Greyhawk

[W E Ray]

I'm trying to find a large city somewhere in the Flaeness that is considered a city of learning -- THE city of learning if one exists.

The Free City of Greyhawk seems possible but Greyhawk is known for everything -- it's more a "Ptolus" or "Waterdeep" than a "Candlekeep" or "Silverymoon."

[Vorduvai]

Offhand I can't think of only one city that could have that 'city of learning' type of tag. It probably depends on whether or not you're trying to focus on academic learning, arcane, bardic, etc. To me the regions are just as important as the towns/cities, so it depends if you want to have a city that is a Neutral free-for-all, or very LG ordered and structured, or NE malevolent with lots of lore flowing through it, etc.

The biggest cities that aren't merely capitals of nations are Greyhawk City, Irongate City and Rel Astra ... with Dyvers a distinct fourth in prominence. All of these cities would have lots of lore, universities, academies, societies of magic and such. To me, these cities are more about trade, commerce and opportunity as opposed to enlightened learning, but they're large enough to have everything in a district, quarter or ward.

That being said, here's what comes to mind when I think about it a bit:

1) If you like the relative safety of the Sheldomar Valley, go with Niole Dra - the heart of Keoland with a long-standing, relatively open city that is fairly tolerant due to the blend of human cultures (Suel/Oerdian/Flan) and demi-human relations.

2) For a little more halfling/gnome demi-human flair mixed in (but not exclusively), go Jurnre in neighboring Ulek. It's also a very old city that's been peaceful for a long time.

3) Another great open free city with elvish flair is Highfolk in the north. To me not only do you get the high elven culture mix with magic and tolerance, but it seems to me you get a good bit of bardic lore there and some references to the Old Lore with the Bardic colleges.

4) For heavy goodness mixed with enlightened law and divine benevolence, go with Mitrik in Veluna. Very LG, so orderly and just and all that, plus its not in a war zone. The faith of Rao is a patron of knowledge and peace, so it fits pretty well for a theocracy.

5) I like the Western Flanaess more, but if you want to go east you can go for Radigast City in the County of Urnst as an interesting choice.

6) Currently I'm working a campaign in Sunndi on the far SE side of the Flanaess, so I'd say Pitchfield is a good capital of learning with lots of demi-human cooperation, though that one has heavy grey elven influences.

7) For a Baklunish twist in terms of culture, I'd say Ekbir City would be a great choice as a city that has collected the lore which was mostly lost/forgotten from the days of the old Baklunish Empire.

[Digitalelf]

W E Ray wrote:

I'm trying to find a large city somewhere in the Flaeness that is considered a city of learning

The Free City of Greyhawk is considered "The Gem of the Flanaess, City of Learning and Magic"...

But I know what you mean but it is more like Waterdeep than Silverymoon...

[W E Ray]

That's what I was afraid of -- there's no real "Candlekeep" in Greyhawk. I may have to choose the Free City.

I was considering Mitrik but it's just sooo religilous. I just browsed the LGG entry and it's worse than I remembered, as bad as the Pale, almost.

I was also thinking Celene even though the PC I'm building isn't elf. Hmmmm.

We just finished a Campaign in the Sterich March and there were several peripheral connections to Niole Dra in that game.

Out East in Rel Astra and Ahlissa I may find something perfect, well, near perfect, but there's a good chance that a huge chunk of the upcoming Campaign will be in Rel Astra, revolving around the Fiend-Sage. If the DM goes that route I don't know that I want my PC's background from there (Not that that rules out Ahlissa).

I was hoping to have an easy answer but I think I'm gonna have to spend a few hours in my LGG before I design this PC's background.

Thanks guys.

[Lincoln Hills]

I'd probably go with the grey-elven capitol of Enstad, or possibly the great if now somewhat diminished Rel Astra - the City of Astronomers. For those who don't mind where their lore comes from, there are said to be vast libraries of lore in the hidden city of Hesuel Ilshar. Although visiting the Tower of the Silent Ones, near Niole Dra in Keoland, might also be advisable.

[Gruumash .]

Knowing you a littel I was thinking Re Astra and the fiend-sage but I thought there were was another one as well out East. Also what about south Hardby? I thought that the city had a pretty big academic community for the arcane since it was founded by a wizard.
Also didn't Nellix have something?

I will need to check my literature at home and go through some it to get you a better idea. Sorry at work and don't have access to all the good spots.

[W E Ray]

Gruumash,

Feel free to check out our new Campaign Journal:
Return to the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth: A Pathfinder Greyhawk Campaign.

It may be a bit awkward because it's picking up where the last one ended (The Wizard of Witchfire Mountain: A Sandbox Campaign in the Sterich March) so it may seem like you're missing something but my new PC, from Rel Astra, is introduced there.

Spoiler:

And Arsenal beat Marseille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We're gonna win the Group!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven Tindall]

I don't really know that much about greyhawk but can't you just create your own city and drop it in XYZ location?

After 2 decades of gaming I am finally playing in greyhawk because we are in the shackled city campaign and the DM didn't feel like converting the setting. So it's all new to us and we have all been playing for anywhere from 10yrs to 20+.

If my suggestion doesn't fit then sorry in advance but if your the DM you could have anything from Candlekeep itself to the city of brass to sigal show up in YOUR game and who's going to argue?

[W E Ray]

Thanks for the idea, but especially in GH, I like to keep to canon as much as possible. And in this case it's for a PC; my friend DMs GH.

In years past, heck even up to a just couple years ago, I mixed GH, FR and other stuff all around as I needed it. Over the last year-and-a-half or so I've gotten more and more wanting to keep to canon on settings. I think maybe because I really love 3 settings (GH, FR, Pathfinder) and even a bit from several others, staying in canon helps me choose what setting to play in. As DM, when I want something like Candlekepp I play in FR; in the mood for Saltmarsh I'll run GH, etc.

But yeah, in this case I'm running a PC and we loves our old school, as canon, Greyhawk.

[Bill Dunn]

W E Ray wrote:

Thanks for the idea, but especially in GH, I like to keep to canon as much as possible. And in this case it's for a PC; my friend DMs GH.

In years past, heck even up to a just couple years ago, I mixed GH, FR and other stuff all around as I needed it. Over the last year-and-a-half or so I've gotten more and more wanting to keep to canon on settings. I think maybe because I really love 3 settings (GH, FR, Pathfinder) and even a bit from several others, staying in canon helps me choose what setting to play in. As DM, when I want something like Candlekepp I play in FR; in the mood for Saltmarsh I'll run GH, etc.

But yeah, in this case I'm running a PC and we loves our old school, as canon, Greyhawk.

One great thing about Greyhawk is that much of it is sketchily defined. How much do you know about Radigast City, Rel Mord, or Niole Dra? If there isn't a lot of canon for it, define it.