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Overview:
Positioned on the eastern fringe of Pilliga, Fort Drestan is a heavily fortified settlement that marks the beginning of the long, arduous route westward across the arid plains. With its high walls, reinforced gates, and a standing garrison of veteran troops, Fort Drestan serves as both a military stronghold against Collis Brigantium and a critical checkpoint for all travellers seeking passage into Pilliga’s interior.
Description:
Fort Drestan is carved into the summit of a plateau, itself resting atop one of the largest hills in eastern Pilliga. The sharp cliffs that drop away on three sides have been masterfully incorporated into the fort’s design, forming a near-impenetrable barrier of sheer stone. What walls exist on these edges are more reinforcement than necessity - thick, angular, and fused seamlessly with the escarpment.
Access to the fortress is possible only by a single narrow, winding path that snakes up the northern face of the plateau. At its crest stands the Gate Bastion, a fortified outwork that serves as the first line of defence — a stone square complete with murder holes, raised battlements, and a double-thick portcullis. Visitors and merchants must first pass through this outer square before being granted access to the main gate beyond, a choke-point design that has turned away more than one would-be siege.
At the heart of Fort Drestan rises its most iconic feature: a tall, central spire that commands panoramic views over both the Pilligan basin and the forested eastern hill country of Collis Brigantium. From here, scouts and signalers keep constant watch, ensuring no movement — be it caravan or raiding party — goes unnoticed. Each corner of the fort is anchored by a smaller watch-spire, designed for overlapping fields of observation and defence. The Western Spire, however, now lies in ruin — a shattered silhouette jutting from the stone like a broken tooth. It stands as a grim monument to the relentless assaults launched from Collis Brigantium.
Inside the fortress, military precision governs layout. Stone barracks, storage halls, and drill squares are arranged in tight, functional lines, leaving little space wasted. A chapel dedicated to Riero, occupies a central court near the command spire, its worn altar often lit by battlefield offerings. Beneath the fort, a network of supply tunnels and cisterns ensures prolonged sustainability, should the fort come under siege once again.
History:
Fort Drestan was founded long ago during the Age of War (AoW), at a time when the Biranian Empire was striving to consolidate its territorial gains across the continent. Its original purpose was strategic: perched on the eastern rise overlooking the vast Pilligan basin, the fort commanded sweeping views of the interior while remaining well-hidden from the east by the forested hill country beyond. This natural concealment, paired with defensible high ground, made it an ideal location for an eastern bastion.
What was once a forward outpost has since become a keystone of regional stability. The hills to the east, now known as Collis Brigantium, gradually devolved into a haven for exiles, deserters, and raiding bands — their rugged terrain perfect for ambushes and lawless enclaves. As this threat grew, Fort Drestan’s role evolved from passive observation to active defence. Its towers now serve as watchpoints against bandit movement, and its garrison regularly dispatches patrols to deter raids and prevent the chaos of Collis Brigantium from spilling into the more stable lands of Pilliga.
Significance:
Though its original purpose during the Age of War has long faded, Fort Drestan remains a keystone of eastern Pilliga — its role evolving with the changing tides of trade and conflict. Once positioned directly above the main east-west land route, the fort served as a gatekeeper to the interior, overseeing every movement across the border. In time, rising banditry in Collis Brigantium rendered that original path too perilous, and a new southern trade route was carved — one that purposefully bends to Fort Drestan’s shadow.
This deliberate redirection has preserved the fort’s strategic importance. It now serves a threefold role: as a vigilant watchpost over the fractured eastern hills, as a deterrent to any brigands bold enough to test the borders of Pilliga, and as a sanctuary for caravans or refugees driven to desperation. The knowledge that Drestan’s towers loom nearby grants reassurance to traders and wanderers alike — and caution to those who would seek to prey upon them.
Notable Features:
- Drestan Spire: The towering central spire of the fortress, Drestan Spire rises above the plateau like a stone sentinel. It serves as the fort’s command hub and observation post, offering panoramic views across the Pilligan basin and the shadowed hills of Collis Brigantium. From here, signals are relayed, orders issued, and the eastern border watched without pause.
- Riero Chapel: Located near the heart of the fort, this austere stone chapel is dedicated to Riero. Its walls are carved with the names of fallen defenders, and its altar is often adorned with battlefield relics, left in tribute by both officers and common soldiers.
- Gate Bastion: This heavily fortified outwork guards the only entrance to the plateau. Designed as a self-contained stronghold, it features its own gatehouse, defensive towers, and kill zones. Any visitor — friend or foe — must pass through the Gate Bastion before being granted access to the main fortress.
- Supply Tunnels: A network of stone-cut tunnels runs beneath Fort Drestan, connecting storerooms, cisterns, and fallback shelters. These tunnels allow for secure movement during sieges and harsh weather, and many date back to the fort’s original construction during the Age of War.
- Deepwell Vein: Hidden in the lowest levels of the supply tunnels, the Deepwell Vein is a natural underground water source discovered during early excavations. Fed by a slow-moving subterranean river, it has provided Fort Drestan with fresh water for centuries, ensuring the fort can endure long sieges without fear of thirst.
Local Legends or Stories:
Among the soldiers stationed at Fort Drestan, the fall of the Western Spire is recounted often — part cautionary tale, part whispered shame. The story tells of a former commander who fell for a beautiful travelling merchant. Over time, her visits became frequent, her presence familiar, and the inspections of her wares increasingly lax. It was only later discovered — too late — that she had been a bandit all along, smuggling explosives hidden beneath bolts of fabric and crates of spice. One night, a deafening blast shattered the peace, and the Western Spire crumbled in a plume of dust and fire. Bandits hidden in the hills surged forth in the chaos, and though the fort held, the cost in lives and pride was high. Whether embellished or entirely true, the tale now serves as a stark reminder: trust no one, and never slacken in your duties.
Deeper and stranger is the legend of the Deepwell Vein. Some claim the underground river is more than a water source — a thinning veil between worlds. Some claim it to be a portal to the Plane of Water, leaking through a fracture in the world. Others speak of Ooscies lost daughter, a forgotten god, imprisoned deep beneath Siar’Morrin. They say the Deepwell is fed by her endless tears pouring out from her hidden prison.
Current Status:
Today, Fort Drestan remains a steadfast stronghold on the eastern edge of Pilliga — weathered, but unbroken. It continues to serve as a crucial checkpoint, lookout, and deterrent against the chaos festering in Collis Brigantium. Its garrison is leaner than in ages past, but fiercely disciplined, composed of veterans and frontier-hardened recruits. Supplies flow steadily via the southern trade route, and its commanders maintain regular patrols to secure nearby roads.