Vark’s Hold

Mile 66: "Vark’s Hold" (The Iron Hill)

• Terrain: A steep, defensible hill rising out of the Open Plains.

• Ruler: Baron Vark (The Halfling Warlord).

• Structure: A tight, militaristic fortress. Not a castle, but a "star fort" designed for crossbow overlapping fire.

• The Law: Vark controls the road. If you pass, you pay. If you pay, you are safe. Vark's riders (Halflings on war-dogs or ponies) patrol a 10-mile radius, ruthlessly hunting bandits to ensure he is the only one taxing travelers.

The Territory: "The Iron Corridor"

Vark does not claim the entire Gap (he knows he lacks the manpower). Instead, he claims The Road and a specific buffer zone.

• Extent: From Mile 52 (Black-Bough) in the North to Mile 80 (Echo-Pass) in the South.

• The Law of the Road:

  • The Toll: 20% of the value of goods, or 5 Gold Crowns per head for travelers.

  • The Guarantee: Within this 28-mile stretch, banditry is punishable by immediate execution. If a monster attacks you on Vark's road, his riders will ride out to kill it.

  • The "Tag": Travelers who pay are given a Iron Token. Showing this token at the villages of Garrison's Folly (Mile 52) or Vark's Hold grants you entry. No token means you sleep outside.

Dominion Over Neighbors

Vark's "Kingdom" is a mix of direct rule and extortion.

1. Garrison's Folly (Mile 52): The Vassal State

   • Relationship: Subjugated.

   • The merchant-fortress of Garrison's Folly technically has its own council, but Vark keeps a permanent garrison of 20 riders there. They "protect" the town (and ensure the town buys Vark's protection).

2. Black-Bough (Mile 52 - Forest Edge): The Resource Colony

   • Relationship: Economic Dependency.

   • Vark needs timber and charcoal for his forge. He guarantees Black-Bough's safety from the "Beast of the Weald" in exchange for steep discounts on lumber.

3. Echo-Pass (Mile 80): The Rival

   • Relationship: Cold War.

   • Vark hates Echo-Pass. The smugglers there undermine his tolls by moving goods through the caves. He cannot conquer them (the caves are too easily defended), so his riders aggressively patrol the plains outside the village, arresting anyone trying to sneak goods in or out.

The Seat of Power: Vark's Hold (Mile 66)

• Location: Mile 66 of the Southern Corridor (42 miles South of Kreevs).

• The Geography: The Hold sits atop "The Iron Hill," a steep, solitary drumlin that rises abruptly from the flat grasslands. It commands a 360-degree view of the surrounding plains for miles.

• The Fortress: It is not a traditional tall castle (which Vark calls "Target Practice"). Instead, it is a Star Fort—low, thick earthen walls reinforced with stone, designed with sharp angles to allow his crossbowmen to create "kill zones" with overlapping fields of fire.

• The Throne: Vark rules from the "Kennel-Keep," a squat, bunker-like central citadel. His audience chamber features his "Throne of Skulls" (Ogre/Troll skulls), but the room is filled with his prize War-Dogs, who sleep freely on the rugs.

Military Asset: The Dog-Cavalry

Vark’s power projection relies on speed and intimidation, subverting the expectation of his race.

• The Mounts: Mastiffs of War. These are not cute ponies; they are armored, 180lb beasts bred for aggression and loyalty.

• The Riders: Halflings in heavy, custom-fitted plate armor. They wield lances and flails.

• Tactics: They don't charge like knights; they swarm. They ride low to the ground, hamstringing larger enemies (or horses) while the dogs bite and pin targets.