Frostpath Keep

The Threat Beyond the Crossing

Beyond the Frozen Crossing , deep into the boarders of Witchstone, dwell monsters and evils unimaginable. Grotesque necromancers riding atop giant deformed hulking beasts that do their every bidding, skeletal winged beasts with wingspans that can cover mountains in shadow, and of course there are the legends of a great dragon dwelling deep beneath the mountain of Witchstone, placed there by Lord Baelzeph when he called the great fires to spring forth during the Fracturing.

To Protect and to Guide

To protect Caeldon from the threat beyond the Crossing, the lords of Caerum Ba, Baelisport, Caelisport, and Cullingport banded together to build a Keep at the far edge of the Grey Flats and the entrance of the Frozen Crossing. They then assembled a force of mages to stand and protect the realm. The mages are stationed at Frostpath Keep and are led by Archmage Kedash the Undying and there are nearly 600 in residence at the castle.

Recruitment

Joining the mages at Frostpath Keep is no easy feat. From all around the Caeldon, the schools of magic must nominate their most talented prospects for service at the Keep. Years of dedication, often beginning at the age of 3 or 4, leading up to the nomination of a young mage into the service of the Keep. For a mage, there is no more honorable service in all of the land.

The Battle of Frostpath

In 371 AF, a band of necromancers one thousand strong led by Dari the Bleak made their way through the Frozen Crossing and laid siege on the Keep for three weeks and a day. When the outer wall fell on the 22nd day, Archmage Kedash gathered the last hundred living mages and launched a full assault on the invading forces. Together, the Order of Mages wiped out the invading necromancers and beasts, sending them back to the Witchstone with less than a tenth of their army remaining.

Demographics

All manner of people from all walks of life are among the Keep. From the cooks, the groundskeepers, the cleaners, and even the mages, there is no discernible change in socioeconomic standing or worth. Serving in the Keep is a high honor for all.

Government

The Keep is ran by the Archmage who works in coordination with the lords and ladies of all the major cities in Caeldon. This is not to say that the Archmage is beholden to the wishes of the other rulers, the Keep is ran independently of all "local" politics and is a protector of the realm – not of any one city or kingdom.

Alternative Name(s)

Witches Bane

Type

Military, Base

Population

453 mages, 139 hired servants

Inhabitant Demonym

The Frozen

Owner/Ruler

Archmage Kedash

Owning Organization

The Order of Frost

Related Historical Events

• 371
  The Battle of Frostpath Keep