Brallas

Brallas has always been a key trade town for Darcos. Located on the major inland trade route between Sarten and the Northern Kingdom, and sits on Gray Lake, which connects to the other great lakes of Arvanor. Long noted for its seasonal trade fairs, Brallas has become a banking center, with the practice of using promissory notes originating here and spreading throughout the central provinces. Wealthy merchants pay each other in these notes, eliminating the need to transport large amounts of money.
The great stone Griffin Castle, with its fine carved griffin heads, is a source of pride to the townsfolk. Brallas is very lively, its 2,200 people being high spirited and less law abiding than many Darcosians.
In addition to the excellence of the small garrison here. Brallas has two other notable features. First, almost as a reaction to the materialistic nature of the town, it boasts two large monasteries, the Monastery of Inner Peace and the Monastery of the Way of the Essence. These monasteries possess excellent historical archives and are treasuries of knowledge and lore. Second, the Tarn herbalist, Schuter Garalend, has made a home here, bringing with him the secret of orcbane. This oily preparation contains an agent venomous to orcs, and any edged weapon coated with it inflicts additional damage to such creatures. Schuter can prepare only limited doses per week, and orcbane deteriorates within weeks even when sealed in a vial, so he is kept busy by the military whose demand far exceeds his ability to supply.