Northwatch Bastion
Northwatch Bastion is the strongest fortress in the Kingdom of Aētheli, and is the seat of House Earthshake. Its multi-story edifice is carved into the rock face of the mountain and surrounded by a high, sturdy wall. It serves as both the seat of the High Noble House as well as a refuge for residents of the Stormbreak Prairie in the event of tornadoes or wildfires. It is located at the western border of Earthshake territory against the landward side of the Coastwall Mountains.
The most famous feature of Northwatch Bastion are its alarm trumpets, which produce a low-frequency sound that can be heard for several miles away from the fortress itself. This style of long, architecturally integrated trumpet was originally developed for the bastion but has since been integrated into watchtowers throughout the Stormbreak Prairie.
Architecture
Northwatch Bastion is primarily carved into the granite face of the mountainside, but several portions of the edifice and the surrounding wall are built from granite brick. The curtain wall meets the face of the mountain on either side, and rises two stories from the earth. There is one main gate and several smaller entry gates built into the wall, and in times of danger these gates stand open to call in denizens of the surrounding prairie. On either side of each gate, carved in relief into the gatetowers, are statues of Earthshake bison. The two on either side of the main gate hold spears, whose tips are crossed above the gate. Each of the lesser gates depicts a bison with a different object - a horn, a sheaf of maize, a stone chisel, and a farseeing glass. Within the walls is a large bailey which contains several low, wide outbuildings. The outbuildings are typically used for storage, but can be utilized as emergency overflow shelters. In the center of the bailey is another statue, this one of Clayten Earthshake, the founder of the house. It stands an impressive twelve feet tall and was carved from a single block of solid granite. Often, small offerings such as prairie grass or wildflowers are left around the statue's plinth by those seeking shelter.
The facade of the fortress is dominated by the two massive towers that rise on either side of its gate, the Horntowers. These towers emerge from the mountain as semi-circle shapes, with the other half of the tower carved into the mountainside, and are faced with brick. Four astoundingly long metal trumpets are built into the sides of these towers, traveling their length. When blown, these horns produce a deep, bass note that can be heard for miles around the fortress. Sprouting from the crenellations atop these towers are stone representations of bison horns, giving the towers an imposing, spiked appearance.
The main arched gate of the fortress stands between the Horntowers. The gate is constructed of sturdy oak and is itself a story and a half tall, and can be protected with a heavy iron portcullis. It is carved with bolts of lightning striking the prairie grass and herds of bison running across the open plains. Toward the bottom of the gate, carvings depict Earthshake's vassal houses - pronghorns in full sprint, badgers surrounded by flowers and flowing water, prairie dogs standing at tall alert among waving stems of maize, and box turtles sitting atop mountains of coins. Above the main gate is a hoardway utilized as an observation platform for the approach.
The interior of Northwatch Bastion boasts high ceilings with stone columns, carved from the mountain and polished smooth. Receiving halls, dining halls, and other gathering areas are lit either by sunshafts tunneled through the side of the mountain to the open sky or oil lamps. The interior is designed for the ventilation shafts to circulate air efficiently, utilizing the winds blowing down the side of the mountain. The personal chambers of the members of House Earthshake are located along the exterior wall of the fortress on the upper stories, to allow for windows that let natural light into these chambers. The windows are equipped with metal storm shutters, which are lowered in inclement weather to protect against hail and tornado force winds. Throughout the fortress, dozens of shelter rooms can be found - dormitory-style rooms filled with bunk beds and equipped with a fireplace for communal cooking and a root cellar where preserved food is stored. Groups of these shelter rooms are arranged around meeting halls, which while smaller than the grand halls in the main portion of the fortress still boast the expansive vaulted ceilings.
Defenses
The sturdy outer wall of the fortress is its main defense against encroaching enemies. There are five gatehouses built into the walls - the largest and main gatehouse overseeing the entry road and the main gate, and two smaller gatehouses on either side for the smaller gates. The wall is constructed with a battlement and parapets, allowing patrolling guards to assume defensible positions in the case of incoming arrow fire. The gates are oak wood reinforced with iron bracing, and can be barred closed. Each gatehouse is equipped with a ballista as a defense against aerial attacks.
Within the main courtyard of Northwatch Bastion, the outbuildings are widely spaced in order to provide little cover for any enemy who is able to force their way through the wall. In front of the main facade is a trap-trench, a four foot wide and six foot deep stone trench that is covered a series of retractable trapdoors which can be winched open with a mechanism located inside the Horntowers. When open, the trench prevents approach to the main gate of the fortress. It can additionally be flooded with boiling oil thrown from the hoardway or the battlements of the towers.
History
Construction of Northwatch Bastion began in YK2, after Clayten Earthshake was elevated to the position of High Noble and granted governance over the Stormbreak Prairie.
Clayten wanted the seat of his house to be both intimidating and protective. His personal writings reveal that he built Northwatch Bastion with the full intent that it would one day become the refuge for his people that it stands as today. With grand plans in mind, he approached the drakes of House Hammerscale and proposed a partnership, utilizing their craftsmanship expertise to assist in the construction in return for priority trade considerations.
The walls and facade of the keep took six years to complete, and by YK12, the first few chambers had been carved from the rock and House Earthshake officially moved into their new home. It was nearly another decade before the fortress was considered complete, with the number of dormitories, communal kitchens, meeting halls, and storage cellars Clayten desired.
Founding Date
YK12
Type
Fortress
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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