(Settlement) Imperial City Of Colmar

Lawful Neutral Large City (merchant republic; fortified canal city)

Population 22,000 (primarily humans, with minorities of halflings, dwarves, and gnomes)
Government Republic (Free Imperial City governed by guild council)
Alignment LN
Ruler The High Magistrate (elected from among leading patrician families)
Notable Districts Old Canal Quarter, Wine Market Square, Merchant Guildhall District, Imperial Tower Ward

Settlement Modifiers

Corruption +2
Crime +1
Economy +4
Law +2
Lore +3
Society +2
Danger +1

Qualities

Guild Governance (city run by powerful merchant and artisan guilds)
Major Trade Hub (wine, cloth, river commerce)
Canal City (extensive waterways; boosts trade and smuggling alike)
Artisan Centre (glassblowing, carving, illumination, and alchemy-adjacent crafts)
Fortified Walls (medieval bastions guarding key approaches)
Cultural Crossroads (Germanic law + French artistic influence)

Demographics

Humans 85%
Halflings 5%
Dwarves 4%
Gnomes 3%
Elves & Half-elves 2%
Others 1%

Military

Standing Watch: 450 city guards (well-trained; guild-sponsored)
Militia: 1,500 mustered from guilds and citizenry
Special Forces:

Canal Wardens (expert swimmers, ambushers, and night-watch specialists)
Imperial Tower Guard (elite ceremonial unit doubling as crisis responders)

Defense Bonus: +7 (strong walls, towers, and canal chokepoints)

Commerce

Base Value: 20,000 gp
Purchase Limit: 150,000 gp
Magic Items for Sale:

Minor 3d4
Medium 1d4
Major 0–1 (rare; usually artisan-crafted items)

Primary Exports

Alsatian wines (especially white vintages)
Decorative glass and stained glass panels
Illuminated manuscripts
Fine textiles and cloth
Milling and canal-derived goods

Primary Imports

Metals and refined weapons
Exotic dyes and pigments
Silk and luxury cloth
Magical components and rare inks

Notable Locations

Old Canal Quarter – Lantern-lit bridges, hidden tunnels, smugglers’ routes.
Merchant Guildhall – Political heart of Colmar; fortress-like civic palace.
Wine Market Square – Bustling trade hub, packed with merchants year-round.
St. Martin’s Collegiate Church – Massive Gothic cathedral with arcane-reinforced stained glass.
Imperial Tower – Military lookout and symbol of Colmar’s autonomy.
Craftsmen’s Row – Famous for alchemical inks, carved woodwork, and enchanted glass.

Adventure Hooks

Guild War Brewing – Two major guilds secretly hire adventurers for sabotage or espionage.
The Canal Shade – A shapeshifting creature stalks the undercanal passages.
Wine of Prophecy – A lost vintage said to grant visions resurfaces at auction.
Foreign Agents – Rival states plant spies in Colmar’s merchant houses.
Imperial Audit – An Imperial envoy disappears hours after arriving at Colmar’s gates.
The Broken Window Mystery – Magical stained glass in St. Martin’s is cracking from inside.