The inhabitants call it Gal-Anzarak, "the Tall Tower" in their tongue, and the name is an apt one. Not only is it a tall tower, but it is the tallest structure in the world, even piercing the clouds.

- excerpt from Wondrous Sights

Gal-Anzarak

Duryavar

Built on a giant mesa, the city of Gal-Anzarak is the center of Duryan civilization and the former capital of Dury. Once the seat of the Durian Emperors, the city is today a republic governed by the Council of Thirty, a thirty-member legislative body who elects a Belu-Siru (Durian for "High Lord") to act as the city's head of state. The other twenty-nine members of the council are called Siru ("Lords"). Despite the title of “Lord,” the Lords are popularly elected.

Gal-Anzarak was founded in the early years of the Third Age and was the capital of one of the great nations of the Octarchy. 

The city was constructed on a large mesa, though this mesa is now completely buried in the urban sprawl. The city is a Tower City, an architectural form usually associated with the Long Men. Some scholars speculate that God-King Duros I demanded the city be built in such a manner to emulate and surpass the Long Men, whom he is known to have warred against. The city now famously touches the clouds, having extended several miles upwards. It is the tallest structure in the world and is seen as one of the wonders of the world.  Near the upper reaches of the city, where one may look down and see the very clouds, the air is so thin that most cannot breathe. To remedy this, denizens of the upper levels must imbibe a drink known as the Safpess' Kiss once a day. The elixir allows one to breathe in the thin air at the top of the city, but also stains the lips and fingernails stark white over time, creating a clear visual way to identify one who lives in the upper levels.

The city was originally named Duryavar, however over the centuries locals began to call it “Gal-Anzarak,” meaning “The Tall Tower,” in reference to its great height. Over time, this name came to eclipse the original name, and was officially changed upon the popular uprising.

Though a city state, Gal-Anzarak’s position as one of the ends of the Marble Road, its natural fortifications, and strong foreign relations make it a prosperous and formidable power. The city has famously never fallen to siege in its long history.

Sisuthra Ashi-shagish, current High Lord of Gal-Anzarak