Light's Reach

The Duchy of Light's Reach (Founded 25 BTA)

Characterized by two pairs of enormous torch towers situated to the east and the west of the town proper, the Duchy of Light's Reach was the seat of House Mikin and the centre of their political and economic power in the realm. The township was located upon a mesa in the southeastern portion of the Forest District and the light from its beacons could be seen for miles in all directions.

The towers stood as a symbol of House Mikin's unfaltering will and efforts to drive the Shadow completely from the realm of Fastheld and the inhabitants of the township prided themselves in the symbolism despite the oddity of living in nearly constant daylight. Thus it was that many of the more pious inhabitants of the realm took up residency in the Duchy, and placed themselves in the care of House Mikin whose piety and dedication to the Light matched their own.

In 624 ATA, it became evident that although the Mesa upon which Light's Reach was built was the perfect location for the beacons of House Mikin, it served an older purpose which the founders of the township had no knowledge of. Beneath the mesa, a series of caverns formed the prison for a mighty creature of the shadow known as the Ravager. When the mage-created wards of the prison were not renewed, the skeletal dragon burst from the Mesa destroying much of the township. In the process the former Surrector, Gell Mikin was destroyed in a blast of the creature's breath.

The citizenry of the Duchy were forced to flee in the face of the creature and when the Ravager chose to remain in the ruins of the township the people were forced to relocate, some to the Mikin townships of Wedgecrest and Southwatch, and some scattered to the rest of the realm, their faith shattered by the destruction of their homes by this spawn of the Shadow.

After the departure of the Ravager in the following spring, plans were set in motion by the Imperial Council for the rebuilding of the township. The task is a daunting one however and it may be years before the reconstruction process is brought to a conclusion and the Duchy of Light's Reach is inhabitable once more.

The History of Light's Reach