Holven Castle

Rising above the tangled streets of the Old Quarter, Holven Castle stands as Orthay’s oldest surviving stronghold—a squat keep with highly defensible courtyards, surrounded by thick stone walls. Its foundations predate most of the city itself, carved from blue-grey granite and reinforced over the centuries by dwarven masons, Valorian artisans and the old rites of the Order of Cydonia.

For nearly 200 years, Holven Castle has served as the headquarters of the Orthay City Watch, the ever-vigilant law enforcement seen across the capital. Its mighty gates never close, allowing officers and investigators come and go at all hours. Newer buildings occupy the castle’s outer ring, while administrative chambers and the main hall occupy the central keep.

Legacy of the Order of Cydonia

Before it was repurposed, Holven Castle was the seat of the legendary Order of Cydonia. The order was founded in 1018 AS by Sir Edmund Holven, an Umbrean knight remembered for his unwavering faith and his oath to eliminate incursions from beyond the mortal plane.

For three centuries, the Order fought fiends, aberrations and planar incursions. Of the campaigns they partook in, none were of greater significance than the Ankharan Civil War. In this conflict, cultists of an ancient elder god known as the Demiurge nearly brought the allied nation to its knees.

Though the Order was dissolved in 1322 AS due to dwindling numbers and internal conflicts, their iconography is still on display in some parts of the keep. It’s rumoured that the castle’s subterranean tunnels lead to sealed chambers filled with forbidden artefacts.

Gardens of the Saints

Despite the castle’s martial history, its courtyards contain serene gardens which line the inner walls. Stone effigies of saints, such as St. Rellian the Truth-Bearer and St. Merath the Watchful, stand among blossoming flower beds and shaded benches.