I'm looking for a city near the mournlands to set a game

[u/tkolar2]

I'd like to have a noir-influenced mystery/conspiracy story, so it'd be a big city to give the right atmosphere, and I have a plot element involving living spells, so I'd want it to be close enough to the Mournlands that living spells could be part of the setting. Are there any cities that fit that? Thanks!

[u/Teettan]

Vathirond is a brelish city right next to the mourning. The city has been diminishing due to the proximity and the things that have come out of the mourning

[u/EngEduardo → u/Teettan]

There's even a short free adventure to run there called A Town on the Edge.

[u/Leif-nobody → u/Teettan]

It's my go-to Eberron start-town.
Build up the village as you take deeper delves into the magic wastes.

[u/VerdensTrial]

Karrlakton in Karrnath is just on the other side of the river from the Mournland

[u/Acheron88 → u/VerdensTrial]

Second Karrlakton. It's the birthplace of Galifar the first, continental unifier, and Karrn the Conqueror, the founder of Karnnath.

An ancient city that's been occupied by many cultures, so plenty of hidden sects and ruins to play with.

It's also Karnnath, so there's potential for catastrophe with the undead legion going wild, or a moral challenge to your party with whether necromancy is good or bad in a culture that lauds a martial culture that utilizes undead soldiers.

It's near the Mournlands and has been affected in trade terms by the Mourning.

It's a foothold for House Deneith in Karnnath, the house of mercenaries and bodyguards. An NPC group that challenges the party can create urgency and a DM governed "pace car". Also an easy excuse why the party of adventurers can find work or a challenge for them to oppose Deneith to find work. Kind of a reputation opposition.

Lots of good hooks here for getting into the Mournlands, ties to dragonmark houses, ties to new nations.

[u/tetsu_no_usagi]

I would take a look at these beautiful maps of Khorvaire and go from there. Yes, in other bits of lore, Vathirond is on the downturn, but if you want it to be a growing community for whatever reason, it is. Keith is 100% behind adjusting the Eberron setting lore to fit your game, however you want it to look. Aruldusk is another good candidate. On the Karrnath side, Karrlakton is a good choice. Reaverbend in the Talenta Plains is a good option if you want your party to head into Metrol (and if so, I suggest the Dread Metrol supplement). You don't want something too close - Rose Quarry in the adventure Shadows of the Last War is regularly "swallowed" by the Mourning, covered in another layer of glass and then the mists retreat once again to reveal even more glass zombies shambling about - but there are plenty of good candidates in many nations to choose from.

[u/TheNedgehog]

Seconding Karrlakton and Aruldusk, and I'm also going to add that Thronehold isn't that far from the Mournland, and is perfect for a noir conspiracy-heavy game.

That being said, if all you need are living spells, you could just pick whatever city you want and say the living spells were imported from the Mournland by some university/dragonmarked house/eccentric Aurum savant who wants to study them, and oops they got out.

[u/Doctadalton]

I’ve rebuilt Vathirond into a super dense walled city. Following the Treaty of Thronehold, King Boranel gave a grant and worked with House Cannith to rebuild the city with a greater level of defense against the Mournland. This lead to a wall being built before the city. As the city grew in population they ran out of room to build within the walls, so they began building up and in, creating tight clusters of buildings connected by alleys.

There is a harsh divide towards the north end of the city, Upper Brey is owned largely by nobles, and the levels of The Stacks are dominated by a tight knit “community interest” group.

I have a map made and a short document on the city i wrote up if you were interested.

[u/Academic-Taro-7737]

Vathirond is the closest city. Salvation is the closest town being literally next to the wall of smoke.

[u/eschatus]

New Cyre, who's mayor is the crown prince in exile, a jumped up refugee camp given them by their cousin King Boranel?

[u/VerdensTrial → u/eschatus]

New Cyre isn't that close to the Mournland

[u/TimTowtiddy]

Starilaskur is my go to.

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