High Hall (Elturel)

High Hall was a castle standing in the city of Elturel in the Western Heartlands in the mid–14 century DR. It was the seat of the city's government and the home of its ruler, the High Rider, and also where large commercial meetings were held.

Description
It stood on the southern edge of Elturel, atop a bluff or tor at the center of the city and at the edge of a cliff overlooking the River Chionthar. The soaring turrets of the castle dominated the city below.

Defenses
The roofwalks were always manned by guards, on the lookout for returning Hellriders or the smoke or fire of their beacons.

Features
A freshwater spring rose in the cellars and wound down the hill through the city's Garden area. It guaranteed the city's water supply.

History
A natural stronghold, this site had long been one of the few defensible locations between the Sword Coast and where the Chionthar met the River Reaching. At one time, it was the site of a troll lord's stronghold, and later an ogre chieftain's crude stone fortress, and at one point, the site was also held by orcs. Eventually, they were replaced by humans, who settled and built a castle here to guard against the trolls, ogres, and others. Over time, it became the possession of one lordling after another but remained as a refuge for human settlers.