Greatbridge of the Paleflame Accord

Type: Deck-Arch Megaspan bridge
Aliases: First Fork Greatbridge, Paleflame Greatbridge
Location: The First Fork of the Coldfire River (border of Arya and Dravis)
Significance: Largest land bridge in Marth; emblem of the Paleflame Accord and joint Arya–Dravis craft

Overview

The Greatbridge of the Paleflame Accord crowns the First Fork where the Coldfire divides and the realms of Arya and Dravis face one another. It is a tri-material marvel—stone, metal, and rune-ice—raised by shared will, craft, and pact. The bridge anchors trade, diplomacy, and defense across one of the world’s most lethal natural barriers.

Construction

• Deck Spine (Metal): Fabricate-forged metal core runs the length of the deck as a continuous tension backbone and anchor rail for warding.
• Arch & Spandrels (Stone): Stone-shaped main arch rib(s) and spandrel columns carry the deck; keyed into the spine with quake joints.
• Springers & Stiffeners (Rune-Ice): Ice-shaped springer buttresses at each arch foot, engraved with anti-melt runes; additional ice web-stiffeners along the arch intrados damp vibration and thermal drift.
• Foundations: Deep rock sockets on both banks; insulating grout and ward-ink channels prevent paleflame creep.

Warding and Security (Canon)

• Beast-Deterrent Lattice: Repels wild creatures from approaches and abutments.
• Intent Ward (Sapients):

Trigger: Strong intent to damage/sabotage the bridge.

Save: INT DC 30 (this bridge only).

Fail: Feeblemind (as the spell).

Succeed: No effect, but the ward pings.

• Authorization: Bridgewarden sigils (tokens/signet-bands) bypass warding; lost sigils can be blacklisted at pylon shrines.

Monitoring: Glyph-eyes in the pylons log pings/failed saves and briefly display an afterimage of the individual. Lanterns along the deck brighten for one minute after any ping.

(Scaling note for world consistency: lesser Coldfire bridges use INT DC 25 on the Intent Ward.)

Operations

• Traffic Control: Alternating caravan windows in heavy seasons; wardens issue visor panes to mitigate paleflame glare.
• Maintenance: Seasonal rune re-inking; inspection of spine anchors and ice ribs; quake-joint re-keying as banks shift.
• Garrisons: Joint Aryan–Dravish watch posts at both ends with shared incident codes.

Law and Diplomacy

• Accord Protocols: Neutral passage for marked relief caravans; mutual aid for structural emergencies; shared custody for ward criminals apprehended on the deck.
• Customs: Tithe booths set back from the bridge ends to prevent congestion on the span.

Dedication

Raised by Arya and Dravis in the year of the Paleflame Accord, that travelers may pass and the Coldfire divide be bridged by will, craft, and oath.

Symbolism

• Paleflame Unity: The bridge literalizes cooperation over annihilating cold—stone for endurance, metal for resolve, ice for the land itself.
• Oathmark: Ceremonies renew the Accord every ninth year under auroral skies.