```metadata title: 'GUIDE: Kavasto, City of Thieves' description: '' tags: '' systems: [] renderer: legacy ``` ```css /*=======--- Example CSS styling ---=======*/ /* Any CSS here will apply to your document! */ .myExampleClass { color: black; } ``` # Kavasto: City of Thieves In this Supplement we are going to explore the city of Kavasto. A City State on the verge of becoming a true Kingdom that holds the surrounding region under its sway. It is run by criminal empires and cutlic organizations. As we explore how to run a campaign in Kavasto I will provide some background on the major organizations in the city and then several plot hooks that could easily be crafted into full adventures. I will divide this guide in a few chapters and then add an appendix at the end to flush out important Lore and Background issues that are present in the world of this city, but as with all things D&D you take what fits for your game and run with it! ## TABLE OF CONTENTS
### [Kavasto: City of Thieves](#p1) - [**Chapter 1: Cultural Background of Kavasto**](#p2) - [**Chapter 2: Factions and Those that Run Them**](#p3) - [**Chapter 3: Important Locations**](#p7) - [**Chapter 4: Important NPCs**](#p10) - [**Chapter 5: Adventure Hooks in Kavasto**](#p13)
``` ``` ## AMPLUS ORDO GAMES We are a growing network of both DMs and Players. We publish a lot of material monthly which typically includes an adventure a week and other supplemental meterial including our thoughts on game mechanics and stories of various types. If you're interested in becoming part of this network feel free to reach out to us where ever you found this guide! ## CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - Wizards of the Coast and D&D for the amazing job they do providing RPG Content for us to use! - Original Material Written by Amplus Ordo Games - Any Maps and Handouts were done by Amplus Ordo Games using Inkarnate - PDF Formatting done using The Homebrewery \page
## Chapter 1: Cultural Background of Kavasto Once a part of the Kren Empire, Kavasto was quietly usurped by Yuan-Ti, Tieflings, and actual Fiends. They have a very dark reputation, which has been well earned. If it has a redeeming quality it is that the city became a safe haven for some of the more rejected races of Krenshad. The current racial attitude could be summarized with “I don’t care what you were born with, I care about what you can give me now.” Culturally, they have an Ancient Mesopotamian feel to them. Where they really diverge from other cultures on the continent is in their racial and religious profile. Racially they are 25% Tieflings, 25% Yuan-Ti, 25% Fiends, 25% Other. Religiously, they are anything goes, with a heavy leaning of Fiend Patronage and Worship This makes for a strange mix of cultural sophistication and diabolical tendencies. It should come as no surprise that the city is run by cults and syndicates. Although there is a constant tension among the ruling powers, they do tend to keep the city from devolving into a bloody gang war. The current reigning syndicate is headed by Tethren Damaxic, a Tiefling whose family has been rumored to have held onto sorcerous powers during the Weave Drought. Technically there is a parliament made up of the Noble Houses and led by a Prime Minister, who is elected from amongst them, but government officials are merely puppets of the organizations that pay them. Make no mistake, it is the cults and syndicates that rule Kavasto. There are laws, but most of them are highly flexible, if you have the power and means to bend them. The reigning philosophy is “Take what you Need. Seize what you Want. Own what you Seize. Plan for others to think likewise.”
Kavasto is one of the more feared Civilizations on Taalist. Not because of their military might, which is substantial, but because of their lack of moral principles. Kavastians are as notorious for their brutality and viciousness as they are for their unashamed dealing with otherworldly beings, particularly of the fiendish sort. The city was quietly given over to the rulership of the Yuan-Ti and the Fiends of Hell who subtly over many years turned the course of the Kren Empire toward civil war. They played heavily on the Kren’s racist culture, turning Humans and Dwarves against one another and the other races scattered across the wilderness. Once the War of the Firstborn had completely fractured the people and the Nation, the hidden rulers of Kevasto became secrets no more.
The city grew in strength and power, and as the Elinosian Empire weakened from the Plague they struck. Militarily the move was brilliant, hit your enemy fast and hard when they are already weak. At the time the World was not yet aware of just how quickly and silently the disease spread, and so unknowingly the Kavastians foiled their own plans. The Elinosians had already gotten through the worst of the epidemic, and as the parasites ate their way into the Kavasto Army Elinos launched their counter attack pushing the invaders back across the Vigilant Channel. An uneasy peace settled in afterward with the nations and city states engaging in what seemed like endless skirmishes amounting to nothing. Eventually the idea for a central place of combat that satisfied their needs for blood and blame was constructed at the far edge of the Iron Plains. The Machi Meh Erini, or Peace By Blood Arena, has served to soften the fury of the nations in the area to live in relative peace from one another. But none of Kavasto’s neighbors trust them. Nor should they…
Kavasto is always secretly planning one nefarious plot or another. Most of their neighbors blame any death of an important figure on a Kavastian assassination, and more often than not, they are right. They were “secretly” building an army and were certainly going to use it on one of the nearby civilizations. But then the Weave Drought hit and Kavasto society, which was nearly completely built upon the foundation of occult magic and dark pacts collapsed into absolute chaos. It was only by the iron will and savvy grace of the Damaxic Crime Syndicate that the City State survived. Plying their trade and wills against the other factions the Tieflings rolled the dice and came out on top.
They now hold the city with a soft hand on the shoulder and a pointed dagger in the back. They had learned to survive and thrive without the need of The Weave, but they also planned for its return. Completely prepared for change, they quickly went from Crime Overlords to Sorcerer Kings and Queens. The calculating nature of the family is as predictable as it is deadly. Plan. Take. Plan. Eliminate. Plan. \page
## Chapter 2: Factions and Those that Run Them In this section I will explore some of the larger groups and organizations in the city. With each faction I will list the major players in charge and some possible ways to use them in a campaign or adventure. ### All The Little Fish There are countless gangs, cults, and guilds that operate in the streets and shadows of Kavasto. They pop up like weeds and wilt like flowers. Most of them are eliminated or swallowed up by rivals although a few do struggle onward to become something that can survive in such a large pond of predators. Typically this comes either by an alliance or by paying the proper people. To be fair, either of these options put the group in the pocket of the larger organization they are connected to, but it does give them a small sense of autonomy, which is a rather valuable feeling in a city where everyone feels under the thumb of someone else.
**Adventures and Campaigns** that start in a small little organization should always feel that way. The end goal here would be to become a bigger fish and do so with as few ties and strings to the big fish as possible. Using this foundation for a campaign should at first be somewhat free of the attention of the larger factions, but as the stakes increase so does the scrutiny they draw. Inevitably the close of a run here would be figuring out how not to get wiped out while still maintaining their independence. ### The City Watch Crime out of control is bad for business, even Criminal Business. A decimated or terrified population does not produce wealth and typically tears itself apart. The local Crime Families know this, and they recognize the importance of keeping a sense of law and order in the city. As long as that Law and Order works in their favor. And so the City Watch functions in a lot of ways as any normal collection of Guards and Constables would. They patrol, they investigate, they arrest, and incarcerate. What they also do is turn a blind eye to a great many of the dealing that the larger and more organized syndicates get up to. In fact in many ways the City Watch is the first line of action the Crime Families take when dealing with upstart organizations or rogue thieves.
That said, being in the pockets of local Crime Families has had an adverse effect on the Watch. The watch is pretty well divided between those who want to keep peace and those that are known for their brutality and corruption. The corrupt aren’t necessarily interested in guilt or innocence. They are interested in carrying out the will of their masters. They have no problem with beating a false confession out of suspect or planting evidence, as long as it continues to serve those who pull the coin purse strings. While the peacekeepers tend to refrain from such things, but also understand that in Kavasto keeping the peace means breaking the rules. Those two sides of the coin tend to balance themselves out.
But from time to time something else turns up. A City Watch member gets the idea in their head that they can clean up the city. They take a stance and attempt to become that incorruptible beacon of hope and justice. These idealistic individuals are tolerated and often treated as naive little entertainments. The others know that sooner or later they’ll give in to the way things are or they’ll finally put their nose where it doesn’t belong. Either way the problem resolves itself.
There is one family of Watch that has not given into the abuses of power. The Gattis family has been part of the Watch for seven generations. They in many ways present a mirror to the corruption that is eating the city from the inside out. For reasons unknown the Crime Families have continued to allow the Gattis family to continue on. It would be a simple task for any of the countless enforcers in their ranks to remove them once and for all, but they have not. That isn’t to say individuals of the family haven’t been ended during their crusade, but the family as a whole endures on.
**Adventures and Campaigns** in the city watch could easily be a good time for players looking to flex those corrupt cop muscles. Being part of the Watch by day and dealing with minor criminals as on would vermin in the streets and then playing the role of enforcer at night would create a lot of opportunity for players to get deep into the underworld that Kavasto represents. There is also the other side of the coin in this as well. Perhaps the players want to play hero in a city of villains. To take that Jim Gordon and Batman role and clean up Gothem. Surviving in such an environment and making a difference could be a extraordinarily entertaining run. ### The Government Even though Kavasto is run from behind the scenes by factions and syndicates, they do have a “functioning” government, albeit an extremely corrupt one. The city and the lands around it are divided into Noble Houses, and the heads of these houses form The Counsel of Noble Houses. This Counsel gathers at the Citadel to conduct business much as any government would. They elect a Prime Minister from among themselves, engage in diplomacy, collect taxes, conduct trade, keep a city watch, and a standing army. All these activities are guided and in some cases coerced by those who hold their strings, but the Counsel does have some air of independence. As long as government business helps faction’s business things flow nicely. If they don’t flow nicely, well someone usually has an accident that restores the proper order.
Technically the Military and the City Watch are under the authority of The Council. However, that is rarely the reality. They are overseen directly by the Minister of War but the Generals of the military often command their troops as a faction in and amongst themselves. This causes a fairly serious amount of internal political strife that bleeds down into the ranks. Open combat amongst disagreeing and competing soldiers is common and often seen as a form of advancement in the ranks.
The complications of the City Watch called for it to get it’s own section above. \page
**Adventures and Campaigns** that work for the government should feel like a pretty typical “adventure’s” gig with the Counsel or Military as their supporting Group Patron. Taking this avenue would provide the players with a lot of benefits. Good paying jobs, better access to gear, and a lot of free passes on iffy behavior. The drawbacks would be the entanglement of politics and the rising and falling of those actually in power. I could foresee some bounty hunter type work being prevalent and certainly some espionage in other nearby nations. As they progress in levels even some of the serious subterfuge or assassinations Kavasto is known for. It also wouldn’t be unheard of for someone on the Counsel to attempt to use the players to try and wrestle control away from the syndicates or factions and establish themselves as the ruling power. ### House Damaxic The Damaxic Family has been a ruling influence and Noble House in Kavasto for centuries. However, much of that time they had hidden the truth of their heritage away from the rest of the world. The Tiefling family came to power in a world that hated their kind. That built into the family a lifestyle of secrecy, deception, and manipulation that is unrivaled. The Damaxic Family was always known for their political savvy and cut-throat business practices. There had been long standing rumors of shady dealings and criminal activity, but no one dared bring charges. The War of the Firstborn allowed the family the opportunity to walk free from the secrets of their heritage and embrace the world as they truly were… criminals.
The Damaxic family took center stage as the Underworld Organization they had secretly been for hundreds of years. And it almost destroyed them. They now lived in a city free of the restrictive and racist ways of the Kren Empire. But socially the city was still very much Kren and the Damaxics faced a major backlash as other organizations and noble houses sought to destroy them. It was during this time that the youngest son of the family, Tethren, a sorcerer who managed to keep his powers during the Weave Drought, took control of the organizations and used that power to intelligently and methodically eliminate or subdue those seeking to bring them down. It was in those years that he firmly established himself as not only the head of the Damaxic crime family, but as the true leader of Kavasto itself.
Tethren Damaxic now has control in every level of the government, from street workers to the highest offices in parliament. They have the City Watch firmly in their pocket, and there are few people of influence that are not on the Family payroll. All while he runs Kavasto from behind the scenes, sort of, everyone knows who is actually in charge. Tethren likes it that way. He enjoys making others to feel as though they have some say, but the only say they truly have is the one Tethren Damaxic gives them.
That isn’t to say they don’t have rivals in the city. They certainly do, and with the return of magic and the other families once again being able to access the weave things have gotten much more interesting. Their chief rival is of course the Yuan-Ti of House Heroditas. Decades ago Tethren stole the city out from under House Heroditas, in part because no one thought it could be done. There has been a bitter rivalry ever since. One that often spills over into violence. The two houses understand that an all out war would be devastating for both of them, but that does not keep tensions from boiling over.
Tethren has recently begun to plan for the future of the family and for the city. He isn’t quite yet old, but he is also feeling the call of retirement. He has five children. From oldest to youngest - Lucious (Fighter), Paymon (Monk), Azza (Rogue), Amnon (Wizard), and Shava (Warlock). Recently Tethren has loosened the reigns on his children in order to test them and their skills. A sort of competition to see who is best suited to take over for their father when he does retire. While the majority of the Syndicate is betting on Lucious or Azza, Thethren is silently watching Shava. The children have spread themselves out to different parts of the organization that best suit their tastes and begun to apply what their father has taught them.
**Adventures and Campaigns** within House Damaxic is a safe avenue for players. They’re the controlling force in the city. They have access to almost anything the party needs, and they can easily handwave away any trouble that the players cause. However, this is also the most restrictive family. They have a code amongst themselves and there is a lot of responsibility placed on those in the family to perform beyond expectation. There are a lot of plot hooks that can develop because of the tensions between the rival Mob Houses. Thethran is giving leader, but he expects unwavering loyalty in return. Another solid avenue is for the players to work for one of the children and have to carry out their orders in hopes of their employer winning the competition. ### House Heroditas It was a long time ago now, but the memory of being the ruling House of Kavasto is still fresh in the memories of House Heroditas. Much like house Damaxic House Heroditas kept their lineage a secret. Being a Yuan-Ti under Empire rule was a death sentence, but they had made numerous deals with their serpent god and other fiends to gain power and take control. After the War of the Firstborn all that changed. The Yuan-Ti had come out on top and won their freedom from the racist chains of the Kren. They had also silently taken the city out from under the noses of those who believed to have control. \page
But that was almost a century ago and since then the tables have turned. That was before the debts began being called in. In that time House Damaxic rose to power in an open brazenness that House Heroditas was not ready to match. The usurpers took control away from the Heroditas Family and they have been second place ever since. They do control a large portion of the city but 40% is still second place. That frustration often spills out into their business. They do not deal with their holdings with the same grace and sophistication that the Damaxic’s do. Their nature isn’t to patiently wait. It is to strike at those who’ve angered and wronged them. Unfortunately they often strike too quickly and at the wrong targets. This has bred into them a deep suspicion of everyone including each other and given rise to a a lot of disloyalty in the ranks as they jockey for position and promotion. The current head of the House is Yuan-Ti Pureblood Vhisphad Heroditas.
Adventures and Campaigns within the Heroditas family will be filled with internal conflicts and struggle since no one in the organization really trusts anyone else and they’re all willing to stab someone in the back to get ahead. Which in a lot of ways can be really interesting, but your players should know what they’re in for. It would also be really fun to try and take on the Damaxic family and see if the Players can put Heroditas back on top. Or maybe one of Vhisphad’s children has had enough of waiting around and decided it is time to put the old man down, and they characters are the darrer which they will use. ### The Pit of Merrshaulk Kavasto’s large Yuan-Ti population worships a snake deity known as Merrshaulk in an area of the city known as The Pit of Merrshaulk. The Pit is a deep hole in the ground that descends far past the sewer systems and into a series of deep caverns below the city. It is commonly believed that these tunnels travel all the way to the Underdark. It is within these tunnels that thousands of shrines of sacrifice appear, all built to Yuan-Ti God. These shrines are maintained by the Order of a Thousand Forked Tongues, the priestesses of Merrshaulk all of whom are powerful Yuan-Ti spellcasters that were born in the darkness and many have never left their tunnels. It is expected that Yuan-Ti households should frequently give up clutches of their eggs to the Tongues. All males and most females end up as sacrifices in the shrines, but those that are born under signs of power are raised in the Order of a Thousand Tongues to do their god’s bidding.
Merrshaulk has very few followers outside of the Yuan-Ti, although there are some. It was said that the Tongues kept much of their magic during the drought, and the lure of power brought many non snakefolk to their faith. The Tongues have put these outsiders to good use and often send them out among their own kind to work the will of Merrshaulk upon them. Often a infiltrator is perfectly hidden in plain sight among the other races of the city, until the time comes for Merrshaulk’s will to be carried out. This causes a great amount of distrust and fear of the Yuan-Ti in the city, but few dare cross the snakefolk or their serpent god.
Few know who actually leads the Order of a Thousand Tongues, but on the surface the Yuan-Ti worshipers are led by High Speaker Ssuszatih, a vicious snake headed woman has begun declaring that The Tongues have foreseen a new coming age for the Yuan-Ti in which the will achieve a return to glory and put the humanoid races under their dominion once and for all. Her fever pitch preaching has infected much of the Yuan-Ti population in the city and is considered quite dangerous by the other factions in the city.
**Adventures and Campaigns** as part of the Merrshaulk Cult should be particularly brutal. The Order of a Thousand Tongues requires regular sacrifices to their god. Kidnapping, slave trading, and wreaking havoc on opposing faiths will be the bread and butter of low level character trying to make their way through the ranks. I recommend leaving interaction with the Tongues to higher levels thus creating a sense of power and mystery. However, having such a thing in the background is so tempting… if you allow them to become part of that branch early on, I recommend using a singular contact and keeping the players away from most of the organization until they have earned it. ### The Temple of the Inversion It is strange to think that rigid faith would play an important role in the lives of those who by and large do what they please… but it does. The Temple is the largest religious faction in the City. The heads of several organizations, including the Damaxic Family, worship here. And so the Temple of the Inversion holds a great deal of sway over the city itself. But what exactly does the Inversion represent?
On the surface their services would feel very much like anything the Order of the Cross would hold or most other organized groups of faith filled beings. Priests praying prayers, offering sacrifices, beseeching higher powers for favors and blessings, weddings and funerals, baptisms and confirmations, all manner of dedications and ceremony are conducted here. Where their paths diverge, and quickly, is in whom these rites are conducted toward. While most people would only approach the evil of the Nine Hells and the Abyss from the shadows, the Temple of the Inversion does so openly and with no shame. In many ways any illusion of goodness is done away with simply by observing those in attendance and the large fiendish population of Kavasto makes up the majority of the congregation, and the Temple itself is dedicated to Asmodeus, Ruler of the Nines.
And in that vein the Temple prides itself on a strict adherence to power and order, which its servants dutifully carry out through a web of enforcers and spies. To say that the Temple is interested in religious dos and don’t would not be accurate as there is no morally traditional view of sin in the Inversion. The only sins one can commit are breaking the church laws, which mainly circle around the concepts of binding agreements and oaths. Contrary to popular belief, they are not orderless and in many ways have a more strict adherence to their laws than a traditional religion. They understand that in order for society of any kind to flourish there must be order, what concerns them most is who gives the orders. \page
Currently that is Arch Bishop Renthur Kallis. Kallis presents as a Tiefling, but he is a Amnizu (Fiend from MToF). Most adherents to the Inversion know, or at least suspect, that Renthur isn’t a humanoid, but very few Fiends walk the streets of the city in their true forms. Kavasto is nearly a bottomless well of vile souls ready to be drawn into the Nines and Kallis relishes nothing more than facilitating that flow. Most of the clergy of the church are Fiends and Kallis wields them like a master artisan. He weaves their work together to subtly endebt the people of Kavasto to his Master in the Nines, and he does a very good job of it. He has little patience for the other established faiths and the multitude of cults in the city and is often actively working against their endeavors.
**Adventures and Campaigns** that focus themselves here could take a variety of forms. Beginning as acolytes of the Inversion the players could be sent on a variety of religious themed missions. As they grow in strength, what is likely most “adventurous” for them would be to infiltrate another organization and convince members to convert to the Inversion, or to play a cult hunter and seek out diviants or those who have left the inversion. Another neat angle of this may be to play as debt collectors. Only in this instance debts aren’t always paid in coin. ### The Night Circle It doesn’t take long for a visitor to Kavasto to hear of Black Wash, the City under the City. It is little more than a shanty town built on stilts in the central cistern just below the northern edge of The Coin Ward, and home to the poorest of the poor and the most reprobate of people that Kavasto has to offer. It is also home to the Night Circle. A mysterious group of individuals who have a knack for defying detection and keeping their true identities a secret. The only member that is fully known is Sister Cistern, the Night Hag that rules and protects Black Wash. Otherwise, who is actually part of The Night Circle is anyone’s guess. Although many rumors exist of powerful undead, other worldly beings, and a beholder.
``` ``` Thankfully for the surface, the members of the Night Circle seem content to keep to the shadows, and the majority of their dealings remain below the streets of Kavasto. But not all of them. They do have some holdings on the surface, mostly business and points of interest that keep goods and travel open to the tunnels below. But they clearly are a major point of contact for the darker affairs of Kavasto, and if something feels foul in a city with morals as bankrupt as Kavasto, there is a good chance the Night Circle is involved.
They are rumored to have contacts in both the Black Soul Blades and The Scarlet Mark. Two of the most feared Assassins’ Guilds in the world. They are deep in the slave trade and purveyors of some of the most deviant vices that mortals have ever invented. They also run the Black Market in a city that has no restrictions on what can and cannot be sold. So one can only imagine what manner of illicit goods can be found among their vendors. Lastly, they are well known for occult activities that make thee Yuan-Ti shudder. Much of the fiendish activity of the surface has to do with devils and their need to apply their own form of law and order, but in the tunnels below the surface The Night Circle embraces chaotic unclean spirits and demons of the abyss using them in their machinations and schemes.
**Adventures and Campaigns** Getting involved with The Night Circle should be reserved only for those who understand how to play wicked characters. The night Circle is the bottom of the Chaotic Evil spectrum and adventures dealing with them should reflect that. A few recommendations to get things going would be collecting reagents for Sister Cistern’s spells. Enforcing deals individuals made with The Night Circle. Maybe playing as assassins in one of the Guilds, as that would be the least evil choice. You could easily put a Vampire, or other powerful undead, in as one of the leaders of The Night Circle and have the players do its bidding. It is really up to you and how deep into the dark you can go. \page
## Chapter 3: Important Locations in Kavasto The city is filled with interesting and unique locations. I have listed off a few that I came up with, you as the DM are free to come up with anything else you mind can crank out. ### The City Wards The city itself is divided into a few different Districts or Wards. Each of these locations has a few unique things about it.
**The Civil Center** is home to the city's two major civic institutions, The Citadel a massive multi-keep castle that houses well over a thousand troops, the majority of the city's military presence. It is also where The Counsel of Noble House meets for when conducting government business and all of the officials on the counsel have private quarters here. House of Order can also be found in this ward. The Legal and Judicial Establishment of the city operate out of this complex and it is home to the City Watch.
**The Coin Ward** is what most folk would consider the standard Merchant and Banking areas. It also happens to be the safest area of the city. There is a lot of money tied up in businesses in Kavasto and that means there is a lot of interest in protecting that money. Any business operating in the city pays protection money to one of the Crime Syndicates, and displays the mark of that house outside of the building. Out of a mutual respect, and a healthy fear of retribution, they leave one another alone… usually… the smaller family’s businesses are often preyed on by rogue criminals looking to make a score, but not wanting to draw the anger of the larger Houses.
**The Docks** are almost exactly what one would expect in a city like Kavasto. They are easily the roughest part of town, but not necessarily the most dangerous. There is a large military shipyard and presence down at the docks, and that helps keep things somewhat orderly. That also means there is an overabundance of Taverns and Fighting for sailors and soldiers to blow off steam in. There are dozens of large warehouses throughout the area as well. Many of these are used by factions in the city to hide secrets and make larger scale moves out of. The tidal cisterns used to help flush the sewers are also here and those workers make a good living collecting tolls from those who wish to travel back and forth from Black Wash.
**The Coppers** are the slums and poor parts of town. Located all along the northern wall and beyond it The Coppers comprise almost 60% of the town. The homes here are ill kept and over crowded. The streets are filled with trash and outside of Black Wash are easily the most dangerous place kavasto has to offer, particularly after dark. The Watch has little presence here, people go missing regularly, and every morning is another opportunity to find a body in the streets. If The Coppers has a redeeming quality it is that labor is cheap and so it is common to find all manner of production facilities in this ward, however, it also means that there is a quite a few robberies as well.
**Wellworth**, in the East, and **Gold Streets**, in the West, are the two wealthiest neighborhoods of Kavasto. They also happen to be the major holdings of both the cities major Crime Families. The Damaxics on the West Side and House Heroditas in the East. families. These communities are relatively safe although anyone not directly affiliated with a Family is inviting trouble from local thieves and criminals. Thus most of the homes in this area pay some form of protection money or hire personal security. ### The Damaxic Compound A large walled estate on the Eastern side of Kavasto and home of the ruling Crime Family. The compound has a central and beautifully fortified mansion, giving it an almost enchanted castle feel, and dozens of surrounding buildings including barracks for the personal guard and housing for esteemed visitors. Below the estate there is a network of tunnels and dungeons for not so esteemed guests. ### The Day Market A large market area sitting just on the Eastern edge of the Coin Ward. The Day Market is a massive bazaar with both indoor and outdoor establishments attached to it. Typically these shops and stalls operate under the protection of one faction or another, like most businesses in the Coin Ward, but the Day Market also has a lot of pop up vendors who risk selling their goods without protection. The factions allow this trend to go on, as it draws the attention of common thieves away from their business. These stalls typically have the best deals, as the vendors are hoping to make quick sales and close up for the day. ### The Doorway Kavasto has no cemeteries or graveyards. Instead they have small zigurat and tower style mausoleums. The largest of these is known as The Doorway. The doorway is one of the older buildings in the city and was at one point in time the main center of worship to the pagan gods of the old kings. After the Empire’s conversion to the Order of the Cross the temple was cleansed and converted into a mausoleum. It is now the burial place of the poor and destitute in Kavasto and of course rumored to be haunted by all manner of ghosts. ### The Fortress of Pain The Fortress of Pain is Kavasto’s maximum security prison. Being locked away isn’t something that happens often in the city. Typically if you are caught committing a crime that actually lands you in trouble, the faction you crossed is going to have you killed. In other cases they may demand a favor out of you in exchange for your life. No sense in wasting a good favor afterall. Prison in Kavasto is far more often for those who haven’t broken the law but instead crossed someone powerful. Political prisoners and those who offended someone in a high ranking position make up the vast majority of those who are locked away to never see the light of day again. \page
### The Gray Tower The Tower of Arcane Light was at one point a gleaming spire of white stone and the counterpoint of arcane study to Shadow Cast. Its purpose was to use magic to serve the betterment of mortals. Over the centuries the weathering of the stone turned it gray thus the now common name The Gray Tower. Half Library half Arcane training center the Gray Tower barely endured the Weave Drought and it did so with little to no active magic. But now that the Weave has returned, The Gray Tower has been commandeered by the Government and conscripts those who have the aptitude for magic from the populace, forcing them into rigid training. ### The Heroditas Vinyards The vineyards are home of the second most powerful Crime Family in Kavasto. Far more open and inviting than the Damaxic Estate, the vineyards cover a huge area of the western edge of the city and the Heroditas’ own nearly everything within a mile of their home. But trespassers and rivals should not be fooled by the inviting look of the vineyards. They are watched and guarded by more than just Yuan-Ti thugs. The Heroditas Family may be deeply indebted to the Fiends of the city, but Fiends keep their ends of bargains. Those who visit here uninvited rarely return. ### The Imp’s Tankard Kavasto, like any major city has no end of Inns and Taverns, but there is one that stands out above the rest for a variety of reasons, The Imp’s Tankard. Out on the North End of The Coppers and built in a gothic style that is reminiscent of a squat three story tower or a narrow zigurat the Tankard stands out a bit from the building around it. It also has a very ominous and quiet aura about it that keeps many locals away. It does provide all the usual entertainments that a house of entertainment in Kavasto would, but stands out in a lot of ways. For starters it is run by a Succubus and staffed by Fiends. This alone keeps the riffraff from causing trouble there. Secondly, it is considered by all factions to be Neutral ground and has been historically used for business dealing between them. Lastly, the Tankard is a hub for the working class criminals of the city as well, and houses many of the contacts that they need to do business. ### The Kavasto Lighthouse Sitting just a mile off the shoreline the Kavasto Lighthouse is used as its name intends, but it serves other purposes as well. It is owned and operated by the Damaxic Family and because of its location used by them often for private meetings and secret rendezvous. Folks say it hold other secrets as well, but getting there without being noticed by the Damaxics is next to impossible. ``` ``` ### The Prison of the Damned Fiends make up nearly 25% of the population in Kavasto. Some often wonder why the city isn’t run by them, although others simply say that it is, and that even Tethren Damaxic owes his power to them. Whatever the reason the fiends are here, and to some degree the govern themselves. The Prison of the Damned is evidence of that. It is a dungeon designed by Fiends for Fiends. Those of their kind who need punishment, typically for breaking a deal, find themselves here. From time to time a mortal angers a fiend so greatly that they are sent here, those that unfortunate are never seen again. ### The Sewers Kavasto is located in a rather arid region so traditional waterway sewers aren’t really a thing. What they have are deep sloped tunnels that are washed clean by the tide cycles and a series of tidally filled cisterns. Waste is flushed down to “Night Ponds”, where it is recycled into compost and fertilizer. The canals therefore are subjected to a predictable pattern of daily flash floods in order to keep them “clean”. This creates an odd and strange pattern of behavior in the creatures and people that live there. “Watch the Rats” is a common expression with a similar meaning to “Take care.” It comes from the locals paying attention to the behavior of the rat population. When water is approaching either through the tides, a flushing of the cisterns, or the rare rainstorm, the rats scurry for high ground… and so should anyone traversing the tunnels.
**Black Wash** is a massive “shanty town” settlement that has formed under the city in the sewers. In many ways it is a completely separate city with its own rules and culture. It is home to what has become known as the Night Market, which for all intents and purposes is home to the Black Market for a city that does not have restrictions on what merchants can sell. A vast amount of stolen merchandise and things that should never be merchandise, or even exist, can be found there. Kavasto’s poorest live down here picking through the garbage and lost items that find their way down into the canals. There are also a lot of reprobates and insane who find refuge in the Black Wash and the surrounding tunnels. Those who venture here would be wise to always be on their guard.
**The Night Market** of Black Wash is the common name of the markets below the city, a play on words and reference to Kavasto’s Day Market on the surface. It is a filthy and grime covered swapmeet of trash and if you know what to look for... hidden treasure. The Night Market is basically the Black Market in a city run by criminals. If you need something dangerous, wicked, or really occulticly obscure, this is the place you go looking. \page
### Shadow Cast When the Empire was still in control they established Shadow Cast as a sort of university for those that practiced the Dark Arts. Some would call it a prison or labor camp, as those who worked here typically were sent against their will, and kept under strict guard. Still, it served its purpose and mages who proved loyal to the Empire were given the freedom to practice otherwise outlawed magic and in many cases supplied with whatever they needed to do so. It was a source of terror for the populace since its construction, but much to the relief of the people it sat silent for years during the Weave Drought. But the Weave has returned, and with it someone has once again taken up residence in Shadow Cast. ``` ``` ### The Walk of Kings Up in the North East corner of Kavasto one will find The Walk of Kings. A street and plaza of monuments dedicated to the leaders of the past. It is an interesting series of monuments in the city. Not because it exists, but because it wasn’t destroyed. Kavasto threw off the shackles of the Kren Empire and has reveled in their freedom for just over a century, but it seemed that none of them were quite willing to destroy the legacy that founded them in the first place. It is a rather quiet part of the city, but being on the edge of The Coppers also fairly dangerous. It is often used as a meeting place between informants and factions, and thieves often wait nearby to rob those that feel nostalgic or who wish to see the sites. \page
## Chapter 4: Important NPCs Much like the city itself there are countless intriguing figures in the streets of Kavasto. The following list are only a handful of those that the AOG has cooked up. ### People of the City **Captain Gattis:** Watch Captain Taryrin Gattis comes from a family, most of the adults have taken up the call of the City Guard. In many ways his family history mirrors the evil that the Criminal Organizations of Kavasto represent. The biggest difference… most of the Gattis family is dead... killed in one way or another by the criminals that thrive in the city. Taryrin grew up hearing stories from his Grandfather about the way things were before the Fiends. When Kavasto had a soul. He is one of the “good” guys in town. But that term should be used loosely. Taryrin has a code of honor about the philosophy of law and order, he also has the grit to sacrifice his own conscience for the greater good. He has done some terrible things in the name of making the city better. So far he has avoided ending up on the While Grattiis would love to see the city free of the criminals that hold it, and has made some strides toward that goal. He has yet to significantly frustrate any of the crime families’ ambitions and has not yet ended up on their radar as a significant problem. The Families also have a respect for his lineage, a worthy foe sort of admiration. However he is being watched and the last of the grace being extended to him will likely soon change.
**Lon Quatcher:** Lon is a Half-Elf who was born in the Golden Wood. Life was good but boring and his human side longed for life free of restrictions. He began to wander and eventually landed in Kavasto. He fell in love with the city and its exotic freedoms and daliances. It wasn’t long before he began taking advantage of those freedoms to turn a profit. He soon found himself in a like minded group, and shortly afterward The Spinning Coin Thieves Guild was born. Focusing on Con Jobs and Street Hustles early on, the Coins did well but quickly became dissatisfied with small time profits. They turned their attention to running jobs for more established groups and being on hire for jobs others wouldn’t want to get caught up in. The Guild soon attracted a large number of members. Lon is now the head of the growing organization and has aspirations of one day running the city.
**Pinky**: Ebilius “Pinky” Rhogon, is a fence working out of The Imp’s Tavern and one of the more connected figures in kavasto. Years ago Ebilius was part of Jamis “Three Finger Jim” Hemallis’ crew on the pirate ship The Screaming Trident. Each of The Trident’s crew chops off their pinky when they become full members. Ebilius always resented this tradition and left after a few good scores. Settling in Kavasto he set out to make a name for himself and used his small fortune to open a pawn shop. After making some headway into the Underworld and proving that he had a good head for Back Room Business, both the Heroditas and Damaxic Families backed his operation and funnel a healthy portion of their businesses through him. As far as criminals go he is rather honest and doesn’t break deals, talk about his customers, or reveal his sources. Oh… and he absolutely hates being called “Pinky”
**Prime Minister Raya Chirdja**: The leader of The Counsel of Noble Houses. Raya of House Chirdia is an elderly woman of almost seventy summers and has been around long enough to see the fall of House Heroditas and the rise of House Damaxic. She is a force to be reckoned with and is extremely strong willed and has an air of superiority about her. Her family has always opposed the criminal empires but has also known that they long ago lost the position of strength to do anything about it. She leads The Counsel in such a way to benefit the city and doing her best to keep order in the streets. All while attempting to dance to the tune played by the Criminal Empires who actually are in control. Her goodness really only extends to Kavasto and has no problem putting her foot on the neck of neighboring nations.
**Sharrahs:** The Succubus owner of the Imp’ Tankard. Like most Fiends Sharrahs’ past is shrouded in mystery. She arrived in Kavasto shortly after the War of the Firstborn. Using her wiles as a Succubus she began building a network of those enthralled of those smart enough to get on her good side willingly. Shortly afterward, with the help of Asmodeous himself, she took over The Imp’s Tankard, a large tavern and house of vices that was well known throughout the city. Sharrahs has set up the Imp as a neutral ground and a meeting place for the many conflicting factions in the city. However that neutrality only extends so far, the house reserves the right to bring violence down on anyone who causes trouble. And those few that are foolish enough to do so soon find themselves on the wrong side of a powerful figure who has the literal backing of the Ruler of the Nine Hells. People Under The City
**Sister Cistern:** Cistern is a Night Hag who has taken up residence under the streets of Kavasto in the sewer city of Black Wash. She typically uses her magic to present herself as either Yenna, a young homeless maiden, or Mairi, a kind old lady who is a main source of gossip. While in those guises she will tell those that she deals with “I work for Sister Cistern” and not quickly reveal herself as such. The residents of Black Wash know who she is, but they trust and protect her as a patron. In return she cares for many of their needs and returns the favor of protection. So when a child or two go missing each year, no one looks her way… even when they should.
**Tooth:** Thomas “Tooth” Felisipi is a man afflicted with Wererat lycanthropy, but not through traditional means. He wears a cursed tooth on a leather band which forces the transformation. This tooth was a gift from Sister Cistern, given when Thomas failed to properly hold up his end of a bargain. He had come looking for treasures in the tunnels below the city. Cistern traded him a map and asked for half of the treasure in return. Thomas attempted to cheat the Hag and so she blessed him with the tooth. His original personality is completely masked by the lycanthropy and he has no idea he was once someone else. He now scurries about the Sewers gathering up what others have discarded. He is extremely skittish but can be approached for trade and is rather good at finding lost things. \page
**The Black Prophet:** A mysterious figure who wanders the sewer tunnels of Kavasto. The Prophet appears suddenly and leaves in a similar fashion. While he is most commonly seen and not heard the Prophet is known for delivering cryptic phrases that often warn individuals of looming danger. The prophet is seen as a beneficial presence in the city but one that is very unsettling and ominous. ### People of House Damaxic **Yrgul, The Garbage Man:** Tethren Damaxic’s favorite enforcer. He was once just a typical Ogre. Big, Dumb, and a Walking Zone of Destruction. He was a weapons Tethren pointed at those he was displeased with and simply let loose to do his thing. Tethren often referred to these moments as Taking Out The Trash, and so Yurgul earned the nickname The Garbage Man. Then one day, while on a Trash Task, Yurgle found a Headband of Intellect, and put it on which made him brilliant. He now continues his old job, but as the head of the Damaxic Family’s Enforcers, and is one of Tethren’s most trusted associates. In many ways Yurgul is still an Ogre, but one with a a genius intellect, that it just as likely The Garbage Man will outwit you as it is he will literally rip your limbs off. He is not someone you want to cross.
**Tethren Damaxic:** Tethren was the youngest born of the Damaxics, and as such very little was expected of him. He was not satisfied with simply meeting those expectations. He wanted more, much more. When as a child the family discovered he had the makings of a sorcerer they sent him to the Gray Tower to study. Tethren was a quick study and soon was well on his way to great power. And then the Weave Drought struck the land. With all Magic either gone or greatly diminished the students were sent home. Tethren however was not satisfied. Knowing sorceres received their power from their heritage he began searching for an answer and he found one. No one is quite sure but with his magic restored to him Tethren began to subdue his family's enemies and take control of the city. Other than the Heroditas Family, few opposed him, and even they eventually bent the knee to the Sorcerer King of the Criminal Underworld.
Tethren and his wife Qira, have ruled the city from just off center stage for decades. He allows others to do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to matters of government and daily matters. As long as those he allows to be in power do so to the benefit of House Damaxic there are no problems. If there are problems then a change in leadership is not far behind. But the weight of it all has begun to wear at Tethren and Qira has begun to encourage him to look toward retirement. This notion sits well with Tethren and he has begun to look to his children to carry on the family business. He has initiated a competition among them to see which of his offspring understand the city and themselves best, and therefore are most qualified to lead the Damaxic Family after he sails off to some island to enjoy his sunset years.
**Lucios Damaxic:** The firstborn son of Tethren, Lucios is red skinned with black curling side horns, he is a jovial man, with a desire to please his father. Lucious is strong and charismatic, a born leader. He is a Fighter by class, and his skills lend themselves to melee combat. Lucious would do well reading the family and being the eldest already does so on a number of fronts, but his heart isn’t really in it. Lucious longs for adventure and to see the world.
**Paymon Damaxic:** In many ways Paymon is the typical opposite personality second born child who contends with the first born over almost any and all issues. The Blue skinned son with upturned forehead horns, is cool, calculating, and precise. He is also a master of martial arts (Monk) and quite deadly in a fight. In most ways he is more like his father than Lucios, but those similarities often keep Tethren and Paymon at odds rather than bringing them close. Paymon deeply desires what is best for the family and sees himself as the answer to the question of who should lead.
**Azza:** Azza is the eldest daughter and Amnon’s twin sister. She has purple skin with side horns that flair outward in the back. She is quick to anger and thinks most things, ever horrific things, are a potential joke. Pack that with a devious and malicious personality spawned from the need to compete with the boys and Azza becomes a terrifying individual. Some might even call her unstable. She is a rogue of considerable skill, which does give her many of the talents needed to lead, but her instability will surely work against her. That doesn’t stop her from believing she is the best choice.
**Amnon:** The second of the twins, Amnon is perhaps the most peculiar of the children. He has purple skin with downward spiraling horns, and eyes that reflect extreme intelligence but little charismatic personality. Amnon’s mind functions in such a matter of fact and calculating way that it was rare to find him playing games as a child. Instead he simply studied magic and watched his siblings “waste” their time. Often jeered for studying magic, as he could not use it, Amnon would simply respond with a polite “Currently. I cannot currently.” He seemed to know it would return eventually, and when it did the siblings found themselves with a brother who had advanced skills in Wizardry. But not much changed for him otherwise. He has taken his power and presented it as a viable option for leadership, but most consider his lack of creativity to hindering for him to actually lead.
**Shava:** The Youngest of the Damaxics, Shava is just really coming into her own. With Lavender skin and horns wrapping her head like a crown, Shava is the spitting image of her mother Qira. One of the many reasons she has always been treated like the house princess. Save for Lucious who is extremely fond of his sister, that special treatment has created quite a bit of resentment toward her from the other siblings. That bitterness seems to be lost on Shava though who loves her family deeply and in the most altruistic sense wants what is best for all of them. Just after the Weave returned her father gave her an amulet. Soon after Shava developed a connection and was granted powers by a being from beyond, and is now a Great Old One Warlock. She still has a lot of childish ways, such as engaging in harmless pranks, and dressing up her pixie familiar in doll’s clothes. She doesn’t care much about the competition or the family business other than seeing it as an opportunity to please her father. Which does in fact please her father, who is secretly betting on Shava to take over the family. \page
### The People of House Heroditas **Vhisphad Heroditas:** Vhisphad, a Yuan-Ti Pureblood, is beyond old for one of his kind, and was a child when the war was fought. Now a century later Vhisphad is not long for this world. There was a time, when he was much younger, that the city was ripe for the taking. He had wanted to rule as king, and in truth he almost took it. Unfortunately, much as his father had, Vhisphad made some extraordinary deals with the powerful Fiends that dwell in the shadows of Kavasto. In doing so nearly succeeded in wrestling control of the city away from his rivals, but deals with Fiends often come with unforeseen consequences that diver the individual back to them. Such was the case when the Damaxic Family, which at the time was struggling to against the other Houses, began to turn the tables on the other Houses. Vhisphad’s path to the top came to an abrupt halt when Tethren Damaxic began outwitting Vhisphad at every turn, and in doing so changed the fortunes of many in the city. In his old age Vhisphad is becoming desperate to find more ways to extend his life. He is already decades past typical life expectancy and is terrified of all the Fiendish Debts that are about to come due once he dies. He hates the Damaxics but has resigned himself to his place in the world. However, his dozens of children... not so much. Vhisphad is worried they’re going to do something stupid one of these days, and follow him into eternal bondage… If they haven’t already
**Tshizas Heroditas:** Yuan-Ti of certain breeds can have many children. Vhisphad has had many wives in order to see to it that he has had many clutches of children. As is the nature of their kind, many did not survive the difficulties of growing up in a Yuan-Ti household. Tshizas is the eldest of those that have so far. She is fair skinned pureblood with raven black hair and dark enchanting eyes, very little of her serpent heritage is easily noticeable, although her forked tongue is a dead giveaway and a study of her fingers would reveal claws and scales where fingernails would normally be. Tshizas is a creature of thought and wisdom, a trait not often displayed among her people. Most believe it is those skills that have kept her alive so long. Others believe it is her sadistic brutality that has kept those around her living in fear of her retribution should they cross her. Whatever the case, Tshizas is next in line to lead the family should her ancient father ever actually pass away.
**Xossissth Heroditas:** One of the younger broodlings of House Heroditas, Xossissth is a fast rasing star among the Family. He is a rare True Breed (Abomination), so unlike most of his kind he is both smart and strong. He is valuable to his father but not necessarily as the next Head of the House. The Order of a Thousand Forked Tongues believe he is chosen among their people to lead their kind to victory and mastery over other races and therefore have exerted much influence on his “Behalf”. Xossissth however, does not believe in what he says is the “nonsense of a failing religion”, but does plan to use the faith of the masses to fuel his rise to power. He is not in conflict with his sister for the House, but only because faith or not he believes he is destined for greater things than a crime family.
**Raazus Khiseras:** The Heroditas Family’s trusted messenger and enforcer. Born in the depths of The Split in the rubble choked ruins of Haszthis, Raazus risked crossing the Elinosian Empire to make something of himself in Kavasto. As a Malison, the snake headed breed of his people, he knew it would be a “kill on sight” sentence for him were he to be spotted, but he risked it anyway. After a harrowing three weeks he arrived safe within Kavasto’s borders. It didn’t take him long upon arriving to find a spot in the Heroditas Family as a low level muscle. He is now the family’s most valued and trusted asset, when the message requires muscle, intelligence, and trust it is Raazus they send. Raazus, though feels the position is beneath him, and doesn’t realize how valuable he is. Therefore, he isn’t really loyal, and is always looking to get ahead for himself even at the expense of his allies. \page
## Chapter 5: Sample Adventure Ideas Adventures here are limited only by your own ideas and creations. But I've dropped a few starter ideas for you here. ### Low Level Capers **1)** While doing some street thievery, they rob the wrong person. This puts them either in the crosshairs of a more powerful individual or indebted to them… or both. An adventure like this is designed to open doors to greater things.
**2)** One of their contacts provides them with some information that could lead to a big score. They’ll have to perform a break in however and the place is rumored to be trapped and guarded.
**3)** Local suppliers of “speciality goods” are running low. Word on the street is that the City Watch is about to take a lot of these goods to a local facility to be destroyed. Time to interrupt that plan.
**4)** The City Watch has caught wind of the party’s recent activities. They’re coming to arrest them. Time to find a place to lay low. The best place in the city to do that is below the city. They’ll have to find a good spot in the sewers before the city watch finds them. ### Jobs for the Rising Crook **1)** A merchant is expecting a large shipment of gemstones. It is going to be well guarded but the players have been tipped off about a window of opportunity. Make the score without getting caught.
**2)** A bounty has popped up for an old associate of theirs. It is high priced, so the old friend must have really gotten in deep with someone. They probably have a few ideas where this associate hit is hiding or at least how to find someone who does, but are they going to help them or claim the prize?
**3)** The players have been approached about joining into a new Thieves Guild that has gained some ground in the city. They haven’t yet attracted the attention of any of the bigger groups and are hoping to keep it that way. But there are a few obstacles that need removing, doing so will be the party’s initiation.
**4)** One of the larger Crime Families needs something taken care of. Rewards for a job well done include possible positions within their ranks. What is the job? One of the Local Noble Houses has gotten the idea in their heads that they don’t have to pay their dues… the players are going to remind them of how bad an idea that is. ``` ``` ### The Established Criminal **1)** The players are given a tip. One of the local banks recently suffered some foundation issues and is undergoing repairs. If they are quick they may be able to use the weakness to their advantage and make a massive score. However, the banks are owned by Family Houses and if they do this there can’t be any screwups.
**2)** They’ve watched for years the tax wagon roll through the streets. Heavily armored and even more heavily guarded. Still… if a group were able to find a way to get ahold of that wagon they could nab a king’s ransom of gold.
**3)** The value of arcane implements and goods have skyrocketed since the return of the weave. Even a small magical item is worth a small fortune. If rumors are true a Mage has take up residence in a tower just on the other side of town. If that is true, a fortune could be made in a matter of minutes. What could possibly go wrong.
**4)** The group is approached by a high ranking member of a Crime Family. One of the Watch Captains has gotten a sense of morality, and that simply can’t be tolerated. They don’t want the Captain killed, as that has such short term benefits, they want the Captain framed and disgraced. You are to commit some crimes and make sure the blame falls on the Captain.