Fausthaven a City on Fire- Adding a Little Hell to Your Dungeons and Dragons Game

March 10, 2016

What do you get when you introduce steam punk, aristocrats, and infernal powers into your Dungeons and Dragons game? Fausthaven is such a place. It’s located in a northern region nestled within a valley referred to as the Cauldron.

Quite sometime ago myself along with the rest of Nerdarchy did a video inspired by real life events in Centralia P.A. Where coal mines have been burning for decades.

Instead of coal fires burning under Fausthaven we have our own source of fire and heat. Long ago a trans-dimensional accident transposed sections of a lower plane a in a portion of our version of the Underdark that we refer to as the Beneath.

Fausthaven is full of technological wonders such as gas like street lamps, automated factories, and foundries among other steam powered type machines.

Most of the residents of the city believe the modern conveniences they enjoy have much to do with the power harnessed from natural hot springs and Geo-thermal energy located under the city. They are partly correct about the where, but the what those energies are is a bit off.

A portion of Hell complete with devils lies in this portion of the Beneath. In this realm below is a sub-city that resembles the one above. The devils proximity as well as the infernal energies is why there is so many tieflings as well as why there is such an extraordinarily high occurrence of warlock pacts in the city.

Very few actually know of this place, but those who do are welcome. Be warned those who enter may not leave with their immortal souls intact.

Fausthaven is ruled over by Lord Gaithene Von Brathlowe who is one of the many tieflings found within the city. He claims to be a direct descendant of Anzerber Von Brathlowe the original founder of Fausthaven. Lord Gaithene shares power within the city with those within those aristocracy that please him.

Nerdarchy Dungeons and Dragons Video on Fausthaven

The city still needs to be flushed out, but we’ve got some of the features worked out. There lies a tall hill at the center of the city which radiates outward from it. High atop the hill is the oldest structure in the city. A church of the light which is full of shrines from all the goodly gods.

Concept sketch by Infinite RolePlay.

Between the church and the actual city is an enormous cemetery. Outside the city is The Junkyard ruled by the Junkyard Harpies. Fausthaven produces a lot of rubbish and unused or broken mechanical devices and components. They all end up here.

Junk scavengers make forays into the city to keep it clean. The infernal influences of the Hell from the Beneath doesn’t reach here directly. Though The Junkyard is very much a part of Fausthaven’s dominion and the Harpies hold some political power granted by the city.

The junk scavengers divide themselves up into tribes that all serve the harpies. While tieflings may not be born among the refuse, but plenty still wind up within the tribes.

The Junkyard and Junk Harpies Video

Most the citizens of Fausthaven try to pretend The Junkyard and it’s residents don’t exist especially among the lords and ladies.

It is among these well to do folks that the devils from the hell below seek to administer their attentions. These fiends further themselves within their own ranks by tempting mortal souls.

Many a noble has been tempted with warlock pacts in exchange for more power within the city of Fausthaven. It’s also considered a great source of sport.

So this my intro into Fausthaven. We’ll be building it out further through future videos, articles, and products.

Until next time “Stay Nerdy”