Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica

(Nancy Kaufman) #1
Guild Insignia

Members of Ravnica's guilds typically carry guild insignia
with them, though in some cases (notably House Dimir)
the insignia might be carefully hidden. A replacement
insignia costs S gp and is available only to members of
the guild. Any character can use the insignia of their guild
as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter^10 of the
Player's Handbook.

CURRENCY: ZIBS AND ZINOS __


This book uses standard D&D coinage, as detailed in
the Player's Handbook, but in Ravnica, citizens refer to
their money as zibs and zinos, with^100 zibs to 1 zino.
There is no central mint, as coins are created by the
Azorius, the Boros. and the Orzhov. The Ravnica Cur-
rency table summarizes the various guilds' coinage and
its value.


RAVNICA CURRENCY
Value Azorius
l cp copper zib
25 cp silver 25-zib
coin
1 ep electrum SO-
zib coin
1 gp gold zino

s gp

1 pp

10 pp

Boros

gold zino
gold 5-zino coin

Orzhov
copper al ms-coin

platinum 10-zino
coin
platinum 100-
zino coin

Comforts of Civilization


A mixture of technological advancement and sophisti-
cated magic offers amenities to the people ofRavnica
that would be extraordinary to folk in most D&D worlds,
except one like Eberron. The nicer neighborhoods of the
city enjoy central heating and plumbing (thanks to the
work of the Jzzet League), elevators, and spacious apart-
ments. Even poorer neighborhoods boast clean and
smooth roads and sturdy construction. No one needs
to go hungry in Ravnica, because the Golgari Swarm
provides a bare minimum of sustenance to anyone who
can't afford better food, though it is best not to think too
much about where the thick gruel comes from. (In prac-
tical terms, even a character who can't afford more than
a wretched lifestyle doesn't need to go hungry.)
The citizens of Ravnica enjoy plenty of leisure time,
and the city offers an abundance of ways to fill it.
Ravnica features restaurants with extensive collections
of fine wines, cafes serving coffee and tea, street ven-
dors offering portable meals, and bakeries that sell a
wide variety of breads and pastries. Travelers can stay
in luxury hotels or simple hostels, or they can rely on
their personal or guild-related contacts to find housing.
Diversions and entertainments abound, including rau-
cous street-side theater (including the ci rcus-like spec-
tacles of the Cult of Rakdos), operas and symphonies,
illegal fight clubs, spor ting events held in vast arenas,
throwaway popular novels. and great works of literature.

These things are shared by the city's diverse peoples,
who enjoy a life adorned by a variety of species, gender
identities, and sexual orientations.
Well-established systems undergird society, largely
through the efforts of the guilds. The Azorius Senate
crafts, codifies, and enforces a comprehensive (some
would say oppressive) set of laws. The banks of the
Orzhov Syndicate offer secure vaults and complicated
financial arrangements. The lzzet League maintains the
city's infrastructure, and the Golgari Swarm ensures
that waste is disposed of (or recycled). House Dimir cou-
riers deliver messages and parcels across the city, and
the Simic Combine addresses issues of public health.
Ravnica lacks any large-scale agriculture operations,
its citizens depending on food produced in Selesnya
gardens and underground Golgari rot farms. Few parts
of Ravn ica cou Id be considered wilderness; the rubble-
belts, areas where the city has decayed and been re-
claimed by natural forces, are the only truly wild areas.

COSMOPOLITAN CONVENIENCES
Item
Cup of coffee
Newspaper
Pendulum clock
Spectacles
Spyglass

Languages


Cost
10 cp
15 cp
100-250 gp
25 gp
50-100 gp

Dozens of languages can be heard in any of Ravnica's
marketplaces, and every tongue has dialects and re-
gional variations. In order for the guilds to function, the
Common language is essential. But other languages re-
main widely used in homes and clan gatherings.

STANDARD LANGUAGES
Language Typical Speakers Script
Abyssal Demons, devils Infernal
Celestial Angels Celestial
Common Humans Common
Draconic Dragons Draconic
Elvish Elves Elvish
Giant Ogres, giants Minotaur
Goblin Goblins Common
Kraul Kraul Kraul
Loxodon Loxodons Elvish
Merfolk Merfolk Merfolk
Minotaur Minotaurs Minotaur
Sphinx Sphinxes
Sylvan Centaurs, dryads Elvish
Veda I ken Veda I ken Vedalken

A few secret or exotic languages are used on Ravoica
as well. Druidic exists and allows a secret communica-
tion among druids in different guilds, such as Selesnya
and Golgari, but such communication is rare. Thieves'
cant is widely used among street gangs and occasionally
among rogues in House Dimir and the Golgari S wa rm.

11 ~ Lt;OME TO JU\\'." ICA 'l
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