Counts Castle
The Counts Castle is a complex of fortified buildings that span a period of construction and occupation in excess of 1,500 years. It is located just on the northern edge of the ancient megastructure known today as the Teeth of the North and has, for more than 200 years, defined the eastern-most extent of the Barony of Beldoah's border with the Kingdom of Aria. The site itself covers an area of only about 18 acres and is located at the highest point of elevation for more than 30 miles in any direction.
The oldest structures at the site are old beyond reckoning but scholars agree that they are more than 1,500 years old. These structures consist of massive round or oblong buildings built of carefully shaped dry-fitted local stones that might have reached heights of more than 60' when they were first built but now are only a fraction of that height. Assumed to have been fortified towers, these structures are now little more than convenient quarries for building material.
The most recent structures at Counts Castle were built as recently as 20 years ago, but the main functional building at the site is the Castle Keep. This building is a modern functional castle, built on the foundations of a tower keep built soon after the founding of the Kingdom of Imesse some 230 years earlier. Castle Keep is a square towered keep surrounded by a 35' wall and guarded by a 45' gatehouse. Much of the material used to build Castle Keep was reclaimed from the ruins surrounding it.
The barony maintains a standing force of one Company of Lancers and a retinue of support personnel that include farriers, saddlers, several healers and horse trainers. This Company is commanded by the Lord Commander of Lancers, Ealric am Toricki, who is a close cousin of the Baron.
Purpose / Function
Stronghold and fortress used to defend the Barony and the Kingdom of Lesser Imesse from attack or invasion and to enforce the payment of tax and duties of goods moving across the border.
Defenses
The only functional defensive structure still extant at Counts Castle is the Castle Keep. The Keep has a garrison of a full Company of Lancers and two Companies of Foot. The entire garrison is led by the Castle Commander, Lord Caylan Lander. The Castle's governance and administration is in the hands of the Briar of Astrick, Lord Wynald Campion.
History
It has long been thought that the name Counts Castle actually references the Counts that ruled Beldoah prior to the Ohnni Conquest of the region in 8 BF. Prior to the arrival of Benn Ohn and his army, the House of Toricki ruled the region as an independent nation under the title of Count of Beldoah. It is now known that, during these years of independent rule, Beldoah's sovereign territory extended at times as far east as the City of Ricken and as far north as the mouth of the Mull River. However, since the founding of Imesse and the establishment of the Barony of Beldoah the eastern-most extent of its authority has been Counts Castle.
One of the oldest ruined towers at Counts Castle, called Lady's Tower
Another of the ancient, ruined towers, this one known as the Old Tower
A view of the gatehouse of Castle Keep, the newest and the only functioning fortress at the site. The red banners denote the presence of the Baron himself at the Keep
