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Countless seasons ago there stood a mighty fortress, seated proudly upon the cliffs in the north and cradled between the sea and the mountains. No one knows who lived there or what type of beast they were. All we know is that they were attacked. The walls of the fortress were pulled down, and the invaders set fire to the place. The once mighty fortress was now only a smoking ruin. All that was left standing was a single archway into the city.

Seasons later a patrol from Salamandastron discovered the ruins. They camped there and named the place Black Arch, for the stone of the arch that remained was permanently blackened from the fire. Upon returning to Salamandastron the badger lord of the time, Lord Thickstripe, called a counsel to take place. The leaders of Redwall Abbey and Southsward castle attended the counsel and a plan was devised to turn Black Arch into a fort to protect the northern borders out of Salamandastron’s reach. The Compass Alliance was formed, with Salamandastron, Redwall Abbey, Southsward Castle, and Black Arch Fort as the founders.

Workers from the other three alliance founders were sent to rebuild the ruins of Black Arch. Redwall sent many of their most skilled craftsbeasts. Stone masons discovered a good quarry between the Badger Mountain and Black Arch. The ships of Southsward transported all the stone to the new fort. The hares of Salamandastron formed a special temporary battalion to be stationed at the fort and provide defenses while the building took place.

After seasons of work and minor conflicts between the hares and local vermin tribes, Black Arch Fort was almost complete. Signifying the four alliance founders and the four points of a compass, the number four was used repeatedly in the design of the fort. There were four sound walls, with four round towers at each corner. Each tower faces one direction on the compass, with the North Tower keeping watch over the mountains, the East Tower guarding the woods, the South Tower watching the road and plains, and the West Tower surveying the sea. While various outbuildings were put up over time, the main building of the fort, which came to be known as the keep, was a square structure with four floors. It was a fairly large construction that served as the main barracks, kitchens, dining hall, and infirmary. In the exact center of the building stands a large open courtyard, and sitting proudly in the center of it is the now famed black arch itself.

As the fort neared completion the alliance met again to appoint a leader. A vole by the name of Duran Swiftpike was chosen and placed in command at the first Founding Feast. Black Arch Fort was officially completed.

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