City of Karthis

[Kenneth New]

The City of Karthis is the largest and most powerful city in the Neimocrands, the capital of the Republic and the home of both the University of Karthis and the Gate Emporium. It straddles the Neimoth River near its mouth, where it plunges over the falls into the Vinasko River Gorge just before it empties into Lake Tanea below.

• Population: 250,000 adults; 200,000 human, 15,000 elfbloods (half-elves), 10,000 dweir, 8000 kith, 6250 elf, 3750 ratfolk, 15,000 orcbloods (half-orcs), 1250 catfolk, 1250 therans, 250 tieflings, 125 other
• Government: elected mayor and city council
• Major Economic Interests: Trade, Education, Alchemical Items, Magic Items, Textiles, Other Manufactured Goods

Important Places in Karthis

• Royal Palace: Located on the Isle of Evonell, in the middle of the Neimoth River. The Prince of Karthis lives in the palace, and the Royal Council meets in the Octagonal Tower in the palace. Each of the Domains of Karthis has apartments in the palace as well. The Palace Gardens are open to the public are famous for their sculptures, the cherry trees and the Orrery Fountain.
• University of Karthis: Located on the south bank of the Neimoth River, connected to the Isle of Evonell by the Lion Bridge, the University is home to the Academy of Magic, Karthis Tower, the College of Alchemy, the College of Music, the College of Engineering, the College of Military Science, the College of Healing, the College of Law, and several others.
• Gate Emporium: This sprawling compound is a 3-story octagon surrounding a central garden. The only entrance is through a single wide, but well guarded, gate. The Trade Gate itself lays below the gardens in an underground chamber. The octagonal building contains offices and administrative areas (including security offices) on the upper level and shops on the two lower levels. Goods and foods from around the world can be purchased here in the many shops. Travelers can descend to the lower level and purchase passage through the gate to the other (subsidiary) emporia.
  
  The Emporium security forces are armed with the most advanced firearms available and wands of admonishing ray.
• Zelcary Tower: Located on the near the North Wall of the city, this broad elevated square was constructed by the wizard Aleron Zelcary in 3134 (Karthian Time). The top of the square is 2000 feet on a side. It can be reached by a gentle ramp spiraling around the sides. Five magical fountains create jets of water that shoot into the air. The central jet sits in the middle of an elevated reservoir (and falls back into it) which leads to an aqueduct that provides pure water to the city. The other four jets are located in pools that are used for aquatic recreation by the citizens of the city. The entire area is covered by a magical effect that maintains a comfortable temperature throughout the year. The four pools are connected by a canal. The entrance fee to the tower park is 2 sp per person. Food and drink can be purchased at small shops located on the square. The fresh water provided to the city feeds into the city water supply and is administered by them. This act of euergetism earned Aleron Zelcary a noble title. His income comes from the fees he collects from the park.
• Long Loop: Located north of the Neimoth river, upstream from the River Gate, the Long Loop is a deep elliptical canal that surrounds the Mulberry Stand. Although the canal is almost as deep as the river itself, a stone retaining wall rises to within a few feet of the water's surface, slowing the water considerably. The Long Loop is a popular fishing spot, but those who catch fish are required to release them or to pay a nominal fee of 1 cp per pound. Commercial fishing is not allowed on the long loop, although individuals can often sell their catch for twice the fee they paid if they take it to one of the fish markets in town. The fish are mostly catfish and brightly colored carp. The largest carp every pulled from the Long Loop weighed 96 lbs.
  
  The Mulberry House sits on the false island created by the Long Loop. It was once the seat of the House Tanniver, but was sold shortly after that family was attaindered. The current owners changed its name and keep it open as a hotel and restaurant. The restaurant is famous for its mulberry pies, tarts and syrup, as well as a sweet mulberry infused liqueur called moraline. The hotel has only 12 rooms and is somewhat pricey.
  
  The Long Loop was built more than a century ago by Vergama Tanniver, and served as the seat of her family once they were ennobled. The Tanniver family was attaindered during the Zargan Insurrection and the Long Loop fell under the control of the City, which has administered it ever since.
• The Octagon Plaza: Located south of the Neimoth River, carved into the side of the Dalgren Hill, the Karthis Arena is used for non-lethal gladiatorial games. Most the games are purely mundane, but some events include mages and magical effects. Restaurants, taverns, bath house and lots of shops can also be found here.
• Grand Theater: The largest theater in Karthis sits on the North Bank of the Neimoth River, across the Serpent Bridge from the Theater District. Built 120 years ago, this massive structure is the most sought after venue in the city. The best plays, operas and musical performances come to the Grand Theater.
• Candle Street:This street runs from the Riverwalk in the north to the Thouasand Acre Park in the south. It sits halfway between the Theater District and the University. Wand Street, which is where most of the magic shops (not magic item retailers) can be found, connects the University to Candle Street. The street is a merchant district with lots of candle shops, as well as artisanal shops. It's where the theatrical crowd meets the university crowd. This is also a popular part of town for those who think of themselves as "modern".
• Thousand Acre Park: This park sits at the south end of Candle Street. The northernmost end of the park forms a rough trapezoid. At the southern (larger) base of the trapezoid, a s-shaped narrower spur (about 1/2 mile wide) winds back into the Granite Ridge. A quarry still operates at this end of the park, and a road paved with gravel leads through the park to the Mason's Quarter. The park is actually about 1400 acres in size. The northernmost part of the park is well tends and has fruit trees, shade trees and fields for recreation. The southern part is increasingly wild.The park is a popular place for open air activities, romantic assignations, unregulated prostitution and criminal activity.There is a not inconsiderable problem with homeless people squatting in the park, as well as the occasional anti-social druid.

The following places are detailed below:

• Octagon
• Candle Street

[Luke Porter]

I am wondering, as such a cosmopolitian city, what are the languages commonly spoken in Karthis? Is it a European style cosmopolitan where many people speak a second language and transactions and the daily lives of the citizenry take place in multiple languages or is it more like an American version where most things happen in the dominant language and most other languages are considered 'foreign' and confined to ethnic neighborhoods?

[Kenneth New]

Excellent question. I'll repost this little tidbit when it comes to the character design rules later.

Most people in Karthis only speak Karthian, the local language. Many merchants who trade through the gate network will learn other languages common in those areas (for example, Livonian, Vengana, Goryo, etc...)

Many non-humans in Karthis also speak only Karthian. They don't begin the game with any extra languages. If they have an INT bonus they may take their ancestral language as a bonus language. Otherwise, they need to spend a point in linguistics to learn it or be monolingual in Karthian.

[Kenneth New]

Human Population of Karthis

For the purpose of this post, I will include references to real world cultures/regions of the world that have inspired the human groups below where appropriate.

The list below is ordered from the most populous group to the least populous group.

• Karthian: This generic designation can refer to humans of mixed heritage, or simply to those who consider the origin of their ancestors to be irrelevant.
• Cargosian: Those in this group trace their heritage to the earliest human inhabitants of the Neimocrands, from the days of the Serpent Empire and the Kingdom of Carcosa. They have light to medium skin tone and hair that ranges from black, to brown to blond. Red hair is uncommon, but is usually more auburn or coppery than ginger. The ancient Cargosian language has disappeared except as a scholarly language.
• Parthon: Those in this group trace their heritage to the Parthons who invaded the Neimocrands 300 years ago. They're related to the Sugda nomads of the plains. Parthons have olive skin tone and hair that ranges from very dark brown to auburn to dirty blond. Their features are very Indo-Aryan. Culturally, they have been mostly assimilated into the mainstream Karthian culture, except for a few favorite recipes that include yogurt, mare's milk or horse flesh. The Parthon language is a dialect of the Sugda language and a distant relative of High Medani.
• Manavian: Those in this group trace their ancestry to the Isle of Manawy, sitting at the other end of a trade gate. Manawy was annexed 200 years ago when the King of Manawy petitioned to join the Republic to stave off an invasion by Vanyari raiders. Since that time, the Manavians have been citizens of Karthis. They have fair skin, light eyes and hair that ranged from platinum blond, to light brown. The Manavian language is still used on Manawy, but almost everyone there also speaks Karthian. The closest real world culture to the Manavians would be that of the Lordship of the Isles (historical, not World of Greyhawk).
• Vengana: Those in this group trace their ancestry to the Vengana Resonance Point, one of the earliest gates established. They have light to dark brown skin, black or dark brown, tightly curled hair and dark eyes. Their features are rounded and full. Vengana is a semi-autonomous region in the Republic, located in the southeastern part of the southern continent. Vengana people prefer brightly colored fabrics, and most of them wear their hair in corn rows. The closest real world group to the Vengana are the tribes that inhabited Great Zimbabwe at its height.
• Medrugany: This group is related to the Parthons. (Both groups trace their ancestry to Ancient Avishan). Physically they are almost identical, but there are distinct differences in culture. The Medrugany (they call themselves Medru/Medruzha) are nomadic, traveling the Neimocrands (and beyond) in colorful wagons. They work as tinkers, traders and general craftsmen. Many show up in farm country during harvest season. They favor colorful and heavily embroidered clothing and scarves. They are also fond of ear and body piercings, and of tattoos. They are a somewhat insular group. Although all of them speak Karthian, they prefer speaking Medruga (their native tongue) while among their own kind. They seem to have some way of traveling quickly, often covering hundreds of miles in a single day. The Medruga language is distantly related to Parthon (like French and Romanian are related), but they are not mutually intelligible. The Medrugany have their own religious beliefs and magical traditions. They are often confused with a more eclectic group called the Travelers (wandering entertainers). While most Traveler groups contain some Medrugany families, not all Travelers are Medrugany. Indeed there are often non-humans among the Travelers.
• Other: Many smaller groups are also found in Karthis. The Temnara, Weijin and Nihonjin from beyond the Temnara gate, the Taino from the Boriquan gate, Livonians from beyond the Paloma gate and others.

[Kenneth New]

The Octagon

This massive and ancient amphitheater was built during the days of the Scathovar domination. A massive stone edifice capable of holding 50,000 spectators, the 8-sided amphitheater has an arena floor 100 feet on a side (240 feet across). After the fall of the Scathovar, the Octagon was used for sporting events. It was during the Elven Principate that the non-lethal games were introduced.

Many events are held in the Octagon.

• Elathrima Games - Professional teams test their skills against the very best the Neimocrands had to offer, in challenges of sorcery and martial skill. These games are held every summer, just after mid-summer.
• Amateur Games - Amateur teams compete in Elathrima style games. This event is held just after the mid-winter festival every year.
• Spell Duelling Competition - Mages compete in contests of magical dueling. This event is held after the Amateur Games
• Grand Melee Competition - Martial artists compete in dueling and small group melee skirmishes. No magic is allowed in this contest. The Grand Melee begins after the Spring Equinox and takes a month to complete.
• Archery Competition - Archers compete for distance, speed and accuracy. This contest occurs between the Grand Melee and the Elathrima Games.
• Gunslinger Competition - Gunslingers compete for distance, speed and accuracy. This contest occurs a few weeks after the Elathrima Games.
• Marital Arts Competition - Martial artists compete in contests of unarmed fighting. This contest occurs after the Gunslinger Competition and before the Fall Equinox.
• The Mageball Tournament - The Fall Equinox sees the beginning of the mageball season. Players on broomsticks wield long rackets, and attempt to throw a hard rubber leather ball through hoops. (This game is similar to lacrosse, played on broomsticks). The sport is incredibly popular in Karthis and throughout the Neimocrands. During Mageball Season, there are games several nights a week, as the league currently has 21 teams.
• Concerts and other events are held in the time periods between these annual events.

General seating at the octagon costs 1 sp per person. VIP seating (closer to the arena) costs 5 sp per person. There are also very expensive sky boxes with windows that can magnify the events on the field. These are rented for 100 gp per event.

Spectators may purchase meat pies, cheese pies, sausages, salt rolls, caraway rolls, beer, wine, tea and other snacks from the concession booth or from wandering vendors. Prices are somewhat higher than they would be at a street vendor, but not prohibitively so.

Octagon Complex

Surrounding the Octagon is a complex of other facilities also bearing the name Octagon. All the Octagon facilities are owned by the City of Karthis, but are managed by a semi-public company that shares profits with the city and the Republic.

• Octagon Baths - This large public bath complex also has handball courts, tennis courts, wrestling rooms, weight rooms and other athletic facilities. It also has massage parlors and a snack bar. A VIP section is reserved for athletes in training for events that will be held in the Octagon Amphitheater.
• Octagon Lounge - This restaurant is popular for those who're patronizing the Octagon. It has full menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sandwiches, pies, pastries, tea, coffee, beer and wine can be purchased at other times.
• Octagon House - Most people love or hate this three story hotel that looks like four octagonal towers surrounding a central square. The rooms are nice, and those staying here have a good chance of rubbing shoulders with famous athletes who're staying here while participating in contests.
• Octagon Tavern - This public house serves beer, wine and pub food. It also has dart boards and a billiard room.
• Octagon Dance House - This facility is a night club. It has three rooms, a dance room with a live band, a burlesque theater and a gogo boy theater. Each room has its own bar. It doesn't serve food, and the drinks are a little overpriced.
• Octagon Shops - Several smaller shops that sell athletic gear, health supplies, clothing and other goods surround the Octagon Plaza.Other shops provide services, such as barber shops, manicurists and an emergency health clinic.

[Kenneth New]

I added a section on the Medrugany to the Races of Karthis post.

[Kenneth New]

Candle Street

Candle Street sits between the University and the Theater District. It runs for three miles, connecting the Riverwalk in the north with the Thousand Acre Park in the south. The name of the street comes from its role as the center of artisanal candle making in Karthis (as opposed to the larger factories located in two massive structures right near the ). In honor of this role in the economy, the street lighting in the area shares a common candle theme. Instead of lampposts, each building has one or more artificial candles sitting in sconces that provide a continual flame for the main street.

The Candlestreet District is a merchant district, dominated by small artisanal shops.

There are two major cross streets that divide Candle Street into thirds. Cooper Street crosses Candle Street about 1 mile north of the Thousand Acre Park. It connects the Brickmakers District in the east to the Blackstone Quarter in the west. [Blackstone is better known as the Rookery.] Wand street intersects Candle Street about one mile south of the Riverwalk and connects the University in the east with Candle Street. Wand street ends at Candle Street, but just 100 feet north of the intersection Mask Street heads west to connect Candle Street with the Theater District. Minor cross streets also intersect Candle Street.

The section of Candle Street between Wand/Mask Street and the Riverwalk is called Lower Candle Street (because of the lower building numbers). It is mostly a casual shopping area. The taverns are mainstream, the restaurants tend towards traditional street food or sweets and the shops sell soap, incense and bath salts, in addition to a smattering of other goods.

The section of Candle Street between Wand/Mask Street and Cooper Street is called Central Candle Street and it is the center of the artisanal craft industry that the street is known for. About a third of these shops are candle shops, selling scented candles, elaborately carved and decorative candles, and even some enchanted candles. There are also herbalists, jewelry makers (mostly folk design), woodworkers, pawnbrokers, used clothing stores, head shops, bead shops, tattoo parlors, etc.... The taverns and restaurants in this sector attract a certain scholarly, artistic or "modern" crowd. The music is often cutting edge or experimental. Casual drug use is common in this sector, but seldom do you see anything really hard or dangerous.

The section of Candle Street between Cooper Street and the Thousand Acre Park is called Upper Candle Street. It's a little bit rougher than the northern sectors of the street. The shops tend to have more common goods, and the taverns and restaurants are more working class. The southernmost part of the street is dominated by two candle factories that make less fancy candles for common uses.

Locations on Candle Street

Alabaster Orb
Magic Shop, Central Candle Street, near Wand Street

This shop is a magic shop that specializes in divination, dealing with spirits and healing. The owner is Meralda Destrando, an occult oracle with alabaster white skin and hair, and opalescent white eyes. She's blind, but seems to be able to see well enough at close range. She's a registered healer-mage and accepts insurance plans. Most of her business involves telling the future (though automatic writing) or helping people to cope with the death of a loved one.

Meralda shared her apartment (above the shop) with her sister Lucia Destrando, a 20 year veteran of the Republican Army who saw service in Tamnara, Boriqua, the Long Wall and Galmorey. She's heavy set with muscle, has a wicked scar running down the side of her face and always carries a fighting stick. Meralda is quiet and reserved, with a mystic air about her. Lucia is quiet unless she's drinking. She has become an unofficial mediator between those in the neighborhood who have trouble.

Lost Treasures
Pawn Shop, Central Candle Street

This shop is used by students, musicians, actors and mages who are down on their luck. The shop always has musical instruments, daggers, short swords, sword canes, fighting sticks and other interesting items in addition to jewelry and the occasional used magic item or partially depleted wands.

Pewter Mug
Tavern, Central Candle Street

This tavern is one of several artsy taverns along the street. It has a wide selection of ales available on tap. They also serve cold meat and cheese, noodle dishes, fried meat, bread and vegetables, and anything that can be served on a trencher. After 4:00 PM they also serve a wide selection whiskey. There are nightly performances by lesser known bands.

Witch's Eye
Magic Shop, Central Candle Street (near Wand Street)

This shop is run by Gwyneth "Witch Eye" Athelas, a middle-aged witch who is registered as a mage-healer [she accepts insurance plans.] She does heal (and she has the healing hex) but much of her business involves using truth spells (detect thoughts) to aid in negotiations and locating spells to help find things. She's also considered an expert on relationships and can brew potions and elixirs.

Gwyneth has one eye whose pupil is surrounded a ring of orange in the otherwise pale blue iris. Her dark hair has begun to turn gray, but it still has its curls. She's well-known in the district as a free spirit who has never been married. She seems to have no end of handsome suitors young enough to be her son. She has a daughter named Karinna (young adult) who is her assistant, both in the shop and in the magic. Karinna seems a little conservative next to her mother. She has a better head for business, but is less magically adept.