Built within and without the dormant volcano of the same name, K'ran-K'ran is a city of stark beauty and strange darkness.
It is the northernmost city of the world, standing at the toxic edge of the Great Purple Desert. Some say that the city owes it's existence to gods or demons, but in reality it lives on the heated springs of the volcano. The wet heat provides for crops, livestock, and keeps the people warm in a very cold clime. In addition, the mountain itself blocks the worst of the poison wrathstorms.
K'ran-K'ran is crafted almost entirely of dark volcanic rock, craved into narrow streets, slate-roofed houses intesected with Steam Spires. There isn;t much building space, so everything has been carved and painted and decorated to the extreme. The dark stone is highlighted by clouds of steam, elaborate tapestries, and the strange crimson trees that grow there.
The city is vertical, long, steep streets. The lowest areas are the slums, ringed by the white tents of the K'ran=K'ran slave market. Just above that are the homes of the poor- swamp farmers, petty criminals, and the like. Above that are the infamous steamworks, the source of heat and power for the city, a terrible place that often kills it's workers. Above that are the various levels of the nobility, and at the top of the volcano, the palace of the Hierarch. Scattered throughout are the needle-like Skyship towers.
It is a very advanced city. Great elevators carry the citizens between levels. These can be very large indeed- large enough to hold sever merchant wagons. They are powered by water, steam, and great shaggy oxen. Many houses have running water, heated by the great springs of the volcano. The steamworks rumble day and night, forging weapons and tools of great complexity. And there are the Skyships- great derrigables powered by sail and oar-wing, unique to K'ran K'ran. When the city goes to war, it can field nearly a dozen of these deadly vehicles.
The people are as harsh as the environment around them. They are pale, with sharp features and dark hair and eyes. Men prefer to braid their hair, and wear long greased moustaches. The women usually wear their hair loose. Both sexes use extensive body paint, tattoos, and piercings. They have a love of wine, song, and violence. Blood-sport is very common in K'ran-K'ran. The people are xenophobic, believing themselves to be the greatest culture on the planet.
It is a polythesitc society, and the Cleric Quarter is much like any other, if bloodier then most. Demon worship is very, very common. Magic is not banned, but it is accepted- though most give a known mage a wide berth.
Some say that K'ran-K'ran is run by vampires, but nobody has ever found out for sure.
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