Gareth
Population: 170000 (1000 dwarves, 500 elves, some goblins, grolms and deep dwarves)
Governance: Empress Rohaja of Gareth, Councilor Thorn Eisinger
Foundation date: 876 before BF
Derographical affiliation: Middenrealm
Political affiliation: Middenrealm: Kingdom of Garetia
Trade Zone: GAR
Traffic routes: Imperial roads 2 and 3, Gardel
“If you haven’t seen Gareth, you haven’t seen anything.”
— an aged Garethan citizen, 1038 FB“O merciful gods! It will take me weeks to see everything.”
— a young noble from Albernia, 1037 FBRegion: Middenrealm, Kingdom of Garetia
Population: 170,000, plus 1,000 dwarves, 500 elves, and some goblins, grolms, and deep dwarves
Governance: Council of Heroes, consisting of burghers, priests, and nobility
Temples: All Twelvegods (including the City of Light, site of the main Temple of Praios); Aves, Haal, Simia, Ucuri
Trade and Industry: Numerous merchants and artisans of nearly every kind; one can find everything in Gareth, if one is willing to pay its price.
Characteristic Features: Enormous number of temples and shrines, many chapterhouses (Noionites, Draconites), headquarters of the Stoerrebrandt Trading House, City of Light with the Sun Palace (main Temple of Praios), important Temples of Phex (protector of the city) and of Ingerimm (patron of the guilds), catacombs of the Hesinde temple, other subderanean tunnels, Academy of Magical Armor (mage academy, white, bodyguard and anti-magic mages), Academy of Sword and Staff (mage acdemy, white, combat mages), Institute of the High School of Cavalry (warrior school), Imperial Cavalry School (cadet’s school), Old Residence, ruins of the New Residence, Guarding Griffin (a monument pleasing unto Praios), Demon Fallows with remains of the Flying Fortress, Hotel Sea Eagle (probably the most expensive hotel in Aventuria, noted for its excellent cuisine)
Atmosphere in the City: Industrious; full of pride; bustling; loud and optimistic, despite the recent devastation (but this varies strongly by district; the misery of residents of the outlying districts is proverbial).
Gareth is capital city of the Middenrealm and by far the largest city in Aventuria. In fact, according to the edict of the Herald of Light, Gareth is the center of the world. The presence of so many imperial palaces and institutions proves that fact, as do the posh neighborhoods of affluent burghers and nobles and the city’s many towering temples, which give Gareth the name of City of One Hundred Towers. However, this much light creates an equally large shadow, and many Garethans from the districts outside the city walls endure severe poverty. Gangs of criminals struggle there for power, earning their daily bread mainly by racketeering, robbery, smuggling, theft, and fencing stolen goods. The fear of crime, famine, plagues, and uprisings are just part of life in this huge metropolis where gargoyles are said to lead a mysterious life of their own and the inhabitants take particularly strong pride in their city. Empress Rohaja resides in Gareth when she is not traveling through the provinces with her Imperial court.
Many refugees found long-sought shelter in Gareth during the Borbaradian Invasion and the last Orc Storm, much to their joy. Many adventurers from all over the world come to the Imperial city, and many adventures have started in a tavern called the Sword and Armor, a legendary heroes’ gathering place known as much for its patrons as for those seeking to employ them!