Garum

Garum is a small city of roughly 12,000 people built high in the Crimson Mountains. Although small, Garum is the oldest and proudest of the four cities in Manicae, and its people have lived and worked in the mountain stronghold for generations. The city itself is built entirely within the colossal fortress known as The Mantle: a hugely fortified and nigh-impenetrable keep that was built thousands of years ago. The current ruler of Garum is Ballard Ironheart, known as Ballard the Bold, Warden of The Mantle.

The sigil of Garum is a massive warhammer in front of the walls of Garum, known as the Hammer and Mantle of Garum.

History
Though many who live in Garum are very proud of their heritage, few details of the founding of the city have lasted through the ages. There is no recorded history of a time when The Mantle has not stood and been inhabited, dating the stronghold to at least 1500-2500 years old. The original construction methods (which must have been extreme) as well as the reason for building the stronghold have also been lost to time, making Garum both a physical marvel and a historical mystery.

In its more recent history, Garum has been known for raising some of the strongest men and women in Manicae for generations. The rugged landscape and culture based on strength and skill carved the people into what you see today. Most human inhabitants rise over 6 feet tall and are unusually strong, making expert miners and craftsmen easy to find throughout the small city.

During the Langolier War, Ballard led a small but elite group of Garumese fighters to assist the warriors of Austeris and Palatine. They fought bravely and although few returned, it is said that the men and women of The Mantle were the first ones to break the Langolier siege lines to turn the tide of battle.

After the war, the city returned to peacetime operations, mining throughout the many caves and tunnels beneath the city and collecting tolls from travelers passing through the mountains.

Diplomacy
Austeris and Garum: Austeris maintains simple but positive relations with the small city of Garum, but interaction has slowed in the past few decades. Austeris was pleased with Garum’s small but dedicated assistance in the past war, but it currently maintains contact for the sole purpose of trade, either with the town’s ore reserves or as a trade route through the Crimson Mountains, with the pass through Garum being orders of magnitude less harrowing than the mysterious Pass of Abendur.

Palatine and Garum: Palatine is a basic trade partner with Palatine and little more, but they are considered allies nonetheless.

Garum and Procerus: While both cities are mostly isolated, Garum and Procerus hold a stealthy alliance, kept quiet so as to not offend Austeris, Garum’s greatest source of income. Garum also supplies minerals to all three other local cities and gains mine workers from other cities, punished to work in the mines to pay off crimes or debts.

Leadership: Ballard's Court
Ballard Ironheart: Known as Ballard the Bold, Warden of the Mantle. He is one of the few known heroes of the Langolier war, and he has been the leader of Garum ever since. Ballard is proud and honorable, and his citizens trust him with the protection of Garum as well as the realm as a whole.

Erik Hobur: Master Armorer and old friend of Ballard, Erik is a skilled dwarf craftsman.

Marcus Sisur: Lord of the Mines, a shorter, balding man who is stocky and strong.

Cognus Alinia: Commander of the Old Guard, known as Archangel, a massive and weathered fighter.

Vithrathiel Mantellum: Elven Master-At-Arms and commander of the New Guard.

Tasil Elgadar: Keeper of the Holds, the youngest man in the court.