Tor Acharne (City)

## Tor Acharne

Tor Acharne overlooking the village of Trev Glynn. The Durus mountains and Arthwyr's Rest can be seen in the distance.

# The Hold of The Relentless

## Overview

Nestled in the foothills of the Northern Durus mountains. Tor Acharne proper is a small hill fort. The central fort commands the surrounding area, standing proudly atop an impossibly steep stone bluff. Two sides surrounding the keep drop away into a sheer valley, the final side leads up into the mountains or down into the valley below and then off into the lowlands of Vogh Moldir.

The keep, made from impossibly ancient grey stone, is tall and sturdy. Offering a tremendous view of the surrounding forest, valley and Durus marches.

## Settlements

Around the keep, a small settlement has sprung up. The settlement mostly caters for the warriors and chief's retinue stationed at Tor Acharne. A blacksmith, run for 6 generations by father and child, provides tools, horseshoes and spearheads for the settlement. The settlement also contains a granary, slaughterhouse, stables and hound pen. Very few people live within the walls of Tor Acharne though, in times of crisis, the chief of this mountain stronghold will light a signal fire atop the keep to call in the various farmers, goat herds and villagers from the surrounding area to seek shelter behind his sturdy walls.

Surrounding the keep, embedded into the rock of the bluff where necessary, is a sturdy pallisade wall of thick forest pine. This wall forms a central bailey, within which the various functional buildings reside.

Down in the valley below Tor Acharne, a small settlement, home to around 500 people, is located. Trev Glynn or 'Homestead in the Forest Valley' is a modest community, mostly inhabited by woodsmen, hunters and woodworkers. Indeed, Trev Glynn takes great pride in its sturdy and functional woodcraft. Whilst little of any real beauty is made here, the sawmills and carpenters of the small settlement produce the sturdiest craft this side of the Durus.

The rocky outcrop, that Acharne above is perched on, also supports a small community of miners.

The mine at the base of the outcrop is best described as modest, a vein of gold and one of iron have been discovered. A few generations past, the mine was exploited for its riches. In recent decades, the Chief has been reluctant to allow too much work to be done, lest the work undermine the foundations of the Tor above. Thus, the chief of Tor Acharne has long needed the support of other neighbouring settlements to help import ore. The scarcity of metal has forced the inhabitants of the village and Acharne itself to treasure metal implements and take great care of them, often passing even the simplest tools down from father to son.

Finally, at the mouth of the valley, a small fortified Inn spans the dirt path approaching the settlement and Tor. Pragmatically named 'The Valleyroad Inn,' it offers comfort for those few travellers wishing to enter Tor Acharne or Trev Glynn on whatever meager business they may be about.

Humble settlements are Tor Acharne and Trev Glynn, but proud. These people have long withstood the perils of living in the foothills of the Durus mountains. Frequently, the people of the area are called to defend themselves from beasts descending from the mountain heights with the warcry of "Acharne!" on their lips. Less frequently, the High Chief in far off Vogh Moldir calls for this humble folk to muster for war. Never have they shirked from the duty their vaunted ancestor charged them with for they know, Arthwyr high above is watching over them. Judging them, and they shall not be found wanting.