Drakkenheim
Drakkenheim was a grandiose capital city famous for its many architectural wonders. The even-handed rule of House von Kessel fostered a vibrant and industrious spirit that welcomed folk throughout the realm and beyond, and the city was an international hub for trade and culture. Nearly a hundred thousand people called Drakkenheim home, and thousands more lived in small villages and hamlets a few days travel from the city. Only a few hundred people survived the cataclysm that devastated the city, and the folk who lived in the surrounding countryside have abandoned the area for safer regions.
The recorded history of Drakkenheim stretches back about six hundred years, but a settlement and fortification have stood here since antiquity. The city was named after its founders, the now-extinct House von Drakken. Four distinct dynasties have ruled the city since, with House von Kessel claiming the throne one hundred fifty years ago.
Drakkenheim is divided into three main regions:
- The Outer City, estates, suburbs, and slums surrounding the city walls.
- The Inner City, protected by the City Walls and accessible through five Gates.
- Castle Drakken, a palace and military fortification that lies atop a high crag.
Streets
Five major highways lead to Drakkenheim. The roads transition into the city’s main streets: King’s Road, Temple Road, Shepherd’s Way, Champion’s Way, and College Street. Each passes through a correspondingly-named gate, and ranges from twenty to forty feet wide with broad sidewalks along either side. Wrought-iron lamp posts and sewer drains are placed throughout. They converge at Market Square. Elsewhere in the city, the common cobblestone-paved roads are twelve to eighteen feet wide. Most have a narrow two-foot wide brick sidewalk. Sidestreets are often no more than ten feet wide, and in other areas only a narrow alley separates the buildings. In the outer city slums, many roads are merely gravel-covered or raw dirt, though there are some stone-paved streets.Buildings
Drakkenheim is a city of stone buildings and slate spires. Many in the Inner City may be three or four storeys tall, sometimes taller. Most are tightly packed townhouses built on stone ground levels, although the upper levels are often made from wood, and boast fine glass windows and sturdy chimneys. Wealthier homes even feature indoor plumbing directly connected to the city’s water system. Dozens of smaller chapel domes and spires mark distinct boroughs in the city. In contrast, the outer city is mostly a ramshackle slum consisting of crumbling tenements, wattle and daub cottages, and fieldstone shacks. However, the northern estates and the sections along major roads boast fine construction similar to that of the inner city.Drann River
The Drann River is roughly four hundred feet wide and flows southwest. The water is deep, slow-moving, and thoroughly contaminated. Four stone causeways span the water. Stone quays and piers surround the river within the Inner City. Contaminated Water. All water in Drakkenheim is contaminated, including the Drann River. Characters who end their turn in contaminated water must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of contamination.City Walls
Stone masonry walls forty feet high and five to ten feet thick separate the Inner City and the Outer City, with entrance via five gates. These fortifications present a major obstacle when exploring the city: the five city gates are occupied by faction forces or monsters, and hostile gargoyles attack any who scale the walls.Castle Drakken
Atop a high cliff on the north side of town perches Castle Drakken.The Haze
The Haze is magical radiation emitted by the vast concentration of delerium in Drakkenheim. It permeates the ruins and extends about two miles outside the walls.Guilds and Factions
Natural Resources
RUINED SETTLEMENT
5009
Founding Date
4424
Type
Capital
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Characters in Location
Comments