Fort Norman

Fort Norman is an old Kythiran island-stronghold in the Mediori Sea dating back to the Unification of Kythira in the Third Era. The island was originally inhabited by the Norman clan, who were defeated by the Alcanzari general Harlin Mablok. He conquered the island in a single night by setting a fire to the east of the island, and as the eastern winds blew, it scattered burning embers across the wooden settlement of the Normans. The inhabitants were shot with volleys of arrows as they fled from their burning homes. The Mablok’s constructed a small keep on the island, until the early Fourth Era when Emperor Charles I ordered the construction of the Mediori Fleet. To defend this new fleet, the imperial government ordered the construction of a grand fortress on the island. Financed by the Crown and built by Ardoraghi and Heartlanders.

During the Grand War the Mediori Fleet was considered to be basically safe in its home harbor, and so few troops were allocated to the fortress. When the Burning of the Mediori Fleet happened, the garrison’s sole boat was quickly sunk by the Republican forces, after which the defenders were stuck on their island, forced to watch as the Mediori fleet was burned down and the attackers escaped. A few ships were shot and sunk from the cannons on the castle’s walls, but this ultimately proved insufficient. Outraged, Prince Charles sailed to the castle, where he was received by Lord Ormur Mablok. He sentenced Lord Mablok to death, blaming him for the loss of the fleet. Lord Mablok defended himself, arguing that they did all they could. Prince Charles had Lord Mablok sailed out into the Mediori on a rowboat, and there, whilst his family was forced to watch from one of the towers, had him thrown into the sea weighted down by an anchor. His 10 year old son, Desmon Mablok, was named the new Lord of the Fortress.