Info on evil oriented cities?

[Darker_Thought]

Lo there,

I have 2 questions for BG.

Could somone offer me a list of the cities(On the surface) of the server "Classified" as evil in majority? The only one I can think of is Sshamath which is located in the UD, as of yet.

If there are not any cities/city where evil is officially accepted are there any plans on simliar cities to BG according to server lore that can be built?

/Darker

[Darradarljod]

Hi Darker_Thought.

Here's a little list.

Darkhold is a castle fortress that has changed hands between a multitude of evil creatures over the centuries to now reside in the hands of the Zhentarim, housing a garrison of 800 soldiers. A tower of black wizards looms above the local temple of the god of hatred and tyranny, Bane. Darkhold can be accessed by caravan from Soubar.

Soubar is a small town north of Baldur's Gate, easily accessed by caravan from Roaringshore if you don't want to walk. It is crowded with evil demihumanoids and seems to be policed by the mercenary company called the Ebon Blade who have their base of operations there.

Also, there is Roaringshore, a harbor for all manner of piracy and villany - Ruathymn viking raiders from the north dock their longships alongside seedy pirate vessels to scramble ashore like rats, get drunk, and beat each other 'til their golden teeth make the tavern floors seem like a dragon's treasury. It can be accessed by boat from the Baldur's Gate Harbor.

There you have what I would judge in my personal opinion to be a Lawful Evil, a Neutral Evil and a Chaotic Evil area, in that order.

This, of course, isn't to mention the more subtle "evil seed" communities planted inside of predominantly neutral/good cities such as Baldur's Gate, which hosts an enclave of the evil nation of Thay, temples to evil goddesses such as Umberlee, and holds rumors of a shadowy thieves guild...

Evil - its everywhere, man!

[Ithilan]

Perhaps not the answer you are looking for. But ask yourself this, how often do you go to a place in the real world and even remotely think about branding X town or city as being evil?

But Corm Orp is largely branded as a Zhentarim sympathizer hamlet, despite it being a halfling town with a few humans in it and the major worship is of Sheela Peryroyl.

Corm Orp was a small town on the Dusk Road dominated by halflings and led by a human mayor. It was the fastest growing settlement of halflings north of Luiren.

It was situated in screaming distance of Darkhold to the east. Rumors told that the halflings of Corm Orp could only exist there as a result of some deals with the Zhentarim. It was said that they received promises of protection for information on rival caravans, adventurers, and whatever else passed through the town's zone of control. But to state such rumors aloud was the best way to get into trouble.

The militia of Corm Orp had thirty human members who wore chain with green felt strips on their right arms and left thighs. There were also thirty or forty halfling militia members who preferred not to identify themselves in public, and attacked from in hiding or overlooked places.

Darrad covered the others, but im very curious what you expect to be different in these places from say "good" cities? In truth it boils down to a few laws and the juristriction of them, as well as the zealousness by which they are enforced. But I cant imagine the commoner in either such place to differ much from say the Gate or Waterdeep, perhaps in lip service offered to gods and secretly brandishing a holy symbol at night. The fact we have illithids and its like running around in Soubar is so mind boggling, not even "evil" people would welcome them in their midst, but I guess we need extremes to portray the subtle differences at times.

[Darker_Thought]

Hi Darker_Thought.

Here's a little list.

Darkhold is a castle fortress that has changed hands between a multitude of evil creatures over the centuries to now reside in the hands of the Zhentarim, housing a garrison of 800 soldiers. A tower of black wizards looms above the local temple of the god of hatred and tyranny, Bane. Darkhold can be accessed by caravan from Soubar.

Soubar is a small town north of Baldur's Gate, easily accessed by caravan from Roaringshore if you don't want to walk. It is crowded with evil demihumanoids and seems to be policed by the mercenary company called the Ebon Blade who have their base of operations there.

Also, there is Roaringshore, a harbor for all manner of piracy and villany - Ruathymn viking raiders from the north dock their longships alongside seedy pirate vessels to scramble ashore like rats, get drunk, and beat each other 'til their golden teeth make the tavern floors seem like a dragon's treasury. It can be accessed by boat from the Baldur's Gate Harbor.

There you have what I would judge in my personal opinion to be a Lawful Evil, a Neutral Evil and a Chaotic Evil area, in that order.

This, of course, isn't to mention the more subtle "evil seed" communities planted inside of predominantly neutral/good cities such as Baldur's Gate, which hosts an enclave of the evil nation of Thay, temples to evil goddesses such as Umberlee, and holds rumors of a shadowy thieves guild...

Evil - its everywhere, man!

Thank you Darradarljod. Apreciate the effort

---------------------------------------------------------

Perhaps not the answer you are looking for. But ask yourself this, how often do you go to a place in the real world and even remotely think about branding X town or city as being evil?

But Corm Orp is largely branded as a Zhentarim sympathizer hamlet, despite it being a halfling town with a few humans in it and the major worship is of Sheela Peryroyl.

Corm Orp was a small town on the Dusk Road dominated by halflings and led by a human mayor. It was the fastest growing settlement of halflings north of Luiren.

It was situated in screaming distance of Darkhold to the east. Rumors told that the halflings of Corm Orp could only exist there as a result of some deals with the Zhentarim. It was said that they received promises of protection for information on rival caravans, adventurers, and whatever else passed through the town's zone of control. But to state such rumors aloud was the best way to get into trouble.

The militia of Corm Orp had thirty human members who wore chain with green felt strips on their right arms and left thighs. There were also thirty or forty halfling militia members who preferred not to identify themselves in public, and attacked from in hiding or overlooked places.

Darrad covered the others, but im very curious what you expect to be different in these places from say "good" cities? In truth it boils down to a few laws and the juristriction of them, as well as the zealousness by which they are enforced. But I cant imagine the commoner in either such place to differ much from say the Gate or Waterdeep, perhaps in lip service offered to gods and secretly brandishing a holy symbol at night. The fact we have illithids and its like running around in Soubar is so mind boggling, not even "evil" people would welcome them in their midst, but I guess we need extremes to portray the subtle differences at times.

Its more about the view of the leading authority, counting in NPCs leading the city. How things considered "illegal" in BG have another outcome depending on who enforces that law.
The difference between practises of blood magic, infernal planar trade/deals and necromancy in Baldurs Gate versus a city where people would not turn an eye due to that it is an accepted practise.

The question i asked isn't something really to read into to much. I do agree on that we have alot of things going on behind the official scene in most cities lawful or unlawful but what im looking for is a place where "law" isn't based on the jurisdiction of for example the guilds of "good" would count as justice or accepted practise.

In Sshamath for example(My own perspective) the drow view of how things are run would be deemed quite corrupt by most surface standards, and the corruption is well known by the citys inhabbitants but they know that pleading for justice, law and order play a lesser role than the personal interest of those in power.

Thank you for your input Ithilan

[NegInfinity]

Lo there,

I have 2 questions for BG.

Could somone offer me a list of the cities(On the surface) of the server "Classified" as evil in majority? The only one I can think of is Sshamath which is located in the UD, as of yet.

If there are not any cities/city where evil is officially accepted are there any plans on simliar cities to BG according to server lore that can be built?

/Darker

The only truly evil place is darkhold.

Soubar and even Roaringshore feel like they're somewhere in the "neutral" square of the board, with RS shifted towards Chaotic Netural or Chaotic Evil.

Occasionally events that give evil or lawful evil wibe happen in other cities (beregost and even in bg), but as far as I know, aside from darkhold, no city is truly evil aligned on the surface.

[DM Dialectic]

Subject: THE LAWS OF THE LANDS (IC)

Visiting Uruk Lurra of the Black Orcs

In approaching the Black Orc settlement, Uruk Lurra, in the Western Heartlands well east of the Northern Trade Way, you would be confronted by grunting Black Orc guards that angrily speak at you in broken common upon you approaching the gates of the Orc settlement.

You approach the great Black Orc place of Uruk Lurra, ruled by the legendary Chieftan Grimnail, Chosen of The One-Eyed God Gruumsh:

-No allowed here except Gruumsh's favored children, the proud and fierce races of Orcish blood. Weak races only come in if orcs bring them and if they cause no trouble. No surface elf with ugly pointy ear or fat ugly dwarves! If you not be Orc and not brought it by Orc as guest or war captive, go away or we kill you and feed you to the wargs!

-No stupid and weak Orc allowed either! Only Orc who respect One-Eyed God allowed! Even if worshiping other god must respect One-Eyed God.

-Show great respect for the rock and crater from sky next to Uruk Lurra, do not insult it, it is gift from Gruumsh himself to rally his favored.

-Show high praise to the clan Shaman Torla, Soothsayer Idgeewidge'Uk, and Blacksmith Barraka'Do, for their crafts and strength are of legend only second to Chief Grimnail. Nothing need be said for how you must act to the chief!

-If you come, only the soothsayer and shaman of tribe and shamans of One-Eyed God and orc gods can use magic. Orc no like magics that remind me of stinky pointy ear elves and their silly sorcerers! No magic not of gods! If you not Orc, you better not using any magics at all or you be warg food!

-No question the authority of or anything the chief, shaman, or soothsayer say or you lose head, or worse!

-Proud Orc you come in with arms and armor. Orcs strong, fight in contest of strength if both Orc agree but only with Orc strength not magic of gods. No cause trouble beyond a duel or chief may stick his stick in you for acting like pink skin dummy or pointy eared elf pile of warg dung! If weak no Orc want fight Orc then Orc just laugh in face! But if Orc want fight weak no Orc then no Orc must fight or run out of Uruk Lurra.

-No masks! Need to make sure you not sneaky weak pink skins!

The guards then motion you to come forward or buzz off depending on your identification as Orc-blood or otherwise. If visibly not Orc after removing your mask or if you refuse to remove your mask, the guards tell you to get lost or they will slay you on the spot, again mentioning feeding you to wargs. The only way they give permission to enter upon seeing you are visibly of non-Orc-blood and not an elf, half-elf, or dwarf is if an Orc-blood is inviting you in as a guest or brings you in as a captive. If visibly an elf, half-elf, or dwarf, the guards would only allow you to enter if you are a captive to an Orc-blood.

//OOC-Notes:

-Only Orc-blood PCs, meaning Gray Orc, Half-Orc, and UD Orc, that follow Gruumsh or show respect to him (including those who follow other members of the orcish pantheon), are allowed in unhindered. Orc-blood PCs as such can invite in non-Orc PC guests with them if these non-Orc PC guests have business in the settlement, but these guests must be on the best and most respectful behavior toward Orcs IC or they could end up in a lot of trouble IC. PC Elves, Half-Elves, and Dwarves cannot ever safely enter the settlement as a guest unless a captive to a PC Orc-blood, but PC Drow are allowed to be guests of a PC Orc-blood.

-Only consensual non-magical violence and dueling between consenting Orc-blood PCs is allowed in the settlement. Orcs may challenge non-Orcs to duels, and the non-Orc must either accept or leave the settlement. To refuse the challenge but not leave the settlement immediately will be considered metagaming and risks a permastrike. Non-orcs, if they challenge Orcs, can expect to be ignored. Any non-Orc-blood PCs being violent in the settlement risk a strong and negative IC reaction from NPCs, including if they try and challenge an Orc to fight. Goading Orcs in this settlement is asking for trouble with NPCs and we ask players to respect the perilous situation any non-Orc PC finds itself when in Uruk Lurra, even as a guest, as the NPC's will without fail take the side of any Orcish PC over a non-Orc. We will be handing out permastrikes to those who treat the NPC orcs with contempt as it is a form of metagaming.

-Only Orc-blood worshippers of the orcish pantheon can use divine magic. Arcane magic is banned. The Orcs of this settlement tend to be wary of magic, especially arcane magic, so the most common magics cast in the settlement would be magics that just support melee fighting Orcs. Although arcane casters might be able to earn the right to cast arcane magic through RP, mainly by demonstrating long term residence in Uruk Lurra. If you do have permission IC to cast magic in the settlement, please don't abuse it by metagaming NPCs and casting all sorts of out of this world spells on a regular basis: summoning balors, wails of the banshee, etc. that would have a likely negative reaction of Orc residents of the settlement. As a reminder in this bullet point: magical dueling in the settlement or crater area is not allowed. Orcs would tolerate non-excessive uses of blood magic and necromancy and other evil magics.

-Violations of settlement rules IC could result in IC execution and a permastrike or other punishments seen fit by the chief of the settlement.

-Black Orc NPCs will not look kindly upon insulting or plotting against Black Orc NPC leaders in the settlement.

-Otherwise, as long as it does not break the server rules and would not upset the NPC Black Orcs present or implicitly present, pretty much anything goes.

-For when DMs are not present in game for IC rule violations in the settlement, screenshots sent to the DM team will be required as adequate evidence to enforce any permastrikes as IC punishment.

[BigJ]

The difference between practises of blood magic, infernal planar trade/deals and necromancy in Baldurs Gate versus a city where people would not turn an eye due to that it is an accepted practise.

Heh, and how many of the common people would want to live near a place like that? I guess that why most of the common folk tend to gather around centres where those things are illegal.

Its funny though, as an evil UD player the other day I was thinking where on the surface is actually 'Good' now. The only one I could think off was Candlekeep, everywhere else seemed either neutral or evil.

If we are talking about the law/chaotic axis rather than good/evil, well, again most common folk prefer a place where there are laws, rather than chaos. And preferably laws that mean demons/devils wont appear, there's undead walking around, or their blood being used for magic.

BigJ

[aaron22]

Its funny though, as an evil UD player the other day I was thinking where on the surface is actually 'Good' now. The only one I could think off was Candlekeep, everywhere else seemed either neutral or evil.

BigJ

i would not call candlekeep "good". lawful yes. good... no.

they do a very good job at maintaining the neutral stance that is lore compliant.

the surface is fairly good/neutral aligned, and candlekeep offers assistance to most. so they assist more good than evil, but they have always portrayed a neutral stance to my characters.

[NegInfinity]

If we are talking about the law/chaotic axis rather than good/evil, well, again most common folk prefer a place where there are laws, rather than chaos. And preferably laws that mean demons/devils wont appear, there's undead walking around, or their blood being used for magic.

BigJ

Tired of uncertainty and chaos in your life? Do you desire order and clear purpose? Look no further, and join the Zhentarim today!

[Laughing Octopus]

People appreciate freedoms and laws. Concepts like free speech, the ability to defend yourself and your property, not having to ask permission or present papers to come in and out of the city's walls. These are chaotic ideas that lots of people would find ideal. So, while societies tend to lean to lawful just because that's what a society is, I think people in general tend to lean toward the neutral area between law and chaos.

As for stuff like the ability to use undead and blood magic, those things should be licensed, not outright outlawed. There needs to be a two week waiting period for people to buy the Animate Dead scroll in the magic shop in BG. Blood magic needs a background check, and your blood needs to be added to a registry. Compromise is critical to maintain a fair and free society!

[aaron22]

well the GP would like these things. if someone was doing bad stuff too they may enjoy the freedom to do that and accept the consequences of having other people doing bad stuff all around. there might be some policing so that the city isnt destroyed by rampaging elementals and hoards of zombies. i would also imagine that these "police" would need to be on the very harsh side to keep it all from being disarray.

[AlwaysSummer Day]

Nashkel I believe is neutral but flirts with evil. The town guard and local knights are corrupted.

Honestly it is a bit harder to find "good" cities these days. Perhaps doron amar and endesharaeveryday. Kraak Helzak is lawful but not good. Beregost might be good thanks to the lathanderites. Ulgoths Beard seems fairly neutral but perhaps good leaning. Uhhhh that is it I think.

[aaron22]

Nashkel I believe is neutral but flirts with evil. The town guard and local knights are corrupted.

Honestly it is a bit harder to find "good" cities these days. Perhaps doron amar and endesharaeveryday. Kraak Helzak is lawful but not good. Beregost might be good thanks to the lathanderites. Ulgoths Beard seems fairly neutral but perhaps good leaning. Uhhhh that is it I think.

there they go again Invoker...
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=56577&p=711420#p711420 Page 3, near bottom.

guess that is what you get when you isolate. ideas..

[AlwaysSummer Day]

Nashkel I believe is neutral but flirts with evil. The town guard and local knights are corrupted.

Honestly it is a bit harder to find "good" cities these days. Perhaps doron amar and endesharaeveryday. Kraak Helzak is lawful but not good. Beregost might be good thanks to the lathanderites. Ulgoths Beard seems fairly neutral but perhaps good leaning. Uhhhh that is it I think.

there they go again Invoker...
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=56577&p=711420#p711420 Page 3, near bottom.

guess that is what you get when you isolate. ideas..

?

Sorry I block that guy. Is endesharaeveryday everyday evil or something? It's really hard to tell when you don't get RP interaction with them. Kind of like the BG guilds. They have a sort of exclusivity thing going.

[chad878262]

They are not good or evil. They are elves, so they are nice to other elves and generally don't much care for anyone else (as a group). There are individuals such as Mendel who will interact with non-elves and, in my experience IC'ly is friendly to those who are friendly to him... There are others, such as Ithilwen who generally won't talk to non-elves, at least not in a way that said non-elf would appreciate (unless they appreciate hearing an incantation before being frozen to death)... Then there's Kael...I don't think he is a good guy...or even a neutral guy for that matter. If he's ever in game go up and talk to him and find out...