Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shadowalk Nimblefeet 01-31-05, 07:06 PM	In a few weeks the campaign I'm currently DMing will see the PCs in the Zil city of Korranberg. Unfortunately, there's very little information in the ECS about the city or the Library of Korranberg, a major setting for part of their adventures in Zilargo. So, I'm looking for any help I can get regarding what people have done for Korranberg or Zilargo in general for their campaigns. What is the overall aesthetic in architecture and fashion? How do you convey a sense of the constant scheming that goes on in Zil society? What are the colleges attached to the Library of Korranberg? What is Zil food like? Zil art?-- These are all questions I'd like to try to figure out to give my players a good sense of the importance of Korranberg and the culture of Zilargo. To be short, what have you done with Zilargo and/or Korranberg in your campaigns?
Edymnion 01-31-05, 07:19 PM	Have you read the two Dragonshard articles Keith wrote on the Zilargo? Part 1: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20041129a Part 2: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20041206a That goes into some good detail you may find useful.
Shadowalk Nimblefeet 01-31-05, 08:01 PM	Thanks so much! I have, indeed, read both those articles and just printed them out so I can reread them to refresh my memory. However, I'm still not sure how to implement the information given in a substantive way. I know what Zil society is like, but what can I do to convey that information to the players? Yet, I still haven't seen much about the Zil aesthetic anywhere. I imagine everything to be in bright, perhaps gaudy (to some) colours and absolutely pristine due. But beyond that, I'm not sure how Zil cities would be laid out or what important sites might be found in a city such as Korranberg.
zambuka 01-31-05, 08:46 PM	Entering Korranberg would be an interesting sight. Buildings of all shapes and sizes would line the streets, the most noticable thing would probably be the doors. The buildings would be painted in clean bright colours with intricate patterns. At first it may seem all a little garish to the unprepared visitor but the clean and elegent designs would quickly become something to admire. Unlike most gnomish cities Korranberg would extend it's hospitality to include larger creatures as well as medium sized. On entering the city, particularly if you are heavily armed or look dangerous in any way, you would likely be greeted by a complete stranger who appears to know an inordinate amount of infrmation about you and what you are doing in the city. This person may know you are after information on the statue of Granga the Grey from Karrnath but not know why you need to visit Korranberg to find the information. If what they know about you reveals some juicy bit of information then you may be greeted with silence. Most citizens would happily stop and chat to a visitor but quickly and politely move on if the visitor had nothing interesting to talk about and will often try to steer the conversation to more interesting and sometimes personal topics. Every native would show some interest in a newcomer and far more strangers than you would expect would greet you by name. There would be a noticable lack of guards but natives, long term guests and well informed newcomers alike would hesitate at performing any crime. Guard duty would probably be performed by any suitably qualified and trusted citizen near the offense. You would see doors of all sizes from about 3 or 4 foot for the typical gnome dwelling to massive doors suitable for anyone short of a giant. many of the larger doors would have a smaller door for access for smaller races or there would be door knobs and handles at different heights connected by complicated locking mechanisms. Some of the larger doors would have finely crafted machinery or some minor spellcrafting to make them easier to open for even the smallest people. The main streets would be crowded with vendors of all races but strangely uncluttered and impeccably clean. Vendors would have a spot they pay for that does not obstruct traffic in any way, violators will be quietly but firmly dealt with. Most stores would provide easy access to all sizes, a counter with a step at the front and built up at the back. Inside would be interesting. larger public buildings and wealthy residences would have at least a large greeting room with normal gnome sized doors leading off to more private areas. Inns and Hotels would have rooms of different sizes. Furniture would also be a notable thing, there would be seeting for small and larger creatures at most public places as well as in government buildings and private residences. Anywhere visitors are welcomed would be decorated with finely crafted items and fine paintings and artwork from across Khorvaire and beyond. That is kind of how I percieve Korranberg.
Gurv 01-31-05, 08:50 PM	The description of Baristi the Wizard takes place in the Library of Korranberg. A little flavor there. I would say that you are right on about everything being bright and cheerful on the surface. Things might be darker below that, but only if you look for it or get sucked into it. With a 60% gnome population, things would be sized to work for both medium and small creatures. You wouldn't see things exclusively small, but the gnomes are clever enough to make things comforatable for both themselves and visitors. A lot of effort would be put into making tourists happy, since they are very cosmopolitian. The streets would be full of performers, both experts and bards (the Dragonshard mentions that levels in bard are not uncommon). As with other places in Eberron, magic would be used to solve many common problems, but in Zilargo, you would see an increase in illusion magic. Remember that most gnomes are capable of prestidigitation and that the effects of said spell are wide in scope. Alchemy and bound-elemental items would be found more easily as well. Most adventure would be urban. The social structure of Zilargo is complex, however, so figuring out what is important amongst the web of subtle events and relationships should be as challenging as actually dealing with the problem.
Splendide 01-31-05, 08:51 PM	OK Climate. Its near tropical, so based on the map I'm imagining a Louisiana-type environs. As such, high-ceilinged buildings would be the order of the day...this keeps the air at head-level cooler, and conveniently also allows easy access for humans and other tall people. External facades: Zilargo is a major crafting nation, and they receive supplies from everywhere. In production, there are always unused materials...you could expect these to be used in a variety of ways....it would be easy to imagine doors made from a mosaic of different, rare woods, for example, and this would just be for a craftsman. Essentially I would expect the wealthy to have buildings of pure materials, well engraved and the like...the less substantial would have detailed facades made from off-cuts, be they material, wood, stone or whatever. Poorer groups would likely be more reliant on paints and artistic detail rather than expensive materials. Zilargo was part of Breland: As such, expect towers and strong influences of Brelish design...it wouldn't be too much to suggest that there is in fact a Brelish quarter in the city. Anything you see in Sharn could theoretically be there on a smaller scale. The Library: I don't have my ECS with me, so it might be contradicted, but I think you could expect different subsections of the Library to be scattered throughout the city, with the usual busy accessways between them. Given the breadth of the library's interests, there could feasibly be thirty or more specialist sections, each in sections of the city that may well be influenced by the branch. For example, gnomish fictional literature may be housed in the heart of the entertainment district, while gnomish history and genealogy may be in the centre of the nobbiest district in town. Gnomes = Bards: There will always be something happening. Given this town's study of different cultures, they could feasibly celebrate every festival known on Khorvaire. Korranberg = Student Town: A centre of knowledge is a centre of learning. Couple that with the natural effusiveness of the gnomes, and it would be surprising not to have a significant number of students, potentially of all races, getting up to various hijinks. Dilletantes: If you're a jaded young noble, that likes to wax philosophical at every opportunity, to sample sophisticated cuisine and act like you are unique and special, Zilargo is a place where you could well indulge these pastimes. The idle rich and irresponsible could be quite regular visitors. I'll add more if I think of it.
Edymnion 01-31-05, 09:00 PM	Another tidbit, you wouldn't see any kind of scheming on the surface of things. It would all be behind closed doors, no hints of it where anyone outside could see it.
Shadowalk Nimblefeet 02-01-05, 12:06 AM	Wow, thanks for all the quick feedback about Korranberg! I hadn't thought of the effect of climate on architecture, high-ceilings certainly would be a must and likely there would be many windows with simple but brightly-coloured shutters rather than glass panes (I'm picturing Italy or the south of France). Having reread the Dragonshards on Zilargo and thought a bit more on the subject, I'm picturing buildings with enormous porticos and a lot of painted surfaces (murals, painted statues and buildings, frescoes, et cetera). I also would imagine a lot of activity in the form of music, street fairs, open-air public forums for debate and education. For some reason (perhaps I read it somewhere), I'm picturing the Zil gnomes as taking long breaks during the mid-afternoon to escape the heat and then resuming activity later in the evening. This would certainly make sense for a race born with low-light vision. Please keep the suggestions and ideas coming, I'd like to get the widest perspective I can in preperation for the upcoming adventure.
Straylight 02-01-05, 01:00 AM	So far, what I've read here jives pretty well with the mental image I've constructed of Zil cities. Someone up there mentioned Italian architecture, and I think that's the right track. I spent some time in Venice a couple of summers ago, and I used my memories (and pictures) of that to give my players the right feeling during their stay in Trolanport. The whole city has a festive atmosphere -the people are helpful, attentive and interested even if they don't speak your language (and a surprising number do). Performers and entertainers are everywhere, and, though the city is a bit chaotic because of its large population and small size, seems singularly well-organized, with a feeling that can only be described as 'quaint' that bigger places like Rome can't match. Sorrento and Capri, across the Bay from Naples, is also a wonderful idea of what I imagine Zil towns to look like. For one great resource of pictures from, well, anywhere, check out www.trekearth.com
Darkest90 02-07-05, 09:59 PM	I know that there is no such thing, but I think a cool thing to see in Korranberg (and any of the large gnomish cities) would be elementals walking around, enslaved by wealthy gnomes. This takes bound elementals out of items, but it would be a cool visual to see a water elemental trailing after a gnomish noble dressed up with illusion magic. Otherwise, I think there would be a lot of reporters on leave and newspeople in Korranberg, advertising the news. A printing district could probably be found, as well as a temple district, a goverment quarter, and entertainment center. I suspect at night gnomes would still be walking around, with magical illumation shining everywhere creating a dark mystical feel.
Isran_Imrador 02-08-05, 07:30 AM	I get am image of Park Guell in Barcelona for some for some reason!
Sturm Jaeger 02-08-05, 05:00 PM	The name "Korranberg" makes me think of a city in Germany or someplace in Eastern Europe.