Nearly all of the temple cities of the Lizardmen in Lustria and the South Lands are immensely ancient, having been founded in the time of the Old Ones. Since then many have been abandoned and fallen into ruin. Those that remain have not grown in size, but often have diminished slightly, with ruinous precincts on their outer edges, gradually being overwhelmed by the advancing jungle. From time to time the Mage-Priests of a city will deem that the time is appropriate to reclaim one of these ruined areas and rebuild the temples. Sometimes an expedition led by lesser priests will be sent out to re-found an old abandoned city, or at least, re-establish a presence there. This is usually done because the priests are interested in maintaining the network of astral alignments between the cities in order to continue the venerated intentions of the Old Ones.

Although most of the temple cities were founded in the time of the Old Ones, they are not all built on a standard plan. Each one was laid out differently according to certain astral alignments. Thus Hexoatl is planned according to important solar alignments, while Itza is planned according to alignments of the two moons. Other cities are planned according to the alignments of various constellations. Two or more cities may be aligned on the same planets or constellations, but in different ways, thus Huatl is also a solar city, but is laid out differently from Hexoatl.

Apart from these differences, all Lizardman cities have certain features in common.

The dominant features of any temple city are the pyramid temples. These are arranged around the central plaza and rise up in platforms, giving a stepped appearance. The temple is on the flat topmost step. One or more staircases ascend the pyramid to the temple, up to a maximum of four (one on each side). Within are sacred crypts and chambers reached through secret tunnels and beneath the temples are labyrinths of catacombs where the Saurus warriors dwell ready to defend the inner sanctums. The pyramids are decorated with sculptures painted in striking colours. These depict aspects of Lizardman mythology and of course the totems of the gods. Each pyramid is placed in alignment with one or more stars or planets.

Although each pyramid temple is dedicated to a god, who will also be considered to be a manifestation or messenger of one of the Old Ones, it serves as a residence for a Mage-Priest. Exceptionally revered Mage-Priests may even have their own pyramid temples built for them. The mummified relics of former Mage-Priests are hidden in crypts within their own pyramid temples, or the pyramid temples of the gods. From the palanquin chamber in the temple, the Mage-Priest can commune telepathically with other Mage-Priests on top of distant temples or even receive inspiration from the sun, moons, stars and planets to which the pyramid is aligned. The palanquin rests on a plinth enclosed by a sacred pool. Saurus guards and Skink scribes attend the Mage-Priest in the surrounding chambers and pillared porticos. Pyramid temples dedicated to Sotek have a deep sacrificial snake pit descending from the top platform into the depths beneath. At the bottom dwell enormous serpents, a manifestation of Sotek, fed by sacrificial victims hurled down from above. In some cities the pit is located within the pyramid or in the plaza.

A typical Lizardman city occupies a clearing in the jungle, often bordered by swamps. The roads leading into the city often cross over these by means of paved causeways, flanked by avenues of lizard sphinxes carved from massive blocks of stone. The swamps are the spawning places of the city, where Lizardmen have been born from time immemorial. Some of these places may have been enclosed by stone embankments and made into rectangular sacred ponds. Among the spawning ponds are other ponds infested with carnivorous piranha fish. These hazards act as defences for the city, trapping the unwary foes who try to approach through the jungle to circumvent the causeways.

The causeways become processional ways as they proceed into the heart of the city. They are lined with carved stone stele covered in sculptured scenes and glyphs recording various events, myths or rituals important to the Lizardmen inhabitants. The roads may pass between tall obelisks which are positioned to define the alignment of the axis of the city on various stars and planets. At the heart of the city is a great paved plaza. The pyramid temples face onto the plaza from all sides. This place is where the population gather to observe rituals and where the army of the city parades before marching off to battle.

The barrios of the Skinks form the suburbs of the city. Here the Skinks live and pursue their craft of making the artifacts of Lizardman civilization. There are many types of craftsmen here: the makers of scrolls, beaters of copper, brewers of intoxicating potions and the sculptors of glyphs, as well as vast numbers of workers, skilled and unskilled, and their overseers. These clusters of small houses, courtyards and workshops are crowded and full of activity, with Skinks scurrying about attending to various tasks. A thriving Lizardman city may have a teeming population numbering many tens of thousands; the majority of the population beipg Skinks. In the open spaces around the barrios are kept the Stegadons and other beasts needed for work in the vicinity of the city, or ready for marching out with the army. Others are kept in small clearings further out in the jungle, among the overgrown ruins on the edge of the city, or at the outlying stone quarries and mines.