Locations

Key Locations

Dire Keep

Dire Keep is an ancient fortress and the ancestral home of the Wyverns Watch. It is an imposing and strategically impressive fortification that has stood the test of time. Legend has it that it was constructed by Trolls as an outpost for breeding terrifying beasts of war. Whether one believes the old tales is for each individual to decide, but to construct such a place in a location as difficult as where the keep is situated would have been quite a feat for the time; requiring massive manpower. Since this time, it has been expanded, altered and reconstructed over nearly a millennia. Dire Keep is currently in a state of disrepair after over three hundred years of neglect. Historically the keep would have been larger, but the northern half of the keep appears to have been collapsed into the mountain side some time ago; there is record of this in the histories, which attributes the damage to the dark times.

The keep is situated on a tall hillside which is practically impossible to scale effectively, in siege conditions, making the only viable entrance through the gatehouse. The gatehouse is a potential murder hole with two re-enforced gates, high walls and four towers; this design makes it easy for attackers to be trapped and fire to be rained down upon them. The keep's external walls are high and thick; they can withstand heavy battery but are historically vulnerable to close ranged magic attacks. The walls are lined with towers of two varieties; the smaller circle towers which function as defensive structures only, and the taller square towers which are both defensive towers and functional ones being used for storage, sleeping quarters and armouries. The courtyard is small and vulnerable to altitude attacks from the walls. At the back of the Keep, formally the centre, sits the great hall and tower; two interconnected stone structures with wooden roofs.

The great hall lives up to its name, being a large hall with room for many tables and chairs. It is primarily used for feasts, meetings and ceremonies. At its head sits the Thanes Throne, a ceremonial seat where the Thanes of old traditionally ruled from. The great tower is a conjoined building which is split into several floors containing quarters for the Thane; there are several large rooms containing a bedroom, living room, kitchen and study. The lavishness of such rooms has been particular to each Thane.

Dire Keep is ultimately a physically and historically imposing structure in disrepair. Many feel it is of the utmost importance to restore the keep to its former glory and prestige.

Lonelychapel

Lonelychapel is a small temple of virtue situated in Dire Town, just south of the keep. It is a relic of the second Wyverns Watch constructed by Bjorn the Pious in honour of the Highguard Pilgrim Gideon, who converted the Watch to the Way in the early 1st century BE. Since this time a Stormcrow has occupied this seat of the clergy right up until present day. Even in spite of the second Watch's dissolution, the Crows of this temple have preached the Way to the people of the Northspire Valleys for generations. Despite the ruin of the surrounding fortifications, it has endured.

Lonleychapel's architecture is currently split into two distinct styles; an older and newer one, as the temple was damaged by a Thule raiding party in the Winter of 376 YE. The attack saw all but the great entrance tower reduced to rubble. The newer portion was constructed by Osfrid in his restoration efforts and was completed in the Winter of 377 YE.

The great tower is a cylindrical structure made of thick grey stone and mortar, it has an archaic and functional aesthetic; reminiscent of the Keep. It features three levels; the first is an archive of religious texts as well as some sparse selections of Watch history, the second is a sleeping quarter for the temple's resident crow and the third contains a large bell to signal for various dangers, gatherings and celebrations.

The newer portion of Lonelychapel is a hall made of two connected structures. The first is a square building with a peaked thatched roof; it houses seating for the temple patrons and features a side door and several stained glass windows, depicting exemplars of Wisdom. The second building is U shaped with a thatched roof that houses the stormcrow's altar for preaching and performing ceremonies; the outside features several more stained glass windows depicting paragons of Wisdom as well as a few architectural embellishments.

Haltero

Haltero is a small village a short hike away from Dire Keep, on the west side of the valley. Haltero today is a small farming community that produces meat, grain and vegetables; its principle trade partner is the Wyverns Watch, to the east.

Haltero was founded in the 3rd Century BE, as the first of Riikka Ranger's outposts. It was placed at the mouth of the valley due to it's strategic importance and was used for reconnaissance and food production. It traditionally owed it's allegiance to the 1st Watch being treated as part of the hall, however after the 1st dissolution it was never reincorporated into the hall.

The history between this village and the Watch is deeply intertwined, with many of its inhabitants having been familiar with the old Keep ruins and the Stormcrows of Lonelychapel. Many of the villagers have grown up on legendary tales of old and by all accounts have more Watch blood than many of the current members.

Relations today are friendly, with the Watch purchasing large quantities of food from the village, boosting prosperity and the Watch providing protection to the village. An ambitious Thane may seek to re-establish Watch dominance over the community either through cohesion or diplomacy. How Haltero might react to such actions is unknown.

The Greatwood

The Greatwood is an ancient forest that sits on the Westbank of the River Hydra. It is an ancient forest with records of its existence going back as far as the Foundation of the Watch. It's size has waxed and waned over the centuries often in counter to the Watch's success but it is recorded as initially having domain over the entire west side of the valley. The Greatwood today is a valuable asset to the Watch containing samples of ambergelt, beggar's lye, dragonbone and iridescent gloaming. Its resources are always in dire need of people to harvest it. A wise Thane must also be wary to cultivate it's growth to ensure this source of wealth does not disappear for good.

The Evergreen Orchard

Evergreen orchard is a modest hike away from Dire Keep and close to the village of Haltero. It is a large farm, owned by the Akidottir family that cultivates a variety of hardy trees. Dotted around the Orchard are a few small cottages for the farmhands. The Akidottir family home is near the middle of the orchard, and is a small but cosy cottage-like house.

The Housecarl's Hammer

The Housecarl's Hammer is a modest smithy in Dire Town. The enterprise is owned by Lorrin the Housecarl of The Wyverns Watch. The smithy and business is located by the gates of Dire town in a moderate house. The house is an ornate wooden building crafted in a traditional Steinr style. The downstairs floor serves as a shop and the upstairs the personal quarters of Lorrin; the forge is situated outside, to the right of the building.

The Housecarl's Hammer produces large quantities of metalwork goods, which it sells to the Hall and surrounding lands. Lorrin has a hands off approach to his business and does not work in the forge himself, instead employing the Halls many itinerant artisans to craft for him.

Patrol routes