Guthe Bridge

The Khuzdul of Hârn founded two large cities, Kiraz and Azadmere, around 7000 BT. The two were widely separated and travel between them was difficult and uncommon. Over time, Khuzdul scouts blazed a trail east from Kiraz, around the Rayesha Mountains, down the Kald valley, across the Shem and Nephen rivers, and finally up through the Sorkin Mountains to Azadmere. During the Codominium, the Khuzdul established mines, settlements, and outposts across much of Hârn, most near valuable ore deposits. The need to skirt the Guthe Gorge and ford the icy river impeded trade and restricted the import of valuable but heavy ores to Azadmere from the far-flung network of mines.

In 5000 BT, King Naruk III commissioned Clan Orinain to build a road suitable for carts from Azadmere to the lowlands. Construction of this “King’s Road” took 200 years, a moderately long project in Khuzan terms. The existing road was widened and several small bridges and culverts were built. Long, shallow staircases were built to ease the steeper grades along the Guthe Gorge. A ledge now known as “The Cut” was hacked into the wall of the gorge to reach the narrowest point of the canyon. It was there that the Khuzdul built the bridge.

Guthe Bridge was a simple single-span stone arch roughly 100 feet above the river. It was about 120 feet long from cliff to cliff and  two lanes wide. The bridge was built with local stone from quarries, now overgrown, on either side of the gorge. Its construction took 12 years.

The King’s Road continued down to the Nephen River, where the Khuzdul constructed Naniom Bridge. This second bridge was longer and had four arches, although each arch had a shorter span than Guthe. The completion of the two bridges and a road suitable for carts greatly eased access to Azadmere’s mountain fastness. Two hunting lodge waystations near Naniom
Bridge and an underground kyg (outpost) at Guthe Bridge provided accommodation for passing caravans.

After the Battle of Sorrows in 683 BT, the Sindarin King Aranath renounced sovereignty over Hârn. The Khuzdul withdrew into their mountain strongholds, destroying or concealing much of their network of settlements, mines, and outposts as they retreated.

In 663 BT, a large Lythian force, emboldened by the withdrawal of the Elder Races and enticed by tales of the riches of Azadmere, marched up the King’s Road. Although the kyg at Guthe Bridge was believed to be impenetrable, the recently completed outer defenses were not so secure. The barbican was protected only by a simple gatehouse and the 12-foot walls lacked even a basic moat. The Lythian leader realized he didn’t need to take the kyg, just the bridge. His forces swarmed the barbican, scaling the walls with ladders in dozens of spots. At the same time, men who had been sent around the back side of the hill containing the kyg were lowered from the top of the cliffs on ropes. They used large shields to block the arrow loops and prevented the defenders inside from supporting the barbican. After overwhelming the barbican, the victorious Lythians piled boulders in front of the kyg’s main entrance.

With the remnants of the Guthe Bridge garrison isolated and trapped, the Lythians charged up the King’s Road. Warned by their Jarin allies and using the time bought by the Guthe Bridge defenders, the Khuzdul evacuated their human subjects from the Barony of Axxon and marshaled a large force, mostly veterans of the Battle of Sorrows. Concealed in the mountains
outside Zerhun, the Khuzdul warriors waited for the enemy to pass. As the Lythians massed in front of Zerhun and prepared for battle, the hidden Khuzan army struck, pinning the invaders against the mighty fortification. The slaughter was complete.

After the victory, the king and his advisors debated at length whether to rebuild and strengthen the fortifications at Guthe Bridge. They decided instead to seal the kyg and collapse the bridge, knowing that doing so would make it extremely difficult for the Lythians to bring enough troops and supplies to seriously threaten Zerhun. The winding, narrow path via Guthe Ford would force attackers to spread out in long, vulnerable strings of men and mules, making them easy to attack.

Since 663 BT, the Khuzdul have not maintained the road below the Longstair camp. Culverts have washed out and the road has become an overgrown trail. Only a few hardy and heavily armed caravans brave the route, now known as the Silver Way.

Rebuilding Guthe Bridge has been the dream of mercantylers for centuries. Doing so would shorten the trip to Zerhun by 12 leagues (two days) and significantly reduce losses to brigands and gargun. Even if the huge cost of such a project could be financed, however, getting permission from the King of Azadmere to build a new bridge would be difficult.

Although the fortifications that once protected the western end of Guthe Bridge no longer serve any purpose, the Khuzdul continue to watch the outpost, if only to ensure no one else occupies it. In the 1,400 years since it was abandoned, intruders have managed to break into the complex nine times: three times through tunneling, twice through the hidden postern, and
once each through the gatehouse tunnel, a large window, a moat drain, and a chimney. The intruders have included adventurers, gargun, nolah, vlasta, and yelgri. Each time, the Khuzdul have cleared out the intruders, then repaired and strengthened the point of entry. Additionally, the Khuzdul have added numerous traps, including predatory fungi such as m’nogai and langlah, and placed a magical ward on the floor just inside the postern entrance.

As a result of these intrusions, the Khuzdul keep a close eye on the kyg, not wanting it to become a stronghold of their enemies or suffer the same fate as Fana, a Khuzan mine under the now-abandoned Barony of Axxon, which was taken by the gargun in 135. Protection of the kyg is the responsibility of the Prince of Zerhun, who sends a group of trusted followers to check on it every few years. The various traps make these inspections quite dangerous.

Should anyone cross the magical ward on the postern gate without saying the password, an alert would be sent to Zerhun. The response would be swift, for if an intruder should manage to clear the traps and stockpile enough food, it would be extremely difficult to get them out.

The Khuzdul Response

How the Khuzdul react to an intrusion will depend on the time of year. If the Guthe River is fordable, usually from late spring to early autumn, the prince will dispatch one or two companies of heavy infantry from Zerhun, accompanied by a squadron of cavalry from the Baron of Habe. They will enter the complex via the postern gate and hunt down the intruders. Should the postern be held against them, they will blockade the entrance and set sentries around the hill and send for reinforcements.

Having detailed plans and records of the kyg gives the Khuzdul the advantage in any attack. If necessary, they can open the passage from the gatehouse or any of the three sealed gargun tunnels.

Once inside the complex, the level of force used will depend on the intruders and their actions. Ivashu or gargun will be exterminated. Adventurers, provided they have not attacked the Khuzdul, will be arrested and taken to Zerhun for trial.

When the ford is impassible and the prince cannot use his own men, a raven will be sent to the Khuzdul embassy in Tashal. If the king’s agent has enough warriors, he may attempt to clear the kyg himself. However, as the small embassy often consists of older Khuzdul, it is more likely that mercenaries will need to be hired.

Mercenaries hired to clear the outpost will be promised a large payment in gold, arms, and armour, but must agree to strict secrecy. They will be led by whatever young Khuzdul are available, who will keep as many details as possible secret, refusing to divulge where they are going or why.

The Khuzdul will lead the hired swords close to the postern gate cave but insist they be blindfolded for entry into the cave, then again when entering and exiting the postern. The Khuzdul will not share maps in advance and will be generally unhelpful.

While the mercenaries are clearing the kyg, the ambassador will arrange to meet a certain Siemist priest, one of the Uthriem Roliri who patrol the Silver Way, at Naniom Bridge. When the mercenaries return from the kyg, the priest will use a ritual invocation to cause their memories of the outpost to be replaced with false memories of a more mundane mission for the Khuzdul. Regardless, the Khuzdul will honor their contracts and pay the mercenaries the promised amount.