Kaysersberg Imperial City

Status – Settlement – Free Imperial City (Holy Roman Empire)
General Alignment – Lawful Good (LG)
Settlement Size – Small City
Corruption –1; Crime –1; Economy +1; Law +2; Lore +2; Society +1
Qualities – Academic; Strategic Location; Notable Marketplace
Danger – +0

Demographics

Country – Holy Roman Empire (Alsace)
Government – Council-led Free Imperial City
Legislature – Senate of Twelve Guild Representatives
Population – 6,800 (humans, dwarves, halflings, elves)
Places of Interest – Imperial Castle of Kaysersberg; High Bridge over the Weiss River; Artisan Quarter & Goldsmiths’ Row; St. Croix Collegiate Church; Upper Pass Watchtower; Healing Conclave of St. Alexis
Current Ruler – Burgomaster Adelheid von Tann
Other Notable Residents – Master Goldsmith Roderik Malens; Archivist-Mage Sister Verena of St. Alexis; Captain Ernhardt Keller of the City Guard

Marketplace

Base Value – 3,200 gp
Purchase Limit – 16,000 gp
Spellcasting – 5th level
Minor Items – 2d6
Medium Items – 1d6
Major Items – 1d3

Kaysersberg Imperial City rises from the narrow valley of the Weiss River, a fortified jewel of the Upper Alsace frontier. Strong stone walls wrap the lower town, while steep vineyard-clad slopes cradle the city’s higher terraces, giving it both natural beauty and a commanding defensive position. At its heart stands the Imperial Castle, an ancient red-granite keep whose round tower watches over the river crossing and the mountain pass beyond. The High Bridge—broad, arched, and centuries old—connects the bustling artisan quarter with the merchant district, its surface busy with goldsmiths, traders, pilgrims, and soldiers.

Renowned for its metalwork, illuminated manuscripts, and refined wines, Kaysersberg balances scholarship and craftsmanship with martial vigilance. The Conclave of St. Alexis trains healers and lorekeepers, while the city watch maintains a firm but fair presence in the cobbled streets. Governed by a council of guild representatives under the leadership of the Burgomaster, Kaysersberg acts as both a loyal Imperial stronghold and a fiercely independent free city. Its people are proud, industrious, and tightly knit, shaped by centuries of defending their home against threats from the mountains and foreign powers across the Rhine.

Despite its modest size, the city feels alive with purpose—a crossroads of culture, commerce, and diplomacy where fortified stone mingles with the warmth of taverns, the clamor of forges, and the quiet devotion of ancient churches. Visitors often leave with a sense that Kaysersberg is more than a city; it is a stalwart guardian of the high passes and a beacon of civilization on the empire’s rugged frontier.