The Crystal Sky

The largest body of freshwater in all of the valley. The Crystal Sky, a name given to the lake for its shimmering waters that perfectly reflect the sky.

Its regarded as a natural treasure of Bosh which significant goes beyond just its pretty appearance. It is the site of two major battles in Bosh's history, it's the source of all freshwater in the country, it's the main method for transporting goods into and out of the country via ships.

The lake has become a beloved wonder of the valley, which its people tend to and take care of. Their adoration for the lake can quickly turn to anger if someone or something were to threaten it. Even the sheer act of littering can send some into a fit of anger.

Lake

The number of Bosh citizens living around the Crystal Sky is estimated around 800 people who actively live along the lakeside. The majority of the population is made up of humans, with a strong minority of halflings.

This population is heavily regulated, and kept under 1,000 people. This was enforced by one of the past tyrants who realized a higher population endangers polluting the lake. There are few who are allowed permission to live along the lake.

One must be careful around the Crystal Sky, the people of Bosh cherish these great waters as a national treasure. Any attempt to tamper or harm it is countered with legal punishment.

Another law most must follow is the enforcement of a population limit one of the past tyrants implemented. The only people allowed to live alongside the lake are those who receive permission from the tyrant himself, or those whose occupation depends on being closed to the lake (these types of people are expected to move once they experience a change in work, or retire).

A large lake of freshwater that is home to many creatures, both peaceful and hostile. The beauty of the lake catches all, its waters have a unique shimmering quality to them that makes the water seem gem like. The level of clarity in the water means the reflections in it are perfect. When looking out at the calm water one can see a shimmering reflection of the sky above them in the water around them.

The most common crop to be planted in the soils along the lake are rice crops. Large rice fields growing along the shores are a staple food for the locals of the area. Its noted by foreign visitors that the rice grown in the Crystal Sky's waters gives it a strange flavor that makes it a desired part of most meals.

The Crystal Sky sits in the heart of Bosh. North of ivory shores, east of the grievous mountains and west of the prosperous mountains.

The lake has always played a pivotal role in Bosh as it the largest source of freshwater in the valley. A grove of druids known as the Circle of the Moldy Stumps recognized this and pleaded with the kingdom to take better care of it else they may risk irreversibly harming the lake, and by extension those that rely on it to survive. Though the lords and nobles scoffed at the druids pleads, they saw it as a hindrance to their developments along the lake. "An insult to progress they called it". So the druids were ignored, but their warning would come true.

As buildings were developed along the bank of the crystal sky the water became tainted with; dirt, manure, ashes, sewage, debri, trash, and other foreign substances that polluted the lake. Sickness began to plagued both animal, plant, and man. Even the wood elves of the Kanor forest were being harmed. So when the Moldy Stumps once again made their plea they had the backing of the wood elves and the people. The druids efforts would catch the attention of Tyrant Erwin who summoned the Circle of the Moldy Stumps in the year 1668 to present their case before him as well as the wood elves of the Kanor forest, three dozen fracts, five trades, and ten sovereigns.

The druids presented themselves in a calm and logical manner, they presented evidence including a pitcher full of the populated lake water straight from the crystal sky. In their presentation they stated that while no one individual is at fault for the current state of the crystal sky they espoused that the sovereigns present should be held accountable for not doing anything to prevent this outcome from occurring and ignoring their original warning. Reacting to the druids acquisition one of the sovereigns jumped onto his feet and denounced the claims of population as "the whining of the commoners" stating the water was safe to drink as he proceed to drink the pitcher of tainted water. His last words were "nothing a bit of salt can't fi-" before he began to violently vomit before the court. The sovereign would end up dying of aspiration before hearing Tyrant Erwin state that those sovereign present (excluding the one dying in his own vomit on the floor) would be sentenced to five years of enslavement, and would be stripped of their titles.

Tyrant Erwin than declared that with the guidance of the Moldy Stumps druids, the Kingdom of Bosh would reverse the damages inflicted on the crystal lake and restore it to how it was before. To accomplish this a long and costly effort that took over a decade to complete which resulted in a new law being made which only allowed those with permission to live on along the crystal sky. By the year 1680 the lake had been cleaned of all its pollution. When Tyrant Erwin visited the lake to commend those who had worked to clean it he was dumbfounded by the lake. Its clean blue waters that perfectly mirror the sky, the sparkles it produce when hit with sunlight, in his own words he described it like he was looking into a diamond. The very sight of it brought him to tears. When he address the people he stated that "it was now the responsibility of all the kingdom to protect the crystal sky so it's beauty may be shared for generations to come" which he then followed with announcing he would have a town created on the edge of the lake that purpose would be to continue cleaning and tending the lake. Thus the town of Serene would be established in the following year.

In the year 2000 ships began disappearing, at first people didn't know what to think of it until wreckage began washing up. Evidence collected pointed at a monster attack, and a big one at that. Since they knew it was a monster that was responsible the local guard began setting up a trap to lure the beast out and slay it. While their lure certainly worked they were unprepared to face Thum, Guardian of the Crystal Sky. A hydra that had shimmering gemstone skin that reflected projectiles, could emit a powerful flash that robbed the guards of their vision, and shot a radiant beam from its mouth that could sear flesh off the bone. The trap turned into a retreat back to Serene. For the rest of the summer and into the fall attempts were made to kill Thum with no success. To this day Thum has yet to be slain, though the kingdom is still persistent in hunting him down and their efforts have seen a decrease in ship attacks.

The First Ravages War
Tied to one of Bosh's most historical events, the First Battle of the Crystal Sky. Where the army of the first Tyrant clashed with the koldmorder in a epic battle for the soul of Bosh. The first Tyrant won the battle forcing the koldmorder to retreat. After their victory the first Tyrant gave a speech on the edge of the crystal sky. In which he expressed his vision to unite all of the valley. To create a nation that surpassed the previous one less they become savage and barbaric like their retreating enemies. With impassioned words the first Tyrant laid the first foundations for the Kingdom of Bosh .

War of Scorched Earth
In the year 2290, Warboss Wazwham Badfink, leading his warband "Da Green Feend Horde" (commonly called the Green Fiends) made their way along the shores of the lake after their battle in Kanor Forest. In order to stop the orcs rampage along the Crystal Sky, Tyrant Blaine Halbane leading a large well equipped army to engage Wazwham and his orcs. It was in their engagement that Tyrant Blaine displayed his knowledge of battle tactics and utilized artillery fire to push their enemy. Though it was in underestimating Wazwham that the orc warboss was able to lead Tyrant Blaine into a trap. Wazwham had lured the tyrant into the open using a body double, and while he was busy killing the decoy Wazwham led a stealth force to seize the artillery line to then turn on the tyrant and his army. As the royal army was shredded by artillery fire, Tyrant Blaine was slaughtered in a duel against Wazwham. With their leader dead and their forces rapidly dwindling the royal armies' morale was broken. The small portion of the army that survived the orcs onslaught retreated from the Crystal Sky back to the capital to warn of the orcs eventually attack. The 2nd Battle of the Crystal Sky became known as "The Broken Shield Massacre" and remains one of the largest losses of life in Bosh history to date.

To most, the Crystal Sky represents the inner beauty of Bosh. A sign that deep within it's hard exterior, that for all its faults, there is something worth fighting for. Something pure, good, and beautiful.