Gradsul

**Gradsul** is a major settlement in the kingdom of Keoland. It is the seat of the Duchy of Gradsul, currently ruled by Duke Luschan VIII of Rhola. Its name means "Haven of the Suel" in the ancient Suloise language.

## History

### Founding

Gradsul was founded in -368 CY by House Rhola, one the Suloise factions who spread across the western Flanaess during the Great Migrations. Rhola settled the coastline along the Azure Sea, while House Neheli headed north and founded the city of Niole Dra in -358 CY.

In -342 CY, following conflict with the native Flan tribes, a union was formed between Houses Rhola and Neheli and several minor Oeridian nobles. This union formed the Kingdom of Keoland, with its capital in Niole Dra.

### Imperial era

In 268 CY, Duke Tavish of Gradsul ascended to the Keoish throne, the first king of House Rhola since King Malv III. This began an era of conquest and expansion for Keoland which ended in 488 CY following the death of Tavish IV.

In the mid-fourth century CY, Gradsul was one of several southern Keoish settlements on the Azure Sea to be raided by pirates, taking advantage of the king's imperial to the north which left the southern settlements vulnerable. Keoland never successfully destroyed the pirates, and by 444 CY, the pirate groups would confederate as the Sea Princes.

In 433 CY, the Duke of Gradsul disappeared in the Amedio Jungle.

### Recent history

In 584 CY, Gradsul was the subject of an invasion attempt by a naval force from the Lordship of the Isles, led by the Scarlet Brotherhood. The ships were able to establish a blockade at the mouth of the Sheldomar River, but were harried by the Keoish navy and unable to mounta land invasion. The raid was successfully repelled by Duke Luschan, though at the cost of fully one quarter of his ships.

In 585 CY, animated corpses began washing ashore and attacking small fishing villages south of Gradsul. The population of the villages made a sudden exodus to the city of Gradsul, leading to a fishing shortage which placed an increased burden on the city's ability to feed its population.

As of 591 CY, Duke Luschan VIII has plans to build a dozen new frigates to defend against attacks via the Azure Sea; among them the ship Lionhearted. He has also been courting an alliance with Irongate, and a frigate of the prince of Naerie of the United Kingdom of Ahlissa has been seen docked in the city's harbor. A rival trade alliance between the Lordship of the Isles and the Principality of Ulek has been rumored, which has caused some concern in Gradsul. Gradsul has banned ships of the Lordship of the Isles from docking there.

## Geography

Gradsul is located on the Azure Coast, near the mouth of the Sheldomar River in the south-east of the Kingdom of Keoland. It is to the east of the Dreadwood forest. The Sheldomar River marks the eastern border of Keoland with the Principality of Ulek.

The settlement of Sanduchar is located some forty miles southwest of Gradsul. It is home to the grand palace of the Duke of Gradsul, where the current duke spends most of the year. Due to its closed harbor and proximity to the eastern reaches of the Dreadwood for easy access to lumber, Sanduchar has become Keoland's most important shipyard and the seat of the Keoish admiralty.

Several small fishing villages and towns dot the seashore south of Gradsul. The Duchy of Gradsul covers hundreds of miles of coastline, including the southern coast along the Azure Sea and the banks of the Sheldomar river.

The famed wizard Drawmij has an undersea lair near the city, from which he oversees Keoland and the southern Sheldomar valley area. It is located some 150 miles southeast of Gradsul.

## Cityscape

Gradsul is the largest seaport on the Azure Sea, with the cities of Irongate and Gyrax its nearest rivals. The city is divided into several distinct districts.

The city has a vast warehouse quarter, consisting of flat-rooved storehouses near the expansive docks. Occaisonal shops and taverns dot this district. There is also a great open market district offerings wares from across the Flanaess.

There is at least one school of magic here, which has the distinction of having once taught Theodain Eriason, a legendary high elf wizard and the first demihuman to become a member of the Circle of Eight. A guild of *freemages*—wizards who refuse to kowtow to the academy of magic at Niole Dra, historically a legal requirement in Keoland—was established in this city under the protection of Duke Luschan and Archmage Drawmij, calling themselves the Sea Mages.

The Seekers, a loose-knit society of explorers and scholars, have a clubhouse in this city. They have patrons among the Sellark noble family here and have sponsored such famed expeditions as Tibarian Matreyus' ill-fated journey to the Amedio Jungle.

A library at Gradsul houses a massive onyx relief from kopru ruins found off the coast. it depicts twin serpents breaking from an egg covered in continents, screaming humanoids, and is symbols representing the number 13,597.

A statue of Horus, a deity of the Pharaonic pantheon, is in this city. It depicts the deity wielding a sword.

## Travel

The Sheldomar River is navigable between the Keoish capital of Niole Dra and Gradsul. The city's proximity to the Azure Sea also makes it an important dock for travel and trade.

## People

### Population

As of 576 CY, Gradsul has a population of 49,400.

### Demographics

Three quarters of the city's inhabitants are human, primarily of Suloise and Oeridian descent, with some Flan. 8% are elves, with 60% of those sylvan elves and 40% high elves. 6% are gnomes, 5% lightfoot halflings, 2% half-elves, 1% dwarves, and 1% other races.

Gradsul's population are cosmopolitan and diverse. The native humans are primarily of mixed Suloise and Oeridian descent and are considerably more metropolitan and less superstitious than other regions of Keoland. Gradsul is a popular home to independent mages. The people of this region are also stereotyped as resourceful, forthright, domineering, and occasionally greedy, with a love of exploration and naval travel that have historically manifested as a lust for conquest.

Several notable thieves' guilds dominate in this town. Criminals in Gradsul often escape justice by fleeing to the Earldom of Gand, a small independent province which broke away from control of Gradsul some centuries ago.

### Notable individuals

The explorer Tibarian Matreyus is a native of the city. Aherlos, a member of Keoland's Royal Explorer's Society who met his death under mysterious circumstances, was also from this city.

The famed mage Drawmij of the Circle of Eight is a distant relation of Duke Luschan VIII, and occasionally serves as his advisor.

### Religion

The primary Keolandish religions are Heironeous, Phaulkon, St. Cuthbert, Fharlanghn, Elhonna, Lydia, Osprem, Zilchus, Kord, Xerbo, Norebo, Olidammara, Trithereon, and the elf pantheon.

The Temple of the Children, the largest temple of the Oeridian spring goddess Atroa, is in Gradsul. It is a large building constructed from wood and contains one of the largest orphanages in Keoland.

The Foaming Tower, a temple to the Suel sea goddess Osprem, is also located in Gradsul. Sailors setting out from Gradsul often seek blessings at both Osprem and Atroa's temples, and many worship both gods.

### Languages

The Common tongue and Keolandish are spoken here, as are the Elven, Gnome and Halfling languages.

## Government

The Duchy of Gradsul is ruled by Duke Luschan VIII of Rhola, a human wizard and fighter. The duchy is ultimately subservient to the Keoish crown, a hereditary monarchy with its capital in the city of Niole Dra.

The Duke of Gradsul holds considerable power within the Keoish royal court. The current duke also holds the position of Lord High Admiral of Keoland. As such, he is conside

The day-to-day operations of the capital are managed by a cousin of Duke Luschan, appointed Lord Mayor of Gradsul. Luschan himself spends most of his time at Sanduchar, a grand palace forty miles southwest of the city and built during Keoland's imperial period.

Gradsul has complex and nuanced politics similar to Dyvers and the Free City of Greyhawk.

## Economy

### Resources

The city is highly reliant on local fishing villages to supply food to the population.

### Trade

The port at Gradsul does a great deal of trade, exceeding that of the Keoish capital at Niole Dra several times over. It is the undisputed mercantile center of Keoland, and facilitates trade with ships from as far away as the Aerdi Coast and the Densac Gulf.

The Duchy of Gradsul has long been the most prosperous regions of Keoland.

### Currency

The standard Keolandish currency is used here: the platinum griffon, golden lion, electrum eagle, silver hawk and copper sparrow.

https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Gradsul