Copperhame
Copperhame is a large city (population almost 100,000) which controls a wide territory at the eastern end of the Darkroot Mountains, about 180 miles southwest of Ossana. It is very wealthy city, as the nearby mines produce gems, gold, and copper. The city does much commerce with Xenthus, with whom it is on friendly terms. The walled city sits atop a low hill at the foot of Ebar Cuculos, and controls a number of satellite villages and small towns.
The city is ruled by the Five Families. Each family contributes one member to the ruling council, and the governorship is rotated among them, with each family holding the post for two years before passing it along. They hold no former titles, in an attempt at appearing egalitarian, but there is no doubt in the city of the power and status they wield. The Five Families are the Nobarro, Orgon, Vanet, Edderive, and Guardiron families.
The city is generally governed with a light touch, however, as the ruling philosophy is that whatever is good for business is good for everybody. Taxes are rigorously enforced, but are very carefully kept just below the point of pain. The city maintains a fair-sized standing army, as there is always danger from orcs or nomads from the desert, or even bands of ogres or giants from the mountains.
The city has a thriving dwarven community as well, the only human city in Elcea to do so. The dwarves are valued for their stonework and mining abilities, and are well paid for their skills. Copperhamians are in general very tolerant of other races. As the saying there goes, it isn't the color of your skin that's important, but the color of your coin.
The city can become quite hot in the summer, though the winters are very mild. Rainfall occurs mostly during the winter months, but only amounts to about 15 inches annually. Snow is unknown there, though it falls plentifully enough on the northern slopes of the mountains above.
Karnak
This city is known as "The City of the Plains". It is situated at the northern end of the Plains of Agran, right at the foot of the western Darkroot Mountains. It is a city of grey stone, surrounded by high walls that are graced by many high towers. The city is ruled by an Overlord, a post that is usually, but not always, hereditary. It is surrounded by a territory of farms, fields, and villages, extending around the city for some 20 miles in every direction save north.
Karnak maintains a policy of strict neutrality whenever possible. They trade with Soroth to the south and Copperhame to the east, but do not deal with their closest neighbors, the Empire of Akam-Osar. They also maintain friendly relations with the powerful nomad clans of plains.
In the center of the city is a very ancient temple. This temple is deserted, for all residents fear it even more than they revere it. It houses the dread Gods of Karnak, ancient beings who actually dwell inside. They usually slumber unless the city is in some great danger, when they awaken to protect it. As their efforts are always effective but frequently widely destructive, the citizens and rulers are very careful to keep things running quietly whenever possible. The few Overlords who have decided that the old ways should be abandoned always regret it, usually disappearing on a night when the ancient temple door is heard to creak open, and strange footsteps rattle in the streets. On such nights residents and even soldiers hide under their beds, cowering until the dawn. On the other hand, the Gods of Karnak have held the Hordes of the Sun, the armies of Akam-Osar, at bay for 1500 years.
Karnak usually receives some snow in the winter, though the summers are mild and pleasant. Fierce thunder and hailstorms sometimes sweep down from the mountains. The city is home to about 60,000 people.