The City State of Barasbor.

[imperialus]

So I decided that DCC would be the perfect system to run a campaign using a setting that I've had on the back burner for a long time. It's a sword and sorcery/planet mashup where high technology exists along side more familiar fantasty tropes. It's largely inspired by Empire of the Petal Throne, Barsoom, Planet of Adventure, Warhammer 40K pre emperor, and Dying Earth. Basically the world is an ancient colony of humans founded some time in the far future. For reasons unknown (or long forgotten) it has become severed from the civilization that founded it and over several millenia has degenerated into barbarism and chaos. Artifacts of the ancients still exist but they are little understood and almost impossible to replicate.

I've reskinned the races to make them fit with the setting better. Basically Elves are Starborn, the decedents of the ruling class of Starfarers. Dwarves are Genforged or Gens, who along with Orcs, Ogres, Hobgoblins and other humanoids are the decendents of genetically engineered soldiers created during the wars that destroyed the starfarer society after the cataclysm. Finally Halflings are Drakelings, native inhabitants of the planet, closely related to dragons, and lizardmen.

I have a wiki up on Obsidian Portal that offers more background. It's pretty barebones right now, but I'm adding to it as the campaign progresses.

http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaigns/barasbor

Barasbor

Population 21,000 people.
Militia 2000, Leather, Spear, Shield, Dagger (25% short bow)
City Guard 470:
5 ships with a crew of 30 each, Leather, Short Sword, Short Bow, 2 fire catapults 6 ballista.
1 skyboat with a crew of 20. Starborn crew, provides their own armament. Armed with a lightning cannon.
3 infantry companies of 50 each, Chainmail, Shield, Spear, Short Sword, 25% have longbows.
1 heavy company of 50, Banded Mail, Pike, Longsword, 50% have arquebus’
2 cavalry companies of 50, Leapers, Platemail, lance, shield, longsword, 25% have a muzzle loading pistol in place of the lance.
100-200 assorted mercenaries and household guards.

Barasbor is a massive, sprawling, ancient, chaotic city. Though it is a shadow of its former glory never having fully recovered from being besieged and eventually sacked by the great southern dragon Shadow Walker and his army approximately 50 years ago it remains an important regional power and major trading hub. It controls the river delta that it was built on as well as all of the villages and hamlets along the road between the Bay of the Dreamer and Transiri to the west.

Much of the wealth of Barasbor comes from across the sea with exotic spices, silks, slaves along with potent opiates and other sorcerous accouterments including the fabled black lotus making their way though the port.

A first time visitor to Barasbor will notice two things almost immediately. The first, is the Citadel. This ancient fortress was constructed by the Star Farers and dominates the skyline. The Citadel is home to the five great families that rule the city. The walls of the Citadel are made of a strange silvery material veined with black and red so that when the sun strikes it at dawn it looks almost as though the walls run with blood. A place of dark sorcery and superstition to the local population most avoid the imposing walls, not that they would be welcome within them anyhow.

The second most striking feature of Barasbor is the outer city, most commonly called the wastes. Surrounded by the ruins of a mudbrick wall the wastes fell early in the Siege of Barasbor and were strongly invested by the army of Shadow Walker for several years. Since the siege little effort has been made to recover the land, and the ruins still stand. Many individuals living on the fringes of society, criminals, bandits, and escaped slaves make camps in these ruins and they can be an extremely useful place for people to ‘disappear’ should they need to.

Separating the wastes from the city proper is a tall granite block wall constructed many hundreds of years ago at the height of the city’s power from massive stones quarried from the Ironkin mountains. It is said that 1000 slaves were sacrificed on the day the wall was completed and their blood used to give strength to the stones. The Desert Gate is almost a fortress in and of itself and serves as an imposing welcome to any visitor.

Outside the city the river delta is surrounded by slave plantations growing spiny biters. The slaves working these fields are easily recognizable by the network of scars on their hands and arms from the cactus’ thorns. There is also limited wheat grown, mostly for consumption by the upper classes.

The city is divided into several key districts, The Docks, the lifeblood of the city and seat of power for the Iron Band, one of the two major thieves guilds in the city.

Further to the north and butted up against the walls of The Citadel is The High Market, a merchants district and home to the city government. The high market is also home to the cities two arsenals of Barasbor, the House of Emervy and the Terian Family.

The High Market borders the Temple District. The most powerful temple within the city is that of The South Star but many other gods have representation in the city as well.

Just within The Desert Gate is the lower class market known as the block, both for the public slave auctions that take place there and the gibbet in the center of the square.

To the west of the block a visitor can find the Drakeling ghetto of Tinker-Town. Tinker-Town is controlled by a drakeling dominated gang known as the Wyrms. The Wyrms also control the block, and compete viciously with the Iron Band and to defend their people from pogroms and other abuses. Tinker-Town is also home to an illicit temple dedicated to Shadow Walker.

The Street of Red Lanterns lies directly between The Docks and the block. It is a haven of vice, everything from brothels, to taverns, to opium dens ply their trade along The Street. Due to its location it is the center of the war between the Wyrms and the Iron Band

[Ravenheart87]

I like it. Keep posting more info. I'm especially fond of maps.