Duke Garand's House
This imposing, fortress-like structure dominates the Foreign Quarter, serving as the stronghold of its self-proclaimed ruler—a man known only as "Garand," a name salvaged from an otherwise unpronounceable origin.
Though the title of "Duke" is one he granted himself, it has long since been adopted by locals, whispered with a mixture of respect and fear.
The Duke shares his home with a small, fiercely loyal cadre of enforcers, each handpicked for their ruthlessness. These men answer to Forlorn, a brutal and calculating half-orc sergeant-major who ensures the Duke’s will is carried out without question.
The first floor of the keep is designed for power and intimidation, with an opulent yet austere reception hall, a grand dining chamber, and a kitchen staffed by nervous cooks who know better than to serve anything less than perfection. The second floor houses the Duke’s soldiers and household staff, packed into barracks-style quarters that contrast sharply with the lavish top floor. From his personal suite—an extravagant display of wealth and dominance—the Duke can survey the Foreign Quarter from every direction, always watching, always knowing. Within this suite lies his carefully guarded treasury: 10,000 gold pieces, 30,000 silver, and an assortment of jewelry worth another 3,000 gold.
Garand’s influence weaves through the district like a strangling vine. He holds quiet stakes in many businesses, offering loans where the city’s moneychangers would not—though always at a cost. Those who fail to repay him quickly learn that his punishments rarely fall upon the debtor alone; families, friends, and loved ones often bear the brunt of his enforcers' wrath. Many otherwise honest men have been forced into desperate crimes to escape his grip, further expanding the Duke’s dominion over the district.
While city officials turn a blind eye, unwilling or unable to challenge his rule, the people of the Foreign Quarter know one thing for certain: to cross the Duke is to court ruin.
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