Point Watch

Unlit and walled off, Point Watch clings low to the ground and endures the weather with a stubborn, worn wall. The gates are broken from the hinges, the portcullis torn from its chains and rusting in the courtyard. The keep itself is crumbling, with little left for those who come to scavenge. However, it is still considered a valuable location for defense against coastal aggressors and has a small garrison present, supported by regular goods from Eyeholm and Laketown.

Purpose / Function

Established to preserve Ioun's Bay and more importantly to serve as a means of early warning, the keep was to house a collection of soldiers and horses in a stable. Should an invading force arrive to land or raid settlements, the guards present could not only send messengers by horse if necessary but mobilise as an early response force of cavalry. Though not an original intention, the keep also proved to be a valuable location for travellers to seek safety from bandits and dangers on the roads, where the open terrain heavily favoured the mounted soldiers. For the rough terrain, they could simply dismount to root out their foes.

Architecture

Built to a military standard, the walls are thick and durable, the outer surface smooth and gripless to prevent ease of climbing; though cracks and broken sections have created minor grips or piton points, they are few and far apart. The keep itself is a modestly sized building, extending underground into a series of secure rooms and hallways.

History

The roads nearby had been prone to many bandit attacks, with naval aggression pillaging settlements and the nearby bay. With the defending guards often overwhelmed and unable to effectively root out the bandits, an order of cavalry soldiers was established as the keep was founded. Tasked with providing rapid reinforcement to any aggressions and purging the banditry on the roads, they took to the task eagerly. Though requiring messages of aid requirement, they regularly sent patrols out to keep watch on the roads and settlements.
They survived the Cataclysm to a certain degree, though they lost much of their potential supply lines in the process. Weakened and suddenly forced into sparse rationing, they were all but destroyed during the last Elven raid upon Ioun's Bay. The last few members of the Order who survived sought out a vessel and journeyed to Merilun, taking a final oath of vengeance for the fallen.

Type

Keep

Parent Location

Aesmaril