Kordava is segregated into sprawling ‘townships’ used to separate the city into manageable social
units and neighbourhoods. However, few of these areas are segregated into ‘merchant wards,’ ‘wealthy wards’ or ‘temple wards’. The wealthy live alongside the poor and the districts are created along areas served by particular temples. Each township has its own Mitraeum and most have craftsmen, merchants, wealthy and poor all living and working alongside each other. However, there are a few features of the city that stand out:
The Central Market: Entering the city from the road
to Messantia, travellers come to the central market, located on the south side of the city. The market is filled with jostling humanity pouring in from beleaguered, outlying towns and villages, bringing produce from the limited, remaining fields, fish from the sea and goods produced by the various guilds of the towns.
Magistrate's Hall (area A): The magistrate’s hall,
a large, fortified structure, is built on one end of the central market, near the prison.
Prison and Dancing Yard (area B): The eastern
side of the city, behind great magistrate halls and administrative buildings, is the prison and the Dancing Yard, where executions open to the public take place.
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By royal concession, mountebanks peddle souvenirs from the more famous condemned men as the crowds gather to watch the villains hang.
The Royal Palace (area C): The royal palace, located
to the east of the barracks, is a beautiful castle, noted for its floor of polished crystal.
City Barracks (area D): The city barracks lie on the
north-west side, next to the royal palace.
Inn of the Nine Drawn Swords (area E): This
inn, located near the docks, is in one of the worst neighbourhoods of Kordava. The inn has a common room that functions as a tavern as well as private rooms for those who can afford them.
The Pit (area F): Although many cities have their
thieves’ districts, Kordava’s is unique. Centuries ago an earthquake crumbled much of Kordava, sinking it into the sea. The city was rebuilt over the ruins. Displaced, homeless poor people discovered that they could find shelter by digging out the old streets beneath the new foundation. Called the Pit, this district is a subterranean warren where any lurid vice or sordid entertainment can be enjoyed. Numerous tunnels lead to the undercity. During the day, the Pit is largely deserted but it comes to lurid life at night. It is a living museum of old styles and techniques. Buildings are oddly truncated as higher levels support the actual city above. In atmosphere, it is essentially a living catacomb for the abandoned.
Korzetta Castle: This castle lies outside the city, but
within the province of Kordava. It has been abandoned and sold by the Korzetta family, who have since fled Zingara. Some whisper that the Korzettas left due to debts but others claim the reason is more sinister still and rumours are whispered of black sorcery.
Royal Pavilion: This castle is actually the royal pleasure
palace.
Kova
Kova is the capital of the principality of Kova. The city has been largely devastated by famine and war. It is the size of a large city but has a population of a small city and is comprised of mostly women, children and the elderly and infirm. Food costs seven times as much as listed in Conan
the Roleplaying Game because of the vast depopulation and
famine conditions (milk and beef costs eleven times as much). Most of the inhabitants suffer from malnutrition and other ailments.
Population: 5,630 (96% Zingaran, 2% Argosseans, 1%
Meadow Shemites, 1% other)
Size: Large City (92 acres of land)
Average Population Density: 61 adults per acre
Average Number of Structures: 70 structures per acre
(approx. 6,452 structures total)
Wealth Limit: 2,000 silver coins Ready Cash: 563,000 silver coins Government: Feudalism
Income for the Prince and King: 211,128 silver coins in
theory; they actually only are able to collect 1,408 sp per annum currently
Religion: Zingaran Mitraism
Imports: Trade Goods, especially food Exports: Trade Goods
Code of Honour: Civilised
Fortifications and Military Strength
Kova has a city wall and a spired castle. Fifty-six Shemite mercenaries do military work outside the town walls. The town guard consists of 113 Zingaran homeowners commissioned by the council.
Administration and Power Centres
Prince: Kova is a principality and is ruled by a Zingaran
prince. Prince Zapayo da Kova is mentioned in Howard’s
Drums of Tombalku; he led a mercenary unit for Argos into
Stygia. He never returned from that mission. One of his heirs is now prince of Kova.
Guilds: The beginnings of merchant and craft guilds are
rising – and they are competing for control of city resources. For example, the blacksmiths want more patrols among their streets and the weavers want the blacksmiths moved outside the city walls because of the stench of their furnaces. A representative from each guild sits on the council. The guilds are pushing the idea that guild membership should be a requirement for citizenship and legal protection in the city and on its manors.
Urban Poor: The manors and the city itself are starving.
Droves of diseased, malnourished and impoverished peasants, knights and nobles are making their way to the city, hoping for shelter, food and jobs. The starving people of Kova are nearing the point of outright rebellion against the prince.
Oto
Oto is a city that concentrates on barley and sheep. A warren of narrow streets twists and turns within the city walls in a haphazard
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Geography
manner, with courtyards, palaces and temples appearing without reason or warning. Doors tend to be 15-feet high with elegant iron knockers and hinges.
Population: 6,980 (96% Zingaran, 2% black kingdom (as
slaves), 1% Meadow Shemites, 1% other)
Size: Small City (37 acres of land)
Average Population Density: 183 adults per acre
Average Number of Structures: 49 structures per acre
(approx. 1,812 structures total)
Wealth Limit: 100,000 silver coins Ready Cash: 34,900,000 silver coins Government: Feudalism
Income for the Duke and King: 174,500 silver coins Religion: Zingaran Mitraism
Imports: Trade Goods
Exports: Trade Goods, barley, sheep products Code of Honour: Civilised
Fortifications and Military Strength
Oto has a winding stone wall surrounding the town and a picturesque castle. Seventy Shemite mercenaries do military work outside the town walls. The town guard consists of 140 Zingaran homeowners commissioned by the council.
Administration and Power Centres
Duke: Oto is a duchy and is ruled by a Zingaran duke. The
de Oto family has had to contend with an amazing number of assassinations of late. Cordara de Oto, a frightening man who is said to be on terms with the Picts, is the current duke. Some believe Duke Cordara de Oto was behind the assassinations on his way to the top. He is a noble/pirate/ scholar. Although no one in Oto knows it, he has spent time with the Picts and managed to learn Pictish shamanism. He also has powerful connections in Shadizar; he often visits the