Vadumar

Vadumar is the largest coastal settlement of Lake Gyar, located at its northern end near the Gyarmouth. Vadumar was once a major city of Amarand Tzafiero, a mighty empire of humans and dwarves which was overthrown by the forces of chaos and darkness during the Breaking of Nations. The governor's palace is built in an ancient fortress located on an area of high land that is partially cut off from the rest of the city at high tide. The city, partly following the grid pattern of Taorminite cities and partly the original street plan of the ancient city, with large concentric circles, is built on several islands in an area of flat land cut off from the mainland by mangrove swamps, except for a pair of large stone causeways built by the Taorminites.   Vadumar was captured very early on in the history of the the Taorminite empire and expanded significantly under their rule, essentially becoming a secondary capital and the headquarters of both the fleet and the army - some of the Taorminite emperors actually moved their court to Vadumar for large portions of their reigns. The area was highly cultured and extremely wealthy, with silver mines, vineyards, orchards and numerous country estates among the rolling hills and well-watered plains of the River Rilin. After the Breaking of the Pact, Vadumar expanded again from the influx of refugees, most of whom still live in unsanitary shanty-towns that grew up out of refugee camps built by the government.   Vadumar is ruled by Tiriander Cossavar, a former general who once claimed that he was the rightful successor to the Taorminite empire and still maintains the senate-in-exile made up of many of the noble-born men who fled from Taormun and Tamarantica during the Eliomandrine invasion. He has since settled with the Eliomandrines and was a key figure in the Breaking of the Pact.   The Vadumarian people are mostly Taorminite humans, with substantial minorities of halflings, dwarves and elves, and smaller numbers of most other races. Vadumarians are known for the haughty and superior attitude toward foreigners, especially those who are not one of these four races.   The climate of Vadumar is temperate and fairly wet all year round, with warm summers and fairly mild winters. The hinterlands of Vadumar contain numerous estates, which are both functional farms and the houses of the nobility. Vadumarian cusine is famous, and its wine, dried fruit, preserved meat and cheese are renowned across Casiphon.