Kinloch Hold

## Standing within Thedas

**Political**: Libertarian Stronghold - the only Circle Tower in Thedas not to surrender during the war.

**Economical**: Trade with the dwarves for lyrium and cities for supplies and local farms for food.

**Technological**: Enchanted items, etc which they sell and export.

## Sociological

Only the Libertarian fraternity exists, or at least it is the only vocal one. The rituals and practices of the Tower have not changed much during the war, apart from Harrowing apprentices at a younger age during battle. They still have phylacteries and still Tranquil maleficar, these are things that are slowly beginning to change though. Religion is not the Chantry only, people can worship whatever they please as long as they stand firm with the Libertarians. They honour the peace treaty.

They have to get food and other supplies in from the areas surrounding the lake. This was the main motivation for repairing the Imperial Highway. The docks around the Lake have grown exponentially and more settlements, mage families and Libertarian supporters are on the banks of the Lake now.

## History

The tower sitting in the middle of Lake Calenhad existed long before the Circle. Around 1800 Ancient, the Alamarri living around Loch Kin (what is today known as Lake Calenhad) broke away from the other tribes, becoming known as the Avvar. A combination of factors rapidly transformed the Avvar into a lakefaring society and drove the split between the Avvar and the other Alamarri tribes. The abundance of fish and the facilitation of trade provided an economic stimulus for this shift, while the beliefs of the Avvar provided a religious stimulus. The Avvar believed that Loch Kin was once the site of Belenas, the mountain which stood at the center of the world, from which Korth the Mountain Father surveyed the earth and sky, but that it was destroyed in the battle between Korth and the serpent Nathramar. The Avvar also claimed that those who drank from the waters of the lake were granted mystic visions, and so the lake became venerated by the Avvar.

The Avvar fought to prevent incursions by the other Alamarri tribes into the venerated and profitable Loch Kin region, leading to a number of coastal and naval battles between the tribes. During this time, the Avvar formed a brief alliance with an enterprising house of dwarves. These dwarves surmised that the waters of the lake were contaminated with lyrium, and that therefore a large deposit of lyrium might still lie below Kinloch Island. The dwarves and the Avvar collaborated in the construction of a temple fortress on Kinloch Island, which was called Kinloch Hold. In so doing, the Avvar established a symbolic and strategic capitol for their people, and the dwarves gained military protection while they pursued their mining operation. Despite the discovery of lava caves below Kinloch Hold, the mining expedition was ultimately futile, failing both to find lyrium and to connect Kinloch Hold to the Deep Roads. The was an entrance created on Calanhad's western shore though, which was the closest the Dwarves could get to their now failed mining operation on the surface.

After the departure of the dwarves, the other Alamarri tribes and the Avvar warred with each other for several centuries, with the Avvar eventually being routed from their settlements around Loch Kin and pushed westward into the foothills of the Frostback Mountains. Despite the loss of their coastal settlements, a tribe of Avvar maintained control of Kinloch Island for centuries to come due to the virtually impregnable nature of Kinloch Hold.

Between 500 TE and 650 TE, the Tevinter Imperium conducted four campaigns to subjugate the various tribes of Ferelden. During the fourth and final advance into the valley, the Tevinter Imperium held the western half of the valley long enough to extend the Imperial Highway across the Waking Sea and into Ferelden. It was during this campaign that the Tevinter Imperium finally conquered Kinloch Island and drove the Avvar back into the Frostback Mountains. The zealous Avvar defenders of Kinloch Hold fought to the last man, woman, and child, and the savagery with which the Avvar within Kinloch Hold were slain created a grim legend that lasted for many centuries.

Kinloch Hold was thought to be cursed until the Circle of Magi assumed control of it in 3:87 Towers, after the Circle's original tower in Denerim was razed. A hamlet on the lake shore operated a ferry to the tower, but visitors were always few and far between. Most who come to the Tower of the Circle of the Magi would come either to learn magic or to warily watch over those who would learn.

Since the rebellion of the Circles Kinloch Hold has returned to its ancient roots and Lake Calanhad and its shores are once again populated, this time with mages and the kin and allies.

## From Kinhold to Tower of Magi to Libertarian Stronghold

The structure of the tower itself has undergone many changes during the long years it was under siege. The war engine that was the Templars took control of the banks of Calanhad and around them developed camps and eventually more permanent abodes. The docks spread, giving the Templars an advantage in terms of moving around the Lake and supplying their siege.

However, during the ceasefire it is the Libertarians who have now benefited. The mages have repaired the Imperial Highway (using the Formarri and their alliance with the dwarves) and use it to connect to the rest of Ferelden. They trade with all the main cities and the once battered Circle Tower is now refilled with supplies (in case of another siege and attempt to use the Rite of Annulment on them - though this is outlawed by the Weisshaupt Accord). With trade items going out of Kinloch Hold and many merchants and other visitors making their way to it the former Circle of Magi is far more upon, more integrated into the surrounding lands and more culturally friendly.

What the Libertarians have kept is significant. The Harrowing Chamber is used for trials, those accused of being laeficar are still made Tranquil here, though it is the mages who do it, the Templars have no hand in this process whatsoever. The Harrowing, though much changed, still happens since it is a part of mage culture that pre-dates the Chantry. It is almost certain that during peace times such rituals and traditions and beliefs will evolve but for the present time the Libertarians are very much embedded in their former culture, they are just more free and open because they are allowed to govern themselves. This is reflected in their use of Kinloch Hold, a name they reclaimed along with their liberty.

The phylactery storage remains as well, for the Libertarians believe in stamping out blood magic and other heinous dark crafts, they only ever wanted to be able to hunt and capture and punish those who broke the code of magi and to do it alone, with no Templar overseers.

It may seem strange to anyone who does not understand what being a Libertarian means, but the Chantry chapel remains as well. Freedom to govern themselves. Freedom to believe what they want. Freedom to make their own laws. Freedom to worship whomever they please, be it the Maker, the Creators or the Old Gods.

What has been removed are, of course, the Templar barracks. Or rather, they have been [i]changed[/i]. Now they house the budding battlemages and during the conflicts they were where the non mages trained and where the current battlemage students train. The practise grounds are still just that, but instead of weapons racks and armour on the periphery there are scorch marks on the gravel and stone, cracked rock and evidence of both practice battles and real ones.

## Structure by hierarchy

It is as it ever was, with a few needful additions. There hierarchy remains the same, for this chain of command is another thing that pre-dates the Chantry. Ever since the first Circle there has been a First Enchanter and so it is with the Libertarians. The difference these days is the phylactery of the First Enchanter of Kinloch Hold does not reside in the White Spire...

In additions to the traditional structure of mage circles the Libertarians have more military positions, combining the structure of mage and templars, mixing mage with non mage in a way not seen outside of more so called "savage societies like that of the Dalish or Avvar or Chasind Wilders in Ferelden. One might think that such similarities would mean that there would be closer ties with the ancient Fereldens (Avvar and Chasind) in particular, but it is the elves of Ostagar and the Dwarves that the Libertarians have close political and trade with, not their fellow humans. This is mainly due to the diminished numbers of Chasind and the aversive and antagonistic nature of the Avvar.

## Magical law

This is where many changes have taken place. The democracy that exists within Kinloch Hold differs from other Libertarian Circles and societies, but this is the beauty of Liberty. Each cluster of free mages can do as they please. In Kinloch Hold you will find many traditionalists still, those from fraternities that while they rebelled with all Circles they found they had more in common with the Libertarians than either the Loyalists or Resolutionists. These mages are given voice and equal rights within the Libertarian structure and they contribute to the forging of magical law. These mages have entered a new era and one might not be surprised to find there have been a few pitfalls and challenges along the way. Not everyone always agrees and there are intrigues and paranoia within the Tower as well as the fear of spies belonging to their fellow fraternities, even fellow Liberatarian Circles and off course from the Chantry (be they Seeker or Templar loyal).

Overall the system works and the leadership within Kinloch Hold is strong and progressive.

## Trade

With the Dwarves they deal mainly in lyrium and precious metals and gems used to produce the enchanted items the Formarri make and potions.

With the Elves it is limited mostly to diplomatic ties. What trade of items there may or may not be is unknown at this time.

Lyrium is sourced mainly from the dwarves but not primarily. Other traders are more covert in their dealings with the Libertarians. Since Kinloch Hold fear a reignition of the war they have been trying to get lyrium wherever and from whomever they can.

Due to excellent relations with the area surrounding Calandad they source food from the local community. Trade with Gwaren and Highever has been made easier due to the reparation of the highway and the mages produce high quality and rare items that are worth a lot of coin. They have money to trade and have forged relations during the war and beyond that see them secure in their tower, which in truth is not just a tower any more. It is a physical reminder of both their oppression and their newfound freedom. Its open doors a testament to how far these mages have come.