GREK’TASH
The largest city in Darco’Garaith, the capital Grektash houses the most dominant clans of the Garaith. While all clans mingle freely in the central areas of the city, many sections along the outskirts are reserved for specific clans. Smaller clans come and go, their dwellings only temporary fixtures of a very mobile outer city ring. The longest standing clan within the city, and consequently most prestigious, is the Rektar clan ruled by Warlord Mek’Taga. Among their many boasts and victories over the years is the more recent honor of having their former warlord appointed to a position of Honor Guard to the dragon Yanastaris. The lesser clans admire the might of the Rektar, and so they enjoy a great deal of influence in all matters within the city. Beyond admiration, being the top clan also invites many challenges of conquest, as members of lesser clans attempt to prove their worth and unseat members of Rektar to take their place. Large pastures of livestock are bred around the outskirts of the city, as Garaith consume a great deal of meat in their diets, sometimes consuming it raw. The least influential clans are relegated to the task of maintaining the pastures, leading to a common insult among the Garaith: “Tend to the stock.”
Demographics
The way of life in Darco’Garaith is dominated by aggressive tendencies and persistent tests of mettle. Each clan has its own unique minor customs such as sniffing a defeated opponent to “smell” if they have any will to fight left, or scratching the back of a conquered mates head as a sign of victory. These small behaviors are vastly dwarfed by the more widespread and universal customs of conquest. For any citizen of Darco’Garaith, disputes are settled by way of combat. These duels have strict rules set by the ruling warlord of a territory and almost always include the stipulation of not killing the opponent. Scarring and even more dramatic forms of mutilation, such as broken bones of severed fingers are not unheard of, but most warlords refuse to allow such behaviors as they would rapidly find their clan without capable warriors. For citizens,
“conquest” is not a behavior of angst or rage, it is a social interaction performed time and again as a means of establishing an identity and place in society. Even courting a mate heavily utilizes conquest as the deciding factor of who may or may not join with a specific person. In most clans it is expected that a suitor hoping to marry and/or raise a family should approach the warlord and ask for permission. If granted, they may go on to pursue their hearts desire, if the permission is not granted, the Warlord must be challenged by conquest for the sole purpose of winning the right to remain in a clan and be granted permission to marry or mate. Actually pursuing a partner is yet another display of conquest as both males and females must formally present a token of their clan to the desired mate, and then face them in conquest. The victor decides whether the union can proceed. In cases where a loser clearly wishes to not go through with the union, their friends or family may by right press conquest over the victor continuing the cycle of combat until there are no new challengers and the decision is settled.The ways of conquest, Garaith society, war, and magic are largely passed on by clan elders in a less formal method than other civilizations. The Garaith make excellent students despite their perceived volatility, as their drive for dominion and excellence is deeply ingrained from youth.
Government
Clan and warlord system, each clan governs oneself; but in a time of war each clan appoints a high warlord. This will last until the conflict ends, but high warlord is the highest position; and their word is law.
Defences
The concept of militia does not exist in Darco’Garaith. Clans and their warlords enforce their laws directly. For nation wide conflict, clans unite under an appointed High Warlord. In these cases entire clans are mobilized and treated as battalions for the purposes of war. Each clan usually possesses tendencies towards specific battle tactics or weaponry use, giving the High Warlord the advantage of deploying clans for appropriate assignments. Because of each clans intimate familiarity with its members, they function together superbly on the battlefield. Grektash itself among its clan has a large standing army under the warlord.
Industry & Trade
Draconic items and livestock
Guilds and Factions
The borders of Darco’Garaith offer little complication to the clans. Though they share a large border with Epilesis, much of that territory is unoccupied as the descendants dwell in the sky-cities above. To the west, the valley offers sufficient buffer from whatever terrors lurk in the sands, though the coast is a point of contention as Highland has begun construction of a forward garrison that many clans see as a potential invasion point.
Type
Capital
Population
Metropolis - 30,000+
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Warlord Mek’taga
