Ecstasy

From A Players Primer to the Outlands (2e)
THE TOWN: The first thing most visitors notice about Ecstasy is the plinths. Fact is, Ecstasy's known as the "City of Plinths," because the landscape's dotted with them - tall monoliths made of stone or iron. Something the Clueless might not notice is all the bodies on top of the plinths. These cutters are petitioners of Elysium, who sometimes sit up on a plinth for days, just contemplating the multiverse.
The rest of the town is pretty much like the petitioners, with no one in a great hurry to do anything. Ecstasy's a pastoral community where bodies have all they need, a town of plenty and peace. Most of the trouble comes from outsiders, and a true native of Ecstasy defines an "outsider" as "any berk who got here after / did."
As a town, Ecstasy's a sprawling, open place, with large manors and buildings grouped around the major crossroads. Gardens, orchards, and other greenery make up the rest, and, of course, plinths are everywhere. It's a mixed pot of styles and forms, but most visitors find the end result somehow very pleasing.
THE GATE: There's a monolith made of ivory close to the centre of town, known to residents as the Bone Plinth. Cutters who make it to the top will find a pool of quicksilver, and stepping into the pool takes a body to Amoria, on the banks of the river Oceanus. That's about a day's travel from the Elysian city of Release From Care.
LOCAL SITLS: Travelers looking for a break from the dangers of the Outlands often come to Ecstasy. Here, there are temples to powers that'll sometimes help a cutter out — Lathander, Isis, Enlil, Majere, Mishakal, and others. Each temple's got support buildings for the petitioners and priests.
Visitors can stop at the Philosopher's Court, a wide, enclosed area where different factions from the Land come to debate and argue. 'Course, a basher used to making his point with a sword will have a harder time than most, since a special enchantment protects all those within the court's walls. As long as there's a Philosopher King in office, no one's hurt by attacks, poison, or any personal harm. Sure, old age and natural causes can still get a body in the dead-book, but the enchantment sees to it that bashers have to win arguments by thought, not by force. With all its factions and their clashing ideas, the court's a powerful anchor, keeping Ecstasy from sliding off into Elysium. On the other hand, petitioners who want to help it slide sometimes come here and join a debate, trying to get all the bashers in a like mind. Kagorius has a piece of advice for folks like that: "Good luck."
Another popular spot in town is Revelhome, described by one Torillian sage of great repute as "the ultimate fest hall." It's the kind of place that'd please the most jaded Sensate - fine wines, mule-kicking meads, rich foods, pleasant dalliances, and deep romances. Its mistress is Madame Millani, assumed to be human though she's always veiled and hooded. Bubbers should also plan some time to wander through the gardens, known for their statues of humans and humanoid creatures.
CURRENT CHANT: Natives say that Kagorius is tiring of his rule (and of dealing with so many "leatherheads" with strange attitudes all day long). If he steps down, the Philosopher's Court will lose its enchantment and violence could break out. Fact is, the factions will probably bash each other barmy until a new king is chosen. But that won't happen until one blood's able to convince all the others that he's the right body for the job. And don't forget what advice Kagorius might have on that.

Demographics

THE POPULACE: The petitioners on the plinths don't usually get in a body's way. But the rest of the people are just too sodding impulsive for most visitors. They're friendly, all right, but very direct — if they're interested in something a berk's got, they're likely to grab it for a closer look. A native here figures his first impulse is the best and acts on it, without letting thought slow him down. Why should he flap his bone-box over something as airy as law versus chaos, when he could be focusing on his personal growth?
Ciphers make up a good chunk of the planar population, along with petitioners of Ishtar, Majere, Mishakal, Chauntea, and Lathander. The town's often crowded with halflings and other little people, too, since Sheela Peryroyl's realm is only three to eighteen days' walk spireward. Evil is shunned in Ecstasy, with "evil" meaning anything that blocks a body's personal growth. Theft is a crime, but borrowing is not. Trespassing is a crime, but exploring is not. A rogue with a fast tongue can usually talk his way out of trouble, but berks like that don't stay in town long, not with curious natives always trying to find out what makes them tick.

Government

THE HOI POLLOI: There are two main high-ups in Ecstasy, one for the day and one for the night. In daylight, the Sun Master rules the town, garbed in golden robes, her face hidden behind a golden disk. The current Sun Master is Regialia Tonn, formerly of Greyhawk, and her Brightsteel Blade is enough to convince most berks that her word is law. She's backed up by three scholars the townspeople like to call Hinkus, Blinkus, and Nod (though other names get used, too, depending on a body's mood).
The Sun Master's never seen at night. That's when the Dark Hunter rules, riding with his pack of moon dogs. He wears the silver armour of a warrior, his helmet glowing like a mirror in the moonlight. Currently, the Dark Hunter is Karo Jantar, a native of the Outlands and member of the Ciphers. He stalks the town only at night, never seen when the sun's in the sky.
In general, the Sun Master and the Dark Hunter deal with serious problems, like a swarm of beholders or a group of primes rampaging in the beer garden. Townspeople take care of the smaller stuff, often forming quick courts with the first ten sods they can grab off the street. These people's courts make short work of justice, for better or for worse.
Both the Sun Master and the Dark Hunter hold their own courts, one in Solrise Tower and the other in Moondark Tower. These places are barred shut when their masters aren't in charge of the town.
There's another high-up in Ecstasy: the Philosopher King, who rules both day and night, but only inside the walls of the Philosopher's Court (see "Local Sites"). The current Philosopher King is Kagorius, a neutral and lawful wizard from somewhere on the Prime Material Plane.

Districts

IMPORTANT SITES:

1. The Bone Plinth
2. The Moondark Tower
3. The Solrise Tower
4. The Philosopher's Court
5. The temple districts
6. Revelhome

Type

Town

Population

25,000

Location under

The Outlands

Owner/Ruler

Regialia Tonn

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Kagorius
• Karo Jantar

Ruling/Owning Rank

Sun Master/Dark Hunter