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- Aug 14, 2009
So I have long considered and am finally tossing a thread up in here to both force myself to work on a setting and to demonstrate my design process.
My first step was to start with an idea, fantasy city. I have plenty of sources of inspiration for this, from Fafhrd and Grey Mouser's Lankhmar, Thieve's World Sanctuary, Viriconium, historical Italian City States and Constantinople, to TTRPG City State of the Invincible Overlord and Vornheim.
Some inspirations are more obvious then others.
This time around instead of focusing on creating individual districts and neighbourhoods, that'll come later, I opted to create a list of areas around my city to show how they influence one another. I followed it up by making a list of NPCs that people know of and talk about. Wrapping up this post is a list of organisations and their function.
So here are my first steps. Hopefully if I can continue with this I'll toss up a map of the area.
-Begin-
The City State of the Invincible Overlord and Her Neighbours
-Carcossone is ruled by the Marquis Valois, the latest of his line. He is an apt leader, though ever fearful of the Grand Duchess' designs. In retaliation he floods the Low Counties with brigades of mercenaries, the Grand Duchy of Worms with spies, provacatuers and heretics. Under his guidance the City has developed a vast complex of foundries and smithies to provide arms and armour for her soldiers.
-The City has seen a rise in her mercantile class due to her status as the port city for this lost forgotten corner of the old empire. With this new found wealth many merchants have gone and purchased for themselves titles of nobles, expanding the ranks of the bureaucratic Robe Nobles.
-Most of the land around the City is old swamp and the great river Reeds; but she borders a most frightful enemy in the Grand Duchy of Worms. A polity that seeks to bend the knee of Carcossone in fealty.
-Along the river Reeds and far inland are the Low Counties. Petty fiefdoms of Comtes/Comtesses and Vicomtes/Vicomtesses. They seem to be forever at war with one another over some petty excuse or another. Their lands are not predominately marshy, but their steel is valued, as is the naptha that they occasionally discover. The Marquis is keen to keep the conflicts rolling by being ever willing to send a brigade of mercenaries to assist.
-The old seat of Worms was the city by that name; but when the old empire was fading it was stormed by a mighty dragon that did see it's walls and towers topple. It is a gutted shadow of its former glory, over grown and nearly claimed by nature it is a place of profound mystery.
-The Low Counties, Grand Duchy of Worms and the City-state of Carcossone lie not in some well mapped land. They are each tiny bastions of civilisations in a sea of dark trees. And encircled by an impassible mountain range.
An Accounting of Notable Individuals and Organisations
-The Marquis Valois, Invincible Overlord and bearer of the Knight of the Sword. He defends his lands and his city with a passion, employing all tools at hand. It is said he has a love for mechanical devices and is fascinated by their workings.
-Grand Duchess of Worms, a Giantess that came to rule in violence and blood. Once she gained the throne though she preferred to keep it with agents seen, and unseen. She is the wielder of the Queen of the Sword and holds a deep hatred for the God and Magog.
-Bishop Zealia, the head of the Church of Vorn in these lands and based out of Carcossone. Born an Amazon she found her way to the Lord of Rust as a paladin. She lost her right arm to pirates on the Wine Dark Sea. Very little amuses her.
-Nyxnissa, one of the Twelve Medusa Sisters and quite possibly the youngest. She prefers the life of peace; but dabbles in petty intrigues to keep boredom at bay. It is rumoured that she loves games of strategy in all forms.
-Sahaal, Lord Gendarmerie is the leader of the Godless. He is a bull of a man with a fierce devotion to the law. His only loyalty is to the peace of Carcossone.
-Taurik el Ziz, Prince of the Scarlet Robe and rumoured head of the Gilded Hand. If so he is the boss to the most extensive criminal organisation in all of the land. By turns he is cruel and jovial, delighting in spectacle.
-Artorias, is the most renowned and worthy knight of the old Imperial Cavaliers. He is forever followed by his squire, Lady Caran. To some he is a joke that has stayed too long, to others a symbol of hope and better times.
-Lady, her name is as much a mystery as her face. The head of the sanctioned Temple of the Empty Throne, she protects the Marquis from threats mystical and oversees the training of others.
-Lady Voluge, Castellan of Carcossone commands the fortifications of the city. Seeing to their construction and maintenance. She is an engineer without peer and is drawing plans to revitalise portions of the city.
-The Crown, is an assortment of Sword Nobles that have sworn oaths of loyalty to the Marquis. In return they hold key positions of power within the political and economic structure of the city. In recent years some wealthy members of the Robes Nobility have attempted to purchase their way into the Crown.
-Sword Noble, is a title that belongs to a hereditary land holding noble. Their honour is the sword they can wear while attending the Marquis at court.
-Robe Noble, is a title that belongs to one that purchased their nobility. Rarely is it hereditary. Some children of Sword Nobles will purchase such titles as they see themselves as unlikely to inherit.
-Imperial Cavaliers, were an order of errant knights in the old empire. For their dedication and loyalty they were granted title into perpetuity. Warfare and a lack of land has seen their numbers reduced, their strength broken and their order broke.
-Temple of the Empty Throne, is a philosophical and sorcerous school. It is whispered that they derive their powers from the corpse of a dead god. In Carcossone to practise sorcery you must be licensed by the school.
-Church of Vorn, is originally a foreign cult that spread rapidly shortly after the fall of the empire. It comes from over the mountains, from the Cold Wastes, and has enjoyed tremendous popularity and influence. Vorn is a dispassionate god that detests hypocrisy. He is the god of rains, rust and slow ruin. Some heretics argue that contradictory text describe the god being torn and his body scattered to the corners of the world.
-Blessed Church of Elua, is cult with a wide and diverse interpretation. At it's core it is a fertility cult, in some areas this has manifested itself in the practise of Sacred Prostitution.
-Knights of the Twilight Order, was once a militant organisation; but long years has transformed it into a collection of scribes, illuminators and scholars that have amassed the largest library of the land.
-The Godless, were for the longest time an unofficial organisation that would appear and vanish with the times to combat clerical powers when they would step into temporal jurisdiction. Within Carcossone they have become the enforcers of the law and have write to pursue any criminal regardless of class or state.
-Beguines, is a loose term applied and adopted by groups of women that have fled the cities in hopes to escape the violence of the world by setting up their own communes. Each is different in its philosophical outlook, though most are set up along some theological idea.
-Amazons, or Joiry are bands of woman that prowl the forests. Governing everything on their own by force of arms. They are feared by brigands and state alike. They have some connection to the Church of Vorn as scripture states that He created the first Amazon. It is rumoured that they reproduce asexually, though it is also rumoured that they will kidnap any capable man-at-arms.
-Blades of the Darkmoon, is a mercenary group that specialised in one singular purpose, assassinations. They are expensive; but their reputation is built upon success.
-Black Company, is a rather large mercenary company made up of common folks. They are loyal to their contracts so long as they are paid and their contract honoured. To betray them is to gamble with your life. Upon joining members adopt a new name.
-White Company, is a well known mercenary company comprised entirely of nobles. Youths seeking blood and glory, old men wanting a return of youth. They have a reputation for cruelty and drunkenness.
-Gilded Hand, is a thieves guild based out of Carcossone who's reach extends far. While their a innumerable street gangs they all pay homage to the Gilded Hand. They keep the peace so that their coffers can grow. It is rumoured that they worship their fallen dead.
-The Crosier, is named for the Sheppard's crook. They are the Marquis' secret police, their identities concealed to all. When enacting official business they wear hoods.
-Lock Commodities And Brokerage, is the largest banking service provider in Carcossone. While private and separate from the Marquis and Crown all great nobles keep stock with the company. Even the Gilded Hand is rumoured to launder their money through Lock.
My first step was to start with an idea, fantasy city. I have plenty of sources of inspiration for this, from Fafhrd and Grey Mouser's Lankhmar, Thieve's World Sanctuary, Viriconium, historical Italian City States and Constantinople, to TTRPG City State of the Invincible Overlord and Vornheim.
Some inspirations are more obvious then others.
This time around instead of focusing on creating individual districts and neighbourhoods, that'll come later, I opted to create a list of areas around my city to show how they influence one another. I followed it up by making a list of NPCs that people know of and talk about. Wrapping up this post is a list of organisations and their function.
So here are my first steps. Hopefully if I can continue with this I'll toss up a map of the area.
-Begin-
The City State of the Invincible Overlord and Her Neighbours
-Carcossone is ruled by the Marquis Valois, the latest of his line. He is an apt leader, though ever fearful of the Grand Duchess' designs. In retaliation he floods the Low Counties with brigades of mercenaries, the Grand Duchy of Worms with spies, provacatuers and heretics. Under his guidance the City has developed a vast complex of foundries and smithies to provide arms and armour for her soldiers.
-The City has seen a rise in her mercantile class due to her status as the port city for this lost forgotten corner of the old empire. With this new found wealth many merchants have gone and purchased for themselves titles of nobles, expanding the ranks of the bureaucratic Robe Nobles.
-Most of the land around the City is old swamp and the great river Reeds; but she borders a most frightful enemy in the Grand Duchy of Worms. A polity that seeks to bend the knee of Carcossone in fealty.
-Along the river Reeds and far inland are the Low Counties. Petty fiefdoms of Comtes/Comtesses and Vicomtes/Vicomtesses. They seem to be forever at war with one another over some petty excuse or another. Their lands are not predominately marshy, but their steel is valued, as is the naptha that they occasionally discover. The Marquis is keen to keep the conflicts rolling by being ever willing to send a brigade of mercenaries to assist.
-The old seat of Worms was the city by that name; but when the old empire was fading it was stormed by a mighty dragon that did see it's walls and towers topple. It is a gutted shadow of its former glory, over grown and nearly claimed by nature it is a place of profound mystery.
-The Low Counties, Grand Duchy of Worms and the City-state of Carcossone lie not in some well mapped land. They are each tiny bastions of civilisations in a sea of dark trees. And encircled by an impassible mountain range.
An Accounting of Notable Individuals and Organisations
-The Marquis Valois, Invincible Overlord and bearer of the Knight of the Sword. He defends his lands and his city with a passion, employing all tools at hand. It is said he has a love for mechanical devices and is fascinated by their workings.
-Grand Duchess of Worms, a Giantess that came to rule in violence and blood. Once she gained the throne though she preferred to keep it with agents seen, and unseen. She is the wielder of the Queen of the Sword and holds a deep hatred for the God and Magog.
-Bishop Zealia, the head of the Church of Vorn in these lands and based out of Carcossone. Born an Amazon she found her way to the Lord of Rust as a paladin. She lost her right arm to pirates on the Wine Dark Sea. Very little amuses her.
-Nyxnissa, one of the Twelve Medusa Sisters and quite possibly the youngest. She prefers the life of peace; but dabbles in petty intrigues to keep boredom at bay. It is rumoured that she loves games of strategy in all forms.
-Sahaal, Lord Gendarmerie is the leader of the Godless. He is a bull of a man with a fierce devotion to the law. His only loyalty is to the peace of Carcossone.
-Taurik el Ziz, Prince of the Scarlet Robe and rumoured head of the Gilded Hand. If so he is the boss to the most extensive criminal organisation in all of the land. By turns he is cruel and jovial, delighting in spectacle.
-Artorias, is the most renowned and worthy knight of the old Imperial Cavaliers. He is forever followed by his squire, Lady Caran. To some he is a joke that has stayed too long, to others a symbol of hope and better times.
-Lady, her name is as much a mystery as her face. The head of the sanctioned Temple of the Empty Throne, she protects the Marquis from threats mystical and oversees the training of others.
-Lady Voluge, Castellan of Carcossone commands the fortifications of the city. Seeing to their construction and maintenance. She is an engineer without peer and is drawing plans to revitalise portions of the city.
-The Crown, is an assortment of Sword Nobles that have sworn oaths of loyalty to the Marquis. In return they hold key positions of power within the political and economic structure of the city. In recent years some wealthy members of the Robes Nobility have attempted to purchase their way into the Crown.
-Sword Noble, is a title that belongs to a hereditary land holding noble. Their honour is the sword they can wear while attending the Marquis at court.
-Robe Noble, is a title that belongs to one that purchased their nobility. Rarely is it hereditary. Some children of Sword Nobles will purchase such titles as they see themselves as unlikely to inherit.
-Imperial Cavaliers, were an order of errant knights in the old empire. For their dedication and loyalty they were granted title into perpetuity. Warfare and a lack of land has seen their numbers reduced, their strength broken and their order broke.
-Temple of the Empty Throne, is a philosophical and sorcerous school. It is whispered that they derive their powers from the corpse of a dead god. In Carcossone to practise sorcery you must be licensed by the school.
-Church of Vorn, is originally a foreign cult that spread rapidly shortly after the fall of the empire. It comes from over the mountains, from the Cold Wastes, and has enjoyed tremendous popularity and influence. Vorn is a dispassionate god that detests hypocrisy. He is the god of rains, rust and slow ruin. Some heretics argue that contradictory text describe the god being torn and his body scattered to the corners of the world.
-Blessed Church of Elua, is cult with a wide and diverse interpretation. At it's core it is a fertility cult, in some areas this has manifested itself in the practise of Sacred Prostitution.
-Knights of the Twilight Order, was once a militant organisation; but long years has transformed it into a collection of scribes, illuminators and scholars that have amassed the largest library of the land.
-The Godless, were for the longest time an unofficial organisation that would appear and vanish with the times to combat clerical powers when they would step into temporal jurisdiction. Within Carcossone they have become the enforcers of the law and have write to pursue any criminal regardless of class or state.
-Beguines, is a loose term applied and adopted by groups of women that have fled the cities in hopes to escape the violence of the world by setting up their own communes. Each is different in its philosophical outlook, though most are set up along some theological idea.
-Amazons, or Joiry are bands of woman that prowl the forests. Governing everything on their own by force of arms. They are feared by brigands and state alike. They have some connection to the Church of Vorn as scripture states that He created the first Amazon. It is rumoured that they reproduce asexually, though it is also rumoured that they will kidnap any capable man-at-arms.
-Blades of the Darkmoon, is a mercenary group that specialised in one singular purpose, assassinations. They are expensive; but their reputation is built upon success.
-Black Company, is a rather large mercenary company made up of common folks. They are loyal to their contracts so long as they are paid and their contract honoured. To betray them is to gamble with your life. Upon joining members adopt a new name.
-White Company, is a well known mercenary company comprised entirely of nobles. Youths seeking blood and glory, old men wanting a return of youth. They have a reputation for cruelty and drunkenness.
-Gilded Hand, is a thieves guild based out of Carcossone who's reach extends far. While their a innumerable street gangs they all pay homage to the Gilded Hand. They keep the peace so that their coffers can grow. It is rumoured that they worship their fallen dead.
-The Crosier, is named for the Sheppard's crook. They are the Marquis' secret police, their identities concealed to all. When enacting official business they wear hoods.
-Lock Commodities And Brokerage, is the largest banking service provider in Carcossone. While private and separate from the Marquis and Crown all great nobles keep stock with the company. Even the Gilded Hand is rumoured to launder their money through Lock.
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