Hey all, I found a couple more interesting tidbits about Korvosa in the latest issue of Pathfinder. I thought I'd share them with everyone...might be a role-playing idea here or there.
[sblock=Castle Korvosa]Castle Korvosa
Built atop a massive flat-topped pyramid, the citadel of Castle Korvosa rises to almost twice the pyramid’s height to make it by far the tallest structure in Korvosa. The pyramid once served as a vital strategic and religious site for the native Shoanti. When the Chelish settlers moved onto the mainland from Endrin Isle (the island on which Old Korvosa stands), it took them nearly fifteen years to finally and decisively expel the Shoanti from the pyramid. After that time, the people of Korvosa built the first citadel walls atop the pyramid and gained control of Korvosa Peninsula in the process. Over time, many different leaders have added to the citadel, building up from the top of the pyramid in a variety of styles and for an assortment of reasons. The castle’s South Tower, the most recently completed and tallest addition, looms over the rest of the citadel and the city. Its claw-like tip scrapes the sky at nearly 600 feet above the base of the pyramid.[/sblock]
[sblock=Korvosan Slang]Speaking Korvosan
The people of Korvosa universally speak Chelaxian but have, over time, created their own slang and terminology unique to the city. These are some of the terms one might hear while passing through the city.
Arbiter: Korvosan judge. Arbiters wield a great deal of judicial power in the city.
Chel: While in most of the world this word is considered a mildly inappropriate term for someone of Chelish descent, in Korvosa it has evolved into a vicious ethnic slur.
Copper Pinch: Korvosan copper piece. Usually referred to simply as a “pinch” (plural and singular). Among children, calling multiple copper coins “pinches” often elicits playful tweaks on the arm or backside.
Gater: Someone who lives in Northgate.
Gold Sail: Korvosan gold piece. Always called by its full name to differentiate it from the similar term “sail” (see below).
Moth: A full-blooded Varisian.
Pincher: A very poor person who scrapes by on only a few copper pieces a month.
Platinum Crown: Korvosan platinum piece. Often referred to as simply a “crown.”
Sail: A ship.
Shingles: The rooftop highways and temporary residences above the city.
Silver Shield: Korvosan silver piece. Frequently called by its full name to differentiate it from the shields used for protection.
Vaults: Any underground opening beneath Korvosa.[/sblock]
