In the distance, a formidable fortress loomed, its towering walls rising 20 meters into the air. The battle-scarred walls stood as a testament to the stronghold's unyielding history, untouched by the passage of time.
Atop the walls, gold-ranked knights clad in gleaming half-body plate armor manned their posts, their spears at the ready.
These elite warriors were a rare sight in other domains, and their presence only added to the stronghold's formidable reputation.
As Asher and his companions approached, they beheld the fortress perched atop a hill, its pavement blocks leading up to the gates, the only visible entrance.
The walls were crowned with pillars, upon which ballistas and trebuchets stood at attention, flanked by armored men whose polished armor reflected the sunlight like a thousand tiny mirrors.
This was the epicenter of the Ashbourne Dukedom, a small but fiercely protected stronghold, home to a mere 60,000 people.
