Wilderhall

Wilderhall is a great timber-and-stone hall on the fringe of the Castali Riverlands, built on older foundations when the Dukes of Castal extended their authority toward the Wilderlands frontier. For centuries it functioned as a secondary ducal seat, convenient for managing the northern marches, and as a favoured hunting lodge and summer court. Its dark-stoned halls, candlelit council chambers, and broad tourney grounds gave Wilderhall a mixed reputation as both frontier fortress and pleasure-court.

Wilderhall played a pivotal role in the Goblin Wars. It was at Wilderhall that Captain Minalan, fresh from the fall of Boval Vale, presented the crisis to Duke Rard's council and brokered the deal that raised the army that would eventually face the Dead God's horde. It was at Wilderhall that Pentandra was attached to Minalan's staff and that Rard began the political maneuvering that would make him King. Many of the great tournaments of the era — including the one at which King Rard granted honours to Gilmoran counts — were held on its fields.

After Rard ascended to the throne in Castabriel, Wilderhall passed to his son, Prince Tavard, as the seat of the Duchy of Castal proper. Tavard's court at Wilderhall is notorious for its rivalries with Sevendor and for the prince's ambitions over Alshar and Gilmora. It is also where the Family's secret records were long kept, accessible only to the Head Gardener of Queen Grendine's covert service.