Located in the western mountain range, to the northern side, StoneTalon keep is situated on a plateau that can only be reached by a switch back trail carved into one side of the mountain. StoneTalon actually 'perches' on the northeastern lip of the plateau and is guarded not only by the troops garrisoned within it, but also by a magical network called the Spellweb, elite modified-human soldiers known as the Bloodborn and the Thornwall created by Bloodlord Reaver Zerstorung Stone Talon can house up to 5,000 within its walls. The plateau itself covers 1500 acres.
When their first fortress was destroyed, the rebels abandoned their old location and in a mass exodus, headed towards the mountains searching for a place suitable to continue their battle against the Corrupt Nobles with the intent of using guerilla warfare. It was serendipitous that the road up to the mountain was found, though they did not know what sort of reception they would get from whoever had carved the road. When the plateau was reached, the rebels found the fortress had been abandoned for years, though not in ruins, it needed work to make it habitable.
There are two walls surrounding the keep, an outer wall, then the inner wall that surrounds and protects the castle itself. The outer wall of the keep is a hundred feet high and twenty feet deep, with the only approach through the wall being a tunnel that leads to the outer court. In the tunnel, there are arrow slits along the sides of it for archers to be able to shoot enemies from rooms built within the walls and along the length of the tunnel. At the top of the tunnel is what is known as 'murder holes'. This is because it is through these that hot oil can be poured upon those enemies who breach the outer gates from the drawbridge. The drawbridge itself is 75 feet in length; draw up by a winch system using strong chains to lift it from over the moat, which is 50 feet wide. The Thornwall exists on the outer edge of the wall, making a barrier between the outer edge of the moat and the outer wall of the fortress, giving it an impression of being surrounded by growth.
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Between the outer and inner walls are the barracks for the majority of the troops, as well as the store rooms, granaries, stables, mews and livestock corrals. The inner courtyard holds the infirmary, the stables for the war steeds for the commanders and their officers, as well as the training facilities.
At the back of the castle, abutting the kitchens, there is a large kitchen garden, divided into two sections, one for vegetables, the other section for herbs that are used in cooking. Adjacent to the infirmary is a walled garden containing those herbs needed by the healers for their potions and poultices.
The castle, or keep, itself is 72 feet high. This is relative in that there are 4 floors, none of which are the height generally associated with rooms in the modern age. The walls are of hewn stone, roughly 5 ½ foot thick, and a set of stone steps lead up to what would be the second floor of the castle. These steps lead to a set of double doors made of thick planks of ironwood. These doors open inward and can be barred from the interior. Once through the doors, you enter into the Great Hall, a room that is 18 feet high, and the room itself is measures 55 feet by 155 feet. On the right side, a set of stone steps leads up to what would be the fourth floor. At the back of the Great Hall and in the center of the wall is a wooden dais, approximately 10 feet x 5 feet and on either side are a set of doors,lead to the kitchen. To the left of the kitchen is a storeroom, with a set of stairs that leads down to the guard rooms, servants quarters and more store rooms. The stairs continue down from the guards quarters, leading to the cells kept for prisoners. Dug beneath the floor is an area where, because of the depths it is built into the rock, wine, ale and beer are stored, where it is kept chilled, as well as the dungeons and the route to Reaver's lair.
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The third floor is where high ranking guests are housed. The rooms can range a single area of 5 feet x 5 feet to large suites that have two or more bedchambers and a solar, which was where a guest could entertain privately. The floor also has a shared bathing chamber and a garderobe, which is an indoor privy built into the walls. There were not bathrooms in Medieval times and generally most used a chamber pot to relieve themselves.
The fourth floor which leads upwards from the Great Hall is the lodging of the personal servants, guards and where the Generals of the rebel army have their offices. Another set of stairs leads upwards to the fifth and last floor. This is where the bedchambers, the solars' and guest chambers are located, and with a set of doors that can be barred at the head of the stairs, can be easily defended.
On the plateau, a small village has been established, mid distance from the fortress to the northwestern edge of the plateau. The lands around the village are now being used for farming and for pasturage. Between the road leading up to the plateau and the fortress, it has been left "wild", keeping a good portion of the land in a forested condition, with a road going through the forest that is only wide enough for a good sized wagon to get through. Within the forest are creatures known as Servitors, artificial beasts made of a blend of plant, animal, and insect traits and whom serve Reaver's will. They tend the forest, aid in harvesting food for the castle, help protect the villages on the plateau, and do what they are able in general defense of the lands and castle.
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