Korvosa: What's to Not to Love?

[Edge the He-Witch]

Hey all. Weird request, but I'm currently writing a fanfiction of my own version of Curse of the Crimson Throne. It's just for fun to get me back into writing for pleasure. It's one of my favorite adventure paths, but what I've come to learn is that it kind of lives or dies by its setting.

The stakes of the story really depend on how much the main characters (and by extension the readers) care about Korvosa. I'm doing my best to really paint a picture of a living breathing Korvosa. I'm studying the city guide religiously. The main characters all have some kind of personal tie to one or more featured or mentioned NPC. I don't want to shy away from the ugly side of Korvosa because I kinda want to paint it like how Batman sees Gotham. A city with problems, but it's his home and a place worth saving. So I'm trying to showcase as much of the good side as I can. The holidays, the food, the quirkier citizenry, that kind of thing.

What have you guys done in your campaigns or headcanon to make Korvosa come alive for your players?

[Ridge]

I am a player in a Curse of Crimson Throne game, and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I will say one thing I liked, and the Game Master let me go with for my character is involving the Temple of Aroden. I was looking to flesh out my wizard who would be joining the game a bit late, and tried to make some ties to Korvosa as he was an Acadamae graduate who now had to 'relearn' the city.

I had read THIS info bit:

Quote:

The Temple of Aroden is located in Old Korvosa and is a shadow of its former self. After the death of its patron god in 4606 AR, the temple's attendance dwindled and only a trio of clerics remain. These leftovers try to maintain the temple and provide services that are attended by a diminished congregation and a not insignificant amount of people who are just morbidly curious. The Temple of Aroden is barely holding on, and twice the city of Korvosa has tried to have the building razed and replaced. Each time, the congregation has just about managed to raise enough public support to keep the temple limping along for a few more years.

This sparked my imagination. I mean, whether one is of the faith or not, we are talking about a site that is still important to some in the city. That's valuable land, and the city government is licking its chops to seize it, and yet this 'dwindling congregation' manages to stir the public not once, but twice to spare it. That says something about the people of Korvosa. There are enough of them that have ZERO to gain from keeping this intact, yet they care enough to fight for it. I think in some ways, this willful defiance to defend part of their history against the powers that be shows Korvosians in a good or at least admirable light.

So my wizard , while he wouldn't worship Aroden even if said god WAS still around, wants the temple to stay because he too thinks it's part of the soul of the city and its rich history. Helped me flesh him out.

Not sure if that helps you or not, but it caught my attention

[Edge the He-Witch]

Ridge wrote:

I am a player in a Curse of Crimson Throne game, and I'm enjoying it very much so far. I will say one thing I liked, and the Game Master let me go with for my character is involving the Temple of Aroden. I was looking to flesh out my wizard who would be joining the game a bit late, and tried to make some ties to Korvosa as he was an Acadamae graduate who now had to 'relearn' the city.

I had read THIS info bit:

Quote:

The Temple of Aroden is located in Old Korvosa and is a shadow of its former self. After the death of its patron god in 4606 AR, the temple's attendance dwindled and only a trio of clerics remain. These leftovers try to maintain the temple and provide services that are attended by a diminished congregation and a not insignificant amount of people who are just morbidly curious. The Temple of Aroden is barely holding on, and twice the city of Korvosa has tried to have the building razed and replaced. Each time, the congregation has just about managed to raise enough public support to keep the temple limping along for a few more years.

This sparked my imagination. I mean, whether one is of the faith or not, we are talking about a site that is still important to some in the city. That's valuable land, and the city government is licking its chops to seize it, and yet this 'dwindling congregation' manages to stir the public not once, but twice to spare it. That says something about the people of Korvosa. There are enough of them that have ZERO to gain from keeping this intact, yet they care enough to fight for it. I think in some ways, this willful defiance to defend part of their history against the powers that be shows Korvosians in a good or at least admirable light.

So my wizard , while he wouldn't worship Aroden even if said god WAS still around, wants the temple to stay because he too thinks it's part of the soul of the city and its rich history. Helped me flesh him out.

Not sure if that helps you or not, but it caught my attention

That is really cool! I was definitely putting thought into the role Aroden's death played to the city. It did seem like they took a similar dark turn that Cheliax did. Especially with Domina's reign. I was even thinking of even tying the Song of Silver into the finale somehow. But I couldn't think of a site to have it sung at. I was thinking of the chapel of Aroden in the first floor of the keep. The city guide mentioned the temple in Old Korvosa, but not how hard the public has worked to keep it from being razed. That is really inspiring. I like that idea! Thank you!

[Ridge]

Edge the He-Witch wrote:

That is really cool! I was definitely putting thought into the role Aroden's death played to the city. It did seem like they took a similar dark turn that Cheliax did. Especially with Domina's reign. I was even thinking of even tying the Song of Silver into the finale somehow. But I couldn't think of a site to have it sung at. I was thinking of the chapel of Aroden in the first floor of the keep. The city guide mentioned the temple in Old Korvosa, but not how hard the public has worked to keep it from being razed. That is really inspiring. I like that idea! Thank you!

You're most welcome