Halsted

The capital of the Holy Kingdom of Adrastea, it looks just like the rest of the nation it calls home, covered in a blanket of snow half of the time.

The Queen and King reside within Halstead, as well as a vast majority of their nobility. Though, due to the harshness of the rest of Adrastea, there are plenty of others who call Halstead their home as well. It's easy to survive a tough winter when more things are at one's disposal.

The people of Halsted align themselves with the Holy Kingdom of Adrastea.

## Overview

Halsted is full of all types of life, being that it tends to be a bit more bearable than the remaining patches of Adrastea. It's easier to survive the harsh winters here, as most things are at everyone's disposal; unlike when you get farther north. Where it is located makes it difficult for avalanches or other snow storms to destroy where it rests, a strategic type of place. Some attest it to the fact that, during the first War, the people of Adrastea wanted to be as prepared as possible, so to locate their main base of operations within the snow covered mountains? It felt like as good of a place as any.

### The Castle Arvendon

The home to the Queen and King of Adrastea, Castle Arvendon is located at the northern most point of Halsted, overlooking the neighboring cove. It's a quaint little castle, having been cared to for years upon years. It does almost appear to be like that of a fortress at times, knight patrolling the halls and battlements that line the perimeter. It truly had been a fortress back its day, when the first War rang out. After all, being home to the leaders of Adrastea, it was important they were well protected at all times.

It does look quite opposing and intimidating at times, considering the amount of knights that do linger within the grounds. One just can't simply wander onto the property of the kingdom's royalty. Those who do visit having to go through a rigorous search before ever being allowed in the general area of the royal couple. Even after such a check, the knights and guards do keep a close eye on all who enter, even the servants who have worked here for years. There's no way to escape the watchful eye of a knight.

Before the introduction of the current Queen into the royal family, the castle was closed off for the most part. No one ever really got to see the inside of it. It wasn't as if they were missing out on much anyway. Even with all the care that went into it, the inside of the castle often felt dark and dreary. After her introduction, the castle soon began to open up on a few occasions, allowing people to directly speak to them in their audience chamber. Closely monitored by the guards of course. As well as harsh eye of the King, himself.

## Religion

As Adrastea is the most religious nation out of the three, it would make the most sense for their capital to hold a lot of their own beliefs and views. Especially seeing as the current King holds a lot of respect and admiration towards the eight.

Halsted houses Adrastea's well known Monastery, a building that was formed in creation as a place to worship the gods. It's a holy place, lead by a single Archbishop, who prides herself on helping others as best as she can. Whenever she is needed. No one can be turned away from these holy grounds because of this, it makes the Monastery a safe place for many people to turn to. It's the second most well tended to building in all of Halsted, coming right after the castle in terms of the care and love that goes towards it.

All the gods do tend to get prayed to within the capital, as just within the Monastery, itself, there are depictions of the gods, statues craved from marble and other delicate things. This make it difficult for others not to find a shrine of some sort to pray to. It's a common custom to leave offerings at the base of the shrines as well, the items left depending on who exactly you require help from. That being said, if there is ever a god that sees the least amount of prayers, the attendants and the Archbishop, herself, do their best to make up for it.

No one is judged, per say, on who they pray to, as everyone has their own reasons for doing what they feel is necessary. Though the farther out from the capital you get, the more singular the worship tends to be; as there are many town who pray to a select one or two for their own reasons and beliefs.