Belendar - Palace Ramparts
Type: Fortification/Castle Defenses Region: Belendar, Palace District Status: Under Siege (Reinforcements Arrived Session 25) Tags: #location #location/castle #location/fortification #location/under-siege
Description
Defensive rampart walls surrounding the royal palace of Belendar, featuring elevated walkways, archer positions, and tactical defensive structures. The ramparts overlook a long bridge that spans the river, serving as the primary approach to the palace. During the civil war (Sessions 24-25), these walls became the front line of defense, with mages maintaining a massive lightning barrier between the rampart towers to block advancing siege wyverns. The walls provide commanding views of the palace square, bridge approach, and surrounding city districts.
Geography
Layout:
- Stone fortification walls flanking both sides of palace bridge approach
- Elevated walkways for defenders with rampart towers at key positions
- Bridge spans approximately 150-200 meters over river
- Palace square lies beyond bridge, approximately 150 meters from shield wall position
- River flows beneath bridge providing natural defensive barrier
- Ramparts approximately 20+ feet high requiring rope climbing from river level
Defensive Features:
- Bulwarks at wall ends providing cover and elevated firing positions
- Multiple archer positions along walkways
- Rampart towers at corners/junctions
- Internal stairs/ladders and external rope access points
Key Features
- Lightning Barrier System - Magical wall spanning between rampart towers, requires 10+ mages concentrating on each wall side, blocks siege wyverns but allows arrows through, damages creatures attempting to pass (radiant/lightning damage), lapses when mages lose concentration
- Elevated Walkways - Stone pathways along wall tops providing defensive positions with commanding views
- Archer Positions - Designated firing positions, approximately 20+ archers per section
- Rampart Towers - Corner/junction towers housing mage concentrations for barrier maintenance
- Bulwarks - Defensive stone protrusions at wall ends providing cover and elevated firing positions
- Bridge Approach - Long fortified bridge over river leading to palace gates (primary access route)
- Wall Access Points - Rope climbing positions from river level, internal stairs/ladders
- Ballistae/Siege Equipment - Defensive artillery positions (implied but not detailed)
Population
Military Personnel (Sessions 24-25):
- City guard soldiers (defensive formations)
- Archers (~20+ per wall section)
- Mages (~10+ per wall maintaining lightning barrier)
- General Thailander Oakwood (commanding officer)
- Various knights and officers
Civilian Population: None (evacuated/military zone)
Leadership
- Military Commander: General Thailander Oakwood (commanding rampart defense Sessions 24-25)
- Magical Coordination: Unknown senior mage (coordinating 20+ mages for barrier)
- Overall Authority: Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade (palace occupant)
History
Ancient fortifications protecting royal palace, predating current conflict. Designed to defend against conventional sieges and armies. Lightning barrier spell represents unprecedented magical defense coordination, likely developed specifically to counter siege wyvern threat after party's previous encounter with transformed wyvern (earlier sessions).
Current Situation (Sessions 24-25)
Attacking Forces
- Four siege wyverns initially - Two destroyed (one by party Session 24, one by Patriarch Siegfried Wildner Session 25)
- Two wyverns remain active (DM confirmed Session 25)
- Black Knight with war hammer - Leading rampart assault (closer to party position)
- ~1200+ enemy troops total engaged in palace assault
- Orange/blue mercenaries (Falcon Faction)
- Ladder assault forces - Attempting to scale walls
Defensive Status
- Lightning barrier active but under strain (other side faltering Session 24)
- Palace breached - Fighting in courtyard and corridors (Session 25)
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner arrived with reinforcements (Session 25)
- Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian engaging enemy rear in rage mode (Session 25)
- Shield wall holding at bridge approach
- Approximately 55+ ladder-carrying enemies killed by combined archery fire
- ~50 soldiers killed by friendly fire - Elik'r Stormswallow's flame breath (Session 25)
- Mages maintaining barrier under strain
Party Actions - Session 24
- Infiltrated via river boat approach (stealth)
- Climbed walls using rope
- Engaged in wyvern elimination per General Thailander Oakwood's orders
- Ser Tessell Highfrost rallied 20 archers with dramatic speech: "It is your God's duty to show you mercy, but it is mine to send you to him"
- Elvva Beltavar dealt 96 damage with Chromatic Orb to wyvern
- ToooAh destroyed first wyvern with enhanced Scorching Ray (green glow)
- Ser Tessell Highfrost set own cape on fire during Sacred Flame casting
Party Actions - Session 25
- Elvva Beltavar petrified after Scorching Ray (green glow + trauma vision of burning village)
- ToooAh knocked soldier off rampart creating ladder cascade (dislodged two ladders, killed multiple)
- Elik'r Stormswallow flame breath + ToooAh's boulder killed ~50 soldiers (approximately 25 allied, 25 enemy) - failed to warn allied troops
- Ser Tessell Highfrost took 19 piercing damage (arrow to spine area)
- ToooAh took 9 piercing damage (arrow whilst flying)
- Wyvern tail slam shock wave - Ser Tessell Highfrost face-planted but recovered with shield roll
- Party departed for throne room leaving defense to reinforcements
Reinforcements (Session 25)
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner arrived riding elk
- Destroyed approaching wyvern with single beam spell (one-shot kill)
- Led castle soldier reinforcements
- Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian charging in rage mode with white patches visible
- Engaged enemy rear lines
Tactical Concerns
- Two wyverns still active (reduced from four)
- Palace already breached - interior fighting ongoing
- Three Black Knights leading separate assault points
- Mage concentration required for barrier (vulnerable to disruption)
- Multiple attack vectors (bridge, walls, aerial wyverns, interior breach)
- Friendly fire casualties from party actions may affect cooperation
Connections
Nearby Locations:
- Belendar - Palace Throne Room - Interior destination (party current location Session 25)
- Belendar - Palace Courtyard - Fighting ongoing
- Belendar - Palace Corridors - Party fought through
- Belendar - Palace Square (150m beyond bridge)
- Belendar - River (party infiltration route)
Part of:
Inhabitants
Major NPCs:
- General Thailander Oakwood - Commanding defense, recognized Lady Odonia of Galantri, ordered wyvern elimination
- Riders of the Storm - All party members engaged (Sessions 24-25)
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner - Arrived Session 25 with reinforcements, destroyed wyvern
- Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian - Engaging enemy rear Session 25
- Black Knight (War Hammer) - Enemy commander, targeting Ser Tessell Highfrost specifically
- Palace Guard Commander - Unnamed, initially confronted party climbing walls
- Senior Mage(s) - Coordinating lightning barrier (unnamed)
Factions:
- Odessia Royal Army (defending)
- Riders of the Storm (allied)
- Falcon Faction forces (attacking)
- Palace Mages (maintaining barrier)
Related Quests
- Quests - Completed#Defend Palace
- Quests - Active#Eagle vs Falcon Faction War
- Quests - Mysteries#Elincia's Triple Identity - Thalas in throne room during battle
Appearances
- Session 24 - 4 May 2025 - Party arrived via river infiltration, engaged in wyvern defense. Ser Tessell Highfrost rallied archers with speech, combined archery killed ~55 ladder-carriers. First wyvern destroyed by party (covered ramparts in gore). Black Knight directed second wyvern toward Ser Tessell Highfrost. Two more wyverns approaching at session end.
- Session 25 - 14 June 2025 - Elvva Beltavar petrified after enhanced Scorching Ray (green glow + trauma vision). ToooAh knocked soldier off rampart (ladder cascade). Elik'r Stormswallow's flame breath killed ~50 soldiers including ~25 allied troops (failed to warn). Combined arrow volley: Ser Tessell Highfrost took 19 damage, ToooAh took 9 damage. Patriarch Siegfried Wildner arrived riding elk, destroyed second wyvern with single beam spell. Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian engaged enemy rear. Party departed for throne room. Two wyverns remain active.
Notes
Strategic Importance:
- If ramparts fall, palace directly exposed to assault
- Control of walls = control of palace approach
- Mage concentration vulnerability: Barrier collapse allows wyvern advance
- Bridge bottleneck forces enemy into kill zone
Magical Coordination:
- Lightning barrier unprecedented feat (20+ mages concentrating simultaneously)
- Barrier allows friendly projectiles through but damages enemy creatures
- Represents cutting-edge defensive magic application
Tactical Observations:
- Black Knight's specific targeting of Ser Tessell Highfrost suggests intelligence gathering and tactical awareness
- Palace guards initially suspicious of party climbing walls during siege (reasonable security concern)
- General Thailander Oakwood specifically requested Lady Odonia of Galantri's help based on previous wyvern kill reputation
Session 25 Concerns:
- Friendly Fire Incident: ~25 allied casualties from Elik'r Stormswallow's flame breath may affect future palace cooperation and reputation
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner's Power: Single-spell wyvern destruction suggests significant power level increase post-resurrection (Session 23)
- Elvva Beltavar's Petrification: Green glow on spells + trauma triggers = complete mental shutdown, ongoing Bane influence escalating
- Green Glow Enhancement: Appeared on ToooAh's spell (Session 24) and Elvva Beltavar's spell (Session 25), unpredictable effects (enhancement vs petrification)