The gate to a mystic freehold
A freehold is an independently controlled territory, also known as a "holdfast." These territories may be as small as a personal home or estate, or in some cases they may comprise an entire city. While a freehold may be home to one or more groups, it is held under the protection of an individual rather than an organization or group, and this individual often styles themselves as "lord" or "lady" of that freehold.
To establish a freehold, a potential lord or lady must generally be able to secure a territory that they're able to maintain and defend. Without sufficient resources and power to do so, they risk falling victim to someone else deciding to come along and take it away from them. Generally, the respect a freehold commands is based on its strength, which indicates how much protection it is able to offer those seeking refuge or residing there. The greater the hospitality and safety of a freehold, generally the more respect it will command.