Fort Edgewick

Home to a small part of the Owenarian infantry, conflict between parties is subliminal as the military follows a code of honor and camaraderie. The tensions that do exist come from the spies of the Falcon's Eye who reside in the fortress. Their mysterious nature and hidden identities make little trust between them and the soldiers. The soldiers commonly test visitors for their intentions as they must protect the border from all threats. Sometimes, that tension can go too far if either side begins to show disdain. For instance, several reports throughout history have shown discrimination towards unwanted visitors such as Dwarves and Orcs. For a time, the Dwarves were seen as inferior due to the influence of Breyta's faith. When King Baron escalated the conflict with the Dwarven territory, the soldiers were pressured to prevent the Dwarves from passing Sapphire's Veil. The unfair treatment almost brought the dissolution of the fort until the King's son advocated for peace when he took over. After a long while, this disparity subseded but still exists on rare occasions from singular individuals who were raised with the dissent. The relation is more apparent with the Orcs as their cultural pilgrimage of combat makes them prone to conflicting with the infantrymen. As such, they're more expected to cause trouble and are less likely to cross the border.

As part of the Kingdom of Owenar's military, it follows the commands of its monarchy and the constitutional law, the Silver Sun, which is upheld. Any violations of the law or command is brought to the Judges of Arcshire, the kingdom's capital, where the accused must defend himslef in front of their judgement. Those who reside in the fort follow the same basic authority of rank as the rest of the Kingdom's military. While the monarchy and the Measter Judge hold the highest leadership, the next in command is the highest ranking officer in the absence of the monarchy. However, the small group of spies residing in the fort follow orders directly from the monarchy and no one else. They cannot act independently, and they have no authority over others outside the commands of the monarchy. These spies and the Sapphire Leaf Ranger neighbors are the only ones with access to the mountain caverns, as it is considered dangerous to venture alone. Although the Kingdom's authority is held within the fort's boundaries, the neighboring faction has more power over anything past that in the south. As such, the approval of the Kingdom and the Rangers is needed before one can travel to the Sapphire Forest or exit it through Fort Edgewick. The border security goes through interviews and assessments of visitors to ensure the safety of both sides of the mountain range. The espionage organization in the fort, the Falcon's Eye, acts on confidentiality even among the border security that share their spaces. Using the border crossing to access the other continent to gather information from the faction that reigns. Exercising orders directly from the current ruler of the Kingdom of Owenar.

While most of the border defences are done by the Sapphire Leaf Rangers, it is not to say that the infantrymen who watch this fort are negligent. Their geological position makes any siege attempts difficult. Ballista turrets protect the fort's northern station while armed infantrymen roam Sapphire's Vein for any unwanted travel. The spies use the terrain to observe infiltration, seeking to go past the fort without authorization while honing their intelligence-gathering skills. These spies readily monitor the caverns that cover the mountains for the same reasons.

The base of the fort is built on carved rock to level the structures of wood and stone and constructed on the face of the mountain to observe travellers and others from a fair distance. The base may appear not to hold residency, but a network is carved into the large rock formation with multiple exitways in the event of cave-ins. The entrances of this fort include a long stairway and an open entrance used to lift supplies into it. Most of the fort's constructions consist of barracks, interrogation rooms, archives, storage, holding cells, or small training spaces.

The fort carries an ample supply of documents for every individual or party that has attempted to pass the checkpoint. Details of their profiles, such as their intentions, supplies, and identities, are kept confidential for their protection. They can be released for review by the Kingdom's government's warrants or under the monarchy's approval. Being a fort, it also has a moderate supply of weaponry, including swords, shields, armor, and projectiles, and means of crowd control like steel bindings and nets. In addition, it holds top secret objects used by their spies to effectively perform espionage. Rumor has it that it includes several top-secret magical objects.

Fort Edgewick was founded in 582 of the Dark Ages (DA) by Edge Harrowick, a former rogue who worked with Utheos Owenar during their adventuring days. At his comrade's request, Edge brokered peace with the Sapphire Leaf Rangers after the failed attempt to conquer their land to expand the Kingdom. A defensive checkpoint at the widest route to the Sapphire Forest, Sapphire's Vein, in exchange for the assurance that both neighboring factions vet all who travel there from the north. Giving the rangers a promise of safety from unwanted visitors through the mountain's most accessible route. After it was fully established, Edge also worked to use the caverns of the mountains to the advantage of training the next generation of rogues who would serve under the monarchy. In a set of unfortunate events, one of Edge's apprentices, Grinveld, defected and killed him in his sleep. Dissapearing before judgement could be passed, the remaining rogues continued Edge's work and formed the Falcon's Eye. A small organization of rogues specializing in intelligence gathering throughout Ixala.    As per its practice of confidentiality, very little information about its activities is recorded. In times of war between nations, some stories are too great to be kept secret. In 299, after the Dark Ages (ADA), King Baron Owenar declared a war of conquest against the Dwarven Clans in the South. This raised paranoia amongst the border security of the fort as they elevated restriction and discrimination against Dwarven travellers. Reports of mistreatment spread to the capital of the Kingdom, where it sparked outrage amongst its citizens and parliament. Leading to the King's demise by his son. After Beyl Owenar took the throne, he immediately called for the arrests of all the soldiers who had been reported for acts of discrimination. A necessary act to bestow peace with the Dwarves.    After a while, tensions between the Dwarves subsided while the conflicts with the Orcs grew each year. Their pilgrimage of combat made them hostile towards border security, who slowed their travel across the lands. This hostility still exists today, but many in Fort Edgewick seek a better resolution for fairness.

The fort is located at the base of the mountain range next to the starting point of Sapphire Vein, a wide mountain pass that directly leads to the Sapphire Forest in the southern region of Westenra. It lies on the face of a large rock formation, using carved rock as a foundational base where it overlooks the road it monitors. The area features small and random sprouts of Sapphire oaks, with only scarce amounts of Sapphire Algae that gave it its name. The steep mountains cover the entire area like a massive wall, preventing access to the forest except through its mountain passes.