Brighthearth Keep

Brighthearth Keep represents the East's oldest foothold in the Western Realms. It was founded shortly after the Battle of the Gheltish Pass in 578 I.R. as a garrison and religious mission for The Order of the Burning Lance and The Temple of the Divines. In time it grew into a thriving colony as traders, explorers, and other intrepid souls journeyed across The Vertician Ocean to this foreign land. Over two and a half centuries, this settlement has grown from a military outpost and missionary presence to become the heart of Eastern influence in the West. Today it stands as not only a haven for those undertaking this great journey, but also protects the Geltish Pass; the junction through which all travel, trade, and diplomacy between the two realms occurs.

One can trace the influence of the Temple in the Western Realms as if they were the branches of a great oak, and Brighthearth Keep is the seed from which they all sprung.

From Baeleron's Guide to the Mortal Realms.

The outpost itself has outgrown its name over time. Originally acting merely as the presence of The Order of the Burning Lance during the war between The Mardhelm Empire and Yem, Brighthearth Keep was little more than that. Built upon the side of the mountain pass within miles of the city of Gheltia itself, the keep acted to guard both passage through the Pass and the Order's claim to a foothold in the West as promised by the emperor himself.

What was once a simple keep has grown over time to resemble something more akin to a small city. Several major buildings house The Order itself along with a permanent presence of The Temple of the Divines; most notably the Tower of Savas. In addition to these, dozens of smaller structures, plazas, and markets have been built over the centuries; all protected by a series of walls and towers. In its modern form, Brighthearth Keep would be more accurately classified as a citadel.

Demographics

Brigthearth Keep represents a focal point of the mixing of cultures. The majority of the population is made up of Rikenians present from The Order of the Burning Lance and The Temple of the Divines - along with scores of merchants, explorers, and travelers from the Eastern Realms. One can also find other peoples of the East, such as Teugorans and the Argastilani. Many people of the Mardhelm Empire and the Yemish are also represented in great numbers, and there are usually some Crastian traders from the south and sometimes even Chisites from the Southwest.

There's so many different peoples in the markets of the keep, I wouldn't be surprised to have the misfortune to bump into a Bravani one day.

Overheard in a gathering of Brother-Knights in the Tower of Savas.

Government

Despite having grown into a thriving trade hub, Brighthearth Keep is still officially a fortress monastery under the control of The Order of the Burning Lance. Therefore it is jointly administered by the local Lord Commander of the Order - Victor Yeslich - and the local Arch Speaker of The Temple of the Divines - Radik Beorgoff. Together, these two men decide on all legislative and judiciary matters within the walls of the Keep. They operate under the tenants of the Temple, but must also coordinate with the wishes of the Mardhelm Empire.

Industry & Trade

While much of the trade moving through the Gheltish Pass flows through the city of Gheltia, Brighthearth Keep itself still has thriving markets. Moving goods into and out of the keep is a challenge given its defensive position high on the mountain cliffs; but with a garrison often in the thousands and a steady flow of travelers from the East staying within its walls, there is ample need for goods ranging from foodstuffs and textiles to alcohol and luxury goods.

History

The history of Brighthearth Keep is intertwined with the history of the Eastern presence in the Western Realms. In 578 I.R., the Mardhelm Empire moved to take the Gheltish Pass from the Caliphate of Yem. The Empire had long been subject to paying exorbitant taxes on all trade and travel through the Pass to reach the Vertician Ocean, and felt it was part of the imperial manifest destiny that their borders reach the coast.
The Order of the Burning Lance had recently made contact with the Empire, and an alliance between the two forces was seen as the tipping point required to begin an all-out war to take lands from the Caliphate. Beginning with the Battle of the Gheltish Pass, imperial forces supported by those of the Order took almost half of the Caliphate's territory over the next four years.
The Keep was established as an outpost for the Order, and as a religious mission for the Temple of the Divines. The Mardhelm Empire granted them the priviledge of building this outpost in their territory in exchange for having a strong allied military presence to hold the Pass, and to further relations with the growing powers in the East. Over time, Brighthearth Keep has become a bastion for not only the Temple, but for traders and diplomats traveling to the Western Realms.

Architecture

The architecture within the Keep is a rare mixture of Eastern and Western styles. The defenses and main buildings are constructed mostly in the ways of the East with simple stone walls and little ornamentation. Once one reaches the higher levels of these central edifices they would see Western influences in the red sandstone columns, arching glass roofs over interior gardens, and pools of fresh mountain water fed by cliff side streams. The smaller structures inside the walls are more haphazard, and one may see influences of Yemish, Crastian, and Chisite architecture alongside buildings that might be at home in the Kingdom of Brisland, the Principality of Remaria, or the Kingdom of Teugoras.

Type

Citadel

Population

7,500

Owner/Ruler

Victor Yeslich

Owning Organization

Order of the Burning Lance

The Temple's Reach

Brighthearth keep is the center of all activities of the Temple of the Divines in the Western Realms. In the two and a half centuries since it was founded, the Keep has served as a staging point for not only numerous crusades of the Order of the Burning Lance, but also the spread of the Seven-Fold Truth throughout the land.

Notable Personalities

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