D&D 5E Gracklstugh

[S.Woodlander]

Questions about,Gracklstugh of which I am planning to drag my party to, looking at the map (Out of the Abyss) it doesn't point out where the main entrance/gate is. I know adventurers could enter via the darklake but if they come come via boat ... anyone know? Looking at the map more and reading a little more it looks like there are more than one gate entrance? Any of the tunnel entrances into the city has a gate?

Also, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about an adventuring party wandering into the Duegar city. The party consists of a few humans, half elf, a wood elf and 3 (surface dwarves). Would the group even get past the gates? And if so, would they be attacked at first site by city dwelling derro or duegar?
I am thinking more that the dwarves might have a hard time getting around without getting attacked. Thoughts?

 

[GMMichael]

I see gates on both sides (west and east), and the Darklake District is walled, so, harder to get into? Any place that's big enough and not situated strangely (even for an underground city) is not going to have a "main gate." There will be several.

I doubt the party would have trouble getting into the city. It is, after all, populated with duergar. You know, the dark-dwellers who can double in size at will? They're probably not afraid of much.

 

[S.Woodlander]

I see gates on both sides (west and east), and the Darklake District is walled, so, harder to get into? Any place that's big enough and not situated strangely (even for an underground city) is not going to have a "main gate." There will be several.

I doubt the party would have trouble getting into the city. It is, after all, populated with duergar. You know, the dark-dwellers who can double in size at will? They're probably not afraid of much.

I don't mean that the duergar would be afraid of others - but it is a city and it does have gates, like any city, you can't just walk in. They might need a very good reason to gain entry.
And, the party might not look like the kind that would normally have business in the city (i.e. Drow, Zhentarim, etc).
So, considering dwarves and duergar are sworn enemies, how hard would it be for 3 dwarves and some good to do looking humans and elves to gain entrance into the city and to be able to walk around if so?

I believe the east and west are not entries into the city as described in Out of the Abyss but homes to the derro population that have it's own set of guarded gates.
I don't see a wall at the darklake district, I see a huge lake.

But what are these?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

But what are these?

I imagine some buildings built on the outside of the city, probably for people to stay at that are not allowed in the city proper.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

I think any city, fantasy or not, isn't necessarily refuse entrance to people 'just because'. Now, a party of adventurers showing up might cause a lot of questions to be asked - why are they here? How long are they intending to stay?

Yknow, typical questions that customs at the airport is going to ask.

I assume they will draw attention in the city, and may make it worse for themselves. But, being outsiders may make them extra valuable to someone powerful who wants to hire them.

There's also the possibility that their policy for strangers is akin to America's 'sundown towns' whereas... We'll trade with you or hire you, but don't let your dwarven behind be found in this city past a certain time'. Or, maybe there's a foreigner area outside the gates that's not shown on the map or described.

 

[mamba]

But what are these?

look like gates to me

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I think any city, fantasy or not, isn't necessarily refuse entrance to people 'just because'. Now, a party of adventurers showing up might cause a lot of questions to be asked - why are they here? How long are they intending to stay?

Yknow, typical questions that customs at the airport is going to ask.

I assume they will draw attention in the city, and may make it worse for themselves. But, being outsiders may make them extra valuable to someone powerful who wants to hire them.

There's also the possibility that their policy for strangers is akin to America's 'sundown towns' whereas... We'll trade with you or hire you, but don't let your dwarven behind be found in this city past a certain time'. Or, maybe there's a foreigner area outside the gates that's not shown on the map or described.

Well Gracklestugh is totally the type of city to refuse entrance just because the guards don't like the people at the entrance.

Non Duergar are not actually even allowed in most of the city and have to stay in a specific area.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sword Coast Legends was a terrible game, but it did include a Gracklestugh segment that I though was quite well done.

A couple of points. Gracklestugh is a city, so it will have multiple gates. It's too big to support just one. They will all be heavily fortified. The Underdark is a dangerous place full of monsters. However, Gracklestugh is a city of commerce and likes trade. So non-hostile adventurers with heavy gold pouches will likely be admitted. However, non-duergar will be limited to certain parts of the city, they are a suspicious bunch. Inner public buildings will also be heavily fortified and guarded. Compared to regular dwarves, duergar architecture is brutalist: functional, intimidating, without decoration. If you want some real world inspiration, think 1960s East Berlin.

The lake will be viewed as a strategic weakness. Therefore we can assume it will actually be well defended: pet monsters, ships, submarines.

Another point: given their aptitude for psionics, adventurers seeking entry to the city are likely to be scanned with Detect Thoughts.

 

[dbm]

I’ve been to Gracklestaugh in a couple of different campaigns now. You are not allowed into the city-proper without a pass if you are not deurgar. And since deurgar have inherent invisibility they have squads of invisible guards patrolling looking for people who should not be there. The Darklake District is their trading area so visitors are generally permitted there but need to be mindful of where they are.

We arrived via the lake both times, so I don’t know about on-foot arrival but I would anticipate that the only part of the city visitors are permitted to enter is the Darklake District. From there you would need to meet the factor of someone who lives in the city and arrange for a pass to enter on specific business.

In my experience none of the underdark races are ‘attack on sight’ types in the cities - even Menzoberranzan isn’t a death sentence just for being there. Of course , in your game you can put the emphasis wherever you like.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

If you are actually running Out of the Abyss, one thing to keep in mind is that Gracklstugh is currently descending into madness, filled with paranoia.

On the other hand, the duergar trade and do business with other cities in the Underdark, so I would think it not to be unheard of for non-duergar to be in the city. But it's for each DM to decide how the city treats outsiders. For my part, if the group wants to adventure in Gracklstugh, then it shouldn't be impossible to gain admittance.