Hilt

Hilt is a fortress located in Nightshade Pass in the Blackblade Range. Hilt guards the only known mountain pass between western Midmaer and South Paladis.

Hilt was built by the military branch of the Obsidians in the era of the Blade of the Avatar novella. The purpose was twofold: to serve as a heavily defensive structure to guard the only known pass through the Blackblade Range, and as an extravagant symbol of vanity to the Obsidian Army; the stone likeness of the four generals of the army was carved into the cliffs themselves.

There is a labyrinth of caverns beneath Hilt that had, perhaps foolishly, not been completely explored during Hilt's construction. It is down here that the Obsidians built the Tombs of Eternity.

Hilt is a known contested area for Player vs. Player combat. It is the only place in the world where Tears of the Moon can be formed. 

Lore

 * Within the Blackblade Mountains, between South Paladis to the west and Midmaer to the east, is the narrow cleft of Nightshade Pass. At its center the winding pass opens up into a bowl-shaped canyon in which rests a shimmering lake fed by icy water flowing down from glaciers hidden higher in the mountains to the north. On the south end of this valley can be seen the tall volcanic mountain of Hilt that gives this region its name. According to legend, before the Fall of the shards of the shattered moon, there was a great battle between the Gods of Man and the Avatars. It raged all across the face of the world. One of the Avatars saw that they could not win and so, rather than fight the gods, he plunged his blade into the world, desiring to kill that thing which the gods loved most; their creation. The edge of the sword tore through the fertile lands of the world, opening a great and terrible wound which became known as Hellfire Rift. It was here, then, that the gods in their wrath stopped the Avatar and cast him back into the Abyss from which he came. But the damage had been done and the gods, in their wisdom, left the hilt of the blade exposed until such time as some legendary hero from some other legend were to come along and heal the world. That’s what that southernmost peak is supposed to be; the hilt.  It’s on the north end of the canyon, however, that the area’s most interesting feature can be found. Built over two hundred years ago by the Obsidian general Karpasic (during the time depicted in Blade of the Avatar), the fortress at Hilt was created as a conceit for the glory of the Obsidian military power (which didn’t please the Cabal of the Obsidian Sorcerers). Furthermore, according to legend it was where the military discovered, deep below the earth, the wondrous obsidian forges. During its time, however, the excuse of its building was to further fortify and secure Nightshade Pass itself, since enemy armies could not easily travel through the valley pass without using the bridged ford located between the lower walls of the fortress, exposing them to fire from soldiers and mages stationed on the battlements above.


 * Entering through the pass from the west, and gazing down into the natural bowl of the valley itself, you can see the lush vegetation near and far, as lower-altitude deciduous trees, ferns and grasses give way to hardier conifers and higher-altitude shrubs… Boulders and rock-faces protrude from steeper angles and merge with the terrain with the help of attendant flora and smaller stones. Approaching the lower entrance of the fortress walls, and the first of the switchback ramps leading upward, you can see one of the waterfalls draining from the cascade winding its way down through the fortress walls from the upper slopes. Tucked away in the shadowed recesses of the cleft to its left, just beyond a gnarled old tree, are some crumbling ruins of a tower built long after the sturdier, more ancient ruins of the fortress itself.  A bridge is one of the few places travelers could have forded the deep, cold stream flowing into the lake, putting them easily in range of attack from the terraced walls above.


 * ''There is a small encampment of weary travelers who fear approaching any closer to the base of the ancient fortress because of the presence of a cave troll that waylays any who dare to cross the bridge near the lowest waterfall. Their horses were dangerously spooked, so they have camped higher up along the eastern pass to consider the possibility of fording some shallow area they hope to find in the misty lake below. Certainly nothing could go wrong with that plan! Just beyond their tent and wagons, through the dark forest, is an overgrown trail leading high into the mountains toward the treacherous volcano of Hilt itself. The somewhat creepy entrance courtyard of the main fortress itself, is lit dimly by the haunting light of the magical, floating crystal shards. You can also see the nearly 25 meter tall waterfall tumbling down from the distant mountains veiled in night’s mist, sending the river on its way down the cascading terraces toward the lake below…


 * ''One of the great scenic views of the fortress from the opposite side of the valley on the trail leading past the travelers’ encampment as it heads toward the forgotten exit near the volcano itself. Further up the overgrown trail, more evidence of the volcanic nature of the area can be seen in steaming fumaroles that have formed here and there. As you climb higher, the sulfur-rich waters seeping into the ground leave barren patches of soil and dead trees, opening up even more vistas of the distant fortress. At the base of the fortress, by ruined walls and the roots of a twisted old oak, waits the pale troll who delights in accosting those who dare try to cross “his” bridge. If you choose to walk deeper into the brush-choked overgrowth between the cyclopean walls, you’ll find ruined remnants of the Obsidian occupation over 200 years earlier. A crumbling decorative courtyard, and even the remnants of a walled grave-site, can be found. As you finally emerge onto the last level leading to the front of the fortress tower itself, the way is illuminated by the undying light of Obsidian crystal sconces. This was once an impressive grand avenue of approach for those who dared present themselves before the might of the generals of that ancient army. This avenue would lead through the main gate to empty out into the primary courtyard of the tower itself. Standing within this courtyard, long after dusk has fallen, it’s easy to see how time has taken its toll. Ruined pillars lay crumbling before the great entrance, pines now grow where once soldiers marched, and vines cling to its ancient façade. At either end of the great central structure, long abandoned barracks lay filled with relics of the troops that once occupied them. And above, the eyes of the enormous attendant statues which flank the main doors stare down accusingly…


 * ''Once you pass through the exterior doors, you will appear in an entry hall adorned with friezes and stone carvings of past Obsidian battles and victories, now defaced and crumbling. The torches are lit, evidence of the kobolds which have decided to make this area their own. Beyond, a huge reception rotunda hosts the four stone thrones of the ancient Obsidian generals who once held court here. It has become of den of the kobolds, who just might be willing to make a deal with the players (eventually) which could include escort through these ancient halls if the players are willing to fight an infestation of giant spiders far below.  Deeper still are several of the forgotten chambers adjacent to the large barracks, similar to those at the surface. Here the party will discover areas such as the old kitchens and mess hall, armor and weapons forges, and a small armory. The kobolds are frustrated because neither of these proved to be the Obsidian Forge of legend…  Below the Barracks a huge, shadow-filled training area sits, choked with vast spider webs and filled with crawling horrors. It is here that the players might find a few meager kobolds attempting (and failing) to fight the many giant spiders that prowl this room, especially the lowest arena floor where the players must cross to go deeper…  Sticky webs seem to halt intruders at every turn, and of course the spiders immediately attack any who dare trespass. At the chamber’s center, a huge nest stretching to the ceiling is adorned at its base with many corpses that have been sucked of blood yet still carry treasures to loot… The players are welcome to continue delving further downward in search of the real Obsidian Forge… The kobolds wish them luck…  Below the Training Arena the stairs eventually lead to the main entrance to the Crypts of Eternity… Apparently the ancient Obsidian Builders truly outdid themselves when they found the old lava caves here, because now the grand central crypt hall is an impressive area filled with fly-over walkways, multiple arches leading to tomb-filled halls, and great pillars stretching many stories up and down into darkness. Only further down these side halls might one find evidence of the crude lava tubes they were originally carved from. A single path through this echoing hall, lit by eternal sorcerous crystal sconces, leads to the far side, where a door continues deeper down below… But between here and there, however, sinister green mists rise form the floor and gaunt, skeletal shapes move menacingly through the glowing vapors…  Below the Crypts of Eternity is a long-abandoned Chapel where the Obsidians once performed dark rites in honor of their dead before carrying them back up to be interred in the endless tombs… This is largely full of collapsed stone and old furniture, including a few supply chambers and the office of the old Chaplain, but the main feature here is the secret door the players must discover that will finally allow them into the hidden volcanic chambers of the Obsidian Forge itself.  Beyond the Chapel’s secret door, a natural tunnel lined initially with a few crystalline lights leads deeper into the earth, eventually emptying out into a large, dangerous-looking chamber filled with swirling vapors and angry pools of lava…  Beyond this, at the back of these natural volcanic chambers, is an entrance carved by the Obsidians leading into a large circular chamber excavated to expose part of a massive, alien glyph-covered artifact that seems to be made of volcanic glass even more ancient than that which fell from the shattered moon… This must be the true Hilt that once pierced the land long ago!!! And at its center, under a shaft of crimson light and power that falls from a huge floating piece of obsidian, is the Forge itself…waiting…