Red Tower
On a low cliff overlooking Fiana sits the Red Tower, seat of Kaleina's monarchy.
The name is something of a misnomer, as it is neither red nor a tower. The central keep that the rest of the castle was built around was the original tower, and the 'red' comes from the trees the turn the hillside into a collage of vibrant reds and oranges every fall. As royalty tended to visit the tower for holidays in the autumn, they came to associate it with the autumn colouring. Though they live here year-round now, the name stuck.
History
The Tower was built approximately 300 years ago by the Count Alluula. The original tower was a simple tower house, with three floors stacked on top of each other and an defensive wall in a ring around it. Alluula's lands were on the fringe of Kaleina, surrounded by free clans that raided Kaleinen settlements for oxen and goods. The tower was built defensively to protect against these clans.
The tower stayed in the Alluula family for 172 years, passing from from one Head of House to the next. Over time, additions were made to the original tower. As Kaleina's territory expanded and the free clans in central Veiama were consumed into larger kingdoms, the need for strong fortifications faded and more attention could be paid to comfort. Additional buildings were added, a secondary wall extended the bailey, and storage spaces dug into the rock below.
In 489, House Alluula sided with the losing family in a power struggle when the king died with an heir. As part of the terms of surrender, House Failen - which had just taken the throne - took possession of the Red Tower.
For most of the 6th century, the Red Tower was an occasional residence for the monarch when they travelled to the lake region. In the late 6th century, Prince Makoai lived in the Red Tower for several years in his childhood. Having grown fond of the place, he declared it his summer home upon becoming king. Every year in the late summer, he moved court to the Red Tower.
When the Forest overtook Kaleina and its capital, Tusaari, Makoai looked to the Red Tower as salvation and ordered everyone in Tusaari to evacuate to the island. He declared the Red Tower the new seat of government, and set about reforming Kaleina in their new location.
The Red Tower has remained the seat of the monarch ever since.
Founding Date
317
Alternative Names
Lun Du
Type
Castle
Parent Location
Owner
Owning Organization