Jula

Jula

(City)

NE

Town

Nation

Sodden Lands

Level

3

Size

Village

Population

292

Demographics

77% humans, 14% halflings, 9% other

Government

Theocracy / Authoritarian Cult (but previously an elected council)

Alignment

Neutral evil

Demonym

Julans

Adjective

Julan

Ruler

Ajbal Kimon

Leader

Father Heveril Dagambi

Images of Jula

Source: The Inner Sea World Guide, pg(s). 177 (1E)
Hurricane's Howl, pg(s). 69 (2E)

Jula is a coastal village in the southern Sodden Lands, populated by hardy folk who defy the Eye of Abendego and refuse to leave the Sodden Lands for more temperate climes.

Geography

Jula was originally built among steep river valleys, on the region's safest highland road. After the Eye of Abendego formed, the lower districts drowned; only the buildings on the mountain top that are above the flood line and the smugglers' tunnels remain habitable, and are still battered by the wind. A network of ropes and pulleys connect important buildings.

Government

Knights of Abendego battle adventurers in the streets of Jula.

Jula is controlled by the Knights of Abendego, a bandit gang and cult of Norgorber. They control the population by pillaging the town's resources and profiting off what little trade still remains. The forge is forced to work around the clock to keep the Knights armed.

Jula's inhabitants are faced with the difficult choice of leaving (and becoming refugees) or being enslaved by the Knights of Abendego. However, Jula's leaders, led by Heveril Dagambi, an ex-paladin of Erastil, see the Knights of Abendego as just the latest threat that they will eventually overcome.

History

Before the death of Aroden, Jula served as a stopping point between Yamasa and the Shackles, where travellers could drink fresh water from the Green and Blue Flows. A protective ibex with bronze horns, associated with Erastil, lived nearby until it died defending an Erastilian priest, who proceeded to build the Hall of the Watchful Ibex. Jula's prosperity ended in 4606 AR, when the Eye of Abendego opened, drowning the districts located in the town's valleys.

After a few months, a massive elasmosaurus arrived at the bay and trampled the newly-built docks and boats. The survivors harpooned and slaughtered the elasmosaurus, and turned its skeleton into the Obeondo Coil, a symbol of the town's defiance and resilience.

In 4661 AR, four ships from Cheliax invaded Jula. For two days, the Julans fought Thrune warriors and hell hounds from the Hall of the Watchful Ibex. On the third day, the invaders summoned a barbazu, but Dasen's Dazzling Dozen, an itinerant halfling club, came upon Jula and joined the townsfolk, and together they drove the invaders back to sea. The loot from the ships kickstarted Jula's economic growth, and the halflings decided to settle in the town.

In 4699 AR, the Knights of Abendego arrived at Jula. Under cover of a storm, they rounded up the local council and demanded they listen to their demands.

Environs

Jula is the closest extant settlement to the Temple of Xanthuun to the northeast, though even the refugees of Jula avoid the cursed temple.

A number of dangers can be found along the swampy coastline between Jula and Kokutang, including a Koboto tribe called the Storm Merchants and an infamous muck bunyip called Old Wulunga.

References

Paizo published a gazetteer of Jula in Hurricane's Howl.

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