Harthreach

Harthreach is a town located in the Northlands Hold of The Pale in central Eldham. The land that would eventually come to be known as Harthreach was built upon was granted to Ayuuu by Baeked Perron in December of 2021. Soon after the founding of the village, Ayuuu began construction on a fortified keep to defend against possible invaders.

Kayn The Mage
The settlement grew quickly and garnered a large amount of fresh citizens. One of these citizens was a practioner of magic, named Kayn. Kayn was an ambitious student of the arcane arts and sought to expand his power to great degrees, even if it meant dealing in unsafe areas of magic. Eventually, Kayn began experimenting with forbidden Blood Magic in his home.

On one fateful evening, Kayn lost control of a Blood ritual and a portal to the Nether appeared in the town square. Monsters and demons from hell began pouring out and the village guard did their best to keep the evil forces at bay. Eventually the infernal creatures were defeated but they left with them a lasting scar on the city. A great Nether Castle now stood in the center thouroughfare, inhabitted by a Demon who's name has been lost to the ages.

Kayn was killed during the ritual and his soul was claimed by the Demonic castle, forever cursed to roam the halls as a specter along with the other people unfortunate enough to cross the Demonic Forces.

Harthreach Castle
The fortifications of the town are controlled by the Demon, dubbed "Harthreach" by the common folk, and possess qualities similar to those of a Nether Forteress. All of the servants and the lord of the castle are possessed by the Demon and do his bidding. Those possessed by Harthreach are inflicted with a curse that is said to be lifelong and without a cure.

The castle itself is ever expanding and seems to grow organically as though it is an extension of the Harthreach himself. For this reason, Harthreach's name was applied to the castle and the surrounding village, as his control impacts all aspects of everyday life.