Kel-Tarin
| Kel-Tarin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Deep Road Watchpost |
| Location | Citadel Mountains, between Kar-Thal and Zarik-Val, 30 miles from Kar-Thal |
| Realm | Terasil |
| Controlled by | Council of Stone |
| Significance | Monitoring station and checkpoint for Deep Road travel |
Kel-Tarin is a small, fortified outpost located along the Deep Road route between Kar-Thal and Zarik-Val. It serves as an early checkpoint and observation post, used to monitor tunnel stability and register travelers. Though not large, it plays a steady role in keeping the road safe and predictable.
Geography
The outpost is built into a natural widening of the Deep Road, where the stone becomes smoother and the air carries steady drafts from the lower tunnels. Its main chamber is oval-shaped and set with dry platforms, carved benches, and reinforced arches. A short side tunnel leads to a signal bell shaft that connects to Kar-Thal’s deeper monitoring system.
History
Kel-Tarin was established during the first expansions of the Deep Road. Originally just a mark-stone and resting slab, it was expanded into a full post after minor cave-ins and traveler losses in the early eras of Terasil history. Its name comes from the old Orathic phrase for “held still in stone.”
Functions and Features
- Entry Mark Chamber – Visitors register their passage and direction in carved stone tablets.
- Watch Gallery – A narrow shelf used for visual inspection of the tunnel beyond.
- Signal Shaft – A vertical shaft used to send bell tones or smoke markers to Kar-Thal in emergencies.
- Rest Bay – A low, flat sleeping area with water basins and secure storage alcoves.
Culture and Ritual
Travelers stopping at Kel-Tarin are expected to observe silence upon entry and make a stone press with their mark-hand before resting. The outpost’s keepers maintain a small shelf of travel stones—left behind by past walkers who never returned. Once a cycle, the stones are turned and dusted, but never removed.
Defenses and Watch
Kel-Tarin is manned by a small team of Stonewardens trained in tunnel assessment and quiet enforcement. While it lacks major defenses, its placement allows for quick blockades and signal deployment if needed. The station’s walls are reinforced against shock and sound flare.
Threats and Dangers
The greatest risks are from shifting stone, gas seepage, or unseen tone instability from older tunnels nearby. Rarely, stonefolds may occur near the gallery, and unauthorized travelers are recorded and reported. No attacks have been recorded since the post’s founding, but guards remain present at all times.