K for Kaladar

[Note: Any non-gamers tuning in to this series of posts are invited to consult my New Reader Introduction for some RPG-specific definitions and a general introduction to the Lands of Ara blog.]

The Free City of Kaladar is the most important single urban locale in all of the Lands of Ara. It is by far the largest Arandish city, with a population of over 50,000 -- only the northern dwarven mega-city of Gannar (pop. 38,000) even comes close to Kaladar in terms of geographical size and number of denizens.  The Free City of Kaladar is the central hub of most commerce in Ara, being conveniently located upriver from the Bay of Noffel and fairly accessible to the prosperous kingdoms of Noffel, Achelon, Delzar, and Blint.

Interestingly, however, no complete map of Kaladar has ever been created, despite the fact that my gaming groups have been adventuring there for almost two (real-time) decades now. The closest thing I have to a complete map of the place are a few general sketches of this stripe:

This sketch, one of the few extant maps I have of Kaladar, may not even be accurate anymore in light of some of the Kaladarian district descriptions given on this blog.

In my prior post on the Free City, I noted that:

(1) Kaladar began its existence as an Achelonian Fort called Hragdor, and was ruled by the Achelonian Queen until Old Calendar year 3020, eighteen years into the Old War between Achelon and Telengard. In that year, under the leadership of a powerful summoner named Kaladar, Fort Hragdor declared itself a Free City and elected its first Lord Mayor.

(2) The Free City is known throughout Ara as the place where practically anything can be bought, traded, hired, sold, or stolen -- kind of like the "Bazaar at Diva" from Robert L. Asprin's Myth Adventures books.

(3) Along this line, all accepted forms of human magic, and many forbidden forms, have at least a small guild or hideout within Kaladar's walls.  The Free City also houses the secret headquarters of the Red Hand, Ara's most feared and notorious assassins' guild.

Those wanting more detailed descriptions of the Free City's various districts should consult my original post on the locale. However, to facilitate use of the downloadable Encounter Tables I provide below, I will briefly list the major Kaladarian districts by their level of socio-economic affluence:

Affluent Districts: Lookout Hill, Lord Mayor's, Dragonwing (NW)

Common Districts: Dragon's Claw (SW), West Gate, North Gate, North Wall (NE)

Seedy Districts: South Gate, East Gate, Green Dragon (SE)

Despite the Free City's centrality and importance in Ara, my current PC group has not spent much time in Kaladar, having just passed through the city early in the campaign on their way from the Western Lands to Minoch. Therefore I have not had much practical need to generate any encounter tables for the place. However, in deference to Zak's Decree about how a setting should be "described," I hereby include three different downloadable Free City of Kaladar d30 Encounter Tables for your pleasure:

Free City of Kaladar - Affluent District

roll 1d30
1-2	Dwarf
3	Gargoyle
4	Halfling
5-6	Rodian
7	Lycanthrope, Werewolf
8-9	Men, Merchant
10	NPC Party (hired as local security)
11	Skeleton
12	Wolf
13	Ghoul
14	Albino Ape
15	Green Dragon
16	Eagle, Giant (AEC)
17	Red Dragon
18	Black Dragon
19	Ghost of a Murdered Noble
20	Ghost of a Murdered Commoner
21	Bat
22	Bat, Giant
23	NPC (Cleric)
24	NPC (Magic-User)
25	NPC (Sage)*
26	Men, Kaladarian Noble
27	Visiting Human or Dwarven Noble
28-29	Kaladarian Royal Guard Patrol
30	Town Event**

* This Sage may be a member of Sawith the Scribe's staff, or else one of his competitors.

** For this result I use Michael Curtis' "Random Town Events Table" available here or as pdf here.

Free City of Kaladar - Common District

roll 1d30
1-2	Dwarf
3	Goblin
4	Halfling
5-7	Rodian
8	Lycanthrope, Werewolf
9-10	Men, Merchant
11-12	NPC Party
13	Skeleton
14	Men, Beggar
15	Ghoul
16	Albino Ape
17	Green Dragon
18	Fly, Giant Carnivorous
19	Black Dragon
20	Toad, Giant
21	Ghost of a Murdered Commoner
22	Bat
23	Bat, Giant
24	NPC (Cleric)
25	NPC (Magic-User)
26-27	NPC (Fighter, mercenary)
28-29	Kaladarian Royal Guard Patrol
30	Town Event*

* For this result I use Michael Curtis' "Random Town Events Table" available here or as pdf here.

Free City of Kaladar - Seedy District

roll 1d30
1	Dwarf
2	Goblin
3	Rodian
4	Lycanthrope, Werewolf
5	Rat, Giant
6	Men, Merchant
7	NPC Party
8-9	Men, Homicidal Street Thugs (stat. as Berserkers)
10	Skeleton
11	Men, Beggar
12	Ghoul
13	Albino Ape
14	Crocodile, ordinary
15	Crocodile, large
16	Crocodile, giant
17	Fly, Giant Carnivorous
18	Black Dragon
19	Toad, Giant
20	Centipede, Giant
21	Rodian Pickpocket
22	Rodian Street Gang
23	Sailor, Drunken
24	Sailor, Murderous
25	Sailor, Undead
26	NPC (Thief)
27	NPC (Magic-User)
28	NPC (Fighter or Barbarian)
29	Mercenary Street Patrol
30	Town Event*

* For this result I use Michael Curtis' "Random Town Events Table" available here or as pdf here.