City of the Sacred Flame (1983) is the companion to Tyrant’s Demesne and details the tribes that live in the valley beyond, as well as the titular city, their seat of power. They are in conflict with the tyrant, though mostly too spread out and in varying dispositions to really make the conflict hurt.

The vague Middle Eastern trapping are still present, though the prominence of gladiatorial fighting also gives the region a whiff of the Roman. I like the flame-worshipers a lot, actually. Basically, the city founder sold his soul for seven years of prosperity before perishing in the flames. Seven beacon lights are maintained now in the city in anticipation for his prophesied return. The truth of that can be sussed out in the course of the first adventure. Somewhat amusingly, it is rather brief and the story rather disappointing, which I kind of love — there is a whole city and cult dedicated to this guy who is now just a constituent part of a demon’s consciousness. It’s weird, and learning the truth I think puts players in an interesting position. The second adventure is an elaborate kidnapping scheme, which has absolutely nothing to do with the first, which is somehow even more appealing.