Sunspire Citadel

While the Dawn Keepers may no longer exist, our soldiers will use their stronghold to good use to protect our people as they once did. - Sir Carthunkle Garthunkle

Purpose / Function

The Dawn Keepers created Sunspire Citadel as a stronghold in the Radiarch of Ondelenia to defend the Whitetop Mountains' regions. But after the fall of Brighthold, their original headquarters, it was moved to Sunspire. It would be here that the leadership of the keepers and all day-to-day operations would be done here.

Alterations

After the citadel was turned into the headquarters of the Dawn Keepers, it was renovated to hold more troops and improved accommodation with its smithies, libraries, and armories. The war room would also be turned into a council chamber for the leadership of the keepers to convene.

Architecture

The citadels design is based on Ondelenian architecture, with its walls built with white stone. Much of it would have large archways and pillars in the inner walls. Towers would also be scattered around the citadel, and arched corridors would be expected in most entrances. Though much of the white stone has been covered by the residue of the elements leaving a grayish color covering them.

Defenses

Watch Towers: The great stone tower of the citadel allow anyone to see from a great distance to avoid being caught by surprise
Vigil Wards: Machines powered by Radiance that creates barriers to hold of Gloom Spawn and cannot cross them.
Walls: Strong stone walls ensure that the citadel does not fall from attacks, with defenses built on top to attack anything that gets near.

History

Dawn's Legacy

For centuries the citadel was home to the Dawn Keeper and would be used as their main stronghold to the order. They would use their knowledge and technology to protect the world from the forces of The Gloom stored within its walls, organizing and directing the members that were across it. It would be here that the order's leadership, the Council of Lux, resides to ensure that political and military matters were kept under control and brought to them before they got out of hand. Due to the Dawn Keepers' strong presence in the area, people would build many settlements around the citadel to find safety in case of Gloomspawn attacks. This would also make the Sunspire a training ground for future generations of Dawn Keepers as fresh recruits come here to train. It has many halls once containing its most extraordinary members from across the world to teach those who would serve with them. The council watched all to ensure that the order did not stray from their oath or teachings.
In those centuries, power would become more dominant in the Sunspire than any other stronghold the order had across the world. Making it problematic as authorization to carry out missions and access for information had to go through the citadel first instead of through local chapters of the Dawn Keepers in their part of the world. This was initially done to ensure no disasters were caused by members going in blind on a dangerous assignment or someone gaining hold of dangerous information. While this did save lives and avoided repeating mistakes that the keepers once did, it inadvertently hindered their means of action during complex events that dealt with The Gloom. This would also cause their downfall during the Duskfall, as Sunspire would face an all-out attack from the Cult of Dusk and Gloomspawn, seeing the Dawn Keepers isolated across the world as its leaders were killed and the citadel fell to the darkness. After the Duskfall and the Dawn Keepers' destruction, which sacrificed themselves to save the world, Sunspire would be left in ruins for years, but it would be left alone forever.

New Management

In recent decades a new order, known as the Shields of the Sun, has taken up residence with the old citadel and has made it their base of operations. They hope to fill in the shoes of the Dawn Keepers and protect their homes from The Gloom and its many servants. While Sunspire is a shadow of its former self, it still has its uses as the Shields use it to train its members and use whatever knowledge that has remained intact inside it for their own goals. The citadel has remained isolated for now, with no one being allowed to enter it besides the Sheilds of the Sun. For now, all operations they are committed to being done here, and their power seems to grow as long they have control over it and the many secrets left behind at their disposal.

Tourism

The citadel since became under the control of the Sheilds of the Sun. They have restricted access to their members only and have chased off anyone else trying to enter. Only those given permission can enter the citadel, so very few people travel here.

Founding Date

533 B.D

Type

Acropolis / Citadel

Owning Organization

Dawn Keepers

Hidden Secrets

Much has been lost since the Dawn Keepers' fall and their knowledge to protect the world from darkness. However, Sunspire being their former headquarters means that some of that knowledge may be hidden away for safekeeping and not destroyed during its fall. Many of the order's buildings often held secret chambers to protect anything of value or to use during times of trouble. This means it is only a matter of time before someone finds something of use for their own goals, good or bad.

Mighty Stronghold

Despite the Citadel falling during the Duskfall, it did not fall so quickly in a day. Instead, it held out for over half a year as it kept the Dusk Cult's forces occupied while it tried to organize its forces to stop the world's end from happening. Due to the resources placed into the Sunspire, it can hold many soldiers and weaponry that would make any army hesitant to attack it. Its mounted siege weapons are especially deadly at getting rid of such large vehicles and creatures. Many old defenses are still operational, and even with minimum force in can hold off any.