Akkala Citadel
Akkala Citadel stands tall proud and mighty at the top of the Akkala span. Its high walls and turrets a beacon of strength rising up from sheer, imposing cliffs, and armed with rows and rows of powerful cannons, this powerful fortress is a strong deterrent to any who may try to invade Akkala's shores. It's full of legions upon legions of soldiers under the command of General Minfe Ralubar, as well as enough civilian workers to make up a large town. It's almost entirely self-sufficient, and there could very well be a case made for it to be considered its own city-state.
Not only is it historically remarkable for its unmatched, sheer size, but also the speed of its construction. The citadel was finished in only seventeen years, which for its scale should be unheard of, but Hyrule not only employed some of the most skilled engineers in the kingdom to carry out the plans designed by none other than Queen Idalia, but also implemented innovative new methods of incorporating the use of magic to improve not only the speed of construction, but also the safety of the working conditions, which was necessary given the design of the citadel and the terrain it was built on. With the tradesmen and mages working together, Akkala Citadel was completed in historic time, with no worker casualties and minimal injuries, which was unprecedented.
It may seem strange, to place a defensive fortress meant to guard the northeast coast of Hyrule so far from the shore, but it's position towering above the valley gives it the advantage of having fewer weak points that an enemy invader might infiltrate, and the top of the citadel provides a clear view far across the distant ocean waters to the east and north. It is intended to repel attacks from the sea by pirates and, Goddesses forbid, Oceanic Zora Empire military forces. The cannons the citadel is equipped with are unique to any Hyrulean Military base, a new model that was designed and built by the Goron Group Mining Company of Orobe Mountain. They can fire much further than standard Hyrulean cannons, and with much stronger attack power. Their range is ideal for firing across long distances, and are perfectly suited to taking out coastal invaders while they're still in the water.
The Ancient Sheikah Tower being right underneath it is a coincidence.
History
In the year 9966, the Akkala valley was struck by a vicious organized raid campaign by militarized mercenaries from the Oceanic Zora Empire. They first struck the small villages dotting the east Akkala plains and moved up into the highlands, wiping out anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in their path. The Hyrulean forces called in were able to eventually drive the raiders back to the shores, but they could push them no further than the edge of the water, the sea zora having the aquatic advantage.
Soon after reinforcements arrived in the form of soldiers from Zora's Domain Rhoedamas, the oldest and largest inland domain of Zora that had been allies with Hyrule for many years. They were led by none other than Queen Charquina herself, wife of King Dorephan and a legendary warrior in her own right. The mercenaries were swiftly driven back into the open sea, and the Akkala province was safe once more.
But, the damage had been done. Several villages and farms, even an entire large town in southern Akkala, had been completely razed to the ground. The civilian casualties alone amounted to over thirty dead and fifty injured, and nearly two hundred people had been displaced, seeking refuge further inland in Rauru Town and Castle Town. Princess Zelda Idalia, aged fifteen at the time, was in the Akkala region helping with the rebuilding efforts when she noticed the high cliffs that made up the Akkala span, high enough to overlook the entire province. Those cliffs, which the oceanic raiders had had to circumvent in their campaign, were in and of themselves a defensive wall. They were what inspired Idalia to start drawing up the plans for the citadel as soon as the relief efforts were finished and she returned to Hyrule Castle.
Zelda Idalia was a gifted and skilled architect, and at only fifteen she had already designed more efficient and quality of life improving housing in Castle Town and had unending ideas for improvements to be made to the kingdom's physical infrastructure. Military facilities would be a new challenge, especially one of the scale she had in mind, but it was a challenge she was determined to face.
Before the end of that year, construction had begun. She oversaw the project from start to finish. She was a young princess when it began, and a queen when it was done. The completion of Akkala citadel preceded the birth of Idalia's daughter, Princess Zelda Cyra, by mere months.
After Queen Idalia's death only six years later, her personal guard and best friend, Minfe Ralubar, mother of the future Hyrulean Champion Link, in her mourning basically demoted herself from captain of the royal guard back to General, the rank she'd held fourteen years ago before becoming Idalia's guard, and took up the command position at Akkala Citadel. She declined the newly crowned High King Rhoam's offer to become his own personal guard to do so, earning his ire in the process, but she was so revered in Hyrule's military and court that she was already beyond reproach.
It was under her command that the citadel stood fast against the initial eruption of the Calamity in 9900. Once they had taken in as many survivors through the gates as they could, she gave the order to turn the cannons inland and destroy the Akkala Bridge, cutting off the advancing guardians, but also sealing the citadel off from the outside world. Every other military base in Hyrule fell that first crimson day, but Akkala citadel held fast for five years before it was finally overtaken and destroyed be the Calamity.
9905
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