The Old Quarter of Holmgard is the oldest part of Holmgard, where the Sommlending first settled in what would later become Holmgard. It contains many important Crown and government buildings.
History[]
In MS 3435, shortly after arriving in Northern Magnamund, the Sommlending established a military outpost at the convergence of the River Unoram and River Eledil. This outpost grew over time, and by MS 3450, the King's Citadel and Keep had been constructed, turning the settlement into the de facto capital of Sommerlund. Several supporting Crown and government buildings were built nearby as a result.
Geography[]
The Old Quarter sits on the north-west peninsula on the banks of the River Unoram and River Eledil.
Notable landmarks[]
- Bank of Sommerlund
- The national bank of Sommerlund, which stores over a million Gold Crowns (in coins and ingots). The Bank also exchanges Gold Crowns for the Lune, Orla and Ain. A reserve of Kika is stored here, confiscated from agents of Darkness, and is only provided for use by agents of Sommerlund when sent on missions into hostile territory.
- Chancellery
- The seat of power of the Chancellor of the Realm, the closest advisor to the Monarch of Sommerlund, and thus the second most prestigious building.
- Grand Hall
- Where festivals and prestigious events take place. It is constructed of Kirlundin white stone.
- Green Slipper Inn
- High Court
- Deals with all of the most serious of cases. The judges and officials answer to the King and Chancellor.
- Holmgard College
- Established in MS 4121 by King Frey I, it is Sommerlund's most prestigious college. Its alumni often go on to serve senior positions within the Crown and government, and the College has also produced many achievements in alchemy, medicine, naturalism and archaeology. The College also has a number of galleries displaying ancient artifacts, including some from Tay Solobo.
- College of Surgeons/King Lorin I Care Hall
- This is actually two buildings on the same street. The King Lorin I Care Hall was established in MS 3972, and a much larger Care Hall was constructed in MS 4752 by King Myranar II. The College of Surgeons acts as the national health body of Sommerlund, setting and advancing standards of surgical care throughout the country. There are other Colleges of Surgeons throughout Sommerlund.
- King's Citadel and Keep
- Designed by Vinas Braersun and made of grey-white stone, the King's Citadel towers over Holmgard. It is the home to the Monarch of Sommerlund and their household, as well as the King's Physicians.
- King's Guard Barracks
- Where the King's Guard, responsible for keeping the Old Quarter secure, assemble.
- Maura Church
- Established in MS 3454, it is the oldest church in Holmgard, dedicated to Ishir. Services are conducted daily at sunset.
- Privy Council House
- The administrative building of the King's closest advisors, the Privy Council.
- Royal Gallery of Sommerlund
- The second largest gallery outside of that of the King's Citadel, it contains many valuable paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures and statues made by the Sommlending.
- Royal Library
- Built in MS 4192, the Royal Library houses hundreds of thousands of books. A large clock tower with a green copper roof stands in the centre, and its face was created and installed in MS 4994 by Raisar Redalion.
- Royal Mint
- Established in MS 3457, the Royal Mint mints the coins of Sommerlund, as well as members of the Freelands Alliance. It also produces other forms of metalwork, such as medals.
- The Roofways
- The Roofways are an informal network of aerial paths that traverse the roofs of the Old Quarter, to avoid the crowded streets which became muddy during the hestangor. However, as of MS 5050, they have been ruled to be off-limits, as the Roofways have fallen into disrepair, and a number of fatal accidents had occurred.[3][4]
In Lone Wolf media[]
- See also: Holmgard: In Lone Wolf media
The Old Quarter is not visited in many places in the gamebooks, although the King's Citadel is mentioned multiple times in passing. The most notable cases are in Flight from the Dark, where the player, as Lone Wolf, must reach the King in his Citadel to alert him of the attack on the Kai Monatery; and Dawn of the Dragons, where the player stops in Holmgard en route to the Kai Monastery, to help relieve it from an attack by Lavas. The Definitive Edition of Flight from the Dark has a number of sections within the King's Citadel.
In the New Order series, Lone Wolf frequently has business with the King of Sommerlund, presumably in the King's Citadel, such as in Vampirium. The player character, as Grand Master, however, rarely does.
In the Lone Wolf Anthology, it is explored in Forty Days and possibly Fate's Crown.[note 1]
Sources[]
- Dever, Joe [2017]. The Realm of Sommerlund. Cubicle 7, pp. 71–74.
Notes[]
- ↑ It is not made explicit where this story takes place. However, places such as a "Mint", a "Keep", and a "harbour" exist, as well as a "King's Guard". The city also appears to have "allies to the east". Together, these suggest this may have taken place in the Old Quarter.
References[]
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: Prologue
- ↑ Devere, Ben [2025]. The New Age of War, Lazzari, Vincent, Holmgard Press.
- ↑ Flight from the Dark: §7
- ↑ Medici, Andrew (2024). "Forty Days", in Walsh-Smith, Shane: Lone Wolf Anthology: Volume One, p. 15.