Bell's Keep
Bell's Keep is a ruined citadel on the border between Valtkos Wingo and the Sypi Confederacy. Neither the dwarves nor the Confederates have laid any claim upon this structure, though it does rest within territory granted to Wingo at the end of the Wingo War. It has therefore become a popular gathering and meeting place for local bandit gangs and other miscreants.
Purpose / Function
Bell's Keep was originally built in 963 as part of a program to improve the Kingdom of Alsona's border defenses. The growth of power of the Church of the One Sun in the Sypi Confederacy and the historical violence of the tribes led to the Queen being concerned about the possibility of raids and invasions like those Losana and Bamard continually faced. Therefore Bell's Keep and Lexin Keep were both constructed with providing both an early warning and a defense against raids from the Confederate tribes. Bell's Keep gets its name from the giant brass bell constructed to sound in the tower of the keep, which has been described as being as large as a house and able to be heard for miles around.
Alterations
In 1018, a stone giant wandered in from the west, crossing the Sypi River and attacking Bell's Keep. The garrison was ill-prepared for the attack, despite warnings from the Confederate River Watch. At the same time, a swarm of undead assaulted the keep, and the garrison was overrun. The giant removed most of the interior supports and walls to accommodate its size while it was present. Therefore, most of the rooms that had been built have been replaced with a single massive great hall.
History
Construction on Bell's Keep began in 961, mostly undertaken by indentured dwarves from the Apps Mountains. Their expertise was provided both in brute labor but also in the process of design. The fortress was created in order to protect the frontier, which was still developing west of the Efcharistos River. At the same time construction started on the Lexin Keep some ways to the east. The building of the castle went well and ahead of schedule, completing in 963. An Alsonan garrison was stationed there and launched regular patrols along the border to watch for Confederate raids.
In 1018, a tragedy occurred when a combination of attacks led to the downfall of the keep's forces. First a deranged stone giant wandered from across the Sypi River, and while it had been tracked by the River Watch in the Confederacy, the Alsonan military forces refused to allow them access to hunt the creature. The giant was thus free to attack the castle and brought down many of the fortifications. To make matters worse, something went terribly wrong in the defense of the fortress, and a portal was opened up, causing hundreds of undead zombies and skeletons to pour out. Those who had survived the giant attack were made into lunch for these abominations. A patrol from Lexin Keep confirmed the status of Bell's and a watch was set, but the undead seemed intent on heading south instead of into Alsona, so no direct action was taken.
In 1019, a band of adventurers reached Bell's Keep, while investigating the undead siege of the Nors Tribe. They found that the giant had made a home inside of the keep, and was being ignored by the undead. After fighting through dozens of undead warriors, the party managed to find a way to close the portal that had been created, and convinced the giant to return home across the Sypi. They returned home as heroes, but the keep was left abandoned. Plans to restore the keep to active status were canceled with the beginning of the Wingo War, and the castle was left derelict by both dwarves and humans alike. Deserters from the war found it a good hiding place and a concealed community of those who chose not to fight formed, while preying upon local farming and communities.
Since the end of the Wingo War, Bell's Keep has remained a neutral ground of sorts for the bandit community of southern Valtkos Wingo. Negotiations, handoffs, and trades all take place within the ruin at appointed times and dates. Occasionally dwarven patrols are sent to clear out the operations here, but no funds have been found to rebuild the castle, as most efforts have been instead dedicated to the fortification of Wingo itself.
RUINED STRUCTURE
1018 AF
1018 AF
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