Soldier's Peak

Soldier's Peak is an old Grey Warden base that sits atop a maze of abandoned mining tunnels. It was built in the middle of the Glory Age, several decades after the second Blight was ended. Warden-Commander Gaspar Asturian desired a fortified headquarters where his forces could train and live. The defeat of the archdemon Zazikel was fresh in the minds of the Fereldan people, and many were willing to donate gold to build Commander Asturian's fortress. Soldier's Peak was fully completed within 10 years, and dedicated to the Maker in 2:34 Glory.

Inside of the Fort

 * Barracks
 * Archives
 * Commanders Quarters
 * Avernus's Tower (study and Sanctum)
 * Great Hall
 * Break Room/Mess/Dining Hall

The Fort's Exterior and Surrounding Area
The Fifth Blight has elicited an even stronger effort of support by the Fereldens due to the Fort's proximity to both Amaranthine and the Northern coast, both of which were dangerous locations in the wake of the terrible war. Thus it has been repaired from its formerly ruined condition and modernised to fit the boom in trade and the purpose of refuge for those lost upon the land.

Around the fort's walls, both interior and exterior and inside of the courtyards there is often found a throng of tradesmen, customers and Wardens. Many a stall line the thoroughfare which leads from the main gated entrance where the golems are stationed either side of the high metallic entrance, with ornate designs worked into them. Everything that is beyond the thoroughfare is generally a surprise to most first-time visitors and a downright shock to those who may have been there before the Order had officially taken the fort after the fifth blight (when the Order was also given Amaranthine) and the surrounding area so thoroughly; it is an unrecognisable sight from what it was - impressively so.

The entire fort was recovered and repaired, refortified and expanded. The grounds were expanded as well, thus the surrounding area and the pass through the hills is secure and in the Warden’s control. The fort itself is exclusively manned and occupied by Wardens. It is rare to see any not of the Order. To the south of the fort there was a small village. It was located on the other side of a fairly large river and though it was untouched by the Blight there were refugees from the south who brought with them tales of the Darkspawn and so the village was mostly abandoned and left to ruin. The Wardens were allowed, by the King, to take it under their jurisdiction as long as they protected it and supplied it. The village has since grown into a small town known for its trade, with the port road running through it and bringing with it merchants and travellers. The Wardens built large, stone bridges to connect the town to the fort and the port and of course the Wardens use this town as a platform to enter the rest of Ferelden (since the fort is protected by magic and hardly welcoming, the town serves as a good base for the trade deals the Wardens do, the deals they wish to keep away from the fort).

The Grey Warden's have brought prosperity to to the surrounding area, through trade routes extended via the sea to the Marches and roads which lead South to connect with the Imperial Highway which run West to the newly rejuvenated Calenhad - formerly known as the general vicinity of Northern Lake Calenhad - and East to Denerim. This was all done with the official seal of King Alistair so no Bann or Arl can contest the Wardens of Soldier's Peak.

The eastern gate of Soldier’s Peak leads to a port that the Warden’s own, one they repaired soon after they reclaimed the fort and now use it for deliveries and exporting. Though not as big as Amaranthine, Gwaren or Highever it is big enough to be of use to the Wardens but difficult for Felicisima Armada to raid.

Of Golems
There are golems which protect the fort but only two have ever been seen at any one time, thus only the Wardens know if there are more than this pair at Soldier's Peak. They guard the fort and meet visitors, accompanied by a Warden assigned to them. The golems are twelve feet tall and have Warden symbols engraved upon their stone chests. It is also rumoured that their footsteps are silent on the Peak.

Each time a newcomer wishes to enter the fort the Golems ask the same question.

"To enter the Peak you must pass the test. Come forward."

Then they stand side-on, facing each other. After a short moment an odd blue glow of light will issue forth from the symbols upon their chests and the visitors will be required to pass between the golems. What this test actually is not even most Wardens know.

Of Avernus and his experiments
The mage remained a Grey Warden and since the fifth blight his experiments have become increasingly known throughout Thedas. Many come to see the truth of the stories about his fantastical potions and wondrous mechanical inventions, made in partnership with the ingenuity of the new generation of Grey Wardens of Ferelden; in twenty years the order has recruited more engineers and free-thinkers than in its entire history and the hub of their works lay both here and in Amarinthine.

''The taint allows us to sense the darkspawn. The longer we survive with the taint in our blood, the more potent it becomes.''

''Unfortunately, this corruption will eventually overwhelm the Warden; over time, it devours both mind and body, leaving nothing. But what if the spread of the corruption could be stopped, or contained in some way? What if the Warden could become more powerful, without having that power kill him? How great would that power be? Would it be enough to stop the demons?''

''The Joining ritual is crude. We take into ourself the blood of the darkspawn in the most obvious way. Most die from the corruption immediately; it is, after all, poison. There must be some way to refine the Joining. Isolate the true power that is found in darkspawn blood, and leave behind the evil that kills us.''

''I can feel the corruption starting to take its toll on my body. I must not succumb. There is too much work to be done. Through my magic I've been able to slow its inevitable spread, but not stop it completely. I am starting to hear things, even while awake: A voice--more beautiful than any other--that calls to me from the depths. In my dreams, I see the Black City, and I am drawn towards it. There is something there, an answer to what this taint is, this taint that we share with the darkspawn...''

--From the notes of Avernus.

An important aspect of this base is the continued presence of the mage, Avernus, and his questionable experiments. One of his most successful studies involves the development of magic – in particular, spells which can manipulate the weather to greater and lesser extremes. The Wardens use this, with Avernus’ insistence, to protect and mask the fort. The radius of such a spells goes beyond the borders of the fort itself and in fact, extends several miles from Soldier’s Peak. It is because of this anomaly that they use the village for trade, amongst other reasons.

It is Avernus’ eccentricity they elicits a lot of questions from Wardens and commoners alike, but in truth this weather anomaly plays a large part in keeping what the Wardens are doing at Soldier’s Peak secret. The fact that his experiments are potentially harmful is another good reason to keep innocent Ferelden’s away.

The key purpose for this fort is to support and contain inventions and experiments, all headed and supervised somewhat by Avenus’ (though he tends to only oversee that which is of interest to him, and most of the experiments at the Peak only get approval because he likes them). One experiment is that of the manipulation of golems, though what they are used for beyond as “guards” of the fort is unknown to most. The rumour is that they are employed against the Darkspawn in the Deep Roads, but truly, we do not know. There were also plans for an airship and a prototype that were stolen, the latter being destroyed by the raiding thieves. It was a terribly frustrating experience for the Wardens, believing they were somewhat immune to the Armada’s thievery. The other top secret inventions are verily unknown, though hints at what may be contained within the great tower of Soldier’s Peak may be revealed in due time.

Avernus’ experiments and the results of them are a highly guarded secret and the information for which is not known by most Wardens. It is believed that only certain Senior Wardens (mostly Warden Commanders) and the King of Ferelden are privy to this information.

Of the Vigil and the Peak
The connections to Vigil’s Keep are fraught as of 9:50 DA, though the two forts had a strong relationship until the actions of the former Commander of the Grey, Irion Thorne, came to light. The leaders of the Peak slowed communications with the Vigil and Avernus also “appeared” to go into hiding. As of 9:51 DA the mage has been seen at the Peak but he refuses to speak to anyone from the Vigil. It is not known (as of mid 9:51 DA) if the new commander of Ferelden (who is based at Vigils Keep) has been welcomed with enough trust in order to rekindle the relationship and restore it to what it once was. Avernus will not likely be eager to invite any Warden Commanders close, given the threats he has experienced in the past he is weary of the politics and simply wants to be left to his experiments.