Gruargh Fortress

Gruargh Fortress lies at the Eastern end of the Shield Lands. In its heyday under human control, the castle - known then as Castle Meredh - was a modest-size stronghold guarding a daunting stretch of the Sen River, which meanders through treacherous hills and mountains of dark shale. While the Sen River was known for being calm and then suddenly treacherous, the narrow trails covered in dark brittle rock were famous for sending many a pack mule team over the side, laden with ore from the dwarven mines dotting the Dragonspires.
The original Castle Meredh took more than 75 years to construct in its full capacity as a guard castle and two-story toll house, controlling access from goods making their way downriver to the towns that were once located below the castle. The castle was built to be a defensive bastion against the Nagg Clan orcs of the Dragonspire Hills.
Castle Meredh was built overlooking the Sen and was only accessible by two buttressed wooden bridges spanning two gorges, each with over a 100' drop to the shale below. The bridges could be quickly collapsed, thus blocking access to the castle, which was built atop a steep hill with cliffs reaching down to the banks of the Sen and the river gates and guardhouse. The right to build the castle, along with a royal grant, was given to Lord Eras Meredh, after whom the castle and the adjacent Meredh Gorge is named.
The castle was thought to be nearly impregnable due to its vantage point and defensible bridges. Thus, it came as a shock when the castle and its inhabitants were overrun in a surprise attack ten years ago by Nagg orcs and marauding hill giants of Clan Hubrog, who caved in the defensive walls with boulders thrown across the chasm.
Most of the guards were killed during the surprise attack, allowing Lord Meredh and his family to escape to a secret location where a boat had been staged in the event of an emergency. The remaining inhabitants and visitors were tortured, with a few being lucky enough to convince their captors that they would fetch a hefty ransom if they were sold back "in one piece". After torturing the poor souls, which included cutting out tongues and hamstringing the able-bodied, they were sold back to their lord.
The orcs have since renamed the fortress Ud Gruagh Nagg, or the Fortress of Clan Nagg. Surprisingly, they learned to collect taxes from the river folk in exchange for safe passage through Nagg lands. It is believed that someone or something is the mastermind behind these agreements, for surely no orc would barter or understand taxation. Rumors abound, especially from survivors, but no one has ever seen a master of the perpetually dark castle. The fortress also presents an ever-present danger to Castle Mulderstar and the surrounding trade routes, as the orcs do not have an agreement not to raid against traveling merchants.

Purpose / Function

Defensive structure above the River Sen

River gates and guardhouse collect taxes from merchants moving goods downriver

Alternative Names

Castle Meredh

Type

Castle