Player name(s) : Ytsen, iFxshy, Kemce (as covert-co-lead)
Player rank : Overseer, Builder Plus
Private or Public : private
Location name : Aldburg
History
In 2510 TA Eorl the Young wins the victory of the battle of the Field of Celebrant. As a reward for helping Gondor he and his people are given the region of Calenardhon (Rohan). Aldburg is probably the first place where the Eorlingas settle, and Eorl makes it his seat as the first King of the Mark. At the time of completion it functioned as capital of Rohan. After Eorl’s death the capital is moved to Edoras, where his son Brego builds the Golden Hall.
Aldburg then becomes a lordship and is given to Brego’s third son, Eofor, ancestor of Eomund and Eomer.
In recent times, Eomer ruled from Aldburg. When King Theoden called for his Rohirrim, the riders of the Eastmark mustered in Aldburg and then continued to the Dunharrow.
Speculation
The name Aldburg comes from Old-English and means Old Fortress. Considering this, two assumptions can be made; either there already was an old fortress built when Eorl arrived, or the name of the city changed with time from something else to Aldburg. As there is no lore suggesting the latter, it seems logical that the first must be true. There is however, no lore confirming the first. Aldburg must have been an old Gondorian fortress which was taken / repaired by Eorl. Supporting this is lore stating that both the Hornburg and Isengard are old Gondorian forts. Eorl settled in this fortress and a city formed around it, becoming the capital of Rohan.
Fortress / Citadel
Considering the fortress is Gondorian it will be similar to the Horburg. The fortress will be placed on top of a hill and surrounded by a curtain wall following the shape of the hill. Eorl will have most likely expanded on this existing fort and added a ditch around the base of the hill, if this was not present at the time. The main castle will be built out of stone, but around it wooden, more primitive Rohan-style buildings will be added.
The castle will contain at least:
- A keep (containing; Private quarters, feast hall, dungeons, Cesspit)
- Curtain wall
- Towers
- Barracks (Wood, connected to armoury)
- Kitchens (detached from keep)
- Stables
- Storage (both cellars and a separate house)
- Smithy
- Gatehouse
- Gardens/crops/spices
City
Considering Eorl’s people did not have the means or knowledge to construct out of stone the same way the Gondorians did as evidenced by Edoras, which was built after Aldburg. The city itself will follow the Rohan style and be made out of wood. The city will be surrounded by a wooden palisade and by walls made out of drystone and beams. This palisade will have a dry moat around it and have several gatehouses. One towards the south-east, in the direction of Edoras and one to the north-west, in the direction of the Eastmark, at least. The city will form around the base of the hill, contrary to Edoras. The city itself will contain;
Farms
A large city like this needs extensive fields. Aldburg will have fields all around it in the obviously fertile area between the Entwash, Snowbourn and the Fenmarch. Farms will be all in between Aldburg and Edoras en continue towards the Fenmarch. Lots of potatoes ofcourse!