Most Unusual Fantasy Cities

[Stormborn]

We already have a thread on Greatest Fantasy Cities, but what I am looking for some truely unusual cities (which may include some of from the other thread I suppose). Looking for cities whose location, inhabitants, or dominant features make them different than the run of the mill fantasy city. I would appretiate it if you made your case, as opposed to just nameing one, and told us where it can be found.

 

[kenmarable]

I've always liked the idea of Penance in Bastion Press' Oathbound. It was a massive city that was constantly being rebuilt on top of the older ruins. So it became this big plateau with layer after layer of ruins underneath. So you've got fully functioning city above, and endless adventure possibilities below. Not to mention that the city above was divided into districts ruled by various bloodlords as well as abandoned disitrcts run by undead. Also, given the basic laws of how to become a bloodlord (I think you need 1000 people within a section to swear fealty to you), it was quite possible for PCs to become bloodlords and interact with the rest of the city in political adventures. Disclosure: I did freelance with Bastion back then, but the original gang came up with Penance, so I feel no shame in giving it props.

However, shamelessly, one area I really liked and wanted to revisit was a small piece that I came up in the original Oathbound campaign setting book called Safe Place. It is more town or village than city, but I always wanted to do more with it. Basic idea is that a large number of dretch are stranded after a demonic incursion goes bad (area collapsed killing most everyone). Psionic caller in darkness eventually forms from the dead demons and citizens and becomes the dretchs' All Powerful Cloud God. Cloud God decides to lure others in by pretending the area is safe for visitors and only killing a certain percentage of them (in ruins under Penance monsters pretty common and no one will miss a few dead people). Old sign even remains saying "A safe place to live" with town name gone.

After a while, some of the dretch - more chaotic stupid than chaotic evil - actually buy into the lie that the town is a safe place. So when PCs arrive, they can take part in a revolt against the Cloud God by a bunch of dretch who think it is corrupting what Safe Place is all about. I had all kinds of crazy stuff in there with this town completely run by really dumb creatures - some of whom just run it to lure in people to torture, others who actually try to accommodate and help travelers. I had a lot of fun with it.

 

[Voadam]

Hollowfaust. A 3e Scarred Lands city sourcebook by White Wolf's Sword Sorceries Studios.

In the middle of the desert lies a dead volcano. A group of LN necromancers fled other cities to settle there and practice their arts unmolested. Their families and servitors accompanied them. They only make mindless undead and forbid making hungry or sentient undead. Others flocked to them as they were strong in a world torn by a divine war and the collapse of many civilizations and tons of monsters let loose from the divine war.

The necromancers flourished gaining and training numerous disciples and came to rule their ever growing settlement, developing zombie and skeleton war legions in response to monster armies besieging their city.

So a LN magocracy based on the power of legions of mindless undead servitors used to protect people against hostile monsters.

 

[Turanil]

and told us where it can be found.

Reading above post about hollowfaust, I thought it might fit very well into my homebrew world. So I got a look on RPGnow, and saw it is at 5$ instead of 20$. (see here) I just bought it...

 

[Eosin the Red]

Yeah, Hollowfaust was a very well done and unusual city. Strangely, for a city of necromancers it seemed like it would work. I never did Scared Lands but that is one supplement that peaked my curiosity.

 

[Voadam]

Reading above post about hollowfaust, I thought it might fit very well into my homebrew world. So I got a look on RPGnow, and saw it is at 5$ instead of 20$. (see here) I just bought it...

Rocking sale! There goes my February gaming budget.

 

[Set]

Much love for Hollowfaust, but I'd have to say that Tanelorn and R'lyeh are more 'unusual.'

 

[Stormborn]

Much love for Hollowfaust, but I'd have to say that Tanelorn and R'lyeh are more 'unusual.'

R'lyeh I recognize, but what's Tanelorn and where is it from?

 

[cmrscorpio]

Sigil, City of Doors.

It is a city built (as far as canny bloods can figure) on the inside curvature of a torus, floating at the top of an infinitly tall spire in the center of a plane of infinite size. It is full of magic despite the spire itself being the ultimate no-magic zone. It has no physical connection to anywhere, but it is the hub of the multiverse with more commerce and creatures trafficking through it than anywhere else in all existance. It is ruled by the enigmatic Lady of Pain, who really doesn't do too much of the ruling. The city is maintained by a race of creatures who cannot speak, but whose language is cryptic pictures that form over their heads. All gods covet it, but none can enter it. It has a rich language all its own. Its politics are about as complex as you are ever going to come by. Angels walk past demons everyday on the street. Come for the philosophy debate and stay for the backstreet brawl that said philosophy debate becomes!

 

[Voadam]

R'lyeh I recognize, but what's Tanelorn and where is it from?

Lost Tanelorn is From the Elric stories by Michael Moorcock. It has to do with balance and questing for the city, but I don't remember many specifics.