Zagrun

Zagrun was initially a stockade, much like the other orcish settlements in the Mosharg Steppes. When trade opportunities arose between the orcs and the other races of Myas'tara, the modernist orcs expanded Zagrun, gradually turning it into a major city, heavily influenced by the architecture of their new trading partners, especially the humans. Construction started by improving the existing settlement, replacing the wooden palisade with a stone wall, with battlements and a heavy iron gate and adding cobblestone roadways, winding around the orcish stone and wood residences. As the city prospered, it was expanded around this more traditional core, the Old Town, which currently is a largely residential area with some small shops. Residences are scattered throughout the city, however, in pockets in most of the city's other wards, except the Ward of Storms. Each new ward added to the city was built with walls, connected to the existing walls, with gateways between the wards carefully carved into the walls with magic. The Tower Ward holds a small palace where the Farseer lives and governs. Most of the nobles, and all members of the Farseer's Vision, live in the Tower Ward as well, many in large towers, so the skyline of the ward alone is worth the visit. A moat and orc-made lake was carved out around the palace, providing an additional measure of security around the palace. The Ward of Storms has a barracks and training fields where the Storm's Might, the standing military force and proctors of Zagrun, is housed. The Dock Ward houses most of Zagrun's industry, primarily focused on airship construction but comprising accomplished metalworkers, carpenters, and artisans. The Zagrun Shipyard is the main source of airships for Myas'tara and even most of Temshai. The city's new main gates open into the Ward of Commerce, where shops and stalls are haphazardly jumbled in with the residences. The battlements atop the walls are all connected; patrols can survey the entire city. A few quick single-occupant airships can be found hovering above the city in all but the worst weather. Known as the Storm's Gaze, they keep watch over the city, reporting to the Stormcaller in the Ward of Storms.