The Winterfell Crypts, the Shadow Touchstone

The Maester’s Turret in Winterfell is actually a functional weapon turret located along the inner wall and is 120’ tall. It was once part of the original keep and one of the oldest structures in Winterfell. It opens to the courtyard facing the library and rookery while its little used ‘back door’ opens to a small but long stone walk next to the inner moat. Inside the tower are five levels that used to be used as an armory and barracks until given over to the resident Maester hundreds of years ago.

Rooms: Alchemy Lab, Armory, Book Repository, Small Brewery, (4) Student Bunks, (4) Classrooms, (5) Common Rooms, Dojo, Escape Route, Small Forge room, Green House (Rooftop), Infirmary, Kitchen, Magical Repository, Observatory, Office, Sanctum, Scriptorium, Secret Room, Crypt Access, Storage Rooms, War Room, (4) Work Stations. 

The crypt of Winterfell is located below Winterfell and contains the tombs of the members of House Stark.

The crypt's ironwood door, which is located in the oldest section of Winterfell near the First Keep and the lichyard, is old and heavy. The cold dark crypt is accessible by narrow and winding spiral stone steps which lead to multiple lower levels. One floor contains a long line of granite pillars, two by two, between which are entombed the dead of House Stark. 

While all family members can have tombs in the crypts, statues are traditionally only made for Kings in the North and Lords of Winterfell. The likenesses of these high lords are carved into the stone, some shaggy, some clean shaven. Large stone dire wolves curl at their feet. According to tradition, the sword the deceased or a iron longsword would lie across each lord's lap to keep vengeful spirits within the crypt.

The cavernous vaulted crypts is believed to be larger than Winterfell itself, with older Starks buried in deeper and darker levels. The lowest level is said to be partly collapsed. The most recent tombs within the crypts are those of Lord Rickard Stark.

The Winter Guard

Dark Stalkers: are tall, gangly and intense dark folk who commonly wear dark tattered formal suits complete with unusual black ties. They are the most feared among their kind. The stalkers posing as Winter Guards can create illusionary duplicates of themselves for a time, deal cold damage with their sneak attacks, can see in darkness like all dark folk, and wield two short swords to deadly effectiveness. They have an ashen circlet of bone on their brow and black paint across their eyes.

The Gorgon, Shadow Touchstone Guardian

Blackpool, The North

Blackpool

Blackpool is the seat of House Slate in the county of Greystone. Greystone, so named for the short rocky range that dominates the area where the short fork of the White Knife originates. Blackpool is a frontier town populated with a little over one thousand hardy humans and dwarves. Blackpool is named after an adjacent deep water basin- a 'black pool' that sustains the community and serves as the midpoint between Winterfell and White Harbor for overland travelers. Blackpool is a common overnight stop for frontiersman and overland ice sailors. 

Stories and folklore haunt the deep dark waters, most stories speak of mischievous fey as playful yet dangerous inhabitants. Stories are meant to caution children to stay away from its deep waters. Ice toads are the common threat, more so than the fanciful stories of waterborne fey. 

Approximately two hundred slate-grey stone buildings stand huddle together on the cold stone hill south of the Greystone mountain ridge. Other locations include a garden to the old gods, the Lord's Tower and the Longhouse- an open concept common house  that cater to travelers of all kinds outside the palisade. 

It should go without saying that the old rites and traditions are observed here. 

A new wooden palisade was erected after the Skagosi raids, not to ward off the frost folk, but to repel incursions from displaced threats including brigands from House Bolton and monsters from the cold reaches of the north. 

Another feature of curiosity is an ancient oak tree that sits outside but within sight of Blackpool town. The tree, enormous for its species, appears as two trees in an embrace. Nevertheless the oak tree has defied defoliation and all attempts to cut it down. Woodsmen describe waking up hours after the first axe swing with no progress made. Lately territorial yeti have been attracted to the tree, much to the displeasure of the Lord Slate. Also, there is an overabundance of rock hounds that seem to thrive in the Greystone mountains, they seem to come and go freely in Blackpool. 

House Slate is a dwarf clan who ruled with the First Men kings after the Long Night, but they eventually submitted to the Kings of Winter and became vassals of House Stark of Winterfell. House Slate also once held the Wolf's Den.

Family: House Slate of Blackpool

Coat of Arms: Pale grey, a double tressure white

Seat: Blackpool
Head of House: Lord Hjolman Slate
Heir: Jognurum Slate (rune caster)
Overlord: House Stark
Ethnicity: Dwarf
Founded: 8,000 years ago
Holdings: Blackpool, Greystone
Trade & Interests: Blacksmithing, trading, sled repair, fishing, wood. 
Noble Members: 15
Religion: Old gods (Lawful)

Family Weapon: Jarnbjorn (battleaxe)

Hjolman Slate

Hjolman Slate, Lord of Blackpool, is a well liked but distantly distraught dwarf who is commonly found dressed in a shirt of gleaming mail and warm furs. Stocky as most northern Westerosi dwarves but far more powerfully built. He carries a battleaxe thrust through his broad wyvern skin belt and his eyes, hair, brows and beard are slate grey in color, a common feature of House Slate. 

His House carries with it a strange and terrible burden. Once a year House Slate holds a moot whereby the Lord Slate entertains the grievances from folk that mayhap are too trivial for the Lords of Winter to consider. Farmers, hunters, trappers, to jolted house wives come to Blackpool in hopes the Lord Slate will intervene. 

If the complaint is great enough and the defendant is indeed guilty, once a year, the Lord Slate can bestow a curse upon the transgressor until the offense is corrected or the victim is made whole. The Lord Slate only requires a description of the individual, the name is not necessary nor is the presence of the transgressor. It is known that distance is not a factor against the bequeathing of this curse. 

It is a dire responsibility that House Slate and its Lords do not take lightly nor do they believe this burden has no weight upon their souls. 

Red Ruthy

Red Ruthy: Shaman of the old faith, ritualist, and weird woman of average human height with dark eyes, freckled complection and long red dreaded hair. 

Common word is that she is a wilding from beyond the Wall who was adopted into the community.

Known only as Red Ruthy, no one really knows how many years ago she arrived to Blackpool or how old she is. Nonetheless individuals come to her for her insights and the occasional endure elements spell when traveling in less than desirable weather conditions . 

Red Ruthy is a candle maker by trade and leads weekly ceremonies to the old gods as well as rituals that signify the changing of each season. She also has a knack of knowing when to expect guests which adds to her mysterious nature. 

Gwain Umber

Gwain Umber: Young dwarf grandson to Solomon 'Snowbeard' Umber. Until recently Gwain enjoyed living as a scout, woods guide and clandestine messenger who drove a trained sled team back and forth from Blackpool to Last Hearth, his ancestral home. The conflict in the North has kept him in Blackpool and now organizes a team of volunteer warriors and archers for Hosue Slate that keeps watch upon walls of the new wooden palisade. 

Gwain does not think the ancient oak tree seen from town is attracting monsters, because the yeti tracks that were recently found come and go from the tree. There are no signs that the yeti are lured or otherwise go to the old oak that he can tell. Gwain thinks the yeti are covering their tracks so the pair seem to originate from the tree- unless yeti can fly. 

The Longhouse