(Small city, pop. 8,527) The only true city in the kingdom and the seat of its monarchy, Galaron is yet a small community compared to the great metropolises of the south. Still, no other city in the region is as defensible as Galaron, its orphic, green-hued walls rising high along the southern shore of Valfors Bay and the mouth of the Morro River. Galaron is the largest hub of commerce for hundreds of miles in any direction. The population is in constant flux, as merchants and traders from across the region travel to the markets of Galaron each year and many choose to stay, caught by the spirit of communal self-preservation that defines the kingdom.
n
The Galarons are rural-minded, as four out of every five citizens has family somewhere in the Morrain countryside. Some visitors from foreign kingdoms regard the folk of Galaron as simpletons, but upon returning home find that their own people are callous and cynical by comparison. Adventurers have always been welcome in the city, as evidenced by the many prosperous taverns and inns who vie for their hard won gold. The wharves of the city teem with life, as fishermen compete with explorers for docking space. The cry of gulls and the scent of saltwater permeate the bayside district, as the longshoremen sing their shanties and foul the air with good-hearted profanity. Ship captains are numerous, most willing to ferry passengers across Valfors Bay for gold in advance during summer or early fall. As adventurers bring only sporadic business, the sailors owe their livelihood to the fishermen and hunters who ply the hinterlands and waters of the bay year round. Exotic animals and furs are often sold in the markets, and lush Morrain furs are considered a luxury by the southern nobility.
n
Though the city owes its continued existence to the valor of its people, none dismiss the magic rumored to infuse its very walls. Shortly after the demise of the First Lord five centuries ago, walls that appear to be an aggregate of granite and malachite arose seemingly overnight. In the taverns of the city, legends still tell of the mysterious cloaked men who attended the funeral of Morro Stormwarden and raised the walls for the city’s perpetual defense. The gleaming bulwark is wondrous to look upon during the day, but it is a sight to behold at night: a ghostly green glow emanates from the veins of malachite. Rising from the heart of the city is Stormkeep, the home of King Mirias Stormwarden, the Argent Sovereign.
n
The fortress is as formidable as any dwarf citadel, though its garrison is small. Built of black-veined gray stone, Stormkeep consists of a series of high towers and crenellated walls, with a long drawbridge spanning a “moat” of deadly elemental wind. The citadel is also home to a regiment of paladins known as the Argent Knights, who serve as both royal guards and elite soldiers in times of need. The Knights are led by the elfmaid Lady Tyaline and are devoted to Iomeda, the Light of the Sword. Among the city’s most famous locales is the Garden of Tears, a labyrinth of hedges, trees, and cool arbors enclosed by low stone walls. Planted and cultivated by the church of Desna, the Garden stands adjacent to the Starspire, temple of the goddess of the night sky. The “tears” that give the garden its name are the dewdrops that appear among the leaves at dawn and freeze in the wintry months. It is believed that those who walk among the arbors long enough can face their fears, grieve for their regrets, and leave their sorrows behind.
n