[soh-lah-nuhz watch]
Overview:
Solanna’s Watch marks the northernmost boundary of New Birania and has long been a critical strategic location. Positioned between the Mesoramus Range and Invera River, it serves as the only viable passage northward from New Birania without risking crossing the Ivera River into Sjøplyndrere territory. Once a proud fortress and key defensive barrier, Solanna’s Watch was decimated during the Age of Darkness (AoD) when demonic forces poured forth from the Rift and overran the region.
Today, the ruined fort has become a contested battleground, fought over by three forces: a garrison left behind by Lucien Draven, tasked with rebuilding and securing the site for New Birania; a Sjøplyndrere warband aiming to claim the fort to control trade routes and impose passage tolls; and remnants of the original demonic forces, who have regrouped in the nearby mountains and are determined to reclaim the fort as a foothold for renewed chaos. This volatile power struggle has left Solanna’s Watch in a perpetual state of conflict, the victors influencing the primary route to Northern Siar’Morrin.
Description:
Nestled within the narrow passage between the Mesoramus Range and the Invera River, Solanna’s Watch is a strategic marvel designed to control access through this natural bottleneck. An earthen palisade, once fortified with wooden and stone defenses, was constructed to funnel all traffic exclusively through the fort. Though much of the palisade has crumbled with time and the scars of war, the earthen wall still serves as a significant barrier, forcing caravans and travelers to navigate through the ruined fort rather than bypass it.
The fort itself is a large rectangular structure, with imposing gates at both its northern and southern ends. Its once-mighty walls and towers, now pockmarked with damage from the Age of Darkness, encircle a broad courtyard that bears the marks of countless battles, shattered stone, burnt remnants of buildings, and the eerie residue of demonic corruption. While Lucien’s forces labor tirelessly to restore the fort, their progress is relentlessly undermined, with every step forward met by two steps back at the hands of opposing forces.
History:
Constructed during the Age of War, Solanna’s Watch was one of four sister fortifications designed to block major western access for the advancing Dahri Empire. As the westernmost of these defenses, it avoided the brunt of Dahri assaults emerging from the conflict largely intact. For centuries, it continued to serve as a key defensive stronghold along the Northern Road, providing a safe haven along the long and often dangerous route.
During the Age of Darkness, Solanna’s Watch played a pivotal role as a bastion against the demonic incursion. It delayed the advancing forces long enough to allow critical evacuations and fortifications further south. However, when Anapyli fell, Solanna’s Watch was surrounded on both sides, leaving its defenders overwhelmed and the fort decimated.
Now, under the leadership of Lucien Draven, efforts are underway to rebuild this once-proud bastion. His mission is not only to reclaim control of the Northern Road but also to reestablish Solanna’s Watch as a vital stronghold, though some question if this is for the defence of New Birania, or defence from it.
Significance:
As a critical choke point for transport to Northern Siar Morrin, Solanna’s Watch holds the power to dictate the future of trade between these two major regions. Its strategic position ensures that control of the fort could make or break economic ties, offering safe passage for merchants or leaving them vulnerable to dangerous detours. Beyond trade, the fort serves as a key defensive barrier against the growing threat of the Sjøplyndrere, whose raids and ambushes have become an increasing menace along the trade routes. A rebuilt and fortified Solanna’s Watch could serve as both a deterrent to these incursions and a bastion of stability in an otherwise volatile region.
Notable Features:
- Command Tower: A partially collapsed stone tower that once served as the fort’s command center, overseeing both the interior courtyard and the surrounding terrain. Despite the damage, its remaining upper levels still provide an excellent vantage point for scouts and strategists, offering views of the Northern Road, the Invera River, and the Mesoramus Range. Graffiti and scorch marks from past battles scar the interior, serving as reminders of the fort’s turbulent history.
- The North & South Gatehouses: The fort’s main points of entry remain surprisingly intact compared to the rest of the structure. The massive iron-reinforced doors, though weathered and damaged, still stand as a symbol of the fort’s former resilience. Travellers who pass through the gatehouses may notice carvings of protective runes etched into the stone, though most have been scarred by deep gashes, or covered over with arcane symbols.
- Road House: Once a bustling tavern catering to travellers and merchants passing through Solanna’s Watch, the Road House now lies in a state of disrepair. Its weathered structure, with cracked walls and sagging roofs, still bears the marks of its former purpose. Despite its condition, a handful of its rooms have been patched up and remain usable, offering basic shelter to those unfortunate souls who now reside here.
- Earthen Palisade: Though severely damaged by time and conflict, the original earthen palisade remains a significant barrier, its imposing embankments still funneling travelers and merchants through the fort’s narrow passage. These earthworks, reinforced by the terrain itself, continue to serve as a natural defense, forcing those who wish to traverse the region to contend with the fort’s guardians.
Local Legends or Stories:
It is said that the spirits of the fort’s defenders, who stood their ground during the Age of Darkness even as Solanna’s Watch was surrounded and overwhelmed, still haunt its ruins. Witnesses speak of ghostly figures patrolling the walls, their spectral forms clad in the tattered armor of the Biranian Guard. On certain nights, the echoes of battle cries and clashing weapons can be heard, as if the defenders are forever reliving their final, desperate stand. Another legend speaks of the demonic forces that once held Solanna’s Watch during the Age of Darkness, claiming they have not forgotten this strategic site. Some say the demons seek to reclaim the fort not merely as a stronghold but as a focal point for a dark ritual left unfinished during their initial reign. There are many rumours of what this ritual aims to achieve, but all versions agree that if completed it will spell disaster for the mortals of Siar’Morrin.
Visitors’ Experience:
Travelers are strongly advised to avoid Solanna’s Watch unless they are prepared to face its dangers or are seeking to make a name for themselves by aiding the defenders. The ongoing conflict between Lucien Draven’s garrison, the Sjøplyndrere raiders, and lingering demonic forces makes the area perilous for the unprepared. For now, only the bold or the desperate venture here, while others are urged to wait until the turmoil subsides and the fort’s safety is restored.