Karnstown City Gates
W
hen the children of Jasric Karn decided to enhance the image of the settlement built by their father -- and therefore provide themselves with more potential sources of income, they found themselves fighting against the image that Karnstown was nothing more than a frontier outpost deep in the forest and far from civilization. They decided they needed Karnstown to have all the accoutrements of any other worthwhile city. First and foremost on their list of must-haves were defensive walls and gates to mark the entrances to the city.
If the city were really worried about defense, residents and planners would find that the city's natural geography did most of the work. The city lies on the shore of Karn's Lake - a vast freshwater inland sea with no other significant settlements along its shores anywhere. To the west, the river called ? by the Elves, and Karn's River the city's inhabitants, guards the approach to the city. Finally, the city is situated on land that slopes up away from the lakeshore before ending with an escarpment north of the shore. This escarpment forms a natural wall around most of the city's land borders.
Despite the unnecessity, though, walls and formal gates were built anyway -- simply so that the Karn family and anyone attempting to attract potential settlers could use their existence to bolster claims that Karnstown was indeed a vibrant city and not a sleepy backwoods outpost.
If the city were really worried about defense, residents and planners would find that the city's natural geography did most of the work. The city lies on the shore of Karn's Lake - a vast freshwater inland sea with no other significant settlements along its shores anywhere. To the west, the river called ? by the Elves, and Karn's River the city's inhabitants, guards the approach to the city. Finally, the city is situated on land that slopes up away from the lakeshore before ending with an escarpment north of the shore. This escarpment forms a natural wall around most of the city's land borders.
Despite the unnecessity, though, walls and formal gates were built anyway -- simply so that the Karn family and anyone attempting to attract potential settlers could use their existence to bolster claims that Karnstown was indeed a vibrant city and not a sleepy backwoods outpost.
Jasric's Gate
The first wall built bridged the gap between the Karn River and the western edge of the escarpment at the northwestern corner of the city. Here, a road leading north to places such as Spirit Lake and Four Rivers can be found. Where road meets wall, a gatehouse was constructed.
Named "Jasric's Gate" in honor of the town founder, it claims to mark the spot from which explorer Jasric Karn first glimpsed the vast lake which now also bears the explorer's name.
A fair number of merchants and travelers pass through Jasric's Gate, as the road north out of town leads to the city of Four Rivers beyond the Feywood to the north, but also branches eastward through Spirit Lake toward Dryad Falls.
Until recently, practically all of the contact between Karnstown and the rest of Cartyrion passed through this gate, but in recent years, as other settlements deeper in the Feywood have grown, a notable amount of this business now uses the Elves' Gate.
Named "Jasric's Gate" in honor of the town founder, it claims to mark the spot from which explorer Jasric Karn first glimpsed the vast lake which now also bears the explorer's name.
A fair number of merchants and travelers pass through Jasric's Gate, as the road north out of town leads to the city of Four Rivers beyond the Feywood to the north, but also branches eastward through Spirit Lake toward Dryad Falls.
Until recently, practically all of the contact between Karnstown and the rest of Cartyrion passed through this gate, but in recent years, as other settlements deeper in the Feywood have grown, a notable amount of this business now uses the Elves' Gate.
Prosperity Gate
Where the Karn River empties into Karn's Lake, an impressive stone bridge and gatehouse was erected to guard the trail leading west along the lakeshore and then onward to the Iron Mountains.
When tin and iron deposits were discovered in those mountains, this gate was given the name Prosperity Gate, supposedly to acknowledge the opportunity for enrichment that prospectors and miners heading to the mines would enjoy.
When tin and iron deposits were discovered in those mountains, this gate was given the name Prosperity Gate, supposedly to acknowledge the opportunity for enrichment that prospectors and miners heading to the mines would enjoy.
Elves' Gate
The last gate to be built was erected when the second portion of wall was built along the eastern edge of the city to span the gap between Karn's Cliff and the lake. At the time it was built, the only folk living beyond it were a few farmers that grew food for the city residents, and the Elves who lived deep in the Feywood and occasionally visited Karnstown to keep an eye on what the mostly Human newcomers were up to. The gate became known as the Elves' Gate.
Now, a trade road connects the city through this gate with the Halfling village of Spudbarrow before continuing past the Bugbear's Head Inn toward Feybridge Crossing.
Now, a trade road connects the city through this gate with the Halfling village of Spudbarrow before continuing past the Bugbear's Head Inn toward Feybridge Crossing.
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