Gehel Keep

Home of a Lost House

Gehel Keep is a ruined castle that lies on the northern bank of the river Pallern, deep within the heart of Gehellûn, a town that had developed around the keep. Once the pride and joy of the House of Gehel, the overgrown fortification now serves as a grim reminder of the chaos of the Interregnum and all the pain and strife it wrought upon the Empire of Pallernen, culminating in bitter feud and crisis of legitimacy that led to the end of the castle's surviving owners.

History

The fortification was originally erected in the middle of the 9th century as a way of exerting control over the surrounding territory and imposing tolls on all who sought to cross the river. After the collapse of the bridge—the exact cause of which remains uncertain—the fortunes of the Gehels began to diminish rapidly, leading to a long period of deterioration that was eventually ended by Lady Apêrah Gehel along with her husband's financial support and the goodwill of Queen Tiyla the Blessed of the Kingdom of the Hartilians.

Gehel Keep by Midjourney

Downfall

At the end of the 13th century, as the Ocher Outbreak had devastated the land and its realm remained without an emperor, two claimants to the keep, Ihleich the Bastard and Tiela of the Dusk clashed, spilling the blood of their own kin. The rivalry and dispute between the two different branches of the family would eventually end with Tiela as the Lady of Gehel Keep, but the victory had been hollow as her own children were dead and she was incapable of bearing offspring. With her death in 1299, the House of Gehel had come to an end, their ancestral castle remaining as a reminder of their legacy. Opportunists tried to seize the keep, but the continuous fighting over its possession only contributed to its rapid deterioration and before long, all thoughts of holding on to the crumbling castle were cast aside.

Overgrown Ruin

While it had never been a particularly grand castle, Gehel Keep nevertheless holds a special place in the heart of the inhabitants of Gehellûn. Most of them remember the House of Gehel with fondness as their town wouldn’t have existed without their involvement and while the ruins of their keep might be overgrown with foliage, with its upper levels serving as nesting spots for birds, it remains a frequently visited spot for travellers and locals alike.

RUINED STRUCTURE
c. 1300 AA

Founding Date

c. 850 AA

Type

Castle

Parent Location

Gehellûn

Former Owner

House of Gehel