Locthwain

## Geography

Flying high above the lake of Loch Nathair, Locthwain is a massive floating fortress carried by a massive storm elemental. It's location above the lake is not static, and skilled ferryman must navigate the churning waters below to deliver goods and people to the fortress by great winches and cranes.

## Government

Locthwain is ruled by Queen Ayara Nathair, a descendant of Kethis Nathair, who usurped the fortress from its Merfolk protectors. Being consumed by the history of Caeradh, Ayara spends much of her rule plotting expeditions to recover ancient artifacts to add to her collection when she is not doting on her beloved husband Sir Konrad Grimme. As a result, much of the decision making of the Kingdom is left to a circle of revolving advisers.

## History

Several years after the Age of Titans, the elves of Lochmere struck a pact with the Loch Nathair merfolk, who had ruled the murky mountain lake since its creation. In return for teaching the elves how to control a powerful storm spirit that resided within the lake to power their great fortress, the elves swore to use the fortress to defend the lakes of Lochmere from invaders.

The arrangement held until the elven sorcerer Kethis Nathair crowned himself King of the Lochmere and forced the merfolk, complacent from years of peace, from the fortress and drove them into the dark caverns beneath the lake. He converted the fortress from a barebones defensive installation to an opulent palace.

## The Search for the Cauldron of Destiny

The Nathair family obtained an artifact called the *Heartwise*, which opened a portal to whatever the user desired most in the world. Queen Ayara's husband, the knight Sir Konrad Grimme, ventured into the portal to seek an ancient Titanic Artifact, the *Cauldron of Destiny*. After twenty-four hours, the *Heartwise* closed, and Sir Konrad and his party were considered dead. In his honor, a grand festival was held each year during the opening of the Heartwise in which Queen Ayara married bands of brave adventurers before they departed through the portal to finish Sir Konrad's mission. After their failures, each received a lord's funeral.

After sixty years of this yearly celebration, no adventurers had yet returned from their mission to retrieve the Cauldron. However, a group of six adventurers ventured into the portal and returned with a delirious Sir Konrad. His mind had been corrupted by the Cauldron's evil influence, and had spent the last sixty years in the Realm of the Fey enslaving those who came through the portal and using them to excavate the ruins that contained the Cauldron. The adventurers restored the seals put in place by the Titans so that the Cauldron could remain hidden.

## Factions

#### **Knights of the Reliquary**

This group of elite knights and adventurers guard and maintain the Reliquary, a collection of magic items and ancient artifacts of power. They are frequently sent on expeditions to recover treasures based only on bits of esoteric lore, of which most end in failure. Their leader is Sir Konrad Grimme, the husband of Queen Ayara.

#### **Cloudsifters**

The Cloudsifters are a cloistered group of mages who seek to study and preserve the primal spirit who bears the great city-fortress on its back.

## Notable Locations

#### **The Great Hall**

This huge ballroom was intricately carved from Locthwain's stone to house a great treasure of the elves who helped found the city: the Heartwise portal. Once a year the portal springs to life, making a link to whatever the portal's keeper wishes for most.

#### **The Spire**

This large network of towers is where the noblepeople and the ruler of Locthwain live. It is the most opulent part of the fortress.

#### **Middlefort**

The largest part of the fortress, Middlefort is the cramped mixture of homes and trade buildings where most of the population of Locthwain resides.

#### **Undercliff**

Undercliff is a neighborhood built haphazardly out of wood and clay that hangs off the side of Locthwain. It is constantly covered in spray from the great stormcloud raging below. This is where much of Locthwain's seedier ventures are located.