Situated high above the Morken River near the Dimil Loc upon a lonesome craggy tor, Castle Mok dominates the landscape, overlooking the plains and farmland of Elak’ris to the south and west, with the Mok Tra looming in the distant West.
The seat of the Duke of Isvieldara, Lord Neokleus Mok, its ancient battlements have never been taken by an enemy army.
Painting ‘Lindisfarne Castle’ by Thomas Girtin courtesy of the MET Museum
Most of the inhabitants of Castle Mok are humans but there are a few Elfien who serve in Neokleus’ court, such as his Huntmaster Nieyette of the Twin Lakes.
The Lords Mok rule over Castle Mok, as they have for thousands of years. Though they are technically suzerains of the Kingdom of Benselot, Lord Neokleus Mok only pays lip service to the King and is able to rule in whatever way he sees fit.
The high walls of the castle are made with a mixture of enchanted quartzite and granite that protect from both magical and mundane attacks. The Gatehouse of the Curtain Wall is heavily fortified with barbican and murder holes. And the Main Gates to the castle are defended by hidden arrow slits and magical enchantments from the days of the Empire of Anaxaneas.
Photo by Mark de Jong on Unsplash
Most of what the town produces goes to service the Castle and the Lords Mok, but there are a few luxury goods that the town is known for including beautifully painted wooden furniture and kitchenware, gold and silver jewelry, and high-quality armor and weapons. Traders who make the journey to Castle Mok usually bring foreign luxury goods and specialty items for the Lord or the other nobles.
The castle is ancient, so ancient that some of the technologies used in its building have been lost for millennia.
With both running water and heated floors, the castle’s comforts far outweigh those found even in most cities.
Though small, the town has a bazaar, crafting facilities, and housing for roughly one thousand inhabitants. The Castle can house up to five hundred occupants comfortably, and during times of war can shelter twice that number.