Graywall, Droaam

Graywall is a small city in the monster nation of Droaam. It is the second-largest settlement in the region after the Great Crag, which serves as the nation's capital.  

History

Ten thousand years ago, the Dhakaani Empire built the fortress of Korash Khaar at the base of the Graywall Mountains, with the purpose of defending the valley between the Graywall and the Byeshk Mountains. The fortress stood strong for a thousand years, until the collapse of the Dhakaani empire. Over the next nine thousand years, the ruins of Korash Khaar changed hands many times, with the goblins, then the gnolls, then the ogres, and finally the gargoyles all taking turns using the ruins as their home.   During the latter days of the Last War, monstrous warbands were seen in western Breland, causing chaos amongst the citizens of the nation. In 987 YK, King Boranel of Breland evacuated the remaining Brelish settlements west of the Graywall Mountains. Soon after, the Daughters of Sora Kell came forward, and announced possession of all Brelish lands west of the Graywall Mountains. They announced this land as Droaam, a nation where the unwanted creatures of the world, such as gnolls, hags, ogres, and the like can find home.   The Daughters of Sora Kell established the basic feudal system that passes for government in Droaam. A united civilization sprang up in its wake. Graywall was one of the first new cities to be founded. Rumor has it that one of the Daughters, Sora Teraza, found an illithid named Xor'chylic trapped beneath the ruins. Xor'chylic was freed, and pledged loyalty to the Daughters. Sora Teraza ordered Xor'chylic to take over the ruins, and from the ruins of Korash Khaar came the city of Graywall. Xor'chylic used the medusa masons of Cazhaak Draal, combined with brute ogre strength, to quickly build the second-largest city in the new nation of Droaam. To this day, Xor'chylic serves as Graywall's mayor.  

Government

For the past twelve years, the mind flayer Xor'chylic has been the mayor of Graywall, and holds the power of life and death over its inhabitants. Though Droaam does not follow the Code of Galifar, Xor'chylic has no patience for monsters that kill without reason, and the people of Graywall know better than to provoke his wrath. Still, a large number of outlaws and exiles make their home here, and substances illegal in the Five Nations are frequently peddled here.   Xor'chylic enforces his rule with the Flayer's Guard, a group of monsters with full allegiance to him and the Daughters. The Flayer's Guard is led by Korgel Blackblade, and is composed of a force of ogres, orcs, and minotaurs supplemented by harpies, gargoyles, and a squad of war trolls trained by Sora Maenya. In addition, Xor'chylic can call upon the 100 gnolls of the Znir Pact stationed in Graywall, and his allies in House Tharashk to help support any defense of the city necessary. Although it has the trappings of a border town, Graywall is also a military outpost that stands ready to defend the pass against Brelish aggression, or to launch a raid, if needed. All workers in the Stone Pit undergo basic militia training and can take up arms if necessary.  

Religion

Since Graywall is one of the few locations in Droaam where the tribes of different creatures all intermingle, there is no singular religion for the city. The city's populace revere many different deities: the minotaurs have shrines to their deity, the Horned Prince; the Last Dirge harpies worship the Song of Passion and Rage; the gnolls raise piles of stones to reflect the idols destroyed by their ancestors; and the doppelgangers worship the Traveler.   Some religions are practiced throughout the nation. The largest of these is the worship of the Shadow, the Dark Six Sovereign of Magic and Mayhem, whose priests and priestesses call themselves the Voices of the Shadow. These priests, primarily medusas and oni, preach that the Shadow created the monstrous races, granting them powers that Aureon and the selfish Sovereign Host denied the other mortal races. The Voices of the Shadow support the Daughters of Sora Kell, and act as the community leaders of Graywall. A smaller subset of cross-race worshipers follow the Mockery. They are known to be more violent than the followers of the Shadow, frequently inciting violence against people of the east.   Most of the inhabitants are indifferent towards the Sovereign Host and their worshippers. They consider the Sovereigns to be weak and selfish gods, and will either pity or laugh at any that follow them. Some few consider the Sovereigns to be evil, seeing in their banishment of the Dark Six many similarities to the disdain with which the "civilized" races treat them. The Silver Flame, on the other hand, is actively hated in Droaam, as their crusaders have been invading Droaam ever since the Purge. Inside the city, chances are high that any obvious worshipper of the Church of the Silver Flame will be attacked on sight.

Trade

House Tharashk  is a powerful force within Graywall. Under the oversight of Lord Khundran d'Torrn, House Tharashk has reached out to creatures across the town. Through his generosity and feats in the challenge rings, Khundran has also earned the respect of many of the inhabitants of Graywall. The Graywall House Tharashk enclave oversees a number of different operations, including dragonshard prospecting within the region, and employing and training monsters to serve as mercenaries and hunters to compete with House Deneith. Xor'chylic fully acknowledges House Tharashk in an official capacity, and has given Khundran police powers over the district of Calabas, where most of the non-monster races dwell.   As for the other houses, House Orien has a facility along the outer ring of the city, containing a teleportation circle and a caravan outpost. House Sivis also has a small enclave in Graywall, where it hosts a speaking stone outpost that allows Graywall to maintain communications with greater Khorvaire. While House Deneith does not have an enclave in Graywall, Deneith guards often pass through the city acting as guards to House Orien caravans. While passing through Graywall, House Deneith may try to recruit Graywall inhabitants