Gerrale

Largest city of The High Kingdom but not the capital - Nejard holds that honour. Gerrale, at the mouth of the Shammar River is a vibrant port on the Azure Sea  - here almost anything from throughout the The Three Kingdoms  and beyond can be bought and sold. Gerrale exists for the purposes of making, and losing, money. Its wharves and warehouses are crowded with exotic wares, and the abundant produce of the Shammar Valley.
Like flies to a honeypot, the trading opportunities and tariffs of Garrale have given rise to a number of criminal organisations that also flourish in the alleys and dark places of the city.

Government

Gerrale is administered by a city council, appointed by The High King, but effectively determined by who is important enough in Gerrale that they have to be involved in the running of it.

Defences

Gerrale, as befits the richest city of The High Kingdom is heavily fortified by both land and sea. Its towering walls are easily capable of withstanding any assault that the Sea Reavers or The Great Kingdom (historically the two most likely protagonists) could throw at it, especially given the present state of the Great Kingdom.

Guilds and Factions

Gerrale is dominated by its trade guilds, and also by other more shadowy organisations.  Trade is the lifeblood of Gerrale, but two of its most obvious trading partners, the sussanssur empire and The Great Kingdom are normally hostile to The High Kingdom or even at war with it.  This makes smuggling an attractive opportunity, and so a number of major criminal organizations have sprung up to service the need.
The main legitimate guilds that run the city are:

• The Merchant Venturers Guild
• The Waggoners Guild
• The Rivermens Guild
• The Longshoremens Guild
• The Stonemasons Guild
• The Mercers Guild

Within the more criminal elements of the city, it is rumoured that:

• The Enkoine family run the Dockside quarter, and are paid off for all cargoes that are unloaded there.  They are rumoured to be deeply involved in the running of the Longshoremen's Guild.
• The Dalketh family run Riverside, and take proceedings from all the river traffic, as well as the taverns and brothels of The Cut.
• The Menrien family run a protection racket that covers most of Hillside, and the wealthier merchants who live there.
• The Tomale family control the beggars and petty cutpurses of the city, and also the mercenary hiring halls.
• The Nysande family control the slave market, and are also involved in the Stonemasons' Guild.

Geography

Gerrale is divided into a number of quarters (far more than four).  These are:

• Dockside, in the south-east, which has the main wharves for sea-going ships.  This is separated from Riverside by the Citadel.  There are many warehouses and taverns here, and also several inns.
• Riverside, which is the main frontage onto the Shammar River, in the north-east of the city.  This is separated from Dockside by the Citadel.  This area has many warehouses, taverns, and cheap hostels.
• The Citadel - the ancient heart of Gerrale, this is a mighty fortress on a great rock where the estuary of the Shammar River enters the Azure Sea.  It separates Dockside from Riverside, and is also bordered by The Cut.  The Citadel is mainly barracks and arsenals.
• The Cut is a valley between the Citadel and Hillside, which provides the main thoroughfare between Riverside and Dockside.  It contains a large market, and is where most of the nightlife of Gerrale is concentrated.
• Hillside is inland of both Dockside and Riverside.  It is on a large hill, which provides some respite from the heat and smell of the wharves, and is covered with the mansions of wealthy merchants, private parks and other wealthy amenities.  Watchposts dissuade people entering Hillside unless they live there, or have legitimate business.

Type

Large city

Population

20,000

Owning Organization

County of Teranthar

Characters in Location

• Lord Tomar Fulleth