Wyranth Castle
Wyranth Castle, also referred to as the Wyranth capital in some contexts, was the principal fortress and seat of authority of the Wyranth Empire, situated in the heart of the empire's capital city near Devil's Mountain. It stood as one of the most formidable strongholds on the continent and played a central role in the events chronicled in For Steam and Country and The Iron Wedding.
The Wyranth Capital City
The capital city of the Wyranth Empire served as the broader setting surrounding Wyranth Castle and the Wyranth Palace. It was located at the base of a mountain — identified in The Iron Wedding as near Devil's Mountain — with a river running through its center. The city was enclosed by tall stone walls described as jutting "upward into spiked points," and was characterized as giving off a cold and uninviting atmosphere. It was nearly twice the size of Rislandia City, making it one of the largest urban centers known to Rislandian characters.
The city's streets were paved with cobblestone. Its main entrance lay to the east, while a secondary entrance on the foothills side was used for patrols and was considered less heavily guarded. The Liliana was found in the foothills near the city during the events of For Steam and Country.
In The Iron Wedding, the city was described more fully: it featured large towers, well-lit main gates, and buildings painted in various colors including whites, blues, and greys. A town square contained a statue of Ivan, the Iron Emperor's great-great-grandfather. The city also contained an opera house, and an industrial district built to the west outside the original city walls. Automatons were stationed every three blocks throughout the city, with their numbers increasing over the course of events. The city possessed a sewer system beneath its streets, within which the Wyranth Underground Resistance maintained a hidden base.
Queen Reina I and Zaira von Monocle's father provided Zaira with a map of the capital city prior to her mission there. Jacin informed Zaira that the palace was two blocks to the right from where she emerged from the sewer.
Earthquakes were noted to be more frequent in the Wyranth capital than elsewhere. The populace of the capital was thrown into panic by Zaira von Monocle's actions during the rescue attempt in For Steam and Country.
Description
Wyranth Castle occupied the heart of the Wyranth capital. Its throne room was situated above the dungeon, which lay beneath the castle proper. Zaira von Monocle had seen only parts of the castle's interior firsthand during the events of For Steam and Country.
The castle's dungeon was a notable feature. It predated clockwork and steam technology, suggesting considerable age. It was characterized by spiral steps, a large iron-barred door, torches, a guard desk, a cell block, and a solitary confinement area. The dungeon smelled of mold.
In The Iron Wedding, the Wyranth Palace — the seat of Ivan, the Iron Emperor — was described as featuring large columns supporting an overhanging roof that created a veranda. Its main corridor contained paintings of war heroes, gilded lamps, candelabras, and a long purple rug. The palace entryway was adorned with an honor guard, a crimson carpet, and rose petals for formal arrivals.
Role in For Steam and Country
In For Steam and Country, Wyranth Castle was the location where Baron Theodore von Monocle was held prisoner. It was assessed by Rislandian operatives as too dangerous to attempt a direct extraction from, as stated plainly: "the Wyranth Castle isn't a place we could extract him from."
King Malaky XVI visited the castle during diplomatic talks with the Wyranth Empire.
An explosive device was referenced in connection with the castle, described as having "a big enough payload that I'm told it could level the Wyranth castle" — indicating the scale of the threat posed to the structure.
James Gentry and the Knights of the Crystal Spire slipped over the border to reach the capital city as part of the rescue effort. During the escape, the Wyranth Military swarmed the city. Zaira and her rescue team were imprisoned in the castle's dungeon before ultimately escaping. It was in this dungeon that Baron Theodore von Monocle was held captive, and later where Zaira and her rescue team were also imprisoned.
Role in The Iron Wedding
In The Iron Wedding, the Wyranth capital and its palace served as the primary setting. Zaira von Monocle traveled to the capital armed with a map provided by Queen Reina I and her father. The city was heavily patrolled by automatons, whose presence increased as events unfolded.
The Wyranth Underground Resistance operated from a hidden base within the city's sewer system. Jacin guided Zaira through the sewers and directed her toward the palace. The Wyranth Palace was the seat of Ivan, the Iron Emperor, and was the site of the titular iron wedding. The city also hosted a Wyranth Opera House and a town square featuring a statue of Ivan's great-great-grandfather.