This wrinkle-faced kennelborn dresses sharp as a tack. A sky-blue satin vest brings out a sparkle in his dark eyes, which smolder intently on whatever task he has at paw. His pink bowtie, crisp under the folds of his neck, never droops even in his ardent hustle. His fur is mostly white with patches of brown; one charming splotch covering the left side of his face and pointed ear. When provoked to laughter, he bursts out into a throaty guffaw followed by a fit of snorting. A pressed handkerchief sits in his pocket, which he uses to deftly wipe away any stray spittle that might escape from his pronounced underbite.
Welcome to the northwest district of Crabwell, where Haroun the well-dressed kennelborn and other intriguing characters reside. It’s a big city, and an ancient one. Even the oldest manuscripts known across Yanuskor refer to the walled city interchangeably as “the old bastion,” “Entac’s dominion,” and—perhaps most inexplicably—just “Crabwell.” The origin of the name is a mystery to all. Although the town lies adjacent to the pleasant Asatti River, one is unlikely to find many crustaceans so far from the delta 50 miles downstream. Some surmise its name is an oblique reference to Goddess Thaella who is often depicted sitting at a well. However, scholars suggest that this aspect of Thaellan imagery can be traced to the name “Crabwell” and not the other way around. Some consider whether the geography of Yanuskor was noticeably different when the city was founded, or whether “crab” refers to the stubbornness or tenacity of its people. All of these hypotheses lack concrete evidence. The city is called Crabwell, and that’s just that. In recent years, the Crabwell Tourism Board has been strategically breeding crabs in an attempt to create something of a mascot for capital city.
Crabwell NW is also a collaboration with our friends at Borough Bound. They’re working on fully-realized RPG cities for your tabletop campaigns, including Crabwell. With every borough they create, you get a huge city map, with interiors for each building, illustrations, tokens, story hooks and even a full album of music to go alongside each one. Definitely something to check out!
