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Civilized Phlan

Occupying what was once the harbor district of the Old City, Civilized Phlan (also known as New Phlan) is part rough-and-tumble frontier town and part armed camp. Guard patrols are frequent. The buildings are generally sturdily-constructed, but most have a mismatched patchwork look to them. Nearly all of the structures had to be rebuilt with materials at hand, or else repurposed from whatever they had been in the old days. Civilized Phlan houses around 300 diehard permanent residents, with roughly as many transients (including adventurers) at any given time. All of the able-bodied local residents are required to serve as either full-time or reserve members of the city watch. Adventurers and mercenaries are expected to aid in the city's defense in times of emergency.

Government Buildings

  • City Hall : This two-story reinforced stone structure is the central building of New Phlan. The ground floor houses the offices of the city scribes, clerks, and treasurer, while the upper floor contains the main council chambers and councilman's offices. The basement level holds the treasury and city archives. There is a bulletin board outside the main entrance where the council posts proclamations featuring news, announcements, and missions the council wishes undertaken on behalf of the city. Interested adventuring parties should see the Chief Clerk.
  • City Jail : The above-ground level of this sturdy stone building serves as a barracks for the city watch, while the basement level holds the jail cells and evidence lockers. Anyone caught while involved in any sort of violent crime, burglary, or disruptive behavior is brought here before being taken before the City Council for trial. Frontier justice is in effect, and while minor infractions result in jail time, serious crimes such as murder or treason carry the death penalty. The council will sometime enlist condemned criminals for dangerous missions in return for a stay of execution.
  • Harbormaster and Docks : This is the primary lifeline of Civilized Phlan. At any given time there are one or two large merchant ships moored here, as well as a handful of smaller craft. There is a strong city watch presence here and the council places tight restrictions on all incoming and outgoing water traffic. All inbound ships must agree to a search before being allowed to dock, and no watercraft of any kind is allowed to leave the city without council approval. Most merchants accept it as the cost of doing business in a city under siege. All newcomers to the city arrive by sea, and anyone wishing to stay for a period longer than three days is required to register with the city clerk's office. There is a small market near the docks where visiting merchants can set up temporary stalls from which to sell their goods.
  • Stockade Wall : Though not technically a government building, this is nonetheless the most important structure in Civilized Phlan. The wall is 40 feet high, 20 feet thick, and over 1000 feet long. It is made of timber-reinforced stone and anchored with simple stone towers roughly every 80 feet. A wide parapet runs across the top. The city gates are 12-foot-high iron-bound wood, and the only overland exit from Civilized Phlan. Anyone bearing a pass from the council may go through during the day, but the gates will not be opened after dark under any circumstances. A minimum of 50 guardsmen patrol the wall at all times.

Inns and Taverns

  • The Cracked Crown : This three-story establishment is the highest-class inn Civilized Phlan has to offer, catering to the more settled and respectable elements of the city. There are 14 rooms that can sleep up to four comfortably. Prices are a bit high, at 1 gold per night. Verna Trilere, the innkeeper, maintains a quiet atmosphere and the city watch responds quickly to disturbances here. Meals are served in the public room for 6 silver per person, per day.
  • The Laughing Goblin : A small, homey, two-story inn and taproom frequented by all manner of adventurers and sell-swords. The innkeeper, an ex-adventurer named Sot, runs a tight ship and brawls are rare. This is a favored place to meet for groups heading out into the ruins. There are 12 rooms that can sleep 2 comfortably and 4 a bit cozily for 5 silver a night. Another 3 silver covers meals, and the drinks are reported to be the best in town. Knife-throwing contests are popular here.
  • The Bitter Blade : Located near the docks, this two-story inn is frequented by malcontents, shiftless types, and those down on their luck. The innkeeper is an unscrupulous sort named Oswin, who has been known to “accidentally” rent out the same room to two different parties at the same time, sometimes resulting in disagreements and/or fights that the city watch usually turns a deaf ear to, provided things don't get too out of hand. Thievery is a common problem here. The place offers 20 cramped rooms sleeping up to 2 people in no great comfort for 1 silver per night. Drinks are available, but meals are not. Due to the large amount of traffic, this is a good place to pick up rumors. It's an open secret that the inn hosts gladiatorial combat events within its expansive basement, but as long as the fights aren't to the death the city watch turns a blind eye.

Shops

  • Cockburn's Grocery : Ian Cockburn runs this large shop out of Civilized Phlan's residential district selling foods, dry goods, and all manner of household items. He also does a brisk trade selling specialized adventuring gear, and has on-hand or can get just about any piece of common adventuring equipment a ruin delver could want, aside from weapons or armor. Prices are standard. Healing potions, alchemist's fire, and other exotic goods are usually in limited supply.
  • Matteo's : Master Smith Matteo produces excellent quality arms and armor at this smithy, and sells all sorts of weapons and armor at standard prices. He can also add silver plating to weapons. He offers custom item crafting, but such quality work can take up to three weeks to complete. Due to his particularly high standards, Matteo is not interested in buying used weapons and armor.
  • Georg of Vitkov : A more common smith, Georg offers a full selection of ordinary weapons and armor at prices 10% cheaper than Matteo. His skill is nowhere near Matteo's, however, and his wares can sometimes be of inferior quality. Georg is therefore much more interested in buying used equipment than Matteo is, and will pay half an item's normal value.
  • Ernst the Farrier : Ernst runs the only stable in the settlement, and still doesn't get a lot of business. He sells livestock, horses, mules, and all manner of tack and harness including barding (thanks to an agreement with Matteo). However the prices for his animals are twice normal because they have to be brought in by sea.
  • Hakiem the Jeweler : The only skilled jeweler and goldsmith in town, Hakiem Hulmarra owns this small but heavily-guarded shop selling gems and jewelery of all sorts and also doing a good bit of side business as a moneychanger. Adventurers often come here to convert their spoils into more easily-transported gemstones or higher-denomination coinage, and those working on behalf of the council get these services for free. Hakiem will also frequently buy art objects of precious gems or metals.

Temples

  • Temple of Tyr : Tyr has been the premier faith in Phlan since the Old Temple was finished in Milsor Valjevo's day, over 600 years ago. His center of worship in Civilized Phlan is an arching grey stone building sometimes referred to as the House of Waiting Justice, after the Tyrians' intent to one day reclaim the Old Temple. Bishop Braccio, who is also a member of the city council, leads his flock here. Magical healing services are available for a nominal donation. Healing potions and clerical scrolls are sometimes available for sale.
  • Hall of Tempus : Priest-Captain Thurm oversees the faithful of Tempus in this sprawling stone structure. The building also serves as a martial training hall, and warriors of all faiths come to hone their skills. Mercenaries can be hired at reasonable rates here. The Hall offers discount healing services, but only to those faithful to the Lord of Battles.
  • Temple of Sune : Though Phlan is no longer the city of shining beauty from long ago, the worship of Sune is still popular. Her small temple is easily the most appealing and lavishly-furnished building in Civilized Phlan, made so at great expense by Priestess Elerie, leader of Sune's faithful. The temple is surrounded by a well-tended ornamental garden and hedge maze, and many locals like to go there for a little “quiet time”. Healing services can be had by all for above-average prices, with a significant discount for “the beautiful people”.
  • Vahlegen Park : This small park, only about 100 feet across, serves as a shrine to Mielikki. It is guarded by Forestarm Omahdon, druid of the Forest Queen. He's usually in a rather foul mood over the state of the river and surrounding wilderness, and won't offer spellcasting services to anyone unless they butter him up first. He rarely leaves the park, and spends most of his time there tending to the trees and plants. Many of the locals enjoy visiting the park.
dd5/civilized_phlan.txt · Last modified: 2015/04/30 17:43 by jason