Red Bridge

The Red Bridge is the only connector between the Swamplands and the Forests of Eldemur. It is a contested landmark that has been held by the Blood Fae for generations now. It was named the Red Bridge after the numerous battles undertaken on it, left it slicked with so much blood that warriors couldn't cross it. The wood is permanently stained red.
The Blood Folk tribe that defend the bridge has built their village directly in front of the entrance to the bridge. Their village is also referred to as Red Bridge because of this. Despite being small in size, the village houses a large population of warriors. The village is heavily fortified on both the side bordering the river and the side facing out into the Swampland. The side bordering the river has large ramparts built on either side and over the bridge. These ramparts are patrolled constantly.
The Forest Fae do not have a settlement near the bridge. Any settlements that existed near the bridge were destroyed in the first raids using the bridge and with the continuing raids from the Red Bridge village, the Forest Elves and their Forest Low Brethren learned it was not wise to live near the bridge. The only structure near it on the Eldemur side is a barracks to house the warriors defending their side.

Purpose / Function

The Red Bridge was built to span to the gap between the Swamplands and the Forests of Eldemur. The rivers separating the two and their rapids combined with the jagged rocks within made crossing them difficult. The bridge was proposed to foster better relations between the two people that had been warring for centuries.
The Forest Folk were unaware the Bridge was actually intended as a permanent access to raid their lands.

Alterations

Over the millennia, as the Forest and Blood Folk have fought to own the bridge, the wood has become stained red with the blood spilled. As the Blood Elves have held the bridge for generations now, the structure is has acquired some Blood Fae decorations, such as bone totems hung from the ceiling and runic symbols painted on wall in blood.
The roof in one area is newer than the rest, where the Blood Folk destroyed it during an attempt to reclaim the bridge from the Forest Folk who held it at the time. They promptly rebuilt it and fortified the roof after taking claim of the bridge, so the Forest Elves couldn't copy their tactics. 
The Blood Fae has also added traps and extra defences with each generation.

Architecture

The Red Bridge is a wooden, covered bridge. It has a width of 5 metres and a length of 35 metres. The walls have windows spaced roughly every 4 metres. The wood has been magically treated to prevent burning.
The Swamplands entrance has a small staircase to access the bridge whereas the Forests of Eldemur entrance connects directly to the land. 

Defenses

Both sides of the Bridge are heavily defended. The Eldemur side has had the doors barricaded and Forest Elf warriors stand guard at the barricade to stop Blood Folk raids. The Blood Fare in turn built an entire village to defend their side. They currently own the inside of the bridge and have incorporated the structure of the bridge into the ramparts that defend their town. These ramparts are patrolled by warriors and are always stocked with weapons. They are specifically designed to allow an archer to target the windows of the Red Bridge without being impeded. 
Neither side could reach the other with a ranged weapon.  
The Bridge has traps and internal defences added by the Blood Folk such as swinging spikes and a large spiked wheel that spans the bridge width.

History

The Bridge was proposed as a symbol of peace between the Blood and Forest Fae. It was originally meant to foster trade relations and friendship between the two people that had been warring for centuries. The Forest Fae were unaware that their sincere meaning was being taken advantage of by the Blood Folk.
On the same day as the Bridge was to be unveiled and a ceremony to be held to commemorate the symbol of friendship, the Blood Elves attacked. The entire delegation of forest Elves present was slaughtered and a large army of raiding Blood Fae and Blood Low streamed into the forests of Eldemur.
Those raids were the worst known destruction those Forests have known. Up to that point any raiding parties had been small in number since most died trying to cross the river. The massive numbers of Blood Fae, having come form all over the Swampland, decimated the peaceful Forest Folk. 
After the initial raids, the Forest Elders sent warriors to guard or claim the bridge and the conflict over it has been ongoing ever since.

Tourism

The residents of the Red Bridge village are the only Blood Fae to have permission to raid the Forests of Eldemur as they please. This is as a reward from the Warlord and his predecessors to the villagers for defending the only entrance to their lands. 
These raiding rights mean the village has a large tourism rate as warriors travel to the village to take part in the raids. They still have to fight past the Forest Folk warriors on the other side of the Bridge however and afterwards they face a long and arduous journey inland to reach the nearest settlement. It's made harder still to do so without being caught.
Many of the tourist warriors die on the raids and those who survive get to go home with war stories to tell their tribe.

Founding Date

Between 10600 and 11200

Alternative Names

Esterrial Bridge

Type

Bridge

Parent Location

Swamplands

Related Ethnicities

• Blood Fae

Ruling/Owning Rank

Warlord