VISUAL GUIDE: The City of Gem

Welcome to the City of Gem!  Before I continue re-writing The Uncrucified, I wanted to familiarize myself with the many locations before I move on to the next draft.  The rule book for the South leaves a lot for our imaginations to fill in, so I wanted to fill in those gaps for my own writing and art purposes with this write-up and visual guide!

For further reading on Gem, as the following is only a brief summary of 
key visuals and concepts for my own purposes, be sure 
to check out the official rulebook on The South!

The City

As far south as south goes lies the city of Gem, a city warmed by the winds of the elemental pole of Fire and held together by the industry and greed of its inhabitants.

Founded by the industrious miner, Rankar I, who struck precious stones on a dig, the city rests in the caldera of an ancient volcano, Rankar Peak, nestled in the Fire Mountains, a chain of active volcanos stretching from north to south across the region of the South. Citizens inhabit the surface of the caldera as well as great subterranean markets filled with all kinds of wonders.

Unlike the other major trade center of Chiaroscuro, Gem would evolve completely without the aid or luxury of First Age technology.

(Click for a full view)

The Despot

Rankar I would become known as the Despot, the ruler of the city who would monopolize the gem trade for himself and raise his business associates to the status of noble. With their combined interests, they would keep a stranglehold on the economy and wealth of the city. Despots would come and go in a series of uprisings over the generations, but the role of the ruler would always remain along with the Houses, keeping a balance of power till current times under the rule of Kolar III, the alleged rightful heir to the original family line of Rankar I.

The Despot's palace is the most prominent landmark of the city, a structure so tall that it exists both partially underground and above the surface in a prime spot with the most shade inside the caldera. Underground, a long avenue usually frequented by guards, slaves, and citizens leads up to the palace, which is adorned with decorative Glowstones for illumination. Statues of the previous Despots line the main gates of the palace.

Whoever the Despot is at any given time, this ruler and their family remain the sole proprietors of the gem trade in Gem. Anyone caught buying or selling gems without their consent is liable to be put to death.

The Red Stone District

The red light district of the city caters to all manner of wants and desires.  Red silk drapes on the windows and decorative Glowstones cast the area in a surreal light, welcoming people into a bawdy dream.  Interests range from mundane encounters to interludes with gods and demons in the more exclusive brothels.

The Sunken Bazaar

The main market stretches across the expanse of a large lava tube with the central district dedicated to the Despot's gem trade and the noble houses demarcated by bright silks.  Alongside gems, one can find items from all over Creation.  The farther from the central district one is, the less upstanding (and less safe) the shops and area become.

The Sun Market

Above the surface during the hot hours of the day lies the Sun Market, the black market where one procures any illegal items that might draw suspicion normally.  This temporary market exists only from sunup to sundown during the hottest parts of the day when nobody ventures forth.  Most merchants keep themselves cool by covering themselves from head to toe or using magical means to withstand the sun.

Design Notes: I imagine this market to be made of makeshift tents and questionable quality goods, unlike the Sunken Bazaar with its more permanent decorative carts and stalls.

The Mercenary Market

This flesh market specializes in the procurement and selling of soldiers and mercenaries, of which there is a high population in the city. The Guild participates most widely in this area of industry.

(Click for full view)

The Gemfolk

Social status can be fluid in Gem.  A slave might strike rich upon discovering a large gem in the mines or from the favor of someone already in power.  A wealthy individual might sell a family member into slavery if they can't pay their business fees, which are owed to dubious collectors.  Because of this precarious social fluidity, most Gemfolk don't discriminate between new and old wealth.

Outside of the crushing schedule of sleep and work, most citizens find respite in a regular cycle of festivals, feast days, and weddings or the amply available brothels and gambling parlors available to citizens from all walks of life.

Design Notes:  I envision the upper class quarters having more ornate methods of utilizing Glowstones for their residential areas by using intricately crafted lamps and glass to cast colorful light in their areas.  Meanwhile, the lower class quarters can't afford such finely crafted luxury and must rely on raw unadorned stones and holders for their light sources.

The Noble Houses

Each noble house represents a trade that bolsters the monopoly the city holds over the wealth of the South.

The Despot controls the gem trade, while House Arbani arms the military with their black powder guns. House Circla provides the manpower in soldiers and gladiators, while House Sahlak provides succor and secrets with their brothels and dream parlors. House Iblan specializes in silver and gold refinement and distribution, while House Trasti provides a backbone of banking and gambling in their palatial casinos.

The houses try to gain advantage over each other and regularly rail against the rule of the Despot, but all need each other for Gem to remain the bastion of wealth in the deepest South ruled by the element of Fire and untameable desert.

Design Notes: I've included a portrait of a character representing the head of each noble house on the top-right of each section dedicated to the noble houses on the sheet.

On the section for House Arbani, I've included a strip on the bottom for real-world maker's marks. I imagine House Arbani has a house sigil they stamp on their widely available line of guns.  However, I imagine Arbani Halan, the house founder, has a personal insignia he uses to mark the guns crafted by his own hand which are not available for sale.  Such treasures are only available as a personal gift from such a fine craftsman who would never profane such an item by selling it, as the rulebook states.

• Download a PDF of this visual guide here (6.17MB).
• Find the individual images with links to their original sources here.
• Find the blank template of this guide here.