Keep at Stormgaarten
Situated a short distance from the foothills of the dwarven mountain kingdom of Gruunkrag in the Stormgaarten region of the kingdom of Estmuire, the Keep is an important trade town and outpost. It meets at a nexus between Gruunkrag to the west, the far off capital Estmuire City to the East, and the elven Sestrawood to the north. It is built around the ancestral home of the House of Nacid, the hereditary rulers of Stormgaarten. The current rulers are Lady Ansha and Lord Duchesne.
As a trade centre, it has numerous markets, shops, inns, taverns, and even some trade institutions. Any standard equipment should be easy to locate here, but one would be very unlikely to uncover anything of wondrous origin.
Populace
Population
A few thousand
Primary races
The Keep, like most of Estmuire, is a human settlement.
Other common races
Due to the proximity to Gruunkrag and the Sestrawood, dwarves, evles, and half-elves are a common sight on the streets of the Keep.
Government and rulers
The town is ruled over by Lady Ansha (the political leader) and Lord Duchesne (the protector) of the House of Nacid.
Defensive forces
There is a town guard, Guardians of the Keep, and the private guards of the House of Nacid that often work closely with the Guardians. There is a nearby garrison of soldiers for the kingdom of Estmuire.
Religion
There are small temples to most non-evil aligned deities, as well as a temple library to Sytern.
Guilds
The keep supports several guilds, such as a merchant guild, artisan guild, market guild, and rumours persist that a thieves guild operates in the town. It is not large enough to support an artificer guild, but due to the many nearby peace keeping forces, there is a mercenary guild.
Geography
Location
Nestled a couple of days walk from the Gruunkrags and less than a week south of the Sestrawood, the Keep's location along trade routes is its greatest natural resource.
Environment and climate
In the western edge of Estmuire, most of the lands are rolling grasslands that make for easy farming. There are copses of trees and forestry here and there in the surrounding area. A slow river drifts in from the direction of Gruunkrag, then turns north-east as it passes the town to the south and east. This river is about thirty metres across as it winds along the south edge of town, to about ten metres at the bridge leading into town at the south east corner.
Establishments
Inns, taverns, and pubs
A handful of taverns are supported by the town. One example near the western end in the poorer area of town is the Grim Tankard, while the Hurion Inn stands just outside the inner gates of the Keep proper, and is often used by more affluent merchants and dignitaries not important enough to be invited to stay with the Lord and Lady of the Keep.
Shops
The Curiad Bazaar is a market of goods that's set up most days along the main high street for the town. Nearer the Keep you can find Beryl's Armoury for weapons and armour, and nearer the south-east entrance leading to Estmuire you can find Esther's Outfitters for adventuring needs.
Notable residences
The most famous residence of note in town is the Keep proper, where Lady Ansha and Lord Duchesne of the House of Nacid live and rule. The keep is a large stone structure that could be compared to a small castle. It has stone walls about five metres tall with occasional guard towers large enough for a single guard. The only obvious way in is a large wooden gate reinforced with metal girders.
Fortifications
A short, three metre reinforced wooden fence surrounds most of the town to the east and north. Where the town rises in a hill to the north-west edge of town where the Keep proper stands, the fence transitions to a taller stone wall, which continues south to the river. There is no wall along the river to the south until the bridge leading into town at the south-east corner, and the gate and guard houses surrounding the near edge of the bridge.
