Update V: The Castle of Mantaines
Today, we'll be visiting the area around Two River Heights, the capital of the Duchy of Mantaines, which, largely thanks to the fact that the Grandian Duchies were almost completely autonomous back then, was the most wealthy and powerful of the Nine Duchies until the Second Island War, which lasted from 1869 to 1873. After that war, most of the duchy was ceded to the victorious Belluterrans, including what is now Two River Heights, which was founded by Belluterra in 1889.
It's very early morning, and the sun hasn't risen yet, although it should be rising at anytime. This flower-covered hillside is located on the brink of the cliffs which overlook the place where the two rivers, the Branduin and the Ollitane, combine to form the Brantane River, which flows for a few more kilometers before finally emptying itself into the Sushilli Sea.
The sun has now begun to rise, and the deer have begun to stir. These deer were kept for Horace IX, Duke of Mantaines, who loved to hunt. After his assassination in late April, it is unclear who will inherit the governance of the Duchy of Mantaines, which still covers a great deal of the island, as well as the large estate that belonged to him. The two leading candidates are his son, the newborn Prince Devin Gregory, and his third cousin, Lord Alexander Charles. In the former case, Prince Devin would have a regent, most likely his mother Princess May, until he reaches the age of 16.
As we continue on our hike through the mountainous country, we come across a pool, which is fed by a spring, and which in turn feeds a shallow but fast-flowing and very wide stream. This stream is a major source of water for the deer, as it is much easier to access; the Two Rivers, although often nearer to them, require a near-vertical descent in most places if you want to access them anywhere in this area.
Following the stream leads us to Carrock Castle, which is the official residence of the Duke. Currently it is uninhabited, save for the workers who serve to mantain it. However, there is a major possibility that the Princess Royal will once again reside in the castle soon, alongside her son, as the King-Emperor is apparently favoring his nephew over Lord Charles for the position of Duke.
Here is a view of the backside of the castle, which faces the sea. The castle, because of it's strategic location, which commands an excellent view of the surrounding terrain, even as far as the sea some six kilometers to the west, as well as the ability to control traffic on the Branduin, Ollitane, and Brantane rivers, ensured that it and its predecessors were the focus of several major battles from the Second Fom War between Grand and Posillipo in the 18th century, to as recent a war as the invasion of Grand by Trentannia in the early 1940s, which was one of the events leading up to the Great Adonian War in the late 1940s to the early 1950s.
To close this short update, we give you a night view of the waterfall, the tallest in Grand, which empties the Unnamed Stream into the Branduin River. In the background you can see the small wooden bridge leading into the castle's basements, where there may still be unknown secrets waiting to be found...
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