King's Retreat
Overview
According to A History of Rislandia, the King's Retreat is "a fortified estate in the Oler Mountains, designed as a last-resort evacuation point for the royal family." Positioned high in the mountains near the border with Atrebla, the estate was built to be remote, defensible, and self-sufficient, capable of sheltering the royal household for extended periods without outside resupply. It was founded in Year 300 and has remained in continuous readiness ever since.
The retreat is staffed by a permanent population of approximately 50 personnel, comprising household staff and guards, sufficient to maintain the estate and provide security during ordinary times and emergencies alike.
Description
The estate consists of stone buildings constructed to withstand the harsh weather conditions of the high Oler Mountains. Fortified walls and watchtowers ring the compound, and stores of supplies sufficient for months of isolation are kept on hand at all times. The combination of its remote mountain location, robust construction, and standing garrison makes the King's Retreat one of the most defensible properties in Rislandia.
The retreat is rarely visited outside of periodic inspections, and as of the period covered by A History of Rislandia, it had never been attacked.
History
Founding (Year 300)
The King's Retreat was established in Year 300. A History of Rislandia does not record the specific monarch or circumstances that prompted its construction, noting only that it was designed from the outset as a last-resort refuge for the royal family.
Wyranth Invasion (Years 19–20)
The retreat's most significant recorded use came during the Wyranth invasion of Years 19–20, when King Malaky XVI and the royal family evacuated to the estate. James Gentry accompanied Queen Reina I — then Princess Reina — to the retreat, serving as her personal guard during the crisis. The estate fulfilled its intended purpose, providing a secure refuge for the royal household while the conflict unfolded elsewhere.
Legacy
The King's Retreat has never been attacked in its recorded history, a testament to both its formidable defenses and its secrecy. Following the Wyranth invasion, it was maintained in a state of readiness for future emergencies, visited only for inspections. Its existence represents a cornerstone of Rislandian royal contingency planning, ensuring that the monarchy could survive even a catastrophic fall of Rislandia City.