Glila

If Miranthor had a capital, it would be the diverse, bustling metropolis of Glila. The port city is a melting pot of cultures and races, with people from all over the world converging in its busy streets. This diversity has led to a rich tapestry of architectural styles, cuisines, and artistic traditions, making Glila a vibrant and exciting place to live and visit. The city's harbor is constantly filled with ships from far-off lands, trading goods and stories from distant shores. Glila's strategic location and diverse population make it an influential member of the Traders' Union of Miranthor, with strong ties to various trade routes and organizations throughout the realm.
Once a modest coastal trading and fishing town, Glila saw economic growth by the natural resources surrounding them. Rich mountain ranges and geothermal volcanic activity make for rare and bountiful natural resources, many of which flow through Glila on their way to trade destinations.
The turning point came during the Siege of Glila in 879, when a coalition of pirate fleets attempted to take over the city. The siege was almost successful, but Glila’s allies from Lundrheim and Frostvine arrived to provide military aid, and the pirate fleet retreated. The leaders of Glila came to realize that the free cities were stronger together. Together with Lundrheim, and after some reluctance from Frostvine, the leaders of the three became the founding members of the Traders' Union of Miranthor.
Districs of Glila
The Obsidian Harbor: A vast, bustling harbor where ships of all shapes and sizes come and go, transporting goods and passengers to and from Glila. The harbor is surrounded by numerous warehouses, shipwrights, and dockside taverns.

• Aelor's Fountain - A massive bronze statue of Aelor which sits on the harbour of Glila. The statue depicts Aelor standing, with a barrel on their shoulder, perpetually flowing fresh water into the Glila basin. Aelor's face is obscured by a bursting light that rests on their shoulders. Arcane mechanisms and enchantments pulls the water up through the statue and pours it back out from the barrel. Aelor's Fountain was a gift from the Arcanum Conclave after they purchased the land on which they would build the Sirenscale Institute.

• Glila Gazette - The local newspaper, offering news, gossip, announcements, and up to date information on all the trade and merchant prospects in Glila's ever changing markets.

• Vindrys Maritime Mercantile - By far the most dominant shipping and trading company in Miranthor, VMM was founded by Malakar Vindrys, son of legendary shipwright, Thormar Vindrys. Malakar's daughter, Solara Vindrys, is the current owner and head of the company. Solara is also the current Union appointed Thane of Glila. The VMM's fleet is comprised of many Vindrys original ships, most of which Solara hunted down and bought back to her family's possession.

Mercantis Square: The market district of Glila never sleeps, constantly bustling with new shops, stalls, and merchants peddling their wares. It is also where many of Glila's job listings are posted, from sailing, to bounties, to slaying, and more.

• The Grand Bazaar - A massive open-air market where merchants from all corners of the world gather to sell their wares. It's a chaotic, colorful, and fascinating place where one can find just about anything, from exotic spices to rare magical artifacts.

• The Siren's Song - A popular brothel among sailors and others who may not be able to afford the company of a Guiding Light Companion. While it used to be a place of ill repute with poor working conditions, after some intervention of the Guiding Light Companions, the workers have unionized and the brothel's reputation has vastly improved.

• The Bottled Breeze Apothecary - A population potions and herbs shop, run by an enigmatic triton, Astraea Almenath. The apothecary specializes in items with oceaniac ingredients.

• The Gilded Conch - A popular inn and tavern, known for its nightly performances and shows.

• The Paper Lantern - A general store which includes a small bookshop.

• Pearl of the Sea - A popular jeweler in Glila.

• The Prism Parlour - A magic shop run by the eccentric Faelix Lumina. The Prisom Parlour offers an array of magical items, with a constantly updating inventory depending on what Faelix can find and trade to stock. Faelix is known to beguile travelers with tales of their own exploits from their adventuring days.

Sageborough: Hosting a few residents and shops, the district is mostly comprised of student homes and places of learning belonging to the Institute. It also contains much of the city greenspace and public gathering spaces in Glila.

• The Sirenscale Institute - The internationally renowned university of Glila, famous for its robust curriculum in nautical sciences, marine biology and oceanography, international trade and economics, and maritime innovation and technology. It contains a small, newly formed faculty of arcanists and enchanters for Glila's rising interest in commercial traded magical goods. Situated near the city's bustling harbor, the campus boasts a sea-inspired architecture, with buildings resembling seashells and lighthouses, and a library known for its comprehensive collection of nautical charts and maritime texts among its wealth of knowledge. It is named for Fennik Sirenscale, the dragonborn founder of the Institute and member of the Arcanum Conclave.

• The Gardens of Harmony - A large, beautifully landscaped park in the center of the city that showcases flora from around the world. It's a peaceful oasis where citizens and visitors can take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. The park contains a shrine in its center to Harmon, the Maker.

• The Tower of Many Tongues - An imposing tower, built upon the ruins of a Pre-Sundering temple, that houses the headquarters of the Trader's Union. It's a hub of commerce and diplomacy, where merchants and representatives from various nations and organizations gather to negotiate deals and forge alliances.

Verkstad: The working class residential district of Glila.

• Old Town - The original borders of Glila when the city was nothing more than a fishing town encompass Old Town. The former district was largely destroyed during the Siege of Glila, having been the residential area closest to the harbour. It has since been absorbed into Verkstad and the remaining building are protected as historical landmarks.

• The Slippery Seadog - The tavern has existed in Old Town since before the wall was erected around the city. Run by Sully Reeves, a middle aged dwarves whose father was an infamous pirate many years ago. While Sully was never in the Black Brand, he is known to have connections there. His tavern officially caters to pardoned Black Brand denizens, and unofficially caters to current Black Brand pirates.

• Sailor's Rest - A smaller tavern mostly patronized by locals.

• The Guardian Temple - A beautiful temple dedicated to Torra, the Defender, and one of the oldest buildings in Glila.

• Hope Cottage Orphanage - An orphanage owned and operated by the Guiding Light Companions.

• Foam and Froth Brewery - A small brewery known for making a wide variety of beers and ales from imported ingredients around Terathis and the world.

The Sparrows: The poorer district of Glila used to be situated outside the city walls. After a long fought battle between workers who reside in the Sparrows and the city council, the district was incorporated as an official part of Glila, and shortly after a new wall was built around the district. The old wall still separates the Sparrows from the rest of Glila. The district’s name has derogatory roots, as a name used to describe the people of the district, likening them to the sparrows and songbirds that roost on the walls of the city.

• Dolel Stables - A large stable where people can stable and purchase horses, owned by the Dolel family.

• The Last Drop Inn & Tavern - A small tavern and the epitome of a hole in the wall. They offer less costly services than inns found in Verkstad, and substantially cheaper than the market district.

• Falmkost Cemetary - A large cemetery that used to be on the outskirts of Glila, but was incorporated into the city when the Sparrows was made an official district. The Shepherd's Sanctum is located here, a small temple dedicated to the Eternal Arbiter.

• The Shining Hearth - A soup kitchen operated by the Guiding Light Companions.

Aurelium Heights: The wealthy district of Glila that sprawls up the hills leading to the cliffs that wrap around Vindrys Bay.

• Temple of the Guiding Light - A large temple dedicated to Aelor, the Guiding Lights, and the central temple for the Guiding Light Companions. The temple serves as a place of worship and celebration, offering altars to all the Guardian Pantheon. The temple offers many private rooms for courtesan services to be provided at the temple. The back of the temple opens to a large pavilion overlooking the ocean where the Companions host events.

• The Royal Kraken - An upscale inn and restaurant that services wealthy travelers and Glila's upper class.

• The Tidebreak Estates - Multiple large estates owned by the wealthier elite of Glila, mostly merchants and politicians, including Zaldrin Vekar, Almoner of Glila.

The Siege of Glila
A defining event in Glila's history marked the height of tensions between the Black Brand and the Traders' Union, or more specifically the Indigo Legion. Leading up to the siege, piracy was met with merciless aggression by the Legion. Piracy was its own charge, and encompassed anything from theft of property to murder. Before the Black Brand was established, regardless of the action that led to, piracy was a hanging charge, and anyone convicted was sentenced to death.
If someone was arrested for or suspected of piracy, or aiding and abetting pirates, the Indigo Legion would brand the suspect before any trial had taken place. The Legion insisted this was necessary to monitor anyone who might be helping pirates thrive in their waters, and the only way to keep the citizens of Glila safe.
Several captains came together, setting aside petty differences, and establishing coalition, similar to what the Traders' Union had done. They negotiated terms and a code of conduct for this coalition, and embracing what marked them, called themselves the Black Brand. Many who were never arrested and branded by the Legion began to get a tattoo of a black bar on their arm to indicate their loyalty to the Brand. A base was established on the island dubbed Leviathan's Grasp, chosen for its treacherous surrounding waters riddled with sandbars and whirlpools.
While there was no central leadership and they seldom worked as well together as would always serve them, the unification under a banner made the threat of piracy more pressing for the Union. Working together to share information, the Black Brand was much more successful at taking marks and were more elusive to the Indigo Legion's navy.
When Watch Captain Giselle Crake was appointed her position, she insisted she would erase the threat of the Black Brand from the Ember Sea. Crake began planting moles in with Black Brand crews, gathering information on them and turning the tide on their advantage against Glila's trading routes. Crake learned of several pirate captains working together for a score, which was unheard of. The mark in question wasn't jsut any cargo fleet. It was a payload of platinum ore from Solendria, enough to make each crew rich for a lifetime.
Crake seized the opportunity and did warn the High Council or the Traders' Union, instead allowing the pirates to converge on their mark, and meeting them with the full force of the Indigo Legion's navy. Several ships went down, including one of the cargo ships, but declared the opportunity a success, having dealt a heavy blow to the Black Brand's numbers. However, as Crake was being investigated for going over the High Council's head, the Black Brand were readying a retaliation.
After successfully taking a man-o-war, the Black Brand blew through Glila's defense, sitting up in the Obsidian Harbour and turning their cannons on the city. Threatening to attack if their demands weren't met, the Brand asked for a parley with the High Council. They demanded an end to the charge of piracy, an end to branding anyone suspected of engaging in or aiding pirates, fairer trials, and a seat for a representatie of the Black Brand on the High Council.
The siege lasted multiple weeks, with skirmishes breaking out, but the Brand holding strong. That was until Frostvine's navy fleet arrived from the north. True to their word, the Brand fired on Glila, completely destroying the majority of Old Town. They soon had to focus their fire on the Frostvine navy, and after a day's long battle that took many lives, the remaining ships of the Brand that hadn't been destroyed retreated, and the siege was over.
Crake was relieved of her position and after an investigation into the events, some reforms were passed. The act of branding was outlawed in the Traders' Union, and piracy was no longer a hangable offense unless it was companied by a violent crime such as murder or reckless assault.
The effects of the Siege of Glila have been felt in the decade or so since. Current Watch Captain Ambrose Nindr has said that living through the siege as a child was what convinced him that a radical new approach was needed to ensure something like that never happened again.

Population: 291,850
Mixed ancestry: 22%
Elf 19%
Dwarf 16%
Human 14%
Gnome 12%
Dragonborn 8%
Orc 6%
Other races 3%