Duke's Road Keep is a vital military stronghold located in a mountain pass on the border between the Grand Duchy of Karameikos and the Republic of Darokin. It was established to protect the crucial Duke's Road trade route from a multitude of threats. The keep's identity is one of continuous defense, as it serves as a frontline against incursions from hostile forces in the surrounding borderlands. The garrison is known by the nickname "The Goblin-Crushers" due to its successful military operations against mountain goblins. While also a rugged fortress, it is described as a cheerful place because of the constant traffic of traders and travelers passing through from Darokin.
Duke's Road Keep is a fortified military installation, a formidable structure designed for defense in a dense, forested mountain pass. Its appearance is that of a rugged fortress, reflecting its role as a functional and crucial stronghold. During a siege, its defenders can be seen fighting from the central keep and its outer walls, using siege ladders, ballistae, catapults, and even flaming oil.
The culture of Duke's Road Keep is a blend of martial vigilance and trade-based pragmatism. The keep provides a place of respite for traders and caravan guards, with its soldiers acting as both a military force and an internal law-enforcement body. The society is defined by this constant traffic, creating a lively atmosphere. The keep is also a place of high-stakes drama, as evidenced by a recent siege where its resident civilians and visiting traders were forced to fight alongside the garrison for their lives against a horde of orcs and ogres.
Duke's Road Keep is located in a mountain pass on the Duke's Road, right at the border between Karameikos and Darokin. The surrounding territory is mountainous and cold, a frontier of untamed wilderness. A nearby hamlet, Haagnel's Junction, provides food and services for the keep, and the keep's patrols extend to nearby towns like Stallanford, which relies on the keep's troops to keep the peace.
The keep's economy is focused entirely on its military function and its role as a customs post. It is sustained by the central government of the Grand Duchy and is supported by a civilian population of 120, including a hamlet that provides food and services. Its primary "resources" are its garrison of soldiers, who are crucial for protecting the lucrative trade road and for keeping the local population safe from raiders.
The military of Duke's Road Keep is its defining feature. It is garrisoned by the Fourth Division, Duke's Road Battalion, with a force of 244 soldiers. In addition to the professional military, the keep's defense is supplemented by 33 armed civilians and 43 caravan guards who were sheltering in the keep during a battle. The garrison is well-equipped with crossbows, spears, and siege weapons, which they used to repel a massive assault by nearly a thousand orcs and ogres. The keep's military is also supported by a powerful mage who can provide magical assistance during a siege.
The keep is in a state of open hostility with the humanoid tribes of the region, including orcs and ogres. The ogre chief who led a major siege on the keep, Wolfripper, was known to have paid fealty to the frost giants of the Tomb of the Frost Shamans. On the other hand, the keep maintains a friendly and transactional relationship with the traders and caravan masters who pass through, providing a safe haven and a secure place for trade.
Duke's Road Keep has a reputation as a difficult and dangerous posting, but also as a crucial bulwark for the Grand Duchy. It is known as a cheerful place due to the constant trade, but its real reputation is as a fortress of fortitude and vigilance. The garrison's nickname, "The Goblin-Crushers," is a testament to its formidable military prowess. The keep is a place where civilization is in a constant battle against the wilderness and where adventurers can find both safety and opportunities for heroic deeds.