The Watchtower

Headquarters of the Protectors of the Valley, the Watchtower was located strategically to keep the entire northern part of the valley within reach. Here they trained and rested, ready to run into danger the moment a signal fire asked for help.
The tower was surrounded by a walled village. Its inhabitants were mostly farmers, who worked on the farmlands nearby. Because they would withdraw inside the walls at night, they did not have any livestock. Meat and fish had to be brought in from elsewhere.
Currently the Watchtower is still in decent state, though no equipment or bodies remain. It is suspected that its inhabitants left before the valley fell. Strangely enough, no animals were found inside the walls. Perhaps this is caused by the Ancient Runes present.

Past Population

Protectors: Between 50 and 200
Soldiers: Between 100 and 400
Civilians: Between 20 and 700

State

Abandoned, since unknown date

Construction

Fortified, partially collapsed

Structure

The main tower is similar to the other watchtowers in the valley. It stands square with two inner floors, a basement, and a roof floor protected by battlements. Both inside and at the top there is room to start a signal fire, or release coloured smoke signals.
The tower is surrounded by a set of three walls. The first wall can be found at other watchtowers too, securing a plaza where mounts and supplies can be stored. Between the first and second wall are several barracks for additional troops, providing space for hundreds of soldiers. Beyond the second wall lie the houses of civilians, which hosted mostly farmers but also blacksmiths and more.

Usage

The Watchtower had a view covering most of the area north of the valley rivers. Well-maintained roads allowed hundreds of Protectors to reach everywhere in sight in a relatively short time. With the help of the forts and other watchtowers, no open part of the valley could ever be considered beyond sight for them.
As the primary base, the Watchtower was where all the Protectors would come for training. At its height, despite all the secured points elsewhere, most of the Protectors still lived here, training whenever they were not out on patrol or escorting Rune Masters. It does raise the question, couldn't they have been more on offense?