My party are finally about to reach Longjing - the capital city of the continent and the high-point of civilization in the world at this point. I have the basics sorted - the inner Imperial City with magic school and Emperor's guards' barracks, the sprawling slums and more upmarket areas with corresponding taverns, magic shops, temples, armorers, etc. However, as it is the biggest city on my homebrewed world I was looking for some areas or specific locations to really set it apart and above the other cities they have visited.
Some quick info to help:
It's mostly based on old Beijing
I've added a Thames-like river so I can include some docks and wharves.
The population is 50% human, 35% dragonborn/kobold, 10% goblinoid and 5% other
It was originally built by dragonborn but is now run by humans (who dubiously claim to have draconic ancestry)
There are no guilds, as such, the Emperor and his bureaucrats are in charge of all the artisans, but there are 3 organized gangs who control criminal enterprises.
Anyway, anything unique or particularly interesting would be a great help. I am also happy to reskin locations from pre-made campaigns if you had a place work particularly well.
Radiant citadel has several Asian inspired adventures from different parts of Asia you might borrow from. I’m pretty sure at least one is in a China-inspired setting, though I’m not sure if it’s urban.
Although old now, and possibly in need of some sanitation of stereotyping, the old 1e Kara-tur eastern realms campaign set could help provide some inspiration
So it's not Peking or Imperial China but this crazy solid block of apartments demolished in Hong Kong years ago could definitely lend an interesting flavor.
Huge bridge over the river, made out of shining black stone, and built on orders of an earlier emperor. On either side of the bridge is a towering set of stone fortifications. This bridge is known as Castle Of The Waters by the nobles, and as Emperor’s Pisspot by everyone else. This bridge has a complex system of pulleys and winches that allow the guards to pull up a huge weighted net across the river, halting ships trying to escape unlicensed.
Vast temple to Bahamut, the dragon god. However, there are significantly fewer priests since the human conquest, and although the inner sanctum is still used as a place of worship, the rest has been converted into barracks as the emperor grows more panicked about the stability of the city, and tries to fight of the growing power of the gangs. The guards now drill under the watchful eye of a heavily graffitied statue of Bahamut, so covered with rust that it is impossible to tell what metal it was originally, but still honoured and payed respects by the guards who reside there.
Temple dedicated to the nature god Sheji, carved out of a huge, still living tree. The priests within rarely leave, as the tree catches water in its hollows, provides fruit to eat, and supports many animals that they keep as pets and livestock. The tree also has a number of dryads residing within it, who teach the priests fey magic, allowing these clergymen to reach a level of arcane skill rivalling even the Emperors secretive Sect Arcanum.
statue of a previous dragonborn emperor, built that towers over 300 feet tall. The statue is mode out of burnished brass, and is hollow. The goblins find themselves reviled by the dragonborn, and so eat out an existence within the statue, which has been built into an improvised shanty town. However, the goblins have been scheduled for removal soon, and are desperately searching for an alternate living space.
Huge obelisk in the eastern quarter. The obelisk is made out of an unidentifiable purplish grey material, and apparently was there long before even the dragonborn arrived on the sight. The obelisk is cheerily called God’s Tonker, due to the way it stands erect, pointing up at the sky. It is a subject of some interest to scholars entering the city, due to the mysterious runes that cover its length, and the stylised pictures of stretched and monkey-like people that cover the bottom.
@BasementBoys87 A goblin infested statue would be awesome. I was originally going to keep the city's buildings at no higher than 2 stories so as to be always lower than the Emperor, but I might rejiggle this as I love the idea.
@MusicScout An introduction to do business could be an interesting idea (would play into the idea of guanxi) but worried it might leave the party in a little difficulty.
Don't have Radiant Citadel yet - what are the maps like for the "Buried Dynasty" adventure, anyone know?
My party are finally about to reach Longjing - the capital city of the continent and the high-point of civilization in the world at this point. I have the basics sorted - the inner Imperial City with magic school and Emperor's guards' barracks, the sprawling slums and more upmarket areas with corresponding taverns, magic shops, temples, armorers, etc. However, as it is the biggest city on my homebrewed world I was looking for some areas or specific locations to really set it apart and above the other cities they have visited.
Some quick info to help:
It's mostly based on old Beijing
I've added a Thames-like river so I can include some docks and wharves.
The population is 50% human, 35% dragonborn/kobold, 10% goblinoid and 5% other
It was originally built by dragonborn but is now run by humans (who dubiously claim to have draconic ancestry)
There are no guilds, as such, the Emperor and his bureaucrats are in charge of all the artisans, but there are 3 organized gangs who control criminal enterprises.
Anyway, anything unique or particularly interesting would be a great help. I am also happy to reskin locations from pre-made campaigns if you had a place work particularly well.
Thanks.
Radiant citadel has several Asian inspired adventures from different parts of Asia you might borrow from. I’m pretty sure at least one is in a China-inspired setting, though I’m not sure if it’s urban.
I'm living in Beijing at the moment... It's landlocked, although there is a canal system (man made, long since defunct).
Although old now, and possibly in need of some sanitation of stereotyping, the old 1e Kara-tur eastern realms campaign set could help provide some inspiration
So it's not Peking or Imperial China but this crazy solid block of apartments demolished in Hong Kong years ago could definitely lend an interesting flavor.
Kowloon Walled City
Be Excellent to one another. Rock on dude.
Gardens, temples and public squares for market days.
A Samurai family that serves as the Emperor's guards.
The need to be "introduced" in order to gain access to most businesses other than peasant level commerce.
Suspicion of non-native people.
A "dress code" for everyone, something like Sumptuary Laws.
Underclasses don't look you in the eye.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Thanks guys, some great ideas here.
@BasementBoys87 A goblin infested statue would be awesome. I was originally going to keep the city's buildings at no higher than 2 stories so as to be always lower than the Emperor, but I might rejiggle this as I love the idea.
@MusicScout An introduction to do business could be an interesting idea (would play into the idea of guanxi) but worried it might leave the party in a little difficulty.
Don't have Radiant Citadel yet - what are the maps like for the "Buried Dynasty" adventure, anyone know?
https://www.reddit.com/r/dndleaks/comments/tkeesd/radiant_citadel_map/
Be Excellent to one another. Rock on dude.