The Gates Of Tormon
Spanning the entire width of the final valley on the road north through The Drakeseat Mountains from Laranna towards the capital of Valliné, for many the great fortress known as the Gates Of Tormon marks the end of the harsh mountainous terrain of the South, and the beginning of the rich, Northern plains.
The fortress itself consists of two large, 60-metre (200-foot) high towers and a thick, fortified wall which stretches to either side of the valley, terminating in the sheer cliff-faces of the surrounding mountains. Between the towers, the trade road passes through a two pairs of 2-metre thick, 20-metre (65 foot) high steel gates, above which the towers are connected by stone ramparts.
The gates themselves have been almost permanently open since the end of the Demon War, although the fortress garrison conducts regular drills and maintenance to ensure that in the event of an emergancy, the passage can be closed off, blocking travel in either direction through the valley. With this in mind, the fortifications have been designed to fend off attack from both the South and the North; presenting an equally impenetrable barrier to both angles of attack.
During peacetime, around 100 soldiers are stationed at the fortress, although there are barracks space within the towers and walls for this to be increased to 1000 during times of crisis. It is seen as something of an easy assignment for those stationed there, and is often referred to as 'Gatekeeper Duty' by those serving there.
Troops stationed at the fortress carry out patrols of the neighbouring countryside and mountain passes, but their main duty is in guarding the fortress itself and the road into and out of the mountains.
Purpose / Function
The intended purpose for which the fortress was built, and still fulfills, is to monitor traffic along the trade-road south from Valliné, and to protect the northern plains from any attacks from the south itself. During the time of it's initial construction, in the early days of the Age of Unification, the threat attacks by Orcs and other creatures from the mountains upon the people of the northern plains was a pressing concern.
The ability to fully cut off use of the valley - one of the easiest routes out of the Drakeseat Mountains, was seen as an important defensive measure, and proved itself to be so, many times over.
During the Demon War, the ability of the fortress to block such passage in both directions proved to be key to slowing the march of the Demon Cults throughout the land, as they were forced to find other, longer routes of travel.
Architecture
The fortress is primarily constructed from locally sourced granite, cut into large blocks. The main walls are approximately 10 metres across, at the base, tapering inwards only slightly as they rise. The ramparts on the tops of the walls incorporate overhanging battlements, so that walltop defenders may attack any force assaulting the walls from below.
Passageways, storage rooms and barracks are constructed within the walls themselves, expanding on the capacity of the two large towers which make up the 'gatehouse' section of the fortress.
The two main towers for the fortress contain armouries, officers living quarters, defensive emplacements, kitchens and mess halls and a set of state-rooms for visiting dignitaries.
History
The initial construction of the fortress took place early in the Age of Unification, under the orders of King Tormon. At the time, the northern plains were under a constant series of attacks by marauding orc war-tribes, who would come down from The Drakeseat Mountains to terrorize villages, steal goods and food, and murder the local populations.
King Tormon saw the need for a strategic outpost almost within the mountain range itself, and the first tower of the fortress was thus constructed; completed in the year 103 AoU. The outpost proved effective in providing a forward position from which the fledgling army of Vallanna could react to, and strike back at the Orc marauders.
Over the centuries, the fortress was expanded from it's single tower, with the construction of the second tower and gatehouse structure completed in 234 AoU, with a strong curtain wall from each tower being added over the following years.
The fortifications have been upgraded over the years, as better and sturdier construction methods have come into use, although the main towers themselves have remained mostly in their original forms.
Despite only the initial tower being completed and used during the reign of King Tormon, the fortress still bears his name to this day.
Alternative Names
The Drakeseat Portal, The Gate
Type
Fortress
Parent Location
Owning Organization
Comments