The Campaign Builder's Guild

[ic=Edgar Loveless, Former Mayor of Rivel]They say you can find anything here.  Dwarf armor, Elf spells, Gnome gadgets, Orc weapons, Goblin mercenaries, anything.  But what they don't say is that you can also find poverty, decay, corruption, crime, disease, and death.  In fact, the only thing you can't find in Rivel is peace.[/ic]

[ic=Arlo Septane, Current City Council Lord]Edgar is a daft fool and an incompetent hack!  The man tried to pass a law against gambling!  Well, we of the City Council wouldn't let that get through, voted it down with extreme prejudice, of course.  The gambling clubs produces some of the city's biggest commerce, and they pay hefty taxes straight into the treasury.  Sure they attract a rough crowd, but that's the price you pay.  All this nonsense about poverty and decay, corruption and crime, it's all dragon dung.  Sure, we have some crime, but with 30,000 people, it can't be helped.  And yes, we do have a large population of poor, but they're all just too lazy to get jobs, that's why they live in the poor district.  We have a few problems, sure, but all big cities do.[/ic]

Rivel
Rivel is a huge metropolis of around 30,000 people, at the last city census.  It is in a temperate climate, and borders a river, allowing trade up and down to other places.  The city itself is built onto a hill/cliff, with the main gates at the bottom.  The city is composed of dozens of races, from Elves, Dwarves, and Humans, to Kobolds, Orcs, and Goblins, and even rarer races like Xephs, Warforged, and Half-Giants.

 [note]Think Gotham City, but in a D&D fantasy world.  Also, there's no Batman/Bruce Wayne to make everything right.[/note]

As Obi-Wan might say, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."  From corrupt politicians, to organized crime, to dark cults plotting evil schemes, Rivel is not the nicest place on the Material.  So what draws people here?  Why does it have 30,000 citizens?  Rivel accepts creatures of all kinds, as long as you aren't blasting down the gates, the guards will let you through.  This makes Rivel the ideal home for Vampires, Lycanthropes, and other creatures who would easily be spotted and expulsed from other cities.  But that still doesn't answer the question of why non-outcasts would move to Rivel.

Rivel offers the only real protection in the area.  There are a few Dwarven mines to the north, and a few farming villages to the south, but other than that it's savage wilderness all around.  The city has 30-foot high walls and a full-time city guard, it offers the only protection for miles and miles and miles.  Travellers who come down the river are usually forced to stop at Rivel, so the boats can load up with goods to take north and south.  And those that cross the river to escape the endless wars to the east must stay in Rivel or take their chances in the savage wilderness.

[More to come later]

I like the idea of the city being the only 'Point of Light' in the area. This allows for the city to become an easy base of operations for your typical 'slay goblins in cave' style adventure. The city is also dynamic enough that it can be a hub for urban adventuring and court intrigue.

All in all, this city sounds like a fun place to adventure in and near.

The differing opinion at the beginning acts as a brilliant introduction.  People often have quotes at the beginning, but you have a quote and then blast it out of the water.  It's really captivating.

Like Elemental_Elf said, I too look forward to reading this one.

I like this idea, having seen it in multiple novels and such.
What I would like to see, is this being the "point of light" only in terms of civilization.
One of my favorite quotes of all time, describing a similar city, is "When you are tired of life, come to Haven. And someone will kill you."
I'd like to see a city that is held together solely by the corruption tearing it apart.
It looks fantastic right now.

This sounds very similar to Ankh-Morpork; in fact I keep expecting to see detailed in there somewhere Dibbler selling sausages in a bun.

I'm looking forward to seeing this progress.

Quote from: Stargate525This sounds very similar to Ankh-Morpork; in fact I keep expecting to see detailed in there somewhere Dibbler selling sausages in a bun.

I'm looking forward to seeing this progress.

I had to look that up on Wikipedia.  I haven't read any Discworld.  But thanks for the compliment. I'll try post an update tomorrow.

City in Peril
Rivel is in trouble, deep trouble, in multiple areas and for vastly different reasons.

Political Threats
[ic=Arlo Septane, Current City Council Lort]People tell me that crime is everywhere, but I don't believe them.  If we really had a crime problem, the City Guard would alert the Council immediately and we would take care of it straight away.[/ic]

[ic=Marcus Dado, Captain of the City Guard]Crime?  Yeah, we've got a big crime problem here in Rivel.  The Guard works away 24/7 putting criminals away, but the judges just let 'em back out again.  Have I told the Council?  No way.  They'd throw me out on the street and hire someone else, and what's the point of that?[/ic]
Most of the politicians of Rivel are corrupt or incompetent, and many are both.  People like Arlo Septane simply don't see the truth of the matter, because people like Marcus Dado refuse to tell them.  So, the City Council goes on passing meaningless tax bills and trade tariffs, and the City Guard goes on with their catch-and-release system of crime control.  And, of course, there are those on the Council who are simply being paid off by the big criminals to turn the other cheek.


Financial Threats
[ic=Silas Devin, Current Mayor of Rivel]The city's treasury is at an all time high, and our trade has nearly doubled in the few months that I've held office.  All in all I think Rivel is in its way up.[/ic]

[ic=Hezekiah Jameson, Local Factory Worker]My pay was just cut as part of a 'cost reduction' plan that is supposed to 'double profits within a year.'  Yeah, it'll make the owners richer, but us workers are gettin' the shaft here.[/ic]
The nobles of Rivel are growing richer, it's true, and the city treasury is at an all time high, but at the same time Guilds are barely keeping themselves above water and factory workers are going hungry every day.  And if that weren't bad enough, Rivel's high crime means that factory workers and laborers don't even always make it home with their meager pay.  Finally, the gambling clubs have begun a loan system, suckering in dozens of people a week and further deteriorating the financial state of more than three quarters of the city.


Physical Threats
[ic=Big Al, Halfing "Businessman"]To my knowledge, Rivel is the safest place for miles.  Sure, ya might get roughed up a bit, but what's worse: losing a few coppers or gettin' eaten by them monsters outside?  Seems like a real easy choice if ya get my drift.[/ic]

[ic=Various Citizens, Asked at Random]Big Al?  I've never heard of him, and neither has anyone I know.  And even if I did know someone named Big Al, I'm sure he'd be a respectable businessman and a fine upstanding citizen.[/ic]
The most obvious physical threat to Rivel are the various monsters that lurk only a few miles west in the savage wilderness, but they aren't the most dangerous by far.  Big Al and his 'associates' are some of the roughest boys in Rivel.  They hang out in the Gambling District, mostly because Big Al owns several gambling clubs, but also because it's where they do most of their 'business.'

In addition, there are always rumors circulating about various cults and cabals plotting the downfall of the city, the world, and the multiverse.  None have ever been discovered, yet.

Is Big Al the only or just the biggest crime lord in Rivel?

Rivel does seem thematically similar to AM, and you might also draw inspiration from the (darker) New Crobuzon.

Quote from: JaercIs Big Al the only or just the biggest crime lord in Rivel?

I'm not sure yet, he's probably just the biggest crime lord.  Of course, as a Halfling he's literally the smallest crime lord.  He's sometimes called (behind his back) the "Biggest Halfling in Rivel."  This is dually amusing once you know that he is under the effect of a permanent (and thus far undispellable) Reduce Person spell.

Those both look like cool places (at least from the Wikipedia articles) and I may use them as inspiration if I get stuck.  For now though, I'm trying to keep the material as much 'mine' as I can.

I didn't post here before? Hmm, I thought I had.

Anyway. So the judges let criminals out as soon as they're brought in. Why? Are they corrupt/accept bribes, is there not enough room in the cells, or are they blackmailed into proclaiming innocence (somewhat alike to mafia practices in Sicily at one time)? Or are they simply incompetent?

As for Big Al... I guess he's got pretty big charisma. Or just a lot of gold. :P

Quote from: WensleydaleI didn't post here before? Hmm, I thought I had.

Anyway. So the judges let criminals out as soon as they're brought in. Why? Are they corrupt/accept bribes, is there not enough room in the cells, or are they blackmailed into proclaiming innocence (somewhat alike to mafia practices in Sicily at one time)? Or are they simply incompetent?

As for Big Al... I guess he's got pretty big charisma. Or just a lot of gold. :P

It depends.  Most judges are being blackmailed by or are in the pocket of Big Al and the other crime lords, some just accept straight bribes from the criminals themselves, and a few are just plain incompetent, appointed by an incompetent City Council.

Generally, the system is going down via the "Death by One-Thousand Cuts" method.  Except the cuts are pretty large themselves.

As for Big Al, he's got plenty of both, but most of it is gold.

I'm liking what I'm seeing. Always did love the urban type settings.

Quote from: beejazzI'm liking what I'm seeing. Always did love the urban type settings.

Glad to hear that.  I like urban settings too, and this is the first real chance I've had to work with one.  It's very enjoyable.

Perhaps I've been working on my metropolis too much lately, which is the capitol of a republic, but I would like to know what reason there is within the city for the people to not rise up, or for the organized crime to not simply take total control of the government.

It seems that the people will only accept an incompetent government for so long. There are ways for a government to keep its citizens down, but I'm not sure if you've detailed these yet.

I do like the murky black/white of this city, though. It's not just a horrible place to live, nor is it a shinning utopia. I'm having trouble with my setting's metropolis; the Republic started only 60 years ago, rising from the wreckage of an empire that fell 300 years ago. But I'm worrying that I'm not injecting enough realism. Your city has me thinking. Thanks.

Quote from: Kap'n XeviatPerhaps I've been working on my metropolis too much lately, which is the capitol of a republic, but I would like to know what reason there is within the city for the people to not rise up, or for the organized crime to not simply take total control of the government.

It seems that the people will only accept an incompetent government for so long. There are ways for a government to keep its citizens down, but I'm not sure if you've detailed these yet.

The answer is, of course, - umm... x.

 :wtf:

I have no idea.  For either.  This will have to be dealt with, thank you for bringing it up.

QuoteI do like the murky black/white of this city, though. It's not just a horrible place to live, nor is it a shinning utopia. I'm having trouble with my setting's metropolis; the Republic started only 60 years ago, rising from the wreckage of an empire that fell 300 years ago. But I'm worrying that I'm not injecting enough realism. Your city has me thinking. Thanks.

I'll look for your setting later this evening and check out your city.  Thanks for the compliments.