The Greyfalls Satraps
Greyfalls is the Realm’s last bastion in the Scavenger Lands. Captured by the Realm in RY 88, it was granted to the Realm in RY 91 as part of the peace treaty ending the Realm’s third invasion. Over the centuries, the Scarlet Empress has worked hard to maintain this toehold in the Scavenger Lands, which consists of the high-towered city of Greyfalls itself, half a dozen small towns and a large stretch of sparsely populated upland. It is one of only three places in the Scavenger Lands where the Realm keeps an official presence, and the only one where that presence is significant.
Greyfalls, the city, occupiers a spectacular location, on the eastern slopes of the Lesser Rock River below the GreyFalls. The yellow-brown of the city defenses and public buildings contrasts with the shimmering waterfall, easily 10 times the height of the city’s tallest minarets. Red-tile roofs are the rule, but occasional flashes of blue tile lend some color. Many of the city’s streets are adorned with wall murals and patterned mosaics, though few iconic depictions exist. Greyfalls nominally follows the Immaculate Philosophy.
About 155,000 people live in Greyfalls and its suburbs, while an additional 1,475,000 live in the larger territory. The rambling walls with their round towers 65 feet high enclose a circuit of seven square miles. Greyfalls is a typical district town writ large, with promenades of yellow brick circling tree-shaded plazas.
A shrine to the Immaculate Dragons or one of the local gods anchors each plaza. Most structures are three or four stories tall, with shops on the ground floor and offices or apartments above. Many wealthier families build towers, too, so Greyfalls is a city of domes, spires and minarets rising out of the fog. Many captains time their arrival to twilight, when sunset wreathes the city in an illusion of flame and smoke.
Greyfalls is where the Scavenger Lands come to do business with the Realm. Dynastic merchant houses that cannot do business on Scavenger Lands have holdings in Greyfalls, allowing them to compete with the Guild in trade. All such business is transacted at the Greyfalls dock, rather than the free port in Lookshy, so that the Realm receives the full import and dock taxes on all goods. It has become a huge transshipment port, dealing particularly in glass, crystal, and paper.
Greyfalls became an object of contention in the Realm Civil War as Ledaal Kilandros seized the Satrapy briefly from Ledaal Solace and issued a pogrom against Mnemon, Cynis, and Cathak families in the region, as well as instituting complete martial law. Unfortuneately for Kilandros, one of his own officers blew up nearly the entire Greyfalls docks in an ongoing fit of madness and grief after losing his family on the Blessed Isle.
Government
- The Imperial Satrap: Ledaal Solace. He purchased the Satrap from the Nellens family after Nellens Rombulac was almost assasinated. Rombulac wished only to keep the peace through peaceful means, but failed in the end due to the conflict created by Peleps Deled and Darius Firebrand within the city and at the Immaculate Temple. Ledaal Kilandros was also briefly Satrap and Strategos during a brutal occupation of the city by Pearl forces in the Realm Civil War.
- The Scarlet Major-Domo: Bretegani Wild Grove He keeps the Empress' river palace in good condition through festivities and celebrations, but they are often the location of more intrigue than he prefers. In a stunning display of bravery and manipulation, he managed to prevent the Empress's palace from being looted while Ledaal Kilandros was Satrap.
- The 23rd Legion General: Mnemon Koal.
- The Vartabed: Sister Cloud Hands. A mighty immaculate master who has slain no less than four anathema, she suffers regardless under the strain and temptations of Greyfalls' foreign customs.
- The Guild Representative: The Guild has no leader in their negotiations with the Dynast merchant houses. The breaking of the guild has led some former guild members to establish ties with Ragara Ayesha's trading network.
Important Spirits and Elementals
- Amasu, The Origami Hostess of the Glass Kimono, Paper Geisha: City Mother of Greyfalls and devout follower of the Immaculate Philosophy.
- More-Than-Ample Swimmer: Ruler of the Deeper Rock River spirit court.
- Generous Fish Prince: River spirit ruler of the Lesser Rock River spirit court.
- Slate Claws: Earth elemental ruler of Loam Badger Town. She is badger-shaped.
- Sun-Seeking Kao: Wood elemental ruler of the Wall-Chewing Vine Court.
- Umari Thousand-Handed, The Eternally Overburdened: Spirit who serves as the clerk for the Unified Congress of Greyfall Courts.
- Xian Yu: Spirit of Nasaru Redoubt who serves as a diplomatic attache to the Unified Congress of Greyfall Courts. Generally considered an outcast.
Type
Geopolitical, City council
Parent Organization
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