What you may know is that Sentinel is meant to be the last vestige of hope for Raleigh if Blacklehn should break through the Sentinel Pass.  The city at the mountains is essentially a military base, and it has expanded over the years to include families of the soldiers, and grown because of it.  While there is always the threat of an invasion, the troops who guard the pass have done so diligently for decades, and they’ve always managed to keep their foes from breaching to the city proper.  What you may not know is that the concept of the tower being part of the sigil was done because I used to be (and still am) a huge nerd for Tower Defense games.  Back when As Darkness Falls was still a spark of an idea in my mind, I envisioned a tower defense game that took place in the Sentinel Pass, and it was through the development of that idea that we ended up with characters like Pendrich, and some minor characters that we spotted in The Enemy Within.  Tellest truly is a world where the tiniest detail can come back and grow in a big way.

Since Sentinel is known for the stonework of the towers in the pass, and they’re likely under constant siege, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe that the sigils painted here and there would see some wear and tear over time.  In fact, it might even be the norm, as it’s unlikely that a talented artist is going to spend too much time refreshing the paint here and there.  Then again, through the course of the long battles, it’s possible that the rival kingdoms have painted over each others sigils over and over again.

Now, while Sentinel certainly isn’t going to be using any ships in the mountains in their region (although airships would be another thing entirely), they would have banners on administrative buildings in the city, wagons that travel to the larger allied settlements and even the capital, and of course, the towers in the pass.  At certain points in the Sentinel Pass, there is likely a chance to spot several of these banners fluttering in the wind.

As we mentioned earlier, the painted version of the Sentinel sigil might be used to quickly identify ownership of a tower.  While banners would be quickly burned or torn to bits, an army might be able to get a mildly talented artist in place to paint something on the side of a tower in order to ensure their troops were moving toward an allied battlement.  Even then, there might be some confusion with all the chaos that goes on in the pass.

As always, we leave you with one final picture: the phone background.  I hope you enjoy it!

Our next sigil is a bit different, as we don’t see too many sigils that are as abstract as this one is bound to be, but I have no doubts that you’ll enjoy it.  We’ll see you with that one soon!

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Geography and Environment

Between the countries of Raleigh and Blacklehn, there is a long canyon that serves as a pass through the Great Boundary mountains.  It is miles long, and splinters off into myriad other passages, but the central, largest path is called the Sentinel Pass.

Within that path, the ecology of the place is somewhat barren.  There are trees and shrubs here and there, but nothing that could sustain a great deal of life.  The offshoots of the Sentinel Pass lead to more lush offerings.  There have been expeditions into the pass, but because of wars, the exploration has been mostly speculative.  Rumors say that deep within the pass, there is a cordus tree grove.  They haven’t been substantiated thus far, however.

History

Early Encounters

In the earliest days of travel through the Sentinel Pass, explorers sometimes happened upon each other frequently.  Orcs, dwarves, kobolds and humans all vied for control of the resources within the canyon.

At some points, these races skirmished with each other, testing their resolve.  As time went on, more races seemed to crawl from the shadows within the place.  Rockbiters and goblins felt they deserved their own portion of the valuables.

Some say that within the deeper veins of the canyon, battles still rage on.  Most people are too concerned with the main stretch to care, however.  Blacklehn has managed to move into several of the secondary passages, where they employ slave labor to work the mountains.

It is also said that dragons tend to frequent the pass, yet they give very little attention to whoever travels, fights or squabbles below.

Contestation between Raleigh and Blacklehn

Since the fall of Roark in Blacklehn, Galen Fowler’s foothold in the northern country has been impressive.  His taste for expansion has grown ravenous over the years, however, and he began setting his sights on Raleigh.

Sentinel Pass was the primary point of entry into the southern country, but his initial attacks may have proved too aggressive.  The people of Raleigh were able to press the Blacklehnians into the canyon once more, and developed a solid defense against any reinforcements.

The town of Sentinel was built in the south, while Fort Brandish was erected just north of Blacklehn’s entrance.  Since the first battles, Sentinel Pass has been a heavily contested territory, but neither nation has been able to press far enough on either side to make a solid difference.

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General Information

Sentinel was created not to be a town, but as a border outpost adjacent to the SentinelPass on the northern border of Raleigh.  It was supposed to be only a place for soldiers, but after long months of defending the pass, many soldiers’ families took the trip north to Sentinel and settled there, waiting for their loved ones to return to them.

It is almost due north of Atalatha, though there are no roads to Sentinel yet.  A trek through the wilderness is required to reach the outpost.

The primary function of Sentinel is to defend Raleigh from Blacklehn.  As such, it did not have much merit for business.  However, after moving to the outpost, spouses and older children had to find some way to provide for their families, so some extra work was made close by.  Several farms have taken form nearby, and a mining operation has begun on the south end of the pass as well.

Sentinel is populated by 36,000 people, but this also includes the soldiers (some which are unaccounted for) who serve within the 10 mile pass.

Sentinel has a tall, broad gate that leads into SentinelPass.  It also has a long wooden barricade surrounding its remaining sides.

History

Sentinel, named after its proximity to the mountain pass it defends, was established on the 16^th of Nehr, 978, making it the youngest city within Raleigh (although it is theoretically only an outpost).  Prior to this most of the war between Raleigh and Blacklehn was done within the SentinelPass.  However, after Ippius began aiding Blacklehn, Raleigh was breached, and Blacklehn began attacking hamlets and villages within the country.  After Raleigh beat its enemies back, it founded Sentinel as a permanent base for the country’s northern defense.

In the beginning, Sentinel was only a barracks, and a meager one at that.  Over time, amenities were provided for the town, including a tavern and a small fighting arena.  Once families began moving in, tents sprawled upon the open field south of the pass.  Over time, families began to build homes there.  The southern wall was created to protect them from brigands within Raleigh, but also to limit movement of Blacklehn if they managed to pierce through Raleigh’s soldiers.

Government

Sentinel follows the rule of Viscosa, and every decision made by King Victor Raleigh is mandate.  However, if no outward determinations have been made, the rule falls to the acting general of the Raleighn army.  Currently, the general is Kain Lirça, a veteran fighter of the SentinelPass and a devout paladin.  Kain also relies on the guidance of Morgan Yardborough, who is also renowned for her service to the Raleighn military efforts within the SentinelPass.  While Kain basically handles the soldiers, Morgan governs the non-military citizens of Sentinel.

Places of Interest

Taverns

The Tempered Sword is a large tavern that provides for the soldiers and citizens of Sentinel.  The place is the second biggest building in town, only smaller than the barracks.  Several bars are in the place, and most of the money it takes in is quickly paid back out, primarily to import spirits and beer.

Inns

The Sentinel Inn is the common inn of the outpost.  It is meant to serve for the families of soldiers within the SentinelPass who cannot uproot their entire lives to live in Sentinel.  Prices are cheap, and the qualities of the rooms are adequate.  The Sentinel Inn is located just beside the entrance to the town.

The Golden Sun is reserved for the more stately visitors to the town, primarily diplomats and city leaders.  Usually there is no fee for those who are important enough to stay at the Golden Sun.  Money collected from the Sentinel Inn is used to cushion the Golden Sun for its wealthy visitors.  The Golden Sun faces the barracks on the opposite side of town.

Temples

Sentinel does not have a temple, but there is a fountain in the center of the town which has a four sided statue of the gods.  Mathias is upon the north side, Nerot is upon the south side, Ariyas is upon the west side, and Galvan is upon the east side.

Word has it that a good deal of thought has been put into rebuilding the effigies of the gods to all face north and stand higher, so that the soldiers within the pass can see their gods to pray to them.

The Barracks

The barracks at Sentinel are the biggest barracks in Raleigh, at some times housing 4,000 soldiers.  The building is immense, and has been expanded several times since the town was originally founded.  Outwardly, the barracks are impressive, however once someone ventures inside, they can really appreciate the size.  The barracks has stretched into the Great Boundary mountains, leaving plenty of room for the soldiers it houses.  The barracks are just to the southwest of the gate into the pass.

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