| Varonhold | |
|---|---|
| Nation | Kastalshire |
| Type | Duchy Capital |
| Duchy | Varondale |
| Ruler | Duke Tharian Vael |
| Location | Built into a mountainside overlooking the sea, northeastern Kastalshire |
| Notable For | Mountain-fortress city, adamantine-plated walls, ballista towers, tiered underground chambers |
Built directly into the side of a mountain overlooking the sea, Varonhold is as much a fortress as it is a city. Its outer walls are carved from the mountain itself, reinforced with adamantine plating and dotted with ballista towers aimed at land and sea alike. Inside, tiered chambers descend deep into the rock, sheltering the city from storms and sieges. The sky is often grey, the air is cold, and torches line the streets at all hours.
Ruler
Duke Tharian Vael is a grim figure rarely seen without his thick fur cloak and blackened steel breastplate. A former admiral who lost an arm during a giant raid, he now governs as a master strategist and defensive planner. He speaks little, acts decisively, and keeps a war council of trusted veterans, mages, and monster hunters. His word is law, and few challenge it because few survive the wilds without his protection.