Even more City Questions

Was unexpectedly waiting around and played with these city formation questions again. Just love creating these city gaming snapshots.


Even more of those Thirteen Questions

1. Tell me about a church, temple, ashram, etc. in this neighborhood
Obelisk of the Egg. An obelisk is type of stand-alone religious site that attracts followers for its special focus. This obelisk is dedicated to eggs of many kinds of creatures, and every cranny of thsi small square has decorations either carved or solidified ones of various beasts. This is an ashram for birth, wellness and health, as pregnant women of every race can come here both for practical and mystical reasons. A large number of men come here to give an offering as do women to try and influence delivery. Those who need help and have no monetary support can join the Egg-Cult, they can serve either until they deliver or for many years later. Surprisingly to outsiders, it is not a place to give birth. Men cannot join this cult nor can barren women, although their spells can reverse this condition in women. Their service fees are quite low, but many give large donations in hopes to better their chances of giving birth to the "perfect" child they desire.

2. Tell me about a shop that sells standard equipment and one of the shopkeeper's quirks
*Euvonnah's Patches: An old, crippled-looking adventuring lady who has earned high praise for her ability to gauge the value of gems and weapons. Though slow in getting around, she, her grand-daughters and nieces are through, and surprisingly cheap in selling re-used equipment. They usually get the equipment from the bodies of fallen soldiers and do their work in finding and fixing the items. They have found magical trinkets, but Euvannah sells them off at a deep discount. She keeps an eye on her family to make sure they do not go out looking for work in the slumps or the spires. She would prefer them to wed officers or merchants. They have a lovely warehouse, decorated with house-plants, small statutes and art easels everywhere.

3. Tell me about someone who sells something illicit in this neighborhood
*Kasatta, is a Vanara or Monkey-folk that has connections with many of the caravans that come through the city. His creed is anything you want, they already have it, somewhere. He specializes in Saapa, a spice that enables non-spell-casters to swallow a low-level spell, as a type of living scroll. It is strangely addictive and causes violent withdrawal. Few users willingly take it, but lots of dirty prison guards like to get lower level street scum to transport spells before selling them. Kasatta is tolerated because he is the only one who seems to know where to get more Saapa and in much larger quantities than anyone else ever has.

4. Tell me about a powerful wizard or warlock in this neighborhood
*Mimmo: A medium sized winged Fae who was captured and abused by an evil sorcerer, but slowly learned to capture mana (magical energy) and then release it like spells. Usually looks very similar to an elf, but when excited, her wings burst out. When happy, colour sprays blasts out. When sad, clouds of rain surround her. Never seems interested in going on adventures but can be moved by sad stories. She doesn't study her spells, instead she collects borrowed objects from others, which can potentially give her energy for 2-8 days.

5. Tell me about a feared warrior who lives in this neighborhood
*Custen, Ogre batalion leader. A slave, that escaped his city roots, and dedicated to bringing down the dwarven military establishment. But after thirty years,left his cave, his empire to simply live in the city. His strength and temper are feared, yet he causes no problems to innocents. He drinks to excess, has many lovers but is respected by many military men who appreciate his simple but effective methods. He has no obvious hoard, yet he always has coins to buy what he wants. Has open bounties against him but everyone that has tried to arrest him, he has taken down. He doesn't parlay if there's no point, he doesn't hesitate to crush his enemies.

6. Tell me about someone who is wealthy in this neighborhood
*So-Shantu, Kitsune. A legendary adventurer who has been to the Vaar and back. An old, respected rogue that has been on dozens of Tyrant raids, and has her hand in maybe 100 more. For a long time her presence in the city was a rumour, but now it is understood her jump-gate is in the district. She is here perhaps 50% of the time, and drops her coins like raindrops. She meets with high priests when they request and pay for her advice. She has at least one visible admantium golem with her at all times and is well known for her use of spell gems.

7. Tell me about someone you can go to for help in this neighborhood
*Vicars, mostly a group of failed paladins (a few rangers or clerics) that seek out the weak or downtrodden in order to re-prove their worth. Many are outright failures for personal reasons but some are dedicated to their task and need to find a way to get back on track. Most work out of the Vicar Tower, and they come together when needed. Their one significant advantage is their huge numbers, when they come together for a task, potentially hundreds of individuals (2nd-7th level) that are not in orders or under military obligations. Many are also very old, tired, cursed, drunkards or damn unlucky, some don't actually want action they just want to talk about their Glory Days.

8. Tell me about someone you can go to for information in this neighborhood
Tuorno D'Veni - A Mercane that has long been established in this region. This mercurial race is well known for travelling into an area, and then leaving days or weeks later after selling trinkets and buying major or rare items. But not Tuorno, he has been in the high-society scene for more than a hundred years. He is well known for his raucous and bad humour. But what few understand is that he will tell you anything about someone you want if you have gossip that he can use. He doesn't need weapons or magic but gossip has power for him. And he has so many wealthy, city bureacrats and wizards that owe him, he fears nothing in this city. Those who seek to learn the dark of his past understand he did not chose or want to come here and may actually be unable to leave.

9. Tell me about a gang or criminal organization operating in this neighborhood
Noor Members (usually just referred to as Members) what was once a small, local gang has been growing and expanding their membership. They are mostly about theft but anything they can make a profit on, they are willing to try. Have a fair number of clerics dedicated to the god of greed. They actively ensure members do not steal or attack each other. They are organized by corners, so each one has a specific range. Those who talk about them are kidnapped for sacrifice.

10. Tell me about a pub, club, cabaret, gymnasium, bathhouse, etc. where adventurers hang out
The Scarred Point, an exercise club run by Inkora, a beautiful and well-liked human trainer.  Most of the time, large numbers of warriors come here for free training, to learn non-lethal martial arts. What few realize is that their trainer, is a Morda (psionic human that specializes in  poisons). She can emit a pheromone to cause bloody rage, so a peaceful session can become lethal in seconds. She is very selective in when she tries this, but tests and secretively programs assassins in front of the entire city, then hires them out for missions.

11. Tell me about an ongoing problem in this neighborhood
Fets are small, slug-like and nearly invisible leaches. They can be found in any sewer or place of garbage. Those exposed, must make a DC 8 check, otherwise it will stick to any surface skin.  Once attached to a victim, they drain 1-2 points of either constitution or strength every three days. After draining six points, it gives birth to 2-8 pods of more leaches. Goblins are immune to these leaches, thus they ferment them to cause problems in civilized communities, but the city wardens generally don't know the goblins role.

12. Tell me about a popular form of entertainment or a popular entertainer in this neighborhood
Zammo Knives, weapons that don't do damage. Once used for plays, the ones used in many games have the shape and feel of real weapons, the blood people bleed is their own real, but seconds after the play or action, the victim is unharmed. They were banned for awhile, but the most recent resolution is giving them a blue handle. One popular activity is Zammo, hunting down victims in a fake assination game.

13. Tell me about a food or drink that is popular in this neighborhood
Grunnick is a horrible tasting gruel made from dried guanno-balls. It was recently discovered that those who are able to tolerate this vile concoction (Constitution DC 14) gain the ability to go for five to ten days without food. It is becoming a staple for the poor, prisoners and for many who go on long trips. Those who cannot afford basic necessities are given this to subsist on, though it cannot work for more than a month at a time. Those who fail the saving throw spew for between 1-4 hours and temporarily lose 1d2 consitution, but have the same ability to withstand hunger for 2 to 4 days.