Vil Chans

Tucked into the southwest corner of the Thaloran Lowlands, Vil Chans is a city unlike any other in the land of Erkovia. Known far and wide as the City of Fortune and Misery, it is a place where wealth, ruin, and danger walk hand in hand. Visitors are welcomed with smiles and open arms—until their purses run dry. The city runs on luck and boldness, with games of chance embedded into daily life. Here, fate is fickle, and a roll of the dice or the turn of a card can change fortunes in an instant.
The City by Day During daylight hours, Vil Chans presents itself as a typical, bustling trade city, filled with lively market squares, skilled artisans, and merchants hawking wares from every corner of the realm. Inns, taverns, and armories line the crooked streets, each eager to offer shelter, supplies, and a wager or two.
The Duchess of Vil Chans rules the city from a grand estate in the heart of the noble quarter, a district surrounded by sprawling villas belonging to the noble families. These noble houses rotate in and out of favor every generation, as Dukes and Duchesses abdicate in favor of new families rising to prominence. The shifting noble power ensures that alliances are temporary and ambition is constant.
Meanwhile, the Emeralds, the standing military force of the Duchess, enforce her will. These soldiers, usually drawn from the lesser sons of noble families, guard the walls, patrol key routes, and watch for threats to the city’s stability. However, their disdain for the city guard—known as the Stones—is no secret, and tensions often run high between the two factions.
The Stones, garbed in gray uniforms, oversee the day-to-day safety of the streets, but their methods are harsh and direct. The most infamous symbol of their authority is the Wasps' Nests, cages lining the walls of their station. Petty criminals, debtors, and troublemakers are suspended high above the ground, left to suffer hunger and thirst, while the streets below serve as a reminder to others of the consequences of misdeeds.
The City by Night: A Carnival of Chance At night, the city comes alive in a dazzling display of lights, music, and chance. Taverns throw open their doors, vendors spill into the streets, and inns transform into makeshift gambling halls. Tables of dice, cards, and other games of fortune pop up at every corner, and crowds gather to watch or wager. Gold flows freely, and the thrill of winning or losing is contagious, attracting nobles, merchants, adventurers, and criminals alike.
Cheating, however, comes at a steep price—usually the loss of a limb or worse, a stay in the Wasps' Nests. Those who cross the wrong people may find themselves in deep trouble long before the Stones arrive. Despite the danger, the allure of wealth and excitement makes it impossible for many to resist the city’s nightly carnival of chance.
A City of Risk and Opportunity Vil Chans offers countless opportunities to those willing to take risks. Whether you’re a merchant seeking new trade deals, an adventurer looking for a lucrative bounty, or a gambler chasing fortune, the city offers endless possibilities—but at a cost. Every success has a price, and those who misstep too often or make the wrong enemies may find themselves out of luck and out of time.
Swamps encircle the city, shrouding the streets with fog and mystery. The edges of the city are said to be haunted by creatures from the lowlands, and the Stones rarely patrol beyond the walls. For adventurers, this makes Vil Chans an enticing—if dangerous—base from which to explore the Thaloran Lowlands. Just be careful not to lose your way, or your soul, in the city of fortune and misery.

Government

It is ruled by a family of nobles: Currently the Ciabattoni family with their names being Duke Thurman and Duchess Esmerelda. The current reigning Capa is Capa Callos

Industry & Trade

"Tourism"

Guilds and Factions

The Emeralds - The Dutchess of Vil Chans' standing soldiery. They're usually drawn from the nobility of the dukedom, normally lesser sons who are not guarenteed a place in the upper rankings of the city. Soldiers who serve in the Emerald's for 25 years gain as compensation a plot of land to tenure.
Stones (Vil Chans Watch) - Known for their gray uniforms and tasked with maintaining order, the Stones are formidable and feared enforcers.  The “Wasps’ Nests”: Prisoners are punished harshly, left to languish in cages hung along the walls of the Stones Station without adequate food or water. Their suffering deters crime and offers grim public entertainment until the Stones bring them down—or leave them to die..
The Right People - The Right People are the network of thieves, crooks, and criminals bound by their allegiance to Nymus, the god of thieves. A thief among the Right People is considered part of an extended family under the Capa’s rule.

Points of interest

The Copper Dice Tavern Location: In a central square near the market district. Details: The Copper Dice is one of the oldest taverns in Vil Chans, known for its raucous gambling tables and flowing ale. Each drink ordered comes with a free roll of dice—win, and your next drink is free. Lose, and the price doubles. Point of Interest: The back room is reserved for high-stakes games where noble gamblers and notorious thieves rub elbows. It’s whispered that the Capa himself sometimes joins these secret sessions
Nymus’ Veil Location: In a narrow alley, hidden from the main streets. Details: A shrine to Nymus, the god of thieves, tucked away between two buildings. Visitors leave offerings of stolen trinkets or silver coins in exchange for good fortune—or protection from the Stones. Point of Interest: A mysterious hooded priest tends the shrine. Some say he can bless a thief with divine luck… or curse them if they are unworthy.
Stones Station and Wasps' Nests Location: Near the southern wall, close to the Emeralds Barracks. Details: The headquarters of the Stones, the city watch. The station is infamous for the Wasps' Nests, iron cages hanging from the outer walls where criminals are left to suffer. Point of Interest: Adventurers may visit to pay fines, inquire about bounties, or collect information from those still lingering in the cages—if they can withstand the prisoners’ wails and pleas.
Emerald Barracks Location: Near the city’s edge, close to the defensive perimeter. Details: The home of the Emeralds, the Duchess’s personal soldiery. Though well-disciplined, they are known to despise the Stones and often act above the law. Point of Interest: The captain of the Emeralds is always looking for mercenaries to handle tasks beneath his men’s dignity, such as dealing with unruly smugglers or investigating suspicious deaths.
Tomilyn's Curio Location: In a shadowy corner of the market district. Details: A store run by Capa Tomilyn's family, selling rare and enchanted trinkets with questionable origins. The curious may find minor magical items, obscure relics, and stolen heirlooms—if they’re willing to pay the steep price. Point of Interest: Some items in the store seem to resonate with strange power...dark and mysterious power...
Auntie Mara’s Potions & Poultices Location: On the outskirts, near the swamps. Details: A cramped herbal shop run by the eccentric Auntie Mara, known for her potent (and often unpredictable) potions. Adventurers can find healing elixirs, poisons, and magical brews here. Point of Interest: Auntie Mara has connections to smugglers who bring in rare ingredients from distant lands. She also knows plenty of gossip—for a price.
The House of Silver Chances Location: In the heart of the gambling district. Details: A grand casino that caters to nobles and wealthy merchants, where fortunes are won and lost in an evening. The establishment enforces a strict no-cheating policy, and offenders are handed directly to the Stones. Point of Interest: A secret floor beneath the casino holds forbidden games of chance, where the stakes are not coin, but memories, skills, or even years of one’s life
The Crooked Coin Armory Location: Next to the Stones Station. Details: A well-known smithy run by Old Masrin, a retired soldier who has no love for the Emeralds. Masrin provides quality weapons and armor to adventurers and guards alike—for the right price. Point of Interest: Masrin also offers discreet enchantment services, allowing customers to upgrade their equipment without attracting unwanted attention.

Type

City

Included Locations

• The Midnight Veil: A Jewel of the Nightlife

Related Reports (Secondary)

• Session 7: He Doesn't Even Have The Other Half Of His God