Role & Power: The Fraglia is not just a union; it is a Monopoly of Grace. Because the Church mandates that citizens eat fish on holy days (which is half the week), the Fraglia controls the city's protein supply. They are part of the Dominium Maris, meaning they answer to the Naval Admirals regarding territory, but they hold a Papal Bull (a special charter) from the Potentate that gives them absolute jurisdiction over the "Holy Waters" of the harbor.
Motto: "Grace is caught, not given."
(Loggia del Pescato)
Location: Situated in the heart of the Harbor District, right where the water meets the stone. It acts as a physical barrier between the chaotic docks and the wealthy merchant quarter.
Visual Description: The building is a massive, open-air structure supported by thick columns of white marble that are permanently stained green at the base by algae and salt.
The Wet Floor: The floor is slanted stone, constantly washed down with buckets of seawater to clear away blood and scales. It smells of money and brine.
The Great Scales: In the center hangs the Libra Sancta—a colossal set of bronze scales blessed by the Church. Every commercial catch must be weighed here to calculate the "The Goddess' Share" (tax).
The Offices: The upper floors are enclosed and opulent, where the Gastaldo (Guild Master) and his clerks manage the ledgers.
In Veloria, you cannot simply cast a line. The ocean belongs to the Goddess, and the fish are Her children. To kill them requires permission.
Instead of a "Help Wanted" board, the Fraglia maintains the "Ledger of Open Waters." Adventurers and freelance captains can apply for a Temporary Licenza (License). @Floslynis the current receptionist and manager of the board. You can also buy Basic Fishing Rod, and Basic Fishing Bait from her. A @Fishing Boat: Velorian Tartana is usually docked outside the Fishing Guild and can be rented or purchased.
How it Works:
The Buy-In: The party pays a fee to the Guild to purchase a scroll (the License).
The Hunt: The License grants them legal immunity to enter restricted/dangerous waters to hunt a specific target.
The Payout: The party returns the catch to the Great Scales. The Guild takes the meat (to sell) and pays the party a predetermined bounty + a cut of the market value.
Location: Sea caves beneath the University.
Target: Glass-Eels (Valuable for inks and potions).
Risk: Low (Skill Challenge).
Reward: 50gp + Favor from a Scribe.
Complication: The grottoes are sacred ground. The use of nets is forbidden as disrespectful. You must catch them by hand or use specific, non-invasive magic while the tide is rising.
Location: 2 miles offshore.
Target: Goliath Grouper (A massive, armored fish).
Risk: Medium (Combat).
Reward: 250gp + A crate of Salted Grouper (Rations).
Complication: The Grouper is territorial with a bite force capable of crushing a small boat. Additionally, the Iron Kelp is currently infested with Merrow who view the Grouper as a pet.
Location: Deep water drop-off.
Target: The Void-Maw Tuna (Abyssal mutation; glowing meat).
Risk: High (Boss Fight).
Reward: 800gp + A Pearl of Breath.
Complication: This fish is essentially a warlock patron's snack. It can teleport short distances (Misty Step) and attracts Sahuagin raiders. The Navy usually forbids entry here, making this license a rare dispensation.
Nestled on the southern horn beyond the Hesan mountains, the city-state of @Virelli, Horn’s Light is a city-state—isolated by towering mountains, yet open to the sea. Though not formally part of @Veloria, @Horn's Light has long had a cultural alliance with Veloria.
@Horn’s Light's architecture blends coral stone and sea-glass mosaics, with winding canals and cliffside terraces that overlook the deep. Its temple to Stella Maris is modest but radiant, often built into the rock itself, with altars that face the tide. Its festivals honor both the goddess and the horn’s ancestral spirits. The city is governed by a Council of Tides, a rotating body of merchants who answer to no crown but maintain positive relationship with @Anselm XI, Potentate of Veloria.
With the @Hesan Empire recently taking @Alendria , an ancient country between Veloria and Horn's Light There is talk in the @Chamber of Stella Maris about the implications for Horn's Light's sovereignty. Veloria has historically seen Hesan's navy as small and weak, yet Hesan occupied Alendria is now a choke point if Veloria is ever called to protect Horn's Light. Likewise, whispers of strange arcane ships resembling wizard towers coming out of the Hesan river yards have traveled through the sea.