The North Watch: The Old North Watch

Returning to my #Southlands sandbox, The North Watch, with a #micromap considering the Old North Watch, a tower referenced in Chapter Two. 

"Old North Watch:

About a day and half west of North Watch is a ruined tower known as Old North Watch. Built in the early years of the Lion Road, Old North Watch fell victim to a prodigious run of bad luck including raids, disease, avalanche and finally a landslide which carried away most of the surrounding village. Old North Watch was abandoned and soon after North Watch was established. The wilderness now works to reclaim the ruins. Birds nest in the single tower that remains, creatures have dug lairs in the cellars."

 

 

The remains of Old North Watch consist of the main tower, approximately 25 feet in diameter and 3 stories tall (about 40 feet to the highest point of remaining roof), and the back wall and a portion of the roof of the Great Hall. A flight of stairs connects the two. Trees stand guard over the sloping hillside which is dotted with stones, partial walls and debris poking through the heather and scrub. The main tower, under the roof, is dry enough that, unless occupied, it might serve as refuge from the elements.

Map and Story Block 12

Good evening everyone. Another 5 mile square block in our continuing series:

Block 12

Scale: 1 square = 1/2 mile

Many miles north of the Tryphar Caverns is an island of much importance to the world.  Venerth Isle is home to the Venerth Academy for Magical Learning and Inquisitiveness. The Isle is fairly large and has a long sturdy bridge which ties it to the mainland.  There are mountains to the east and west on the mainland surrounding the Academy and giving it a closed-in feeling.  The Academy takes up most of the island with the exception being farmland.  When the school was designed by The Council of Elders, the intent was to be as self sufficient as possible.

The Academy is basically a self contained city. It resembles a giant sprawling mansion with a huge hole in the center.  The mansion has all sorts of towers and crenelations that are enchanted with magic to help ward against anyone who might try to attack the buildings.  The interior is broken up into living wards, school areas and various laboratories where all sorts of magic can be created and studied. There is also an area devoted to international embassies and many countries have representatives that live here.

In the center of the Academy is a large circular platform made mostly of a magic ore, Lapderoite.  This ore enables some of the powerful magicians at the academy to gather and cast the spell which will teleport several people and their property up to the City in the Sky, Airlu. Airlu is home to the Rhiewk folk, an avian humanoid race that can fly.  The platform at the academy and the matching one in Airlu allow those that can’t fly a way to explore the sky city and all it has to offer.

Text (c) 2017 Heleen Durston and map (c) 2017 Andrew Durston