Grane

Grane is a large town in far-western Volodaria. It marks the border with the Exarchy of Lucrenia. Grane is a major agricultural centre, acting as a hub for most of the surrounding farmland.
Grane is ruled by Lord Azorn, an influential and well-respected member of the Dominia, and close ally of the Exarch in Selucia.

Demographics

Grane is almost entirely inhabited by farmers, merchants and caravaneers. Its population is 80% human with the remaining 20% a mixture of the other races, mostly Volodarin and Hahgi.

Government

Grane is directly ruled by the ancient Lord Azorn, an exiled Aoleirian who became close friends with then-Emperor Juvo in the 3rd century IF. Juvo granted Azorn large holdings in the south, which have grown greatly over the course of the last one and a half centuries.
Azorn possesses direct control over the town, its environs and its citizens. He is generally well-regarded by his subjects, and considered a wise and caring liegelord. He keeps the town's infrastructure well-maintained, and deals harshly with corruption within his government.
Azorn spends half the year in the north, in Senate meetings. While away from home, Azorn's adopted children are given control of the town, learning to manage the land and their future subjects, under the guidance of Azorn's staff.

Defences

Grane has never come under direct assault, and so its defences are fairly lax. A set of walls and watchtowers around its outer perimeter help to guard it from bandits and raiders, garrisoned by a small militia of Azorn's own guardsmen.
During the Yethisian Invasion, Lord Azorn hired large numbers of Jarnish Mercenaries to guard against raiding parties from among the Yethisian troops. Many of these hires stayed on after their contract ended, joining Azorn's guardsmen.

Industry & Trade

Grane is an agricultural powerhouse, commonly referred to as the Granary of the South. Its rich lake-side farmlands have allowed it to out-produce every other southern townstead. Grane is also located along the Grand Lumber Road, and so receives regular footfall from Thranish and Kanik lumberyards. Many merchants and caravans stop by in the town, trading with the town's merchants.

Infrastructure

Grane is a surprisingly well-developed town, featuring well-paved roads and a modern sewage system. The town features windmills along the banks of Lake Grai, which power the town's agricultural industry, sifting grain. Grane is also fairly well connected, with roads running north along the Grand Lumber Road, and south towards Yngar.

History

The site of Grane, on the shore of Lake Grae, was once within the ancient The Aelder Wood. There is some evidence to suggest that the area was the home of a tribe of ancient Aeldrin, though their name has long since been lost. After the founding of the Jarnish Colonies, the town of Grane was first formed by the ancient Yngarians in the years following the reign of Maknor Wildfyr.
Grane was one of the first towns to be annexed into the Empire of Nara Tok following the founding of Selucia and Lucria. For many decades, Grane continued in relative obscurity, one of many agricultural border-towns.
The town began to become an agricultural centre after the arrival of Lord Azorn from the north, in 241 IF. Azorn had been exiled from the Isle of Aoleir after the collapse of his house, and found his way into the court of the Emperor in Nara Tok. He became close friends with then-Emperor Juvo, who granted him large swathes of land in the burgeoning south-west, as well as a seat in the Senate. Lord Azorn began to invest in the town's agricultural industry, and under his guidance the town has flourished.
Azorn led the town through the Goblin Crusades, and Grane became famed during this time as the Granary of the South, in part due to its role in providing huge amounts of grain to the crusading armies. Azorn paid court to many of the Lucrian nobility, and secured funds and alliances which helped propel the town to prominence.
In the early years of Thaerseimai, the town found itself at the forefront of the The Yethisian Invasion. Deserters and raiders from both sides threatened the local farmsteads, until Lord Azorn was able to secure a contract with a Jarnish Mercenary company, who patrolled the region, driving away invading forces. Grane returned to its previous prosperity soon after the invasion ended.
Grane remains a useful waystop along the Grand Lumber Road, and continues to flourish under Lord Azorn's rule. The town remains one of the least affected by the troubles of the southern regions, and its farms remain of core importance to the province of Volodaria. Azorn has become close to the ruling House Sel-Anganeux which has allowed him to secure important contracts for trading the town's grain. His subjects hope that his reign continues for many more centuries.

Geography

Grane marks the western limit of the region of Volodaria. Its vicinity is filled with fertile farmland, that lie along the sides of the region's lakes.

Alternative Name(s)

The Granary of the South

Type

Large town

Population

7,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Granish