Castle Mok

Home of House Mok, this grey and black stoned castle is the seat of the Dukedom of Isvieldara and the County of Elak'ris. The castle sits on a high promontory of rock overlooking the Dimil Loc to the North, the Morken River to the East, and the plains and farmland of Elak'ris to the south and west, with the Mok Tra looming in the distant West.

Demographics

Most of the inhabitants of Castle Mok are humans but there are a few Elfien who serve in Viktor Mok's court, such as his Hunt Master Nieyette of the Twin Lakes.

Government

The Lords Mok rule over Castle Mok, as they have for thousands of years. Though they are technically suzerains of the Kingdom of Benselot, Lord Viktor Mok only pays lip service to the King and is able to rule in whatever way he sees fit.

Defences

The high walls of the castle are made with a mixture of enchanted stones that protect from both magical and mundane attacks. The Gatehouse of the Curtain Wall is heavily fortified with barbican and murder holes. And the Main Gates to the Castle are defended by hidden arrow slits and an ancient enchantment from the days of the Empire.

Industry & Trade

Most of what the town produces goes to service the Castle and the Lords Mok, but there are a few luxury goods that the town is known for including beautifully painted wooden furniture and kitchenware, gold and silver jewelry, and high-quality armor and weapons. 
Traders who make the journey to Castle Mok usually bring foreign luxury goods and specialty items for the Lord or the other nobles.

Infrastructure

The castle is ancient, so ancient that some of the technologies used in its building have been lost for millennia. With both running water and heated floors, the castle's comforts far outweigh those found even in cities.

Districts

The curtain wall of Castle Mok encompasses not only the keep but also the town surrounding it.

• Castle
• Market District
• Crafting District
• Shrine Way
• Housing District
• Curtain Wall and Gatehouse

Assets

Though small, the town boasts a bazaar, crafting facilities, and housing for roughly one thousand inhabitants. The Castle can house up to five hundred occupants comfortably, and during times of war can shelter twice that number.

Guilds and Factions

The Goldsmiths Guild and the Bladesmiths Guild both boast a Guildhall in the town of Castle Mok. Each also has a Guildhouse in Maomi, so their locations here in Castle Mok are more of a place for retreat and relaxation than the central hub for business to be conducted.

History

Built in ancient times before the Golden Age of the Empire, Castle Mok has stood for nearly three thousand years. It is the only castle from that period that still has conventional inhabitants. The others, such as Bavarborg and Skyddara, have all become haunted ruins dotting the landscape. The first lords of Mok began construction in 3967 BA which continued until 4001 BA when the Castle Keep and Curtain Wall were completed.
Over the centuries, many enemies have attempted to take Catle Mok from their titular rulers. But when the Lord of Mok revolted during the time of the Half-Elfien Tyrant, not even the King of Benselot was able to breach the walls by force. He had to resort to subterfuge and infiltration to finally oust the rebel lord. But he did not break the tradition of the Mok's ruling their ancestral home and it was given to another cousin-branch of the family.

Points of interest

Castle
• Gatehouse - A drawbridge over the spike-moat, apair of black wood, iron-bound doors and a portcullis of True Bronze make up the gate defenses. Overlooked by a host of arrow slits and murder holes, any attempt to force entry into the Castle is pure folly.
• Central Courtyard - Kitchens, Smithy, and Stables line the inside of the walls here.
• Kitchens and Scullery - Large ovens sit at the center of the kitchens and preparation boards line the walls. The Scullery is accessed through a stairway leading down to beneath the Kitchens (and has a secret tunnel leading to the East Tower). Kitchen staff live on the floor above the kitchens.
• Smithy and Workshops - A row of lean-tos and workshops provide space for everything from fletchers to blacksmiths to leatherworkers.
• Stables - Lord Mok keeps both his own horses and that of his garrison and guests here in these long wooden structures built near the Gatehouse.
• Castle Keep - The central tower of the castle which houses the Greathall, Dining Hall, Barracks, and Guest Chambers.
• Great Hall - The Greathall houses the Throne of Mok, a basalt and marble chair carved with intricate scenes from myth and legend. Along the walls the Lords of Mok have hung their varying heraldry and trophies including the head of a wyvern and a griffon that have been ensorcelled to never rot and animate with their victory cries when the Lord enters the hall.
• Dining Hall - A long chamber set with seating for two hundred guests.
• Guest Chambers - A number of bedrooms and apartments that house any guests to Castle Mok.
• Barracks - Serves as a home to half of the Castle garrison.
• Training Yard - Situated between the South Tower and the Barracks.
• North Tower - The tallest of the Castle towers, it is home to the Castle Astronomer whose chambers are at the top where a glass dome has been constructed.
• South Tower - Serves as a home to half of the Castle garrison. Has a ballista fixed atop the tower.
• East Tower - Home to the Huntmaster and other officials and administrators of the realm.
• West Tower - Home to Lord Mok and his family, as well as their Frouron Protate and Aristeroi.
• Gardens - Situated between the North and West Towers.

Architecture

The architecture of Castle Mok is unparalleled in the world. Today, none could duplicate its precision and grandeur. It shares the same hallmark of pre-Golden Age architecture known across Benselot and Thelune's Gap. Cities such as Meridia and Tetricala have towers that mirror its style as well as the ancient ruins that dot the Isvieldara landscape and the Smuggler's Arch islands.

Geography

Set high on a rocky butte overlooking the Morken River, Caste Mok overlooks a vast landscape. The climb up to the Castle is long though not too arduous for friends. A switchback road winds its way up the side of the steep hill, guarded by a pair of towers and a gate at each turn.

Climate

Though on the Northern continent, like all of Benselot, Isvieldara has a temperate climate that is pleasantly cool in the summer. The winters are less harsh here in the south of Benselot with only a smattering of snow through the cold months.

Natural Resources

Long ago both silver and gold were mined from the butte that Castle Mok sits upon but those veins dried up even before the Castle's construction. Now, the nearby landscape provides wool from sheep, hides from cattle, and timber enough for export.

Founding Date

4001 BA

Type

Capital

Population

1200

Location under

Isvieldara - Region

Owner/Ruler

Viktor Mok