Calling Yard

Calling Yards are large outdoor areas found throughout The Mesa, where characters not native to setting materialize and awaken. They are typically found in ruins, with little clues to their origins and construction.

Calling Yards vary in shape and design, but what's common between them is that their age and mystical nature are immediately apparent upon observation. They are typically places of intense peacefulness and beauty; though not hallowed ground in the traditional divine sense, they seem to impart a certain serenity on those within. This makes them popular spots for meditation and worship, as well as for quiet reading and study.

Most Calling Yards betray their age with ancient sculptures or architecture. Some are home to huge grandfather trees, or even intricate arrangements of massive dragon bones (though never a fully intact skeleton).

Plants in Calling Yards seem to tend to themselves, always appearing perfectly arranged and pruned to maximize their beauty. Whats more, plants remain in perfect, vibrant health, despite downpours and droughts. The sun feels a little more nourishing in a Calling Yard.

Though full of plant life, animals usually shy away from these places. Domesticated pets will follow their masters into a yard without complaint, but birds and squirrels do not nest within. Though insects may pass through, they will never swarm or found hives or colonies in a Calling Yard.

Warptown Calling Yard
The Calling Yard in Warptown is the default starting point for the campaign setting.

The yard, about the size of a small city park, is situated along the edge of the raised Warptown district, along the drop down to Lower City, offering a panoramic view of Riverguard. Along this edge, and all edges of the yard, are dense thickets of red and white wildflowers. The center is colored the healthy green of grass so well-maintained, it would make Hank Hill weep. Most find it mind-boggling that there is no groundskeeper, and that the yard naturally maintains itself.

The field is encircled with 20-foot-tall green stone statues of the small and medium-sized sentient races. In addition to the playable races from the PHB, the statues also include depictions of "evil" races such as Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds, and Lizardfolk; though the statues do not depict these races as being any more menacing than the playable ones. The statues are clearly ancient, and have hanging moss growing over and off of the higher surfaces, particularly the figures' shoulders.