The Keep
The Keep, is the home base of the Brotherhood of Tarn and is the hub of their operations. The Keep was once an Elven structure- on of the few to be extended beyond the underground and was likely conceived to be a watchtower of sorts daunting the Kitham-Elven conflict as the structure is tall and contains serval magnifying lenses for scouting the sorrounding land. The brotherhood moved there under the guiding hand of Godkin Nersi as during his time the brotherhood was listlessly roaming around Gand trying to persuade men to leave them The Church of Tarn . This proved to be an impossible feat as in the process of converting men were asked to leave their property, possessions, jobs and families behind for little stability. The Keep offered somewhere that worshippers could live long term to focus on their observance and living authentically to Tarn. With the develoment of the Keep came an insular community that grew to encourage men to wed and to have families. Nersi insisted that the Keep was the correct location as it was tall as to reach towards the heavens, whilst being connectected to Gand. As it was in the heart of the land it was an excellent place to send missionaries and was defensible due to being nestled amongst mountain ranges.
Over time the Keep would grow with more members expanding upon construction adding new buildings onto the structure. The towers began to reach higher whilst also digging down below to tap into more underground elven structures. With the second Godkin, Godkin Kilthrop the Brotherhood would on join the Elven Network Trade Route as the keep sits directly above an intersection of railway tracks allowing for trade and to offer its most lucrative service; protection and the upkeep of law from the paladins. Able to train soldiers under a strict moral code the Brotherhood was able to align with royalty and police more rural areas in between major cities.
The Keep has become a thriving self-sufficient commune complete with people who raise crops and animals, those who make clothes and those manage the upkeep of the Keep itself. On top of those who have designated responsibilities which come with their Titles within the Worship of Tarn. This includes the Alchemists who designed the @powercrystals which has become one of the most valuable exports in the land. Visually the Keep looks like a large light-house like monolithic structure that stands on top off the Stoney Grief mountain ranges. It overlooks the land like a discerning sentry and can be seen for miles. The keep is made from multicoloured bricks and clay that have been excavated from the sorrounding mountains. The structure is old and has moss and vines growing within up the sides. Newer structures added on jut out from the building spliced on to the towers, clearly see by their brighter stone and accented with unrusted metal embellishments.
The Keep has become a thriving self-sufficient commune complete with people who raise crops and animals, those who make clothes and those manage the upkeep of the Keep itself. On top of those who have designated responsibilities which come with their Titles within the Worship of Tarn. This includes the Alchemists who designed the @powercrystals which has become one of the most valuable exports in the land. Visually the Keep looks like a large light-house like monolithic structure that stands on top off the Stoney Grief mountain ranges. It overlooks the land like a discerning sentry and can be seen for miles. The keep is made from multicoloured bricks and clay that have been excavated from the sorrounding mountains. The structure is old and has moss and vines growing within up the sides. Newer structures added on jut out from the building spliced on to the towers, clearly see by their brighter stone and accented with unrusted metal embellishments.
Demographics
The Keep only contains humans, any non-Kithan race like orc or goblin are not permitted to enter further than the front gate. The population of people who do live there are mainly young adult to maddle age adults as this is reflects the boom in church popularity. There are few elders who all tend to be a high rank in the church and serve specific roles.
The lifestyle demographics are made from two major lifestyle populations of followers; young families and single men. It's not uncommon for men who feel their life lacks purpose or those who are from their past to convert to the Brotherhood as many strive to become paladins chasing idealistic ideas of justice and the status and power that comes along with this. The other major demographic are young families as in recent times barriers prefenting convert from having families have been lifted generating more members and providing people who have displaced for one reason or another. Leading to an influx of children who are indoctrinated into the brotherhood from the moment of birth as a novitiate, the same rank and outsider would begin with upon joining the Brotherhood.
Because the community is so insular most of the resources between people are shared. Roles and work titles are granted and strictly adhered to with the intention of aiding as many people as possible. Most people inside o the Keep live fairly humble lives, very few luxury items are allowed into the Keeo and to be distributed, items like fine fabric, spices and jewellery are a rarity and own such a thing can be seen as frivolous and vapid. As such most people live a life of modesty but those who are higher in rank tend to live with more luxuries.
The lifestyle demographics are made from two major lifestyle populations of followers; young families and single men. It's not uncommon for men who feel their life lacks purpose or those who are from their past to convert to the Brotherhood as many strive to become paladins chasing idealistic ideas of justice and the status and power that comes along with this. The other major demographic are young families as in recent times barriers prefenting convert from having families have been lifted generating more members and providing people who have displaced for one reason or another. Leading to an influx of children who are indoctrinated into the brotherhood from the moment of birth as a novitiate, the same rank and outsider would begin with upon joining the Brotherhood.
Because the community is so insular most of the resources between people are shared. Roles and work titles are granted and strictly adhered to with the intention of aiding as many people as possible. Most people inside o the Keep live fairly humble lives, very few luxury items are allowed into the Keeo and to be distributed, items like fine fabric, spices and jewellery are a rarity and own such a thing can be seen as frivolous and vapid. As such most people live a life of modesty but those who are higher in rank tend to live with more luxuries.
Government
The Brotherhood of Tarn is run as an absolute monarchy wherein, the highest rank, that of the Godkin controls and holds, legislative, executive, and judicial power. This role is passed down through a processes of elective succession, where in the current Godkin nominates a beneficiary to their position in the event of their death or in efficacy to rule. The powers are supported through a conclave of representatives primarily made up of high acolytes and acolytes whom act out the will of the Godkin. In theory the brotherhood will answer to the royal powers of the king as this was ordained by Tarn and is the highest power in the land, but this has yet to be tested.
The Brotherhood pays wages to the residents of the tower with the expoectation that all money incoming into Keep is to be passed onto the members in appropriate amount depending on factors such as title, depenents and duration of service. The Keep does not pay taxes to the king but is required to pay tithes to the king for registered trade as per the current Trade Systems and etiquette.
Defences
The tower is equipt with raided walls and a drawbridge connecting the one entrance to the main land this bridge is connected to a portculust and manned by paladins. The tower also has an external lip every few floors which has a rotation of paladins watching the area as well as hoardings which can be used to drop external deterants from onto any attackers. The lips also contain bolted spyglasses and small trebuchets aimed at lobbing deterrents to anyone to curious more than dealing with threats. The biggest defense is of curse its position; the steep peaks of Stony Greif plummet straight down into rocky overcrops, the steep terrain makes it impossible to launch a full scale attack and is defensible through ranged attacks. This also forms the towers greatest structural weakness, in that the tower is a large area susceptible to crumbling if large amounts or damage are done to its external walls and due to its multiple floors is at risk from fire. It's one drawbridge is the only way out which would make it difficult to evacuate all reisidents or to assemble a counter-attack quickly.
Industry & Trade
The Keep is a firm participant in Gand's trade and economy. The Keep is credited with circulating large amounts of money as they purchase a large amount of supplies that they are unable to obtain or create, among their biggest imports are animal products like fur, leather and milk, as well as products from crops that require too much space to grow such as oats and flour. They also import specialised products such as poisons, medicines and mechanical parts. As well as craft products like dyes for both their garb and the yarn used in religious weaving.
The biggest import is by far power crystals of which the Keep are the only place to manufacture and distribute them. Crystals have become a dependent energy source for many of the Major Cities primarily Zentawen which pay high prices for the resource.
The brotherhood has a sanctioned train that they are allowed to run along the Elven Network Trade Route to send shipments of their export as well as to deploy their brethren. Paladins in particular are tasked with the duty of scavenging through settlements either abandoned or razed by them for important resources and quite frequently come back with crops, coins and even livestock.
Infrastructure
The base of the Keep was an old elven observatory made from stone brick and metal spires, from there the Brotherhood have added spires and construction onto it in much the same way as Zentawen. The Keep has a terrace farm dug into the sorrounding area used for space efficient crops like beans, squashes and potatoes. They have chicken coops and raise goats to provide meat and milk. They also have several vertical gardens within the interior of the tower which grow climbing plants.
The tower has a floor dedicated to textiles where thread is spun, woven and dyed. This is where much of the brotherhood uniforms come from and where it is laundered.
The tower has a watermill that connects to the nearby by river and mechanically works an interior mill as well as a pulley system that enables water to the above floors.
The keep has an external spire which is used as an armorer and smithy, it is attached to the ground level and contains two furnaces and other equiptment, this forge creates nails and screws as well as armor and weapons, smaller smithy exists on the level above which solely does finishing work, such as intricately adding details to armor and preparing ceremonial accessories.
Connecting to the entire tower is a sewer system linked together with a series of pipes, the bottom level is connected to a fresh water sewer which leads out to a smaller creek. The keep was communal toilets although many individual rooms keep chamber pots. They also have a communal bathhouse as singular baths are kept for only the highest rank.
The Keep has an entire secondary tower that is used for sorcerers and heretics, this is colloquially known as 'misery thorn' or 'sorcerers end' and has a direct line to the tunnels below. This area is equipt with cells and catacombs. It is conjoined to the main tower by a bridge and shares a sewer system.
Tourism
Occasionally the Keep holds passengers and pilgrims, it's not uncommon to hear of the Keep offering boarding to members of the The Church of Tarn who may be travelling such as clerics. The keep also opens its doors to travelling merchants and displaced people for short stints although the expectation is that the stay is brief and respectful.
Geography
The Keep sits almost in the middle of Gand, it's base structure goes deep into the eleven tunnel network system and reaches adobe the clearing of the Stoney grief mountains; the longest stretch of in interrupted mountain ranges the base of which is flagged by dense forest and swamplands. The Keep is the tallest artificial structure in the kingdom and by far one of the oldest. The Keep sits atop the a criss crossing of train network lines and adjacent to serveral moderately sized rivers which provide the Keep's fresh water.
Climate
The long term temperature of the area sees it as colder use to it's higher altitude and direct connection with the tunnels below, the weather is moderately consistent through out the year is is described as brittle, dry and bitterly cold.
Natural Resources
The Keep has access to multiple fresh water rivers and much stone and metal due to the surrounding mountainous areas. They have enough space to create terrace farms and verification gardens which are able to supply food. Due to their height they are able to collect rain water, and use wind to power certain machinery.
Magic Status
Anti Magic- Severe
Founders
Alternative Name(s)
The sorcerers end, The spike of Gand, Misery Thorn
Type
Citadel
Population
50,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Brothers, Brethren, clergy, clergy men and women, Tarnites. Derogatory terms- Tarnsucker, village killler, tin pricker (for paladins), body burner
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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