching them all the building arts he knew.
Moonstone City is located on a series of ten, wide, ledges, rising up the side of the crater wall. By being the one to do all the building, no privately-owned building, Lancelo decreed, could be higher than twice the width of the street on which it stood. This ensured that sunlight always reached the streets. He also required all persons whose buildings faced one of the main streets to have a shelter over the sidewalk for the comfort and protection for all pedestrians. The sidewalks on both sides of the streets were raised one and a half feet above the road surface. This precaution prevented vehicles pulled by constructs from accidentally rolling into the path of pedestrians. Steppingstones were embedded in the middle of the road to connect the sidewalks. Constructs and carts could straddle the stones - but only if they went slowly. In this way the stones help to enforce a speed limit.
Today, Moonstone City is a bustling town of approximately 10,000 individuals; and there are many craftsmen Utilergists, using their magics to create works of art, and items for trade and sale. The town's architecture is a mix between traditional Iberian buildings, cosmopolitan Roma buildings, with a touch of the grace of elven architecture, making Moonstone City one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, city to grace Selene.
Beautiful homes, apartments, inns, taverns, shops, markets, thermae (public baths), amphitheatre, theatres, as well as the temples to Mithras and Cybele, all are works of art made out of moonstone granite.
The very top ledge is where Lancelo built his home, a very large palace that overlooks the crater as well as the seas surrounding the crater. Palacio de la Luna (Palace of the Moon), is said to be more beautiful than any building in Moonstone City.
About a mile away from the city, half-way up the crater wall, is an extremely large ledge, roughly a mile at its widest, and about two miles long. This is where all spelljamming vessels go to land. Large cradles of stone and wood were built to hold all manner of spelljamming craft imaginable. An impressive repair facility is also located here, not as large as the Great Lunar University's Shipyard, but impressive none-the-less.
The mile between the landing field and the city is called the 'Strip', it is lined with all manner of taverns, brothels, gambling dens, and various other entertainment places. All these buildings are still made out of the same material as the city. The closer one comes to the city proper, the more expensive the entertainment one seeks is. Lancelo knew that people needed entertainment, and as a bard he provided for their recreation. Lancelo takes a 'tax' of 5% on all profit that any business makes. He uses this tax to reinvest into his city.
Four Oaks Inn
A first-class inn situated on the ninth ledge, this large inn received its name from the four towering oak trees in its garden. The Four Oaks is run by a female half-elf Utilergist/Expert, Vyvika Foxhair. She came to Selene looking for a place to build the best inn she could. Virtually any and all needs a guest wishes are met with the utmost discretion, for the right price of course. While she is considered the owner of the Four Oaks, Lancelo is a silent partner with a quarter interest in the establishment.
Lady Fortuna's Palace
The most prestigious house of chance in the city, located just outside the city actually, on the 'Strip', run by Quintia Fabia Ruso, a female 'expert' from the Empire of Roma. Every imaginable game of chance known, has been played here. Prices are high but reasonable, only those who can afford the 'Palace' usually come here. High-stakes games take place on a daily basis. Win or lose it's all up to 'lady chance', Quintia is a priestess of Fortuna, goddess of luck and chance. She is also a Rogue. Again, Lancelo is a silent partner with a quarter interest in the 'Palace'.
Zanzelzabar
Billed as "the pleasure palace of Selene", Zanzelzabar is one of the city's most unusual establishments. On the first, ground, floor customers can lounge on silken cushions, dine on the finest delicacies, and indulge in costly wines, liquors, and narcotic herbs. The second floor is a comfortably furnished theatre, where exotic dancers, musicians, and performers offer a variety of decadent entertainments. The third floor is a garden and nympharium, replete with fountains, divans, and (for more discerning customers) splendidly accoutered private rooms. Prices are extravagant; from five to ten times the standard rates. Security is provided by more than twenty formidable warriors, equipped (some say) with magical weaponry. Not surprisingly, only the wealthiest individuals frequent this place. The Zanzelzabar is run and owned by Japheth Shanidar (JA-feth SHAN-i-dar) a Parthian expert from Byzantium who came to Selene with a great deal of money. Lancelo is a silent partner with a quarter interest in the Zanzelzabar.
The Moonhawk Inn
A seedy establishment frequented by sailors of many nationalities. The food, drink, and service are of poor quality. Low prices keep the place packed at night, however, and gossip concerning trade and navigation is often readily obtained for the price of a few drinks. As fights are quite a common occurrence here, merchants and more respectable folk tend to avoid the place.
The Starport Tavern
A tolerably clean establishment frequented by merchants and traders. Prices and quality are average. Musicians and dancing girls provide entertainment on most nights, and the proprietor (a native Frank noted for his capacity for strong drink) is always looking for inexpensive new talent.
The Sword and Scabbard
A popular hang-out for mercenary men-at-arms of all types. Arm-wrestling, drinking, and knife-throwing contests add to the lively (and often wild) atmosphere of this establishment. Prices are average, and the service (food, drink, and rooms) are of decent quality.
Tattoo Parlor
The owner of this establishment is an expert on many forms of tattooing and body decoration, including the pattern-scarring ornamentation favored by certain Stygian tribes. Prices are average. This place is frequented by many types of individuals, including spacefarers, corsairs, mercenary fighters, thieves, courtesans, etc.
Lancelo had imported large quantities of various trees and plants, as well as nutrient-rich volcanic soil from Maj. Thus causing the crater Plato to be changed from being a dull, grey, mossy plain, to a lush green fertile farming valley, thanks to the help of the priestess' of Cybele. Fields of wheat, barley, corn (maize), and vegetable crops, orchards of various fruit trees, and a couple of vineyards dot the landscape. The rest of the land is made up of pasturage, for the moon goats (who have gotten bigger because of the change in diet), and a very small herd of imported Iberian cattle.
There is a small garrison of soldiers, (500 approx.) made up of mostly 1st - 4th level Warriors, stationed around the crater in small tower forts. Winged goblins have been known to invade the crater for food. Moonstone City also supports six Warmages, trained by Ryshen Lemkule, as part of its fighting force.
Moonstone City trades in its crafts, and any excess food they have, with the Great Lunar University, as well as anybody else. The city is also becoming known as "The Entertainment Capital of Selene", as more and more travelers come to vacation and have a good time sampling the various delights that make up Piedra de la Luna Municipalidad.
Lord Lancelo Bazia del la Madeira, of Moonstone City
Alignment: Neutral/Good
Class: Aristocrat 1/Bard 4/Utilergist 15
Race: Human (Iberian)
Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 23*, Wis 13*, Cha 23*
Lord Lancelo has an apparent age of 27, and an actual age of 75 (due to use of reliable Longevity elixirs). He has dark-blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, is 5' 10" in height and has a weight of 160 lbs.
HP: 1d8+4d6+15d4+40 (113 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 31 (+3 Dex, +8 Bracers of Armor, +5 Ring of Protection, +5 Amulet of Armor), touch 26, flat-footed 28.
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+10
Full Attack: Rapier +13/+8 melee (1d6+6 / 18-20 / x2)
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +17, Will +21
Languages:
Native: Iberian (used by peoples from the Empire of Iberia. Alphabet: Iberian).
INT Bonus: Roman (used by peoples from the Empire of Roma. Alphabet: Roman),
Parthia (used by peoples of the Empire of Parthia. Alphabet: Parthian),
Trade (used throughout Maj and Maj Space. Alphabet: Common),
Elven (Isonian dialect. Alphabet: Elven),
Albionian (used by peoples form the Albion Empire. Alphabet: Albionian),
Draconic (kobolds, troglodytes, lizardfolk, dragons. Alphabet: Draconic),
Goblin (goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears. Alphabet: Dwarven).
Skills:
Appraise +9; Balance +7; Bluff +11; Climb +2; Concentration +7;
Craft Skills: Alchemy +9; Carpentry +18; Stonemasonry +18; Shipmaking +15; Blacksmithing +10; Painting +13; Sculpting +13; Weaponsmith +9; Armorsmith +9; Gemcutting +9;
Decipher Script +9; Diplomacy +18; Disable Device +7; Disguise +10; Escape Artist +5; Forgery +11; Gather Information +8; Handle Animal +7; Heal +11; Intimidate +12; Jump +7;
Knowledge Skills: Arcana +12; Architecture & Engineering +22; Iberian History +12; Madeira History +12; Nobility & Royalty +12;
Perform Skills: Versatile Performer Feat - Wind Instruments +13; Stringed Instruments +13; Sing +13; Percussion Instruments +13; Oratory +13; Keyboard Instruments +13; Dance +13;
Profession Skills: Utilergist +9;
Hide +3; Listen +2; Move Silently +4; Open Lock +4; Ride +4; Search +7; Sense Motive +6; Sleight of Hand +7; Spellcraft +14; Spot +5; Survival +5; Swim +1; Tumble +10; Use Magic Device +8; Use Rope +3.
In his palace he has an extensive library which gives him a +2 circumstance bonus on his appropriate skills.
Spells:
Bard Spells per Day: 3 / 4 / 2
Bard Spells Known:
0th: Dancing Lights; Detect Magic; Ghost Sound; Lullaby; Message; Summon Instrument.
1st: Charm Person; Cure Light Wounds (1d8+4); Silent Image.
2nd: Invisibility; Silence
Utilergist Spells per Day: 4 / 6 / 6 / 6 / 5 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 1
Utilergist Spells Known:
0th: Arcane Mark, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Light, Mage Hand, Mending, Minor Repair, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Read Magic.
1st: Alarm, Animate Rope, Bleach, Comprehend Languages, Create Water, Detect Secret Doors, Erase, Feather Fall, Grease, Hold Portal, Identify, Jump, Light Repair, Purify Food and Drink, Spider Climb, Tenser's Floating Disk, Unseen Servant.
2nd: Arcane Lock, Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Color, Continual Flame, Create Air, Darkness, Darkvision, Eagle's Splendor, Fox's Cunning, Freeze, Knock, Levitate, Locate Creature, Locate Object, Make Whole, Metal Servant, Moderate Repair, Owl's Wisdom, Pyrotechnics, Soften Earth and Stone, Warp Wood, Whispering Wind, Wood Shape.
3rd: Arcane Sight, Chill Fire, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance, Climate, Continual Flame, Daylight, Dispel Magic, Fly, Gentle Repose, Leomund's Tiny Hut, Lesser Disassemble, Lesser Fabricate, Nondetection, Serious Repair, Shrink Item, Stone Shape, Tongues, Water Breathing, Water Walk, Woldo, Youthen, Zone of Truth.
4th: Arcane Eye, Clothwall, Critical Repair, Create Food and Water, Detect Scrying, Dimension Door, Disassemble, Fabricate, Freedom of Movement, Furnace, Illusory Wall, Leomund's Secure Shelter, Locate Creature, Minor Creation, Plant Growth, Quench, Scrying, Wall of Wood.
5th: Analyse Construction, Break Enchantment, Contact Other Plane, Discern Lies, Dream, Greater Disassemble, Greater Fabricate, Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum, Major Creation, Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound, Passwall, Permanency, Prying Eyes, Sending, Telekinesis, Teleport, Transmute Mud to Rock, Transmute Rock to Mud, Wall of Iron, Wall of Stone, Woodwall.
6th: Analyse Dweomer, Control Water, Control Weather, Disintegrate, Flesh to Stone, Greater Dispelling, Guards and Wards, Ironwood, Legend Lore, Move Earth, Longevity, Repair, Stone to Flesh, Stonewall, True Seeing.
7th: Animate Objects, Drawmij's Instant Summons, Ethereal Jaunt, Find the Path, Greater Arcane Sight, Greater Scrying, Ironwall, Limited Wish, Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion, Phase Door, Plane Shift, Self Repair, Sequester, Simulacrum, Teleport without Error, Teleport Object, Transmute Metal to Wood, Transmute Wood to Metal, Vanish, Vision, Wind Walk.
8th: Discern Location, Etherealness, Fast Self Repair, Greater Prying Eyes, Screen, Steelwall.
9th:
Feats, Abilities and Benefits
Bonus Human Feat: Jack of all Trades: Use any skill as if he had 1/2 rank in that skill. (Found in Complete Adventure Handbook pg. 110.)
Bard Class Abilities:
(lvl 1) Bardic Music, Bardic Knowledge, Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1
(lvl 3) Inspire Competence
Utilergist Class Abilities:
(lvl 1) Scribe Scroll
(lvl 5) Bonus Feat: Craft Wondrous Item.
(lvl 10) Bonus Feat: Craft Construct (see pg. 303 Monster Manual 3.5v, or SRD, for details).
(lvl 15) Bonus Feat: Craft Rod.
Level-Dependant Benefits:
(lvl 1, 1st Feat) Force of Personality: Add Cha mod instead of Wis mod to Will saves against mind-affecting spells and abilities. (Found in Complete Adventurer Handbook pg. 109.)
(lvl 3, 2nd Feat) Versatile Performer: Add a number of Perform categories equal to Int bonus. For the purpose of making Perform checks, he is treated as having a number of ranks in those skills equal to the highest number of ranks he has in any Perform category. He cannot change these categories once he has picked them, but his score in them automatically increases if he later adds additional ranks in his highest-ranked Perform category. He gains new categories of his choice if his Int bonus permanently increases.
In addition, he gains a +2 bonus on a combined Perform check when using two or more forms of performance at the same time, such as if he was strumming a lyre while singing. In such cases, add the bonus to the higher of his two Perform skill modifiers. (Found in Complete Adventurer Handbook pg. 112.)
(lvl 4, 1st Ability Increase) +1 to Charisma (19).
(lvl 6, 3rd Feat) Brew Potion.
(lvl 8, 2nd Ability Increase) +1 to Intelligence (18).
(lvl 9, 4th Feat) Craft Magic Arms and Armor.
(lvl 12, 5th Feat) Forge Ring.
(lvl 12, 3rd Ability Increase) +1 to Charisma (20).
(lvl 15, 6th Feat) Craft Wand.
(lvl 16, 4th Ability Increase,) +1 to Intelligence (19).
(lvl 18, 7th Feat) Craft Staff.
(lvl 20, 5th Ability Increase) +1 to Intelligence (20).
Magic Weapons, Armor and Items
Weapons:
Rapier of Graceful Strikes +3, (uses Dex for damage instead of Str, an unsuccessful disarm attempt made by the wielder does not allow the target a chance to disarm the wielder).
Armor:
Bracers of Armor +8. Minor Universal Elemental Resistance (fire, cold, electricity, acid and sonic. Protects 15 pts worth of damage per round), Invulnerability (damage reduction 5/magic).
Ring of Protection +5.
Dragon Bone Amulet of Armor +5.
Coat of Resistance +5, (Black Leather 'Outback' Duster-style garment). Weather Protection (completely immune to 'normal' temperature from 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to 43 deg.C) and remain perfectly dry unless completely immersed in a body of water).
Magic Items:
Earring of Regeneration (heals 1 pt of damage per hour per wearer's level).
Ring of the Phantom Steed (3/day, Duration 15 hours, AC 18, HP 22, Movement Run 240' Fly 240' MC average, bears rider's weight plus 150 lbs.).
Hat of Anonymity (this broad-brimmed black 'Outback' hat obscures the wearer from being detected, allowing him to blend into a crowd with ease. The wearer is under a continuous Nondetection effect and has a +10 bonus on Stealth checks while the hat is worn. (Arms & Equipment Guide pg. 133).
Boots of Teleportation, Greater (3/day teleport without error as the spell).
Rapier Scabbard of Keen Edges (3/day casts keen edge on rapier).
Crystal Ball with telepathy and true seeing. (The viewer is able to send and receive silent mental messages with the person appearing in the crystal ball. Once per day he may attempt to implant a suggestion [as the spell, Will DC 14 negates] as well).
Heward's Handy Haversack.
Horn of Blasting, Greater.
Horn of Valhalla, Bronze (summons 2d4, 4th level barbarian constructs, see pg. 26 of the Player's Handbook for details on starting equipment).
Lyre of Building.
Mirror of Mental Prowess.
Note: Lancelo has access to more magical weapons, armor and items given time to retrieve or because of his wealth, out-right buy them.
(*) Because of his age (75 = Venerable), he gains the age benefits of +3 to Int, Wis & Cha.
(*) Elixir of Longevity: This elixir instantly and irreversibly makes the imbiber ten years younger. The elixir will not work on an individual forced to drink it, nor can it reduce the imbiber's age to a number lower than that race's base starting age. Physical ability score loss from aging is restored, while mental ability score gains remain.
Caster Level: 15th; Prerequisites: Brew Potion, Craft Wonderous Item, Longevity spell, Utilergist level 15th+ (Sorcerer/Wizard would need level 17th+); Material Component: Requires a rare lichen, "Wyndham's weed", 8oz of fresh blood knowingly and freely given, and also two other rare herbs with age-combating properties only found in the Caduceus Trade Hall on Hermes.
Market Price: 5,000 gp+.
Note: Where the 8oz of fresh blood comes from is a secret that only three people are aware of, Lancelo, Ryshen and Genevieve; GMs should decide what other blood reasonably substitutes.
GM Note: This elixir does not require you to use the full Longevity Option, if you say that Lancelo has made what he believes to be a unique discovery, but is in fact under the specific blessing of a god, probably Vulcan/Hephaestus, or maybe even Imhotep, for his work on Moonstone City. You can decide if anyone else can learn the Longevity spell from him, never mind if anyone else can make Elixir of Longevity. If you really are not happy with Lancelo making use of Longevity (one of his 6th level spells), then he could be using an item which has a permanent Youthen effect, as he has it in his 3rd level spell list.
Lord Ryshen Lemkule, of Moonstone City
Alignment: Neutral/Good
Class: Warmage 15/Utilergist 5
Race: Half Elf (Iberian/Isonian Elf)
Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 19
Lord Ryshen has an apparent age of 32, and an actual age of 125 (due to use of reliable Longevity elixirs). He has dark-blonde hair, sapphire-blue eyes, is 5' 11" in height and has a weight of 175 lbs.
Lady Genevieve Sephora del la Maderia, of Moonstone City (daughter of Lancelo)
Alignment: Neutral/Good
Class: Aristocrat 1/Bard 6/Wizard 10
Race: Human (Iberian)
Str 8, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 20, Wis 13, Cha 20
Lady Genevieve has an apparent age of 20, and an actual age of 36 (due to use of reliable Longevity elixirs). She has auburn hair, worn waist-length, sapphire-blue eyes, is 5' 9" in height and has a weight of 115 lbs.
(*) While Lancelo is a Utilergist, this does not mean that the GM Option of Utilergist must be used. The society of Moonstone City is not one which has the complete integration of magic into all the work of society that the Utilergist option implies, though that is what Lancelo might be aiming towards, and this might in fact be the case, in a few generations. It is likely, however, that the Utilergist apprentices of Lancelo will prove to be popular examples to other nations who want quickly built cities on Selene.
(c) Dreamer Publications, 1980 - October 2006
Permission granted to use for non-profit making purposes