Grant’s status as a city state started very early. No kingdoms or true borders had been established when Grant started to grow. The location was tactically chosen, being both near the water as a source of food and mercantile opportunities, and very central when it comes to land routes.
This favourable position caused the city to grow quickly, despite lacking a direct ruler. By the time the Council had been established, so were neighbouring kingdoms. The rise of these kingdoms was partially possible thanks to their trade through the city of Grant. This very detail had prevented many kings and rulers from taking the city, as a lot of other nations would immediately retaliate should one of their most important independent trade partners end up being captured by a rival kingdom.
Although Grant had some military power, it was mostly for self defense and to keep the peace internally. The city state operated on too small of a scale to compete with foreign nations, however, it did produce a respectable amount of mercenaries available for hire, where it was simply considered another type of good or service you could purchase there.
War eventually broke out between two neighbouring nations. Both sides forged alliances with other kingdoms, which removed the threat of instant retaliation that originally kept the city safe. Both sides had set their eyes on Grant, and news of this reached the city council.
After much discussion, the council received a visitor, an incredibly talented Alchemist introducing himself as Mephisto. He laid out a plan where he produced a special beer that creates a very toxic fog, which would envelop the entire city and the outskirts. The population would evacuate inside the city walls and be given an antidote to the fog. When the kingdoms attacked, their troops would succumb to the mist and go berserk, safeguarding the city for as long as the war would rage on.
The Council agreed to provide the necessities for Mephisto to begin his work. Soon everything was set in motion and the city was covered in fog. As the population drank the antidote and waited, scouts would spot the approaching armies from the city walls. The reports detail the soldiers slowing down first, before brutally fighting each other. A horn was heard and what remained of the armies retreated.
Life continued fairly normal in the city. The recipe for antidote was safeguarded heavily to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, although it was very clear that none of the warring nations still had interest in taking Grant after hearing about the power of the fog. All goods were checked before leaving the city, making sure nobody tried to smuggle it out.
