The city of Anar is the the biggest city in all of Asgard, due in large part to King Eldrin's castle lying just north in the mountains.

Maps of Anar can be found here.

City of Anar

Capital of Asgard

Population - 3,000,000
Size - 23 miles x 15 miles and 1.5 miles above sea level.

The City of Anar includes more than just the city proper. Within the large city of Anar rest really 2 cities, the city Anar, and then the area around it. The city itself hosts close to 1.5 million citizens with as many as 2 million people during the trading season. The city of Anar is a tightly packed city with not much room left within its walls. The city measures about 5 miles from the east gate to the west gate and about 2.5 miles from the north of the city to the south docks. West of the city is Minas Hísië, King Eladrions castle. The castle itself is almost another city in and of itself with a population close to 1 million people. Most of these people are guards and or servant that protect and care for the castle. The castle is quite large and could probably hold close to 5 million people in times of war. The castle from the front gate to the entrance to the main hall is 3 miles, the east and west towers are separated by 3 miles. Why the people of Anar just don't live in the castle is mystery to many of them. In fact most citizens of Anar, though living close to the castle never get to set their eyes on the magnificent cast of King Eldrin, the only view they get is when the mist parts and they see the top ramparts of the main building and of course the "Sun Tower". The rest of Anar is made up of farm lands and the mountains Minas Hísië resides in.

To get to Anar is a chore in and of itself. Anar is located in a valley of Sandar. Finding the valley can be difficult if you have never been there before. The valley is surrounded by tall mountain peaks on the east and west while the River Rána runs North and south through the city. North of the city is the bay of Anar. The bay of Anar was formed many years ago when the River Rána grew hot it flowed into a small ravine and over time the hot water killed all vegetation in that area, creating the no called bay of Anar. The bay of Anar has a circumference of roughly 6 miles. South of Anar leads to again to the Sandar Mountains and if you were to travel along the river 3 miles down river you would come to a split in the river, to the east the River Rána continues to flow through the mountains down to the Silver Sea, to the west little Rána flows and creates the Anar falls. The Anar falls are really a wonder to look at in the early morning. The steam from little Rána and the cool morning mountain air always form the most magnificent cloud formations. And during the summer months the sun hits them just right creating millions of small rainbows to pass in and out of them. The falls are a long 300 foot drop into the Rána lake. A nice lake that is cool enough to swim in, yet warm enough to keep you warm in the cold Mountain air. Many animals can be seen here at the early morning drinking of the cool lake water, the only time it is really cool enough to drink from.

If you travel east out of Anar, you will run into the bas of Mount Hísië. Mount Hísië is the home of Minas Hísië, the castle of King Eldrin. You climb up a step and long windy road into the forming mist above you and you will end up at the gate of Minas Hísië. Minas Hísië was created long ago by the Men of old with the help of the Dwarves in that area. Before the age of the Necromancer this stood as a meeting place for the Dwavers and Humans and was a great city of trade. As the Necromancer grew in power so did Minas Hísië. The "Sun Tower" was created then to keep an eye out for his troops and to warn the citizens that danger was coming. The river Rána had yet to flow hot and so you could see the magnificent castle from all sides. The day the castle was lost was a sad day indeed. Through the magic of the Necromancer, the hordes of vile creatures, and Mount Sandar exploding Minas Hísië was lost to Men until Eldrin claimed it back. Mount Sandar exploded violently and its lava poured out and down into the valley and through the river Rána. When the lava had gone away the river starting at Mount Sandar has been forever heated by the still active volcano inside. The magic of the Necromancer created the valley that Anar now sits within. The necromancer created the valley and the pass in the mountains to pass his troops threw. When Mount Sandar exploded and the magic of the Necromancer exploded the "Sun Tower" was blinded with ash and a darkness. They raised the warning bell but few could see with the ash and shoot of the volcano falling on them. The hordes of the Necromancer charged in, on a blinded Minas Hísië. Minas Hísië remanded under the Necromancers rule until he was defeated. When the Men of Old tried to reclaim the castle they found Orcs had taken up residency and were easily defeated. For many years different tribes of Orcs ruled within the halls of Minas Hísië and the town Anar was built then for the human slaves to work the land for them. Many attempts were made by both men and dwarves to retrieve Minas Hísië but all failed. The Orcs seemed to flow in from the depths of the mountains themselves and over power the armies. With the Sandar Mountains now isolated from the war with the Necromancer and the tunnels underneath collapsed and down fallen by the dwarves no one knew where these Orcs came from. It was only during the First Sundering and the Race wars that the Orcs left too few man there. And in the great battle of Anar the men of Asgard with a company of renegade Dwavers retook the castle and Eldrin was placed on its throne. He was the first Man to sit upon its mithral throne in 1600 years. He still, two hundred years later is the only Human to sit on its throne.

The city of Anar is the largest city in Asgard and the capitol as well. The city is split in two by the mighty river Rána. Rána runs through the town and the properties of Rána give Anar some added defense. Rána is a hot spring river that flows down from the top of Mount Ránarah. As the river passes down the mountain it gets cooler but is still very hot. The Rána around Anar is too hot for any living thing to live in the water. People can enter the river but only for very short periods of time. The temperature in the river varies from 110 degrees to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Around the banks the water might actually get to be around 80-100 at times and people do wade in that far or pull bath water from the great river. Because of this unique river Anar city engineers have created metal bottom boats to ride the river for trade purposes. These boats were created 100 years ago by the great Akren Stonehime. The Stonehime estate and family is probably the richest family living in Anar. They continue to produce ships for the city and for different guilds. Last year Akren Stonehime III built the first war galley that was able to ride the river Rána. This endeavor of his cost his family much and almost bankrupted them, however with the success of the galley the King and many of the nobles have commissioned him to build many more of these ships. He even claims that not only will they ride the river Rána but any other river or ocean in Ny Verden, a feat which previously could not be done. The trade ships of Anar sink when they are not on the hot waters of the Rána. No- one has tested his theory of these new ships yet. However the maiden voyage of Ara Istel, King Eldrin's flagship, is to set sail a fortnight after the Mid summer festival. This maiden voyage is to take the Ara Istel down the Rána and into the Silver Ocean and up to Pascoag.

With Anar broken up into two parts it has gown as one city and yet at the same as 2. The bank on the left of the river is the smallest and most people that live there are farmers or military men. There are also a plethora of inns and taverns for the travelers that do not want to walk across the bridge to the other size. The land around the left bank is rich farm soil. With the heated river it provides enough warmth that keeps the city and an outlying area warmer that the lands around it. In fact you know when you are following the river Rána cause you can take a few steps and go from freezing cold to warm and comfortable. In farm land around Rána has even been know to grow some exotic tropical plants and fruits cause of this phenomenon. The farmers of Anar take advantage to this and grow many exotic plants and fruits and sell them for high profits. The farmers of Anar are not your typical poor servants but are in allot of cases rich exotic farmers. They have formed an alliance and guild to protect their prices and right in the city of Anar. The left bank of Anar is pretty much run by this guild. Though Baron Von Spendik is the ruler of Anar he hold little power on the left bank. This guild of farmers and their "police" force rule. Their "police" force is made up of retired army men and young warriors who wish to fight but not join the army. They protect the farms from bandits, beasts and the what not and in exchange get to patrol the city and "rule" the streets. The leave visitors alone for the most part, as long as they don't act up or are known crop stealers. However the local business have to deal with them ask fro protection money, causing problems for those that don't follow the Guild's rules, etc. (Yes the mob of Anar is controlled by farmers :).)

The left bank of Anar is broken up into 2 distinct districts, The North district and the Visitor District. The North district is the upper 1/4 of the left bank and very few visitors are allowed to even enter here. It from here that the Farmers Guild runs and controls this part of Anar. The leaders of the guild are rumored to live here as many guards can be seen patrolling the streets escorting "unwanted" visitors off the land. There is only one house in this area that is extravagant and those leads many to believe this area is not the head quarters of the farmers guild. Little else is know of this area since visitors are not allowed in.

The Visitor District, called this by the commoners cause visitors are allowed in, makes up the majority of the Left Bank. Within this area live many commoners and military men that patrol the surrounding the city. With most of the land not with in Anar's wall accessible to the Left Bank the majority of the military that patrols the outward land live here. However as there are barracks and housing out on the land ther houses are mostly empty or left open and rented to adventures that come and go. Many of the tavern owners or shop keepers take care of the houses surrounding them for these soldiers. Also since this is the only way to get to the Castle or the Right bank many Inns and Taverns have sprung up in anticipation of earning a quick crown or two from the weary travelers. The main street is lined with such Inns, Taverns and bars. One could spend close to a month walking up and down the main street visiting one each night and they would not have been to all of them. There are also many others spread through out the town. As you walk down the main street you will eventually hit the market of the Left Bank. As Main street, Gate way, N. Hawk road, and Hawk road all run together you will be in the market. Not as big as the right banks market but servers the citizen on the left bank very well.

The right bank is much different. The right bank is about 75% of Anar and broken up into many different districts. There are parts of some districts you just don't want to be at late at night. Baron Von Spendik rules the right bank very well. He earned his title of Baron 10 years back in a battle with the Barbarian tribe Star Wolves. Baron Von Spendik lead a small band North and defeated the Barbarians driving them back to the Northlands and he only suffered 10 losses. Cause of his willingness and military tactics he was give the title Baron. When Baron Alexander decided to retire and rule no more King Eldrin gave Anar to Baron Von Spendik, if he wished. That was 5 years ago and since then Anar has been under the watchful eye of Baron Von Spendik.

Baron Von Spendik like all the Barons of Anar rule from the Citadel of Anar. The Citadel is a wonderful crafted "castle", believed to be constructed by Dwarves long ago but no one knows for sure. The Citadel of Anar over looks the bay of Anar and is the highest point in all of Anar. From the tower of the Citadel the watcher can see all that goes on in the lands around Anar. On the other edge of Anar sites the site of the Anar Monastery and the Anar library. The Monks of Anar are the guardians of the Library and all of its contents. Located within that district is also the Bards School of Music. It is there that bards can go to learn the ancient art of Barding and singing, however of the many that enter only about 25% finish and graduate. The monks and bards themselves guard and protect that district using no guards of the city. In fact many would say that the district there is under its own ruler ship and has its own laws. This is partially true, there are many laws that govern that district that apply no where else in Anar. To that district the documents and the books held within are sacred and valuable to steal them, deface them, ruin them, or even just smudge them you can face some sever punishments. The monks in conjunction with the bards form their own guards and police to protect this area and the library.

In between the Baron's Citadel and the library sit two very large naval yards. The largest of the two is Militia shipyard, which is located just East of the monks monastery. This shipyard is the home to one of Ny Verden's largest fleets, and home to the only fully metal bottomed ship.