Hailgrad, the crown jewel of Hailgalad, stands on and around a plateau among the grassy seas of Aeros. It was built on the same ground where the kingdom’s founder, Eardred I, had his ancestral home. It is now a sprawling city that shelters tens of thousands within its walls. It is the heart of Hailgalad and is the seat of power where the king and queen of Hailgalad reign.
To the north and south, the Frostfall River feeds twin lakes. Noorden lies to the north and Zuiden to the south. These stand as natural protection that has long shielded the capital. The river itself winds through the city in glittering canals that glisten in the morning light.
Encircling the city is a great ring of stone walls, soaring a hundred feet into the sky. By day, banners snap in the wind, while the sterling soldiers stand upon the battlements. Four gates act as a break in the walls, with one facing in each cardinal direction. Across these gates are murals of hammered iron, depicting Hailgaladrian cavalry charging into battle. It is said that Kaeofrond, the first king’s general, set a spell upon these gates. All enemies to come before it are filled with great unease, and all allies that are near are given courage as if they had a great host of ten thousand soldiers at their back.
Within the walls, the first ring of the city is made of small shops, homes, and inns. The Hailgaladrians built the majority of the city with white stone and beautiful birch roofs. White stone and birch were said to be the materials the deity of Hailgalad, Areandel, used to build her home in the land of the gods, the Naruplex. The first citizens of the city felled groves of birch that stood where the capital is, and these trees are survived by sparse decedents that pepper the sides of city streets. The white stone was cut from a canyon system five leagues to the northeast of Hailgrad. The builders constructed an entire canal system with the Frostfall River to transport the materials.
This outer circle of the capital has many hubs of trade known as hearts of the city. They pulse with the lifeblood of the city as gold and goods flow.
Further into the city is a second ring of walls. This place was once the city’s original boundary, but now holds its industrious core. Here, the buildings are constructed much taller, some even three and even four stories tall. Smoke and steel scent the air, and the clang of hammers echoes through the workshops. From there, the road climbs into a series of switchbacks that climb the plateau’s gently rising face. Stately villas loom behind walled gardens, their terraces alive with lantern light and laughter when night falls. These are the ancient homes of nobles whose bloodlines trace back to before Hailgalad was formed.
At last, the climb ends at the third and final wall, where gates open onto the palace courtyard. It is a place that is always bustling with workers and diplomats from all corners of the land. The palace is a true masterpiece of Hailgalad. The great hall stands tall with magnificent windows and intricately carved birchwood designs. Behind the hall, spiraling stone towers pierce the sky like pearl-white spears. It is here that Hailgalad’s royalty have always ruled since Vaelor was thrown out as the people’s overlords.
Harrison DeVries Writing 