To demonstrate how effective ACKS has been for developing rules and ideas for works I already had in place for this campaign, but could not complete because of rules that did not fit the playstyle I was searching for, I think I will introduce one of the majestic cities that defines this world, and its ruler, Qatarina, the Sorceress-Queen of Forleras.
I still have not yet adopted rules for regents ruling only a city and not an accompanying domain, but I will try to stay primarily with the campaign rules from the rulebook. And it would make sense that a city state would have a small amount of territory outside of the city proper. For my world, I think I will make it a single 7 hex territory, with the city being one of the hexes itself.
Qatarina is a 10th level Sorceress, and Queen of the City of Forleras. I went ahead and made her as a Conqueror player character, with the exception of her defining elements. Forleras is a city of slavers, where human life is valued fairly little except for the blood sacrifices required by Qatarina for her devotions to the Moon God***. Because most of the city, which includes about 5000 families, has to maintain slaves as well as pay taxes, I felt it would be appropriate to reduce the city's taxes by 1 to 2 gp per family. But first, her "stronghold" - a massive 170 foot tower in the center of the city (effectively a small tower on a large tower on a keep): The Tower of the Moon, around which is a large arena/basin through which flows the River Arn. At the solstices and equinoxes, a great festival is held where the Moonbeast is summoned to partake of slaves that will be sacrificed to it. Qatarina is a Dark Sorceress, (Chtonic Tradition) - and a great beauty as well. It is said that the city grew overnight at her behest, by the hundreds of men unable to deny her power and beauty.
The city holds a population of 20,000 citizens and close to 60,000 slaves, but these are mostly incorporated into the families. Some slaves are kept in large camps in the city with very poor living conditions. Qatarina maintains a garrison of 500 heavy infantry and 500 crossbowmen.
***A Note About Deities***
On Karethor, there are seven primary deities, though they are known by different names in different locales. Also, they can be worshipped in their light or shadow natures. The Life Goddess, The Death Goddess, The Marble God, The Beast God, The Sun Goddess, The Moon God, and the Elder God. Some cultists also reach out for the mysterious powers beyond this life, powerful demons and the like.