Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-Civic Ward

Fantasy Core RPG

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Jianghu Setting

The Civic Ward

If you wait long enough in the Square, you’ll probably run into everyone you’ve ever known.

The Civic Ward (the east end of the city) and the First Gate (or the Entry Gate) is the main entrance to the city.  A multitude of travelers from the Empire pass in and out of this quarter.  The Civic Ward is a dense (buildings and people), hustling, bustling affair.  It is filled with residences, shops, lodgings, restaurants, and theaters.       

As this is the showplace of the city for most visitors, the ward filled with landmarks and important places.  Most prominently is the large public square, Civic Square, in the center of the ward.  A large, ancient Greek column is at the center of the square, a recovered relic from a long-lost Silk Road city.  No one is exactly sure where it came from.  Claims of its mystical properties are even more dubious.  For most of the year, seemingly the entirety of the city population passes through the square at some point in the day.  You never know who you’ll meet in the square.  Commerce is forbidden here, except on festival days, but many deals are struck here because of chance meetings in passing.  Official punishment for capital offenses is often dealt out here of maximum effect.  Other official events, such as proclamations take place here.  The Square is the city’s main clearing house for information. 

 

There are many large public and civic buildings in this ward.  The city’s University campus is here, attracting students from a very wide area, and scholars to their massive library (open to anyone for a fee).  The city’s Bureaucracy maintains many nondescript buildings in this ward (and long lines of unhappy citizens).  The showplace is the Coliseum, where weekly horse races are staged, as well as the annual Martial Arts Tournament.  The Governor is often found here in his private box, enjoying the entertainment.  Another landmark, just off of Civic Square, is the Old Book Market.  This sprawling building is stuffed with unorganized old scrolls, manuscripts, and foreign books.  Scholars are constantly pouring over the new arrivals from booksellers and estate libraries, looking for historical artifacts.  

Come for the food.  Stay for the floorshow.

The Hotai Tavern is one of the largest town and usually accepted as the best food and drink in town, outside of any Emerald Hill establishment.  It’s a bit more famous, however for the frequent fights that seem to break out continuously on the floor.  Strong, cheap drink, local kung-fu hotheads, and visiting out-of-town warriors make for an interesting meal. Hotai-San, the owner, has given up on security and just allows the action to be self-policing.  He also runs the betting action on especially promising-looking fights.  The constables only show up if there is a death or major property damage.  Private rooms can be rented for less action oriented meals, but no guarantees.  If you’re looking for eager warriors, this is the place to find them.