Roadside Fortress

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Roadside Fortress (路边堡)
Alias(es)	Center of the Northern World; Capital of the Free City-States; Starting Point of Legends 237
Affiliation	Li Wei's territory; the Free City-States 51 237
Occupation/Role	Northern stronghold, major city, Sky Road terminus, and military center 232 244
Status	Active 353 355
First Appearance	Chapter 51 (first named mention) 51

History

Early fortification

Roadside Fortress began as a rudimentary stone-walled hold. Its walls initially offered little cover, but Li Wei rapidly raised them by five meters with cobblestone construction magic; Falrodan then advised him on practical castle defenses and oversaw further alterations. 11

During an early Orc and Warg assault, the attackers failed to scale the walls. When they battered down the gate, they found a solid stone wall behind it, forcing them to retreat and prepare siege ladders instead. 12

By the time Gandalf identified it to visiting Dwarves, Roadside Fortress was recognized as Li Wei's territory. 51

Growth into a city

The fortress became known for the security and living conditions offered to its residents. Iron Golems and Li Wei's presence deterred both criminals and invaders, while territorial citizens worked comparatively short hours and had reliable food and free time. 103

Li Wei later proposed a road linking Roadside Fortress with Dale, passing Lake-town, the Woodland Realm, and the Misty Mountains. He intended the route to become an elevated “Sky Road,” with separate carriage and pedestrian paths at its access points. 117 118 119

The Sky Road officially opened in autumn 2947. Its construction connected Roadside Fortress to the eastern territories and led to the creation of supply-and-rest settlements including Starting Town, Mid-road Town, and One-Eighth Town. 232

Cityscape and institutions

Roadside Fortress expanded from its original central fortress into a large, prosperous city. Visitors noted its clean streets, fountains, gardens, dense construction, and monumental structures. 232

• Roadside Fortress — the oldest and original structure, located in the city center. 232
• Nameless Tower — a lakeside tower containing a grand library with records on the Free City-States. 232 282
• Mallorn Tree — a prominent golden-leaved tree within the city, associated with the trust of Lothlórien's Elves. 232 282
• Sky Road market — a market established near the road's entrance and exit, serving merchants and travelers. 237
• Sky Road access — the city functions as the western end or beginning of the elevated route, receiving continual caravan and visitor traffic. 232 237

The city became a destination for merchants, poets, and travelers. Caravans exchanged regional goods there, while visitors came specifically to see the Sky Road and the city built around it. 237

Defenses and garrison

Roadside Fortress is regarded as one of the Free City-States' most formidable strongholds.

• Its high walls are reinforced with numerous layers of Obsidian, making them exceptionally resistant to siege creatures. 251
• Important facilities and concealed structures were built underground, making tunneling attacks impractical even for powerful enemies. 251
• Iron Golems patrol the city and serve as one of its principal defensive assets. 244
• Guards rotate continuously atop the walls; they are described as highly capable warriors. 244
• At the time of the Moria crisis, the fortress could field about 3,000 trained soldiers, excluding Rangers on training assignments. 246
• Roadside Fortress troops are trained to fight with both bows and melee weapons. 248

Despite the fortress's defensive strength, Falrodan assessed that the soldiers themselves were more suited to offensive action than prolonged static defense. 251 253

Orcs commonly describe the city as a target best avoided: “I'd rather fight White City than approach the Roadside Fortress.” 244

Support for Riverside Fortress

When Riverside Fortress faced an Orc army of more than 15,000, Roadside Fortress dispatched an Elven-like force led by Falrodan, accompanied by experienced Ranger instructors. 248

The Roadside contingent joined Rangers, construction crews, and local defenders in holding the city against Orcs, Great Beasts, Ogres, Earthworms, and Ringwraiths. 248 249 251

Roads and regional influence

Roadside Fortress is the hub of Li Wei's northern transport network.

• Sky Road — connects Dale and Roadside Fortress across the Misty Mountains and the Black Forest; the route was considered a major strategic threat by the Witch-king because it enabled unusually rapid troop movement. 179 232
• Grey Road — a later gray-brick route linking Roadside Fortress with Riverside Fortress. 244
• Nether transit — Li Wei uses a Nether route connected to Roadside Fortress for rapid long-distance travel, including travel toward Dale and Gondor. 100 237
• Northern Ranger network — Rangers from Roadside Fortress and Riverside Fortress expanded patrols and outposts across Eriador, the North Downs, the Ettenmoors, and the former lands of Arnor. 284 294 322

The improved road network made travel from Gondor toward the northern Free City-States markedly safer and easier, with repaired bridges and new stone-brick roads replacing older damaged routes. 355

Notable visitors

• Gandalf — a frequent ally and visitor; he witnessed the Sky Road's completion and repeatedly used Roadside Fortress as a meeting point and transit hub. 232 244 353
• Bard — first visited after the Sky Road's completion and was astonished by the city's scale, gardens, fountains, Mallorn Tree, and central fortress. 232
• Thorin — visited with Bard and Gandalf, remarking on the drastic changes since his previous visit seven years and four months earlier. 232
• Saruman — arrived uninvited, investigated the Nameless Tower's library, and reacted with surprise to the Mallorn Tree and Little Pink. 282
• Boromir — visited while traveling north from Gondor; he expected a castle but found a city whose scale rivaled Minas Tirith. 355

Later events

As war preparations intensified, an influx of Rangers arrived at Roadside Fortress and the City of Water, signaling heightened vigilance across the Free City-States. 323

When strange Orcs, Wargs, and Ogres became increasingly active beyond Angmar, Li Wei ordered the abandonment of Carn Dûm and a withdrawal behind the Great Wall, with Roadside Fortress serving as the command point for the decision. 353

During Li Wei's disappearance in the Northern Wastes, Roadside Fortress residents continued to resist rumors of his death and remained prepared to defend their city themselves. 374