Armgath

Armgath

Armgath is an abandoned dwarven fortress keep on the surface (though there is still quite a lot of it underground) a few miles into what was once a plain, but is now a thick forest along the road from Arroton to Austberg. When the fortress was active and inhabited, it functioned primarily as a trading post between the dwarves and the surface dwelling races. The dwarves would take food and other goods that were difficult to come by in the subterranean in exchange for raw materials and unprocessed gems mined from the mountains, skillfully made art objects, and sturdy and strong dwarven tools, made from the purest and most robust materials. Within the walls of Armgath, the dwarves held a secret. One of their arcane machines is housed somewhere in the twisting maze of corridors and stairwells. It somewhat resembles a spinning wheel, like one used to render wool into yarn. The wheel portion is covered with glowing red runic symbols, and small enchanted hammers strike the wheel as it spins. It has apparently never stopped, but in the absence of those who knew how to maintain such a thing, it has begun to behave erratically. It continually casts a spell of animation upon various objects throughout the fortress. Suits of armor and swords and hammers and anvils and forge tongs and even old sacks and loose bricks have come to life and wander about the darkened halls. Several more sentient things have decided to move in as well, and make a home of the now ancient stone structure, including a family of cloakers and a few wraiths.