Thornford

eing one of the few remaining fortifications of Eá-galwen that were not destroyed by Avlar's forces during his conquest, Thornford Castle is a huge, ancient place deep within the Empire's Heartlands, about half way between the ancient town of Whimbrel and Port Montague.
This castle once belonged to the Galweni nobles known as House Sidranor, however history does not look kindly on the elven patriachs of the Sidranor family. When Avlar's forces brought war to The Kingdom of Eá-galwen, Lord Roland Wayland sued for peace, many believing he had foreseen the fall of his kingdom and the death of his people. Some of the noble houses of Eá-galwen saw this as a sign of weakness, revolting against Lord Wayland and meeting the soon-to-be God-King's forces in open combat. None of the houses were as vocal about this as the elves of Sidranor, and so for generations their name was cursed as calamity befell the continent after the fall of Eá-galwen.
Thornford was briefly occupied by Avlar's forces following a quick siege of the castle, however his forces did not stay for long as the march to Helias called many of the troops away. A token force continued to inhabit the fortifications after the armies disbanded and Avalon was destroyed, but the remnants of the Galweni forces quickly retook the castle after The Maw opened and destruction reigned across the continent.
Since the founding of the Dawning Empire, Thornford and its surrounding area have been ruled by House Abernathys, and fosters a large community of halflings and dwarves that maintain the ancient fortifications.