Shaldana

**Shaldana** is a duchy in central Sinaria. It is the capital territory of the kingdom.

## History

The city of Silan is situated on the Guilros, thirty seven miles from the mouth of the river. It was built in a time when slavery was more widely accepted (it is now illegal through out the kingdom), from stone mined from the nearby quarry. The name was chosen for the steep valley the city is in. The land to which the Duke of Shaldana is entitled includes the entire valley, and the flood plain known as the Riverlands. There are approximately 9,000 people living within the city, (including the 4,000 members of the Army). The tallest mountain, rising up directly behind the citadel, is called XXXX.

## The Keep

### Construction

The keep is built into the mountainside itself, with the living quarters and service rooms mined out. The beacon fire is set on a subsidiary peak of the mountain, known as Lion's Head for the shape of it when viewed from the side.

### Enceinte Wall

Although it is only thirty feet high it is as thick as the outer wall, and the walkway affords the guard a view over the entire bailey.

### Doors

The keep doors are less heavily reinforced than the main gate, but only because they do not have the metal rods. They are twelve feet high, and like the main gates, they open outwards.

## The Citadel

### Outer Bailey

Running down the hill half a mile from the keep, the houses are of a similar construction, one or two levels, depending on the occupation and income of the owner.

### Towers

Four great towers stand fifty feet above the top of the wall surrounding the outer bailey. Each of them has its own garrisoned tower guard. There are three levels to each tower, the top being where the watch is kept is four yards square, while the second level is four by eight and leads directly onto the wall; the second is the sleeping quarters of the garrison and the ground level a ward room for the guards – again four yards square, directly below the sleeping quarters. There are another two towers, separate to the wall, at the mouth of the valley.

### Wall

The main wall is fifteen feet thick at the narrowest point, with a three yard walk way along the top. This allows for archers to stand in two rows. The outer edge is built so that it is angled out at the base, making it harder for ladders to be leant against it. The wall is one hundred and fifty feet tall, and beneath the walkway, there is a space filled with water, so that in the unlikely event the wall is breached, the water will flow out, cascading down on the attacking forces.

### Main Gates

These gates are made of heavy Ironwood beams, running vertically on the outside, and braced by solid metal rods. On the inside of the rods, the beams run horizontally. The gates also open out onto the causeway, so that when they are being rammed, the attackers are pushing against the natural movement of the gates.

### Bridges

There are three main bridges crossing the river. Two of these are within the city, and one is on the outskirts, within range of the guard towers at the mouth of the valley.

### Outer Holdings

On the valley floor beyond the outer wall, along the banks of the river, smallholders run their farms (approx. two acres). Although they own the properties, they pay an annual ten percent tithe to the City, for protection.

## Dukes and Duchesses of Shaldana

\* Denotes that the Duke was also King.

Jenara Valeryn – 966