Xuchotl
Type
City
Climate
Hot and arid outside; interior is cool and artificially lit.
Economy
None apparent; no signs of agriculture or trade.
Secrets
The city was not built by its current inhabitants; it contains catacombs with the bones of ancient magician-kings.
Mood Tags
- •sinister
- •ancient
- •claustrophobic
Government
Divided between the leaders of the two warring factions until their mutual destruction.
Size Scale
massive walled urban structure
Description
An ancient, walled city built like a single giant palace under one roof, located in a cactus-dotted plain.
Inhabitants
Two warring clans: Tecuhltli and Xotalanc (now extinct).
Accessibility
Entered through massive bronze and iron gates; interior navigation is through a maze of halls and chambers.
Plot Relevance
The central setting where the protagonists become embroiled in a generational war.
Culture Customs
- •perpetual blood feud
- •placing red nails in a black pillar for every enemy slain
First Appearance
The Cactus-Dotted Plain
Geography Layout
A single enclosed structure with no streets or courts, traversed by the Great Hall from north to south.
Languages Spoken
- •Stygian dialect
Notable Features
- •bronze gates
- •jade walls
- •lapis lazuli ceilings
- •green fire-jewels
- •red smoldering floors
Timeline
Arrival at the North Gate
Conan and Valeria find the rusted gates and enter the city.
The End of Xuchotl
The last of the city's inhabitants are killed, leaving the city empty and abandoned.
Explore more
Chicmec
A scout for the Tecuhltli clan whose death serves as a narrative catalyst.
Characters
Valeria Discovers the City of Xuchotl
manuscript
Plot & Structure
The Great Hall System
## Overview The **Great Hall System** is the primary architectural and navigational artery of the city of **Xuchotl**. Unlike traditional cities, Xuchotl is constructed as a single, massive, interconnected structure under one roof, with the Great Hall serving as the equivalent of a main street. ## Mechanics and Rules * **Orientation:** The hall traverses the entire city from the **North Gate** to the **South Gate**. * **Dimensions:** It is described as being of "heroic proportions," with a length so vast that its vista grows indistinct in the distance. * **Construction:** The floor is composed of square tiles of a red stone that smolders with the reflection of flames. The walls are made of green jade, and the vaulted ceiling is crafted from lapis lazuli. * **Illumination:** The hall is lit by clusters of **Green Fire-Jewels** set into the ceiling, which glow with a poisonous radiance, supplemented by crystalline skylights that allow filtered sunlight to enter. ## Narrative Significance The Great Hall represents the only major open space within the claustrophobic, palace-like city. It acts as the boundary between the warring factions of **Tecuhltli** and **Xotalanc**. Techotl notes that the city gates, which terminate this hall, have not been opened for fifty years, emphasizing the isolation of the inhabitants.
World & Mechanics