(TFT) Dug this out of my closet ...

[dwtulloh@zianet.com]

I dug this out of my closet this weekend.  This was to be
the basis for a TFT RPG which I was going to Gamemaster
but for one reason or another, never got off the ground.
This is a description of the town of Karstan on the planet
Traegor.  I have a similar description of Traegor, if 
anyone is interested.

      Name: KARSTAN
      Location: Northeastern shore of the Bay of Smoke
      Major Industry: Seaport Trading
      Description:
          Lying in between two offshoot range of the Firedrake Mountains
      on rolling hill terrain sloping gently down into the Bay of Smoke,
      the City of Karstan would seem to poorly located for a seaport
      trading town.  The surrounding mountains are havens for marauding
      bandits that regularly loot the overland caravans.  No safer is
      the Bay of Smoke.  Its only entrance to the Sea of Storms is a
      long narrow gorge serving to funnel the incoming waves into a
      single huge wave which hurtles down it and then smashing into the
      crags opposite the exit.  Timing is critical if a ship is to avoid
      being swept to its doom.
          Yet the town has managed to survive and even flourish.  This
      is mostly due to the diplomatic skills of the Prince who has
      successfully maintained Karstan's nuetrality in the conflict of
      its warring neighbors - Alazar to the north and east, Maribani to
      the south.  As such, Karstan is a vital conduit for the flow of
      goods and information to both countries.
          The layout of the city is basically triangular with the
      wharves on one side and the Prince's castle at the opposite
      vertex, overlooking the town and providing a picturesque view of
      the bay.  The population is about 60% human, 40% other.  The
      wharves are the seediest part of town.  Anything from pirates to
      slave traders to simple merchants can be found there.  A maze of
      winding streets serves to separate this area from the main part of
      town.  In this area can be found the nicer inns, the better shops,
      etc.  Things get progressively ritzier as you move up toward the
      Prince's Keep.  Karstan has a regular population of about 6,000
      persons, with a transient population of almost 3,000 more.
          There are two main temples in town, the Temple of Ashterak and
      the Temple of Zucera.  Ashterak is the Great Fire Drake and Zucera
      is the Sea Goddess.

      DM info:
          Karstan is a smuggling town in a precarious balance.  The
      Prince needs the smugglers as much as they need him.  Both pretend
      otherwise - but they have worked together on occassion.  Overland
      caravans usually carry quite a bit of smuggled cargo and as such
      usually require a complement of armed guards to protect them from
      the bandits in the mountain passes.
          There are a number of caves in the northern fork of the
      mountains, most of which are empty.  A family of hill giants is
      known to inhabit this area and they maintain a semi-peaceful co-
      existence with the town.  There are also rumors of a lost Dwarven
      mine in this region.  This rumor is true, but the entrance has
      long since been buried due to a rock slide and has become over-
      grown with brush.
          In a secluded grove on the eastern side of town lies a stone
      sarcophagus.  If asked about it, no-one will know why it is there,
      but all have heard the stories about the fresh blood occassionally
      found upon it.   In reality, this is a sacrifical stone most used
      by the Druids of Darsheen.  This place is protected with strong
      wards and guards.  To those of little knowledge, it simply appears
      dark and foreboding.  To stronger wizards, etc the forest will
      seem to become alive.
          The Bay of Smoke is often covered by a dense mist called
      "Dragon's Breath."  Due to the huge funneled wave, it is dangerous
      to enter or exit without a skilled guide.  The craggy area where
      the wave hits is known locally as the Dragon's Teeth.  At the base
      of this area is an entrance to an underwater cave.  This cave
      rises to above the water line (ie, there's an air pocket) and
      continues on into the recesses of the mountains.  A fair amount of
      gold and silver can be found at the base due to the shipwrecks.
      The sea has reclaimed the rest, covering it over with silt or
      moving it out further into the bay.  None of the dozen or so who
      have investigated this area have returned.
          In addition to the two temples mentioned earlier, there are a
      number of underground or hidden religions within the city whose
      existence is a strict secret.  Amongst these are the Followers of
      Corax, the Great Ice Dragon, and the Druids of Darsheen.

      NPC's in town:

      Prince Phelikar:  Ruler of Karstan.  Master of Diplomacy/Politics.
          5th level Human Fighter.  Long dark hair, slim build.  (IT=18)
      Narn:  Dwarven blacksmith.  Poor weapons, excellent armor.  35%
          chance of weapon breakage when used.
      Griff:  3rd level Half-Elven Ranger.  Knows the Karstani mountains
          well.  Prefers humans over elves but likes to be left alone.
          Can occassionally be found at an inn called "Hale and Hearth".
      Dorthan:  Human blacksmith.  average weapon, armor maker.
      Scarg:  Half-Orc blacksmith.  Works down in the wharves.  Looks
          like an ugly human.  Excellent weapons, poor armor.
      Rexan:  The head of the Smuggler's Guild.  Human.  Very reclusive
          and hard to find.  DONT show up without prior approval!!

      Important Buildings in town:

      Hale and Hearth:  A well-kept inn run by Corwin Carteze.  Many of
          the working townsfolk stop off there on their way home.  Its a
          good place to hear the latest rumors.  Safe place to stay.
      The Broken Spar:  A seedy place down on the wharves, a rough
          place.  Not a good place to stay.
      Tail Wind:  A fairly respectable Inn where sailors come to have a
          drink after a voyage.  Two large bouncers keep the festivities
          in line.  Located in the wharves.  Some shady dealings in
          back.
      No Magic Shop, but there is an Alchemist/Apothecary in town.
      Temple of Ashterak, Temple of Zucera
=====
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