Ethnic groups:Aalbanese (pure Hattians) only.

Government: Burgemeister appointed by the Prinz of Aalban. The Burgmeister is the Head of Graez deployment of Aalban Armed Militia, too.

Ruler: Burgemeister Albrecht von Drachenfels (born 954) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Al LN), cousin of Prinz Jaggar’s father, Morgaithe.

History: Graez was founded by early Flaemish settlers, and it’s one of the oldest towns of the Principalities. During the Republic of the Highlands (from 829 to 859) Graez was an Hattian Barony, ruled by Baron Gerhard Lowenroth from 801 until 837 when he was succeeded by his son, Dieter. After the Light of Rad declaration, Dieter joined the rebels against the Magocracy but was soon forced to flee. Then Graez was annexed to the newly formed Principality of Aalban.

Since the arrival of Alphatians in Aalban, Graez isolation from major trails made it the safe heaven for those who didn’t want to meddle with strangers: Hattians purists. It’s considered unsafe for a non-Hattian, and especially for Alphatians, to enter the town, since the militia itself recognises how little it can do to protect the unlucky.

Trails: Two fair trails lead to Ritterburg and Leenz.

Economics: Graez is the greatest stronghold of pure Hattians families. Miners, artisans working raw iron, and few merchants and petty nobles make the majority of the population. A local brewery produces enough ale, Hochwertig Lager, to satisfy the town’s demand. Iron and by-products are exported everywhere in Aalban.

Notable sites: The Iron Mines trace their first pound of ore extracted to the time of Flaems settlers, some 600 years ago. Lacking the necessary care, the mines collapsed and were closed more than once until the arrival of Aalbanese technology. Nonetheless, in 950, the extraction of ore drastically decreased because it was practically impossible at those depths, even for Aalbanese advanced technologies. Magic enabled Aalbanese industries to struggle for survival, but the great amount of ore had to be imported. Fortunately, prospectors appointed by the Prinz found new veins and Aalbanese technicians provided a new mean to extract the ore to greater depths. However, the sophisticated machinery has recently been sabotaged, probably by rebels living in the Western FP, causing the collapse of one of the mines. Since then the safer mean of extraction has proved to be the "classical" partly magic- partly mechanic one. Aalbanese learnt the lesson since the amount of ore extracted has been wisely kept to that strictly necessary to Aalbanese machinery business, and escorted prospectors endlessly search the mountains for new veins of iron. The mines are guarded by a force of some 200 men of the Aalban Armed Militia, under the command of Graez Burgmeister. There are some 1000 workers and auxiliaries in the zone.

The mines should be part of the Western Free Province, but the Prinz of Aalban didn’t like the idea of being deprived of this source of raw material. He appointed a group of thieves to forge the map and to steal the original one from Glantri City. The thieves are actually reinforcing the walls of Schloss Ritterburg’s dungeon and the original map is safely stored in the same Castle. Unknown to the Prinz a copy lies forgotten in the village of Hirsberg, near the mines.

Information about the mines is considered top secret, unveiling this secret is considered high treason in Aalban.

Personalities: Burgemeister Albrecht von Drachenfels (born 954) (OD&D: Al L) (AD&D: Al LN).

Coat of Arms:A gules dragon salient incensed on argent background.

Thibault Sarlat, Giovanni Porpora, Agathokles.

January 2001, All rights reserved.