Gatehouse

The Gatehouse was the colloquial name for a small watchtower in the eastern Bay of Thorp. Constructed atop a magically-shaped island, the Gatehouse controlled the great magical chain that, in times of war, stretched all the way to either shore and prevented entry into Thorp by sea.

Geography

The Gatehouse stood upon a rocky island in the harbor mouth. Shaped by spellcasters to better accommodate the fortress, the island was sloped, with sheer bluffs on the western coast and a shingle beach on the eastern one. The fortress is squat and unattractive, made from rough utilitarian stone. It has five small watchtowers along its pentagonal curtain wall and only a pair of gates, protected by barbicans in the north and south towers. Within the curtain walls are a huddle of outbuildings – barracks, stables, granaries and the like. The primary watchtower stands much taller than the rest and, at its peak, there burns a great blue magical flame.

Campaigns

All Hail Yog

• The Watchtower: In 895 4A, Yog's Dread Armada attempted to invade Thorp on three occasions and were thrice repelled. Not to be outdone, Yog summoned the Marked – Erick, Ernst, Narcinae and Skoura – to spearhead the fourth attempt. After arriving at the island, the villains conduct a brief and unsuccessful scouting mission before deciding to pose as a Cymbia patrol. This deception, however, was pierced almost instantly and a volley of arrows sent the villains scrambling. They struggled to mount a credible assault in the following minutes and, thanks to the presence of the villains and despite the presence of the Soulsworn, they managed to win the day. During the ensuing battle, Skoura pulled down the brazier atop the tower, deactivating the magical chain.
• The Covenant: In 897 4A, it was here, atop the watchtower, that Yog assembled the team of villains – Azathomet, Desdemonia Malice and Dr. Hughbert Hilkington – to assassinate the crowned heads of the Covenant Kingdoms. Under Yog’s sway for two years, the fortress much more resembled a Yogothic stronghold – orcish war-camps bivouacked below, eldritch monoliths bursting from the earth, sinister vines choking the tower itself. The villains were joined by Skoura the dragon, tortured these two years by her task to haul the magical chain back into place. It was here, a week later, that the villains reconvened, once the task was accomplished. Azathomet and Skoura came together, the dragon carrying the vampire’s sarcophagus across the city, while Dr. Hughbert, Alizabeth and Desdemonia made their own way, escaping Thorp by boat. Back atop the watchtower, they assembled to debrief the Vessel of Yog.

Gatehouse

Location: Bay of Thorp
Government: Thorp (163 – 513 4A)
Covenant Kingdoms (513 – 895 4A)
Yog (895 – 899 4A)
Founded: 163 4A