Location

Citedal Of The Nine/Crimson Keep

Perched upon the jagged peaks of the Northwesternmost Mountains, the Citadel of the Nine stands as a haunting monument to infernal power in an otherwise inhospitable realm. The fortress earned its dual name from the nine distinct towers that spiral upward like crimson fingers, each dedicated to one of the nine lords of the lower abyss. Founded centuries ago through means now lost to obscure historical record, the citadel has maintained its sinister purpose despite its remote and unlikely location far from the warmer southern lands where such establishments typically flourish. Within its obsidian walls reside the Illringers—devoted disciples and servants bound to the infernal hierarchy—who conduct their dark rites and maintain the delicate cosmic balance between the mortal realm and the abyss below. The surrounding mountain villages, though few and isolated, have long paid tribute to the citadel's masters, offering tithes in exchange for protection from worse fates that might befall them. The keep's architecture defies conventional construction, with walls that seem to absorb light and corridors that wind in geometrically impossible patterns. Legends speak of the citadel's influence extending into harsh winters and crop failures, with locals whispering that defiance of the Nine inevitably brings calamity. Despite its dark reputation, scholars have noted that the region has remained remarkably stable, suggesting the Illringers maintain their bargains with ruthless precision. The Crimson Keep endures as a geographic and spiritual anomaly—a bastion of infernal order standing defiant against the frozen wilderness that surrounds it.