Graywall

Known as the Gateway to Three Falls, this small City sits in a valley nestled between the Graywall Mountains and the Byeshk Mountains on the border to Hosuth.  It is built atop the ancient Dhakaani ruins of Korash Khaar.

Though dominated by monsters and ruled by the Mind Flayer, Xor'chylic, Graywall is both a center for trade and a haven for deserters and fugitives.  The Dragonmarked Houses maintain outposts in Graywall, and House Tharashk governs the Calabas, the foreign quarter inhabited by Humans and other people from elsewhere in Argones.

Graywall lies on a House Marquis trade road leading from western Hosuth, and is usually a visitor's first stop when entering the monstrous Kingdom of Three Falls. It is the second-largest settlement in the region after the Great Crag, which serves as the nation's capital.

While Graywall was built by the hands of ogre and goblin laborers, it was designed by the Illithid, Xor'chylic. He designed the layout of the city with subliminal patterning, which causes newcomers to the city to feel dread and apprehension. Locations are marked with basic pictorial signs, since most of the inhabitants of Graywall can't read. Buildings are designed to fit creatures both large and small. Graywall also has a network of tunnels underneath the city, called the Khyras (a Goblingo word meaning "Deep Doors").

Graywall is divided into four distinct districts, with an additional two areas outside of these districts.

History

Ten thousand years ago, the Dhakaani Empire built the fortress of Korash Khaar at the base of the Graywall Mountains, with the purpose of defending the valley between the Graywall and the Byeshkk Mountains.  The fortress stood strong for a thousand years; at least, until the Daelkyr War erupted. Western Argones was overrun by the Daelkyr and their servants.  Dyrrn the Corruptor, one of the more powerful daelkyr, set his sights on Korash Khaar. The daelkyr overran Korash Khaar, and some say that the defenders' blood was absorbed into the walls of the fortress, turning the stone to blood red. Korash Khaar fell, though the daelkyr themselves were pushed back. Many of the invading daelkyr were trapped beneath the ground, in cells in the Underdark created by the Gatekeepers.

Over the next nine thousand years, the ruins of Korash Khaar changed hands many times, with the Goblins, then the Gnolls, then the Ogres, and finally the Gargoyles all taking turns using the ruins as their home.

During the latter days of the Last War, monstrous warbands were seen in western Hosuth, causing chaos amongst the citizens of the nation. In 4987, King Boranel of Hosuth evacuated the remaining Hosuthian settlements west of the Graywall Mountains. Soon after, a trio of Hags calling themselves the Daughters of Sora Kell came forward and announced possession of all lands west of the Graywall Mountains. They announced this land as a new sovereign nation they called Three Falls - a nation where the unwanted creatures of the world, such as Gnolls, Hags, Ogres, and the like could find a home.

The Daughters of Sora Kell established the basic feudal system that passes for government in Three Falls. A rudimentary form of civilization sprang up in its wake. Graywall was one of the first new cities to be founded. Rumor has it that one of the Daughters, Sora Teraza, found one of Dyrrn's servants trapped beneath the ruins: an Illithid named Xor'chylic. Xor'chylic was freed, and pledged loyalty to the Daughters of Sora Kell. Sora Teraza ordered Xor'chylic to take over the ruins, and from the ruins of Korash Khaar came the city of Graywall. Xor'chylic used the Medusa masons of Cazhaak Draal, combined with brute Ogre strength, to quickly build the second-largest city in the new nation of Three Falls.

For the past several years Xor'chylic has been the governor of Graywall, and holds the power of life and death over its inhabitants. Though Three Falls does not follow the Code of Galifar, Xor'chylic has no patience for monsters that kill without reason, and the people of Three Falls know better than to provoke his wrath. Still, a large number of outlaws and exiles make their home here, and substances illegal in the Five Nations are frequently peddled here.

Xor'chylic enforces his rule with the Flayer's Guard, a group of monsters with full allegiance to him and the Daughters of Sora Kell, thanks to his psychic influence. The Flayer's Guard is led by Korgel Blackblade, and is composed of a force of ogres, Orcs, and Minotaurs supplemented by Harpies, Gargoyles, and a squad of war Trolls trained by Sora Maenya herself. In addition, Xor'chylic can call upon the 100 Gnolls of the Znir Pact stationed in Graywall, as well as his allies in House Tharashk to help support any defense of the city necessary.  Although it has the trappings of a border town, Graywall is also a military outpost that stands ready to defend the pass against Brelish aggression, or to launch a raid, if needed. All workers in the Stone Pit undergo basic militia training and can take up arms if necessary.