Potami Keep
Potami Keep is situated in a small canyon and valley along one of the primary thoroughfares between the Shin Empire and the Kingdom of Alsona. Maintained by the Alsonan Royal Army, it was originally constructed as a trading outpost to help build ties between the young Alsonan state and the Shin, when they were considered the masters of the north. The trading post was taken over by the local lord when the Alsonans declared their independence during the War of the Five Hammers and turned into a fortified position, as the first castle was built.
Purpose / Function
Potami Keep was originally a simple trading post designed to facilitate trade between Alsona and the Shin Empire. It consisted of a handful of small storage buildings and a single inn that was fortified against the small scale attacks of local bandits and monsters. The independence of Alsona from the Shin led to the creation of a true castle and citadel at the foundation of the inn, and very little expense was spared in its construction. The road upon which the trading post sat was the largest route for commerce and the simplest path for an invading army. The ever-present threat of a Shin invasion rested heavily upon the queens of Alsona, and ample amounts of gold were dedicated to the construction of what was at the time the largest fortification in Emicara.
These structures consisted of a central keep, three different bastions along the reinforced stone walls. Tunnels were dug underneath the keep to enable easy response and rapid reinforcement to any position within the keep that could be threatened. These also provided limited protection against the possibility of Shin artillery bombardment. Many of the stone underground rooms were also created as dungeons and prisons to detain any smugglers or thieves attempting to cross the border.
Alterations
Potami Keep has seen many alterations during its lifespan as a citadel on the Shin-Alsona border. Shin military might has always been a looming threat over the freedom of the Alsonans. Eventually as relations thawed between the two states, the number of alterations and upgrades began to diminish, despite the protest of local lords. In the 9th century, the reigning family over the keep and the surrounding area abandoned the citadel, choosing to only retain use of a fraction of the citadel for their own living and retinue. The bastions and underground passages were abandoned with only the exterior battlements continuing to be used as a residence. Numerous "upgrades" were made that diminished the strength of the walls, as windows were put in and a quarter of the keep was transformed into a luxurious living area.
During the Wingo War, much of the authority and powers of the Alsonan aristocracy were stripped away, and this included the right to maintain Potami Keep. The newly formed Royal Army of Alsona took control of the keep, and immediately began restoring it to its previous use. Most of the underground passages remain abandoned and sealed off, and no one is quite sure of their size and scale. The rest of the citadel has been slowly restored, with the garrison being enlarged. Unfortunately, funding for these efforts have been exceedingly low, due to the closure of the Shin Empire, and the belief that the threat may have vanished.
Founding Date
311 AF
Type
Castle
Parent Location
Owner
Related Ethnicities
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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