Fort Tavad
Fort Tavad stands as a beacon of neutrality and cooperation amidst the competitive rivalries of the Mar Mabon Townships.
Positioned on a small hill at the northern fringe of the Jarocan Plain, the fort serves as both a military outpost and a neutral meeting ground where the lords and leaders of the townships can gather in safety guaranteed by the sworn neutrality of the Knights of Mabon.
Built from the red stone quarried from the distant Burning Peaks, Fort Tavad commands a panoramic view of the surrounding lands. Banners bearing the crescent moon of Lessada flutter in the wind, the emblem of the goddess of oaths and contracts under whose auspices the Knights of Mabon serve.
The shrine to Lessada, situated within the central courtyard, is a place of solemn reverence, where each knight swears their oath to uphold the laws and agreements made within these walls. It is this oath -sworn before the goddess herself - that binds the order together and provides the foundation for their role as neutral arbiters.
Commander Jorn, a seasoned warrior and steadfast leader, oversees the garrison of 120 soldiers that man the fort. Unlike many in the townships who are beholden to political factions or mercantile interests, Jorn’s loyalty is unwaveringly to the ideal of impartiality. He serves not the ambitions of any one lord or merchant but the broader vision of a united Mar Mabon. Under his watchful eye, Fort Tavad has become the beating heart of the township’s collaborative efforts, its halls often filled with the voices of envoys, magistrates, and military captains engaged in delicate negotiations.
The knights who serve under Jorn are not merely warriors but are bound by their oaths to mediate disputes and enforce the agreements made between the townships. Yet, maintaining this delicate balance is no easy task. Many of the fort’s captains, despite their vows, have grown close to one faction or another, tempted by promises of wealth and power. Some of these knights are more than willing to lend a sympathetic ear - or a blind eye - in exchange for certain favours. Such quiet corruption gnaws at the foundations of the fort’s neutrality, a threat as dangerous as any external foe.
Despite these undercurrents of tension, Fort Tavad remains the place where the Mar Mabon Townships come together to discuss mutual defence and trade, to resolve grievances, and to solidify their collective stance against external threats. The fort’s great hall, with its high domed ceiling and long, polished wooden tables, has hosted countless councils and summits. Here, representatives of Gathansin, Argonsa, and Orbont debate the allocation of resources and the defence of the coastal towns, while envoys from tribes of plains and deserts speak for their peoples.
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