Chardaukan Hexcrawl: Designing the Base of Operations, Garampur (2)

In this series of articles, I will guide you through the process of designing a sandbox hexcrawl, illustrating each step with Chardauka, one of the continents of my world. Throughout these articles, I will cover both adventure content creation to populate the hexes and the worldbuilding elements that bring the setting to life.

First, we brainstormed the general characteristics of our base city of operations. Then, after consulting our references, we designed the look and tone of the districts that comprise it. The next step is to start creating the landmarks, official buildings, and specific businesses that characters will visit or use to navigate the city.

Key Services for Adventurers

When designing a city for a role-playing game, it is essential to focus on the services that adventurers will need during the game, giving them personality to make them memorable. Everything in the city should be connected in some way to the needs of the group but not exclusively oriented toward them. Each NPC running these businesses should have their own motivations, connections within the city, and small narrative arcs that make them more than just "merchant number 1." Services must exist within the context of the city, with their own agendas and quirks.

In almost every role-playing game I have participated in, the PCs end up visiting a tavern. Whether to seek general rumors, specific information about a mission, or simply to rest between adventures. At some point, my characters may need to contact a ship captain to take them upriver, crossing the Sulfurous Marsh, or along the coast, seeking a quick route to the northern cities of Marennes or Black Port.

Of all the available districts, it makes sense to place the first tavern in the Port. Garampur is a floating city built on stilts that adapts to the river's rise during monsoon seasons. This reminded me of the town of Woodtick from Monkey Island 2, where businesses were literally ships anchored at a dock. Thus, The Old Hull was born.

Monkey Island 2 Special Edition Woodtick Wallpaper by Nightjuh

 

 

The Old Hull

Anchored in the bay, The Old Hull is a wooden barge darkened by humidity and years, with a structure that seems to have survived a thousand storms. Although its exterior appearance suggests it could sink with the next swell, inside it bursts with life, illuminated by colorful paper lanterns hanging from the low ceiling.

The tavern is run by Rashira, a cunning and elderly sul’tar with a sharp tongue and keen eyes. Rumor has it that the elf had a drache lover during her youth, and though she never confirms it, the connection with the Drache Corsair Alliance lingers in the air as an open secret. Rashira facilitates deals and ensures that her tavern remains a neutral meeting point for captains and sailors seeking work, rest, or exuberant company, regardless of whether they are from the Blazing Pact or humans. Rashira moves calmly, but nothing escapes her notice, and she usually has the last word in any dispute within the tavern.

Rashira, dueña de El Casco Viejo

At night, The Old Hull is full of hustle and bustle: sailor songs and the clinking of mugs resonate in the air. However, no drawn weapons or serious fights are allowed. Anyone who becomes belligerent is escorted out by Dayvar, the bouncer of The Old Hull, a tanna’nay'tar of enormous stature and immense strength. Adopted by Rashira when he was young, Dayvar treats her with the respect and devotion of a son. Despite his intimidating appearance, Dayvar is as calm as his adoptive mother and rarely raises his voice, although anyone causing trouble in the tavern is effortlessly escorted and thrown into the canal by his powerful hands.

The main menu consists of simple but tasty ingredients: fish curry served with rice flatbread or crab broth with turmeric and coconut. For wealthier customers, Rashira offers grilled swordfish marinated with tamarind and ginger, accompanied by spicy mango chutney. The drinks include palm brandy, local rum, and tropical fruit cider fermented aboard in small barrels.For adventurers, The Old Hull offers more than just food and drink. Rashira always has an ear out for rumors about missing ships, sunken treasures, or expeditions in need of skilled hands. 

In future articles, we will continue to explore and detail more interesting corners of Garampur.