Old Widdershins is the poor quarter of the city, a place of decrepit and dingy houses of fine make but poor condition. In days long past, this was a broad and open square of wealthy houses called Windowshine Place for its many fine glass windows. But since it fell into poverty, houses and shops were built right in the plaza, leaving a leftward spiraling street with jettied buildings overhanging it, prompting people to jokingly rename it “Widdershins”–which means “counterclockwise”–as a play on the old name; it also implies “unlucky”.

Widdershins Street descends several broad steps into the neighborhood, passes by a gated stairway called Prowler’s Gate, and twists around counterclockwise past various shops and houses. Then it narrows to a passageway that ducks under the upper floors of a building; this is Prowler’s Slip, which rises up several narrow stairs to Prowler’s Gate. Two short dead-end side alleys along the way are Goldbeggar’s Lane and Deadman’s Lane.

The reason the neighborhood declined is that a great battle took place there between three wizards, which left the location a wild magic zone called a glimmerwild. Suddenly, every use of sorcery caused unforeseen and troublesome effects. Magic-using families moved out, followed by other wealthy families, and the quarter was left to poor folk who supported the nearby dockyard and did menial trades.

Worse, criminals discovered that only a very foolish wizard would use magic in such an area, so they grew bold about robbing unarmored folk at the point of a dagger.

Why Would the Heroes Come Here?

There are still shops in this area that the heroes would be interested in–weapons, armor, cloaks, and similar mundane equipment. But also apothecaries, who specialize in the body parts of monsters that can be brewed into potions and sold as spell components. They’ll buy carcasses for gold or give the heroes a potion (brewed elsewhere) as payment.

The unsafe nature of using magic here makes the apothecary’s businesses more secure, as only users of magic are interested and yet there’s little need for the shop owner to worry about magic being used against them. Similarly, the street even hosts a jeweler and a moneylender. What better place to put a vault than in the one place in the city few would dare use magic to try to penetrate it?

What Could Happen?

Any character who uses cantrips or 1st- to 2nd-level spells or who uses a common magic item will suffer a minor wild magic effect. Any use of stronger magic will result in a major wild magic effect. Both can be found in my 200 Wild Magic Effects post. Moreover, the use of magic is prohibited by law, and the area is frequented by the city watch. (However, the watch will overlook the use of sorcery in self-defense.)

Even so, chances are quite good that any well-dressed heroes who aren’t armed will be spotted as strangers and confronted by street toughs who want to know their business and demand their purses. They’ll be careful, of course, since spellcasters naturally will defend themselves if they feel their lives are at stake. Armed characters will be avoided or, perhaps, pleasantly directed to an arms and armor dealer in hopes of separating them from the unarmed characters.

Possible Encounters

Jemen “Jemmy” de Mar (male human): charismatic mid-level rogue and leader of a small gang.

Holmer Holk (male human): mid-level fighter and right-hand man to Jemen.

Storick Blacksmith (male dwarf): mid-level fighter who backs up Jemen.

Nessie Poltroon (female halfling): mid-level rogue who specializes in burglary and picking pockets for Jemen. She might pull a trick by pretending to be assaulted by her own fellows.

Sondala Givenhay (female human): traveling mid-level wizard interested in spell components only just now aware how dangerous the area is and interested in trustworthy folk who can protect her.

Treat Plowfellow (male human): traveling merchant who just came in on a ship, looking for a moneylender to leave some gold with. Oblivious to danger.

Nozer Breakgate (male dwarf): a fighter looking for good armor and not as concerned about criminals as he might be but also ready to assist those in need.

Ressa and Powet of the watch (female and male humans): low-level fighters armed with spears and wearing mail armor.

Lennetor Bracewale (male elf) and companions Oda and Gressa (female humans): a money-lender and his mid-level fighter bodyguards, who wear dresses with elven mail underneath and swords concealed in their folds.

Variations

The fact that Old Widdershins is a wild magic zone allows for the opportunity for spellcasters to cast spells and incur ill effects. But you might decide you want such a place to be a full anti-magic zone, allowing for no magic use at all.