Fort Pratincole

The Fort Pratincole is an 16th-century fortress in northeast of Helmscastle, Costa Trili, overlooking the Castle Square and Cassowary Village.

History
During the 16th century, Costa Trili was established as Beaumont, a duchy and a colony of the Barborican Empire. In order to keep Beaumont in control they built Fort Pratincole, a fort using the design of the Ravenstock Citadel. In 1597 a revolutionary war started and Beaumont fought on the side of the Croyceans and Esta Ostadians. But before the war even started, work on the fort began in 1524. It was built on a hill overlooking the Castle Square. The defenses would incorporate the town at the time called Norwich, which was surrounded by the fort’s walls. Work ended in 1526.

Only in 1962 would the fort see combat. The Pruanians invaded Costa Trili‘s northern region shortly after taking Esta Ostad and Madror and launched a siege of Helmscastle. Invasion began on March 18th and ended on April 2nd. Only in late September would the French be able to enter the town and even then the strategic positioning of the fort (and its cannons) led the French to abandon Grijzestad for the cover of trenches around the town. On June 2, 1758 the town was finally relieved. During the invasion of Brunant in 1784 Grijzestad resisted invasion and a battle was fought in the town. Though the fort was well defended, the town wall was breached and the garrison was coerced into surrendering.

During the German invasion in 1941, Grijzestad was the site of a rather one-sided battle. German armored units easily entered the town and the citadel's 19th-century guns could not prevent that. Later, paratroopers were parachuted onto the fort and were in control.