Vaasan Gate

The Vaasan Gate, later known as the Iron Divide, was a massive fortification in Vaasa that completely spanned the western end of Bloodstone Pass. It and the Damaran Gate (on the eastern end of the Pass) comprised the Bloodstone Gates, one of the most ambitious feats of military engineering in Faerûn.

Description
The Vaasan Gate stretched a half mile (800 meters) from mountain-to-mountain to completely block Bloodstone Pass and span the Beaumaris River. The wall was 60 feet (18 meters) tall and 30 feet (9 meters) thick, with guard towers along its whole length and two small fortresses built into the mountainsides on either end. Only a single iron gate near the southern fortress allowed for access through the wall. While the primary purpose was clearly as a military fortification, the Gate was also intended as a trade hub, and contained many merchants' quarters, taverns, and shops.

Geography
Bloodstone Pass ran through the Galena Mountains, connecting Vaasa on its northwestern end to Damara on its southeastern end. By spanning the Pass on the western end, any traveler or invader that wished to get from Vaasa to Damara would need to either besiege the Vaasan Gate or travel dozens of miles north to find an alternative route through the mountains.

Government
In the late 14 century DR, the Honorable General Dannaway Tranth was both the commander of the Damaran forces and the mayor of the civilian inhabitants at the Vaasan Gate.

Trade
When the Vaasan Gate was first constructed in the 14 century DR, it served as a vital trade hub for the people of Vaasa. Agricultural and mineral goods could be sold to merchants at the Vaasan Gate, which drastically reduced the time and risk involved in transporting them all the way through Bloodstone Pass. This was seen as an essential part of the Gate's role in the region as it helped to establish stronger relationships between Damara and Vaasa, so efforts were made to ensure that the Vaasans and dwarves doing business there received fair market prices.

Defenses
The Vaasan Gate's high and thick walls with only a single gate made it a fearsome obstacle for any potential invaders, and functionally ended the threat of wandering monsters attacking Bloodstone Valley. The tops of the walls were littered with siege equipment, especially ballistae and catapults. It maintained a garrison of 500 soldiers, which was significantly smaller than the forces at the Damaran Gate. However, these forces were supplemented by offers of generous bounties on local goblinoids, orcs, gnolls, and giants, which lured mercenaries and adventurers. These bounty hunters were given an open invitation to use the Vaasan Gate as a staging ground for their hunts.

History
After the defeat of Zhengyi the Witch-King at the end of the Bloodstone Wars, there was a pressing need to fortify Bloodstone Pass against future incursions from the remnants of his armies. Thus, the Vaasan and Damaran Gates were built at the behest of Gareth Dragonsbane, who would become King of Damara by the time construction was well-underway in the. The project was massive and costly, but was completed within the 1460s DR thanks to being largely funded through wealth acquired by Gareth and his adventuring companions in the course of defeating the Witch-King.

Even before the Gate was finished, it not only secured Damara's border, but provided a point of stability in Vaasa. It was a critical piece in Gareth's plans to use adventurers to help him pacify the dangerous wilds of Vaasa, which culminated in his annexation of Vaasa to create the Kingdom of Bloodstone.

In the, the lich Sammaster declared himself to be the returned Witch-King and raised an army of Vaasan monsters. Two members of his Cult of the Dragon, Avarin and Fodel, infiltrated the Vaasan Gate as soldiers, and on the 2nd of Mirtul, they opened the Gate to allow Sammaster's horde to seize the otherwise impregnable fortress in a single night before launching a full-scale invasion of Damara. While the invaders were defeated by the 11th of Flamerule, it took many more months before the Vaasan Gate was reclaimed for Damara.

In the, the Warlock Knights of Vaasa seized control of Bloodstone Pass, penetrating the Vaasan Gate and razing Bloodstone City. They then garrisoned both the ruins of the city as well as the Vaasan Gate, which they referred to as "the Iron Divide," and sealed the Pass.

Under the Warlock Knights, the Gate's purpose became less about keeping invaders out and more about keeping their own subjects trapped inside Vaasa. Soon, a tent city of refugees had begun to form nearby made up of desperate Vaasans hoping that Damara would come save them. The Knights also transitioned the town of Darmshall to become a supply depot and mustering point for feeding and reinforcing the Iron Divide.

Notable Locations

 * Fugue Plane, a name given to two tent cities that formed outside of the Gate. In the mid-to-late 14 century DR, it was located on the Bloodstone side and housed the throngs of mercenaries and adventurers who had come to collect bounties in Vaasa. In the late 15 century DR, it was located on the Vaasa side and housed refugees fleeing the Warlock Knights' wars.
 * Muddy Boots and Bloody Blades, a tavern inside the fortress that catered to adventurers and mercenaries.
 * Ironhead's Tavern, another tavern inside the fortress. A leader-board outside was used to rank the Gate's bounty hunters.

14 Century DR
In the mid-to-late 14 century DR, the Vaasan Gate was populated mostly by soldiers from Bloodstone, including warmages as well as paladins of the Order of the Golden Cup. It also hosted a number of merchants from Damara catering to the folk of Vaasa. In addition, dozens of adventurers and bounty hunters seeking their fortunes in Vaasa lodged there, leading to a population of tavernkeepers, innkeepers, and other service providers catering to those adventurers.

The best-known inhabitant during this time was likely Mariabronne the Rover, a ranger and guide who became one of the greatest heroes of the Vaasan frontier.

Other notable inhabitants included:
 * Athrogate, a dwarven mercenary.
 * Avarin, a soldier and secret spy for the Cult of the Dragon.
 * Canthan Doolittle, a wizard mercenary.
 * Dannaway Tranth, the garrison commander and mayor of the fortress.
 * Ellery Dragonsbane, a warrior and distant cousin of Gareth Dragonsbane.
 * Fodel, a soldier and secret spy for the Cult of the Dragon.
 * Natali, a soldier and lookout.

15 Century DR
As of the, the Vaasan Gate was garrisoned by Warlock Knights and their conscripted soldiers.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Promise of the Witch-King &bull; Road of the Patriarch &bull; The Rite