Fortification Advancments

Humanity has had the never-ending need to defend itself from evils. How they do it can be the difference of living and dying the next day.

— Everam, Teller of Nimenra

Over the many, many centuries of warfare in history, the defence has been the utmost need for the attacked. Fortifications and battlements, fortresses and castles, entrapments and hidden passways are all examples of ways for a people to survive in the engagements of the world. Some more important than others can be noted and some still stand as the signum and chefs-d’œuvre, the greatest of works in their respective fields. Protection and defence at its best, at least as a more permanent solution at the time.

Discovery
Pan-Nimenran
Uses
Military

The Battlements Fortification

The very earliest of battlements is perhaps the earliest of all ways to defend lives and home. A wall in the way of an attacker, wild or not, hinders loss and creates effective control against them. Dirt wall fortifications or "dykes" as they also are called in orfordian, is the earliest example that is mostly found today in eastern Telamirein. The Orfordsmen can seem to be experts at creating the perfect dyke and wall so as to defeat their enemy whenever they are on the defence. These rises no more than two to four meters with a dug dike in front of them that can be anywhere from half a meter to two. These measurements do differ a lot, the deepest dyke in a battlement that has been found is four meters, filled with water and acts as an extra barrier. Notably, this one, Thyn Dyke, has one of the lowest walls recorded, only a meter higher than the surrounding grounds. Later examples have "humps", rising lower and deeper in the depth of the wall. The humps are used as defensive spots for archers and early staged crenels that are found on walls.

According to what can be learnt from Demon sources, Nekuram have had similar developments but were much more early with wood and stone walls. Both species did build wood and stone walls on top of the older fortification as shown in older Dunnd. Wood was the most preferred by Humans for the longest of time since there was a bigger abundance of wood and later staged quarrying compared to Demons. Walls have since their building been a staple of fortifications and defences.

Famous Early Battlements

Thyn Dyke as mentioned is a notable exception amongst early battlements. Rather than building a high dirt wall like other tribes the ones who built Thyn Dyke dug a 4-meters deep and 20-meters long dike with a 1-meter wall compared to the ground level. The dike was then filled with water from a river, creating an effective barrier against enemies. While the wall lacked in height, the deep dike in front made it very hard to use ladders, and since the dike itself was about two meters horizontally as well the conventional methods also were weakened. However, no tribe or family has laid claim to ever building Thyn Dyke. This would point to the fact that Thyn Dyke, despite being seen as a formidable and well made defensive battlement to a large people, might have not been enough.

The Wall Fortifications

Mastery of walls as a defensive measure goes most of the time to the Leoner and their majestic walls made out of stone that are both works of art and strength. At least when it comes to humans. Dwarves have built their tunnels under the rock and stone, which have made them the experts and masters of stonework and they prove it with their skills in building walls.

Walls did not start out to be built in stone, however, and instead, they were built out of the dirt as with the battlements. But actual walls needed stronger materials and wood was the first to be used. With the right type of wood and the right preparation of it, the walls were much more effective than the previous battlements. Since wood walls were built higher, the walls extended a reach of sight beyond previous horizons. They too were starting to be outfitted with specific turrets where armouries and gate guards housed themselves. When stone came to be more of use for humans, the Leoner were fast to create defences that rivalled others around their towns. For Demons, stones were early the preferred building material to defend against attackers because of the more widespread use of magic in warfare and the above-mentioned availability. Demons also developed early methods to enhance walls with magic, although it has seen little use due to the effort and magic needed.

Famous Wall Fortifications

The most famous of all walls are the three gates to Marlun, The Twin Gates of Nekuram, the Valdenwhik of Telamirein and The Grand Gate of The Dwarven Kingdom.