Hildegard

"Before us stood the great fortress of Hildegard. Built upon the source of the Aiberrun River, long has it stood as a warning to any who would threaten the Kolged Uplands. While ostensibly little more than a military outpost, its location between the two major cities of Alcaster and Fredericksport, as well as being the crossroads between farming towns such as Bountyfair and Brokenoak, has made the settlement into a bustling trading village in its own right."

-Wilrose Shiverpike III, Journal of a Tour of Eigentica

Hildegard is a fortified settlement in central Hildonia. While the name Hildegard technically refers only to the fortress itself, the name is often collectively applied to both it and the small town that has sprung up downriver; the residents of the town prefer the term Rivercrest.

Description

Paer Mindyn, the initial fortress that would become Hildegard, was built in the time of the Arideian Empire to protect the source of the Aiberrun River where it emerges from the hills of the Kolged Uplands. Over time the settlement expanded to include housing, markets, and a small port. Today Hildegard is a tale of two cities; a military fort and a trading outpost. For the most part, the two sections of town remain relatively isolated from each other.

Hildegard Keep

Built atop a tall hill, the stone fortress of Hildegard Keep serves as the town's administrative and defensive center. Sitting high enough to see for miles around, it has the dual purpose of serving as a staging point for any military response the region might need, as well as protecting the Aibersource.

• Paer Mindyn: While the majority of the original fortress's structure was destroyed in Augustin's Rebellion, an extensive system of dungeons lies below the new fortress which retains the original name of the keep. Their exploration is strictly regulated by the Eloqui Order and regarded as highly dangerous.
• Aibersource: Emerging from the hill upon which the fortress is built is a powerful waterfall that is the source of the Aiberrun River. The sheer speed and force of the waterfall make exploration further into the hills to trace the true source of the river nearly impossible. Very few have been able to travel more than a hundred yards into the cave system, and of those that have none have returned.

Rivercrest

At the base of the hill where the waterfall from the Aibersource becomes the Aiberrun River is a small port town and trading outpost collectively referred to as Rivercrest. This area remains relatively detached from Hildegard Keep and is administered by a chamber of commerce. Residents of Rivercrest are tend not to appreciate their town being considered part of Hildegard.

• The Fox and Maiden: A large inn and tavern that serves as a popular wayrest for weary travelers
• Augustine Arch: A large stone archway at the southern edge of town which commemorates the spot Augustin Reisenwulf died in battle. It is seen as a holy site by members of the Imperial cult and as such it is common to see missionaries and pilgrims praying at it.

History

The fortress of Paer Mindyn was built by the Arideian Empire nearly 250 years before Augustin's Rebellion to protect the Aibersource and surrounding areas. The fortress was part of a system of waytowers that allowed near-instantaneous communication across the empire. During the rebellion the fortress was besieged by rebel forces led by Augustin, who perished on the banks of the Aiberrun during a counterattack. In retaliation, his brother Petros ordered the fortress razed to the ground.
After the establishment of the Empire, the ruins of Paer Mindyn remained forgotten for over 50 years until the Eloqui Order took an interest in researching the ruins. Shortly afterwards, the emperor Gustaf ordered the construction of a new fortress atop the ruins, seeing it as a strategic location.
Over the course of many years, a small town began to build up around and downriver from the fort. The residents of this town began to dub it Rivercrest, but by the time they had settled on a name enough maps had simply referred to the town as part of Hildegard that the name had already stuck.

Notable People

• Vallis Umbermoor: A captain in the Hildonian army and commander of the Hildegard Keep garrison. He is the elder brother of Ellery Umbermoor, the Margress of Roselawn

Full Name:
Hildegard
Also Known As:
Rivercrest, Hildegard Keep
Leader:
Garrison commander (Hildegard Keep)
Chamber of commerce (Rivercrest)
Current Leader:
Vallis Umbermoor
Population:
2,700
Affiliation:
Kingdom of Hildonia
Continent:
Eigentica
Region:
Kolged Uplands