Fort Holz is a large, walled compound with a central keep, turreted towers at each corner, and extensive shipyards for constructing and repairing the silt skimmers that transport ore and miners to and from the mountains. The fort predates Eldaarich; construction on it began at the same time as on the city, but the fort was finished first. It guards the retractable bridge to the city-state and also serves as a launching point for expeditions to the nearby Four Towers, where gold and silver mining was under way before the fort or the city was raised. The fort was cut off from the sorcerer-king just as South Guard was. Since then, it has focused its effort on improving its defenses, safeguarding the mines, and driving off the giants that wade in from the Sea of Silt.