Nafrinthas Hold

Purpose / Function

Nafrinthas Hold was built originally as a foothold within The Deadlands. It was intended that a unit of Watchers would always be stationed here to keep watch over the surrounding area and to send word to The Watcher Islands if help was needed. In many ways it acted both as a resupply point and as a base for expeditions into The Deadlands proper. While The Watchers themselves still often launched directly from the islands, they used Nafrinthas as a staging ground for larger expeditions.

Alterations

Throughout its almost 8000 years of service, Nafrinthas Hold had underwent many alterations. Some more significant than others. The most notable addition is the inclusion of a curtain wall around the main walls of the fortress. They were fitted with towers and defenses to allow The Watchers within to mount an additional defense and provide extra cover against any siege weaponry or magic that might be used against them. The towers were armed with ballista as well to take out tougher targets.

Defenses

Between the recently added curtain wall and the vast walls of the fortress proper, Nafrinthas Hold is a very defensible location. Oftentimes they would have wooden stakes planted in the ground outside the curtain wall as well. On the Curtain wall towers they have mounted ballista and on the inner wall are trebuchets and catapults for repelling invaders. The walls are made of stone and the gates of the dark metal often found in The Deadlands Not to mention the garrison of Watchers  who used to Garrison the hold, specifically trained for fighting the enemies of the land they're patrolling. Given that most of the enemies in The Deadlands are undead, they also kept a vast store of fire pots and holy water on hand and threw them from the walls or sent up rope bundle to cut and drop on their invaders. They always kept a force at least a hundred strong garrisoning the fortress at all time during the service.
Of course, now the walls are broken and in ruins and the siege engines long having been tore down, the stocks of weapons, stakes, oil and holy water all having been looted or destroyed.

History

The Fall of Nafrinthas Hold

In the year A6 8526, after almost 8000 years of service, Nafrinthas finally had met its match. A host of Vampires and Undead lead by Ser Malikr, Baron of Xorzzar marched upon Nafrinthas Hold. He lead a warband so large it was said that The Watchers within could only see the army surrounding their hold to the horizon. They built massive siege engines of trebuchets and used magic to bind the bones of skeletons together to make makeshift defenses. The gargoyles harrying the defenders on the wall which at the time numbered almost 1,000 Watchers. Numbers estimate that the undead warhost, however, numbered in the tens of thousands, one of the largest groups to ever unite against a single target in millennia.
There are many tales and legends regarding the reason this warhost targeted Nafrinthas Hold or perhaps what their ultimate goal was. One thing is certain, however, and that is that The Watchers never managed to regain a foothold in The Deadlands. No matter how hard they tried, it seems an undead warband always prevented them from constructing another fortress or even returning to rebuild Nafrinthas Hold, which has now become known as Black Ivory Castle as it is seen as a symbol of defeat, and said to be haunted by the souls of The Watchers who defended it to their last breath.

RUINED STRUCTURE
Teylari 18, A6 8526

Founding Date

Elimatra 7, A6 749

Alternative Names

Black Ivory Castle

Type

Fortress

Parent Location

The Deadlands