Verrick Castle
A fortress astride the north-south road leading into the Faroo from the Kingdom of Karmis. The castle occupies a rise in the middle of the Arendar Pass. The road runs along a narrow shelf between the castle and the White River (Faroo). On the far side of the river the land rises rapidly into a sharp and barely passable ridge. To the west is a wooded depression that gives way to a gentle, but rocky and tree covered slope leading to high mountains. The castle is protected by a twenty-foot cliff on the East and south side and has a dry moat cut out of the rock on the other two sides. The castle has four large corner towers and eight smaller interval towers. A large central keep occupies the inner ward. The castle’s strongly built gate house faces northward and includes a drawbridge and two pairs of gates. The castle contains large storehouses, stables and barracks for five hundred men. It is typically garrisoned by a company of crossbow men, a company of infantry and a company of medium horse. All the towers mount catapults or ballista. A village has developed just north of the castle featuring several inns, two blacksmiths, and a wheel wrights shop. The village is surrounded by a wooden palisade and is directly astride the road.
The castle is the seat of the Warden of the Southern Pass. This official is charged with maintain the fortifications, the trade road leading to Karmis and the maintain local law enforcement authority. The castle is also the seat of an imperial judge who will try anyone arrested in the region around the castle.
Purpose / Function
Tp guard the southern approaches to the Kingdom of the Faroo.
Architecture
The castle is built from blocks of the local gray stone with its buildings having roofs of slate. The windows are fitted with heavy wooden shutters fitted with bars. The court yards of the castle are paved with cobblestone.
Founding Date
871
Type
Castle
Parent Location
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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