Established in the mouth of a dormant volcano, Ashtown is populated by Drow, Duergar, and Earth Genasi. Founded hundreds of years ago by an Earth cult, the society has since dropped the religious convictions that helped them escape the under dark and their own evil nature. Knowledge of Ashtown's exact location, even which plane of existence it's on, was lost with its original founders. Now, they run trade organizations beyond the portals and try to live simple, peaceful lives.

The city is surrounded by high walls tracing the outer rim of the volcano. The wealthiest and most powerful citizens live in the districts nearest the wall, at the highest parts of the city. At the bottom of the volcano's basin, there's a lake filled with ash, called the "grey lake" by locals. Those districts nearest the lake have always been a haven for crime and the poor. It's rumored that organized crime uses the lake to dispose of bodies.

The world beyond Ashtown is extremely inhospitable. The sky is red and anything that flies higher than fifty feet attracts deadly lightning. The landscape around the town is steep, mountainous, and mostly impassable.

There are four roads leaving town. Each ends at a portal to another world. One leads to the realm of Faerun, and another goes to Eberron. And as far as anyone can remember, the last two have always been closed. Other than the portals, nothing of consequence has ever been discovered near Ashtown. Because many who go exploring never return, "wanderers" are rare and live short lives.

Where everybody knows your name, it's where those with local news turn up to share. At the same time, it has a reputation for being snobbish. They cater to Ashtown's merchants and wealthier citizens, though city officials are grudgingly allowed in.

In the basement, old men put up money to fund caravans and wager on their success (like a 17th century era stock market). They're the ones who decide where the portals drop you off on the other worlds.