Standing atop a hill in the central Dawnlands is a proud bastion of adventure. The walls of this storied fort are a dusty pink, and the grand south-facing archway in the front holds no gate. A small moat looks to have been dug in haste once upon a time, but otherwise this building gives the impression less of a military fortification and more a country retreat. The large central tavern and the underground spa do little to detract from this assessment.

That would be an underestimation, however. Fort Ettin is home to some of the most powerful wielders of might and magic for a hundred miles in any direction, and has stood strong against conspiracy and dragons alike. When Aurelia Archselon crafted this fortress with magic she had a good idea of what was useful and what was not. It has no gate because none is necessary - it is a display of strength, rather than weakness: Let Them Come.

That said, it is designed to provide a comfortable and practical home for the Dawnland adventurers and, as a direct successor to the Three-Headed Ettin tavern in Daring Heights, the central keep is designed as a sociable gathering area with food and drink readily available. Originally run by Coll, one of the proprietors of the old tavern, since his passing the role has fallen to Jenna Archselon, the young sorcerer with dragon's blood in her veins.

She manages the operation of the fort with a small army of unseen servants at her command, summoned into being along with the fort itself. After draping each invisible force with a red and green cloth to frame them, these servants have become known as Tabards, and help maintain the many rooms and requirements.

The Great Hall, as mentioned, holds essentially a tavern setup, with the upper floors including a set of private suites. Most adventurers in the fort though, stay in the single rooms built into the northern wall, or the long bunkhouse built into the western wall. Other amenities in the fort include a library, a multi-faith chapel, an alchemy lab, stables, training yard, several lounges, a medical tent, a sauna, a garden and an observatory. And that's just what they show you on the initial tour.

Adventuring contracts from across Kantas, across the world and even across the Planes come flying in to Fort Ettin, and they are sorted and neatly pinned to the large Rumour Board in the Great Hall. Mornings in the Hall regularly see small groups forming around a table, grabbing breakfast and talking about the day's mission to come. From there, they head out, more often than not being sent through a portal by Jenna via one of the runic circles she maintains in the gatehouse.

When they return, if they return, it's often Fort Ettin's hall that hears the epic tale of their adventure first. There are many other places for the adventuring type to rest their heads in the Dawnlands, but the Ettin is built from the ground up to be everything they need, and the one place - if they want - that they can call home.