Alba Delreos

**Alba Delreos**, officially called **Te Alba Delreos Quay Skiddia** is a former castle located on a prominent cape on the eastern coast of North Skid Isle - the largest of the Border Isles. The central keep is a rectangular structure about 400 meters by 90 meters. The structure was originally built by Sihuente al Cayalle, a tradesman from the city of Cayalle working under the Kingdom of Iremia.

The castle began construction in the spring of 1231 SY to serve as the residence for the governors of the island of North Skid, called *Plazecantra* by the Iremians. The castle was built in two main phases, the first included construction of the keep and defensive towers while the second included the walls as well as the warehouses, storerooms, stables, and a small wharf. Construction on the first phase ended in 1233 SY, and its first residents would move in that same year.

## History

### Founding

Alba Delreos was constructed as a residence for the colonial governors of the island of North Skid by the Iremian monarchy. The funds for the structure, which came for the Iremian treasury, were paid to private architects who would design and build the structure. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of its builders, the castle is hailed as one of the most attractive structures ever commissioned by the Kingdom of Iremia. It was three stories tall at its highest, and featured many different areas of use.

The living quarters for the governor and his family included five bedrooms, a great room with a vaulted ceiling, along with a seperate servant's entrance and a ballroom. The lower levels were mostly storerooms, servant's quarters, and barracks. The windows of the structure are small, no more than 2ftx2ft. Most windows had reed mats hung on them to serve as shutters. The castle's interior was kept cool by a primitive cooling system and ice rooms.

Alba Delreos' first phase of construction was from 1231 to 1233 SY, in which the main keep and the defensive towers were built. After this phase was over, the primary occupants of the castle would move in. Over the next year walls and auxiliary buildings were added. The castle was named *Te Alba Delreos Quay Skiddia* (the House of Delreos on North Skid) officially, honoring the family of its first occupant, Silhuente Delreos al Cayalle - who also was the primary commissioner for the project.

### Siege of Alba Delreos (1246 SY)

Alba Delreos, although constructed as a castle technically, had only served a residential purpose up until 1246 SY. The main bailey of the castle had become somewhat of a public plaza for the colonial residents of Hwanaleia, the colloquial name for the surrounding community.

The castle's defenses would be called into action finally in the summer of 1246 SY. Iremia's invasion into the Kingdom of Cisalia, a Ahremian ally, would anger the Ahremian king Colgemate I. Not seeing an attack in Iremia itself feasible, he went for its colonies instead. A sizeable Ahremian force arrived by surprise in the port of Hwanaleia on the 3rd of Levvia, 1246 SY. The Ahremian soldiers, instructed to plunder the town, immediately went to robbing homes and killing or capturing most civilians. The town of Hwanaleia was virtually destroyed. The last holdout was at Alba Delreos, where a tiny Iremian force hoped to hold off the Ahremians. The siege lasted six days, on the last of which the castle was invaded and its inhabitants slaughtered.

The castle was left mostly intact, and was even used for a time by the Ahremians. The island of *Plazacantra* would be renamed Kranor Isle, and later North Skid Isle by the Ahremians. Hwanaleia was rebuilt, and would remain a colony of Ahremia. Alba Delreos was left to rot, and soon it fell into ruins.

## Current Status

Alba Delreos in the present day still remains. Only the bottom floor still survives, and it is not utilized for any particular purpose. The structure is severely overgrown, and most visitors to Hwanaleia do not notice. But exiting Hwanaleia at its north gate and traveling about 800 meters and then turning right will lead you to the remains of it. The castle is now overshadowed by the Kaltsurn Estate, the current residence of the Ahremian governors.