Tower Heights
As if they saw a mountain and thought "it's not quite tall enough".The Tower Heights, also known as the Crippled Towers is a well-known keep in the region of Western Lamércia. It is built into the mountain Heights located in the centre of the region, built during the period when the Kingdom of the Heights had emerged from the ending of the Ou dynasty. It is often referred to as the Crippled Towers - over time the tall nature of the keep and continued alteration has left the keep looking unusual for its most distinct tower have fallen into the keep, and the variety of towers built around the structure.
Purpose / Function
The keep was built as a show of strength by the lord of the Kingdom of the Heights. As the Lord of Heightington made a claim to form the Kingdom of the Heights, he ordered the construction of a tower upon his former fortifications to try and rival "the mountain that it was built into" and "to give the mountain a new peak".
The tower did not reach such a height but was tall enough to give such a wide vantage across the lands that the Kingdom claimed - it was said the lord staked that "if he could see the land, it was his to rule".
Over time, it became apparent the keep was far more for show than for actual defence. When the Kingdom of Mercia invaded to claim the southern lands, the Mercians found the city of Heightington surrendered upon realising they were trapped upon their hill. The keep underwent a little damage but there was no need for catapults or siege weaponry.
Alterations
The main tower of the keep fell in 1126 TF due to almost three centuries of standing against the winds and rains. It fell into the rest of the keep but managed to stay fairly stable. The Lord of Heightington at the time, Lord James, was a miser and was recorded as saying:
If you can still walk the steps into the room, then it's good where it is.Since then, the tower has been untouched apart from supports to ensure it doesn't fall again. Other towers have been built around the keep, often an addition by new lords to leave their mark on the keep. Lord Jame's son was the first to add the half-tower known as the New Tower in 1149 TF, as a way to avoid repairing the old tower, but still showing the keep was of concern. Since then there have been seven additional towers:
- Elven Tower (1163 TF) - Built to grant more accommodation for visiting eastern lords after the union of Lamércia
- Gold Tower (1202 TF) - the smallest tower but built with a copper roof; it has since turned green
- Twin Towers (1258 TF) - Built when Lamércia divided so as to improve the fortification of the keep, built as gatehouses
- Red Tower (1388 TF) - Built to expand the dungeon space and room for torture under Lord Therran the Executioner
- Tower Nickol/The Unfinished Tower (1428 TF) - Built to try and support the original tower, but work had to end prematurely when the Lord Nickol became broke
- The Roost/ The Bird Tower (23 RB) - Built to house pigeons and improve communications within the realm as part of the new work in communications
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