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Dalantyr
Acolyte
1 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 15:04:43
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I've written an adventure path that I'm currently playtesting with friends. I'm looking to write a Faerun conversion document on my website for DMs who want to run the campaign in the Forgotten Realms. I'm hoping that the esteemed scholars of Candlekeep can help me come up with a suitable city location in the Realms.
The players begin the game as convicts and vagabonds and gradually rise in power to create the most powerful criminal organization in the city. In my homebrew world, this takes place in one of the largest and richest cities in the world. The campaign is gritty and violent as you would expect of a rogue-centric game, but there are also elements of high fantasy such as some of the older noble families residing in flying castles above the city, and the true powers in the city wielding powerful and forbidden magic. It's a coastal city and the navy employs both conventional ships and airships. There is a powerful church which is allied with the ruling class of the city. The law in the city is powerful but has its fair share of corruption. Criminal elements such as beggars, gamblers, pirates, highwaymen, pickpockets, burglars, assassins, and spies all reside in the city.
Where could I place this the most recent iteration of Faerun? Is there a powerful and wealthy city state in which the nobility dabble in powerful and ancient magic? The city must also have a darker and seamier side among the docks and slums.
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 15:19:45
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| You could convert Waterdeep. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore
USA
1268 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 15:28:25
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You could also go with Westgate, the Waterdeep of the Dragon Coast. You've got multiple thieves guilds and assassin's guilds to compete with on your way to the top, and rising above them all would be noticeable to any goodly organization in Faerun. You'd have no shortage of options for foes to challenge the PC's.
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- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!
"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 15:37:31
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(Apart from the flying castles and airships, which you could include after the introduction of earthmotes after the Spellplague) Athkatla in Amn seems to fit the bill, mainly on the corrupted law and organised crime sides (Shadow Thieves!).
Also Teflamm in Thesk has profited from its near monopoly on Kara-Turan trade goods, and its not so noble nobility class is derived from 'merchant-prince' clans hailing from Impiltur. The Shadowmasters in this town operate as a major, but entirely unseen and secret powergroup.
The Skyclave of the new Imaskari people does have the fantastic airship trade you seek, but its (near epic-)magic wielding nobility is probably quite adept at squashing any thieves guilds that operate to openly, and they are traditionally godless with almost no organised clergy active in their massive tower-city.
Edit: Nearly forgot about Waterdeeps' Undermountain, one of the most notoriously criminal port-cities of all. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
Edited by - Bladewind on 23 Aug 2015 15:40:31 |
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore
USA
1268 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 16:36:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
Edit: Nearly forgot about Waterdeeps' Undermountain, one of the most notoriously criminal port-cities of all.
Yes, Skullport could be fun to play in, with the city being rebuilt and all, it's wide open for a new guild to come in and takeover. The city of Waterdeep above would give them room to expand, as well. |
- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!
"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2015 : 18:33:00
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I would just take Sharn from Eberron and port it in somewhere. You can really stick it just about anywhere - on an island in the SofS, or the Lake of Steam area (Border Kingdoms of course), the Moonsea, on The Akanamere in the Blade Kingdoms, anywhere along the Sword Coast... really almost anywhere, so long as it doesn't fall-out within a country's borders (and there are very few 'hard' borders in Faerūn).
There is even a quasi-independent city (that you can just say is fully independent) between Mulhorand and Thay - Sultim - that is ready to use, if you want to be over in the east. It has no real lore about it, is in a good spot, and you could easily paste Sharn right over it (and that city already has everything you wanted, and has its own sourcebook). Personally, I don't see the need to swap it for anything - just plunk it down where you want, so long as it doesn't interfere with other nearby stuff (like sticking it right next to Waterdeep would be really weird).
What region do you have a preference for? That might be a good place to start. If you like the western heartlands then stick it on Orlumbor, and if you like the Inner sea stick it on Prespur or one of the 'pirate isles'. There are even two small isles right off the coast of Gulthmere/Turmish that would work for an 'independent citystate'. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 23 Aug 2015 18:39:02 |
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Thieves Campaign Setting Help
