Graywall

Encircling and covering a massive hillside in the center of the Gateway to Droaam, Graywall has grown into a cluttered sprawl of roughshod homesteads, mud huts, and military fortifications that are home to a bustling blend of the many peoples of Droaam. The city is a cultural hub established by the Daughters of Sora Kell for wilder folk of the surrounding wastes and nomadic peoples who joined the new nation. The Daughters convinced these wastefolk to unite under the banner during the War of the Five Nations by promising them protection, resources, and in many cases, enlightenment.
Although the establishment of Graywall was initially fraught, the city quickly grew into a symbol of unity for the scattered cultures of Noyatu, who eschewed the dangerous, competitive fight for survival to instead focus on building a community. In the years since, the city has blossomed into a tangled web of quirky neighborhoods, filled with industry and musky scents. The muddy plains outside are tilled for hearty roots and produce, monstrous livestock are herded and kept in large pens and pits, and a growing force of Ogre and Troll Enforcement Brigade soldiers train and prepare for battle if Breland ever decides to invade.

Forged in a Frenzy

The Droa Mir region, the name of Droaam before the revolution, has always bred strong peoples who could survive despite the harsh environment, deadly wildlife, and scarce resources. Many of the residents fought each other over hunting grounds and territory until the Wynarn Empire brought a tenuous peace. However, when the revolution broke out and the empire fell, the fighting ensued and more monstrous creatures came out of the woodwork. The Daughters of Sora Kell rebuffed attempts at violence and instead offered to bring together the tribes for the common goal of mutually assured survival. Some were intrigued by the opportunity, while others did not fully trust the strange hags who chose to wield words instead of swords. The early establishment of Graywall was marked with conflict (both internal and external), and while the community has since flourished, there are still many who live beneath Droaam's protection but mistrust the daughters' intentions.

A Martial Pillar

While many see the establishment of Graywall as pure altruism on the part of the Daughters of Sora Kell, one cannot deny the importance of the city's central location in the Gateway of Droaam and strategic proximity to the border of Breland. The mind flayer, Velbigekt, has transformed the tiny township into a gargantuan military and trade hub for the nation, enlisting many thousands of monstrous races to form the backbone of its standing army. Wide swaths of military tents cover the eastern outskirts of the city as countless soldiers still have no home following the War of the Five Nations.

Illithid Led

The rule of law is tenuously imposed throughout the chaotic city, where squabbles of argumentative civilians often lead to physical conflict. The laws of Graywall stem from illithid society, given that Velbigekt leads. Many involve strict bureaucracy and communication, remanents of when Velbigekt was part of the hive mind. The mind flayer works with representatives of each major neighborhood to manage the city and its people.

The City of Beasts

The majority of this rough, boisterous city is draped across a wide, muddy hill that overlooks the surrounding plains. The hill is surrounded by fifteen-foot-tall walls of purple bosvenin wood, harvested from the eponymous Bosvenin Wildwood. The interior of the city is a tangled mass of wayward, mud-slicked streets and a hodgepodge of homes and structures that architecturally mirror the social mixture of ancient goblin society and the many nomadic lifestyles of the tribes. The center of the city is marked by the ominous spire known as the Heavens Hold, home to Velbigekt and the central government of Graywall.

Population: 48,025 (41% goblinoids, 23% gnolls, 10% orcs, 10% other monstrous races, 7% other humanoids)
Government: Velbigekt governs the city, the laws of which are enforced and monitored by captains of the Ogre and Troll Enforcement Brigade (OTEB).
Defense: An impressive army is stationed on the outskirts of the city, comprised of OTEB soldiers, lycanthrope warriors, as well as mercenaries.
Hallmarks: Monsters, military, chaos

Founding Date

12456 AZI

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Beasts, Gateway to Droaam

Type

City

Owning Organization

Droaam

Graywall Times

• There are rumors of Brelish spies infiltrating the city and collecting information about many political and economic figures. The Ogre and Troll Enforcement Brigade is currently on high alert and willing to reward anyone with additional information.
• An extremely rare double eclipse, when the moons of Linia and I'ala overlap before the sun, is approaching and it will occur over Droaam. Seers and oracles warn of portents that speak of an uncontrollable planar crossover where multiple inner planes might briefly collide.

Velbigekt