Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Journals
 General Forgotten Realms Chat
 A Detail of Irythkeep
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Cyril Lokner
Seeker

USA
63 Posts

Posted - 02 Sep 2013 :  22:57:08  Show Profile Send Cyril Lokner a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
IRYTHKEEP

Several miles east of the Spiderhaunt Wood, travelers will find a rugged trail branching north off of the much safer Northride. The Dagger Ride, or as it is more commonly known as the Tethyamar Trail, is often overgrown at this southerly end such that the unfamiliar may find themselves wandering well off the path. Weary travelers will not find the comforts of an in for some miles, and finding themselves in a section of trail that has become a bit swampy, may be tempted to turn east of the Tethyamar Trail upon finding a weed infested way marker. Whether due to a vandal or traveler desperate for warmth, all that’s left of the marker is a charred stub of wood amidst overgrown stones. Only the most experienced woodsman would be able to see the faint wagon ruts amidst the waving grass. Fortunately the ruins of Irythkeep are just out of sight over a hill, no more than a third of a mile off the trail.

On the western side of the hill, partially standing walls of old farm houses, no more than a knee high can be found. Brush and young pine, duskwood, and shadowtop saplings are scattered across the hill. Cresting the hill, travelers will find the first sign of the keep itself. Two thin, round-topped stone pillars stand as great sentinels amidst the overgrowth. Sitting in a depression formed by the surrounding hill, sits the ruins of Irythkeep. The walls of the keep had been battered down some years past, with the remains of scorched wood beams scattered amongst the rubble. Weathered towers stand wearily over the dilapidated remains of outbuildings and stables that lean against the ragged remains of the outer wall. Throughout the keep ground’s, pushing through the flagstones and mud, are many of the same saplings found elsewhere in the area.

BRIEF HISTORY

Where the ruins of Irythkeep now lie, was nothing but a hill crowned bowl settled between the Spiderhaunt Woods and Cormanthor. Miles to the northwest, the dwarven Brightblade clan of Tethyamar had discovered silver beneath the hills just north of the Spiderhaunt Woods and established a mine at the site in the Year of the Herald's Tale (394 DR). The work camp received its first non-dwarven residents when the elven houses Snowgold and Winterwood settled in the area after their self-imposed exile from Tachepp in the Year of the Eversharp Axe (481 DR).

Early in the 900s DR, Garskran Iryth, owner of the Bronzehorn Trading House out of Turmish, had acquired some of the most exquisite metalwork done in silver, adamantine, and iron he had ever seen. His inquiries led him through a chain of transactions that originated between the distant Tethyamar dwarves and men of Zhentil Keep. Garskran’s mind began working on a plan to reestablish himself near the dwarves of Tethyamar, and using his connections in the Vilhon Reach to bring cloth, leather, medicines, and other goods to the dwarves to trade with them for their smelted metal and forged tools. Garskran had acquired several enemies in his rise to wealth and found the taxes and laws of his homeland very disagreeable to his future profits. He felt relocating to the land known as Daggerdale could be very profitable indeed.

In the Year of the Caravan (984 DR), Garskran Iryth and his retinue arrived in southern Daggerdale and set the cornerstone of Irythkeep. Garskran set about establishing trading agreements with the dwarves and elves of the village that had become known as Red Crag. Three months following the arrival of the Bronzehorn Trading House, the first caravan was laden with dwarven wrought goods headed towards Cormyr. Things were looking very good for Garskran.

Edvard, the first son of House Morn, and Garskran became fast friends quickly. Garskran aided House Morn financially in its skirmishes with the Shattered Stone Orcs. Garskran’s eldest daughter Tayralyn and Edvard were married in the Year of the Flaming Dwarf (987 DR). That marriage was the ultimate undoing of House Iryth.

House Melinth had stood against Garskran Iryth since they first arrived in Daggerdale. All the land south of the Dagger River within the Tesh Valley was claimed by House Melinth, and Irythkeep was built without their consent. House Melinth also had designs for one of their daughters to marry into House Morn, thereby strengthening their political ties with the most influential house of Daggerdale. House Melinth began to attack every caravan in southern Daggerdale and making sure to be especially ruthless when attacking caravans of the Bronzehorn Trading House. Iryth’s guards took heavy losses trying to protect their master’s interests and House Morn, tied up with their efforts against the Shattered Stone Orcs, were unable to send any significant aid. Edvard asked his close friends, the wizard Anathar and the soldier Aldregan, to investigate the attacks on the caravans and advise him of any possible aid House Morn might give his father-in-law’s house.

Anathar and Aldregan set out from Castle Daggerdale early in the winter of the Year of the Charging Mare (995 DR) and found that Irythkeep was beset by orc raiders, hungry monsters, and notably persistent packs of wolves. Aldregan called upon an old friend, the cougarum known as Garkuum, to help track down the source of House Iryth’s woes. As they tracked a band of orcs into Cormanthor, a fierce blizzard set upon the trio. Three weeks they were holed up inside a cramped depression in the side of a cliff and emerged exhausted after having nearly starved to death. They made their way back to Irythkeep, the nearest settlement, after their failed attempt to track down their foe. They found that every last resident of Irythkeep had been slain during their absence.

Now tasked with the duty to report that the entire family of their lord’s wife had been slain, Anathar, Aldregan, and Garkuum returned to Castle Daggerdale to report their findings. Upon hearing of the tragedy, Edvard swore to his wife that he would personally see those responsible put to the sword. Anathar, Aldregan, and Garkuum immediately went back into Cormanthor to find the lair of the orcs responsible. They found the orcs, but discovered that the entire band had been infected with lycanthrope. They also found evidence that the orcs were supported and given detailed information on caravans by House Melinth.

Anathar went to his mentor, whom he still served as an apprentice under, Shraevyn the Weapons-Mage, and asked for his help. Knowing that he was dying, Shraevyn agreed to create a weapon of tremendous power, a final piece of Art to culminate his life. In the Year of the Disfiguring Scar (996 DR), Shraevyn imbued a blade forged by Harrik Brightblade with powerful magic, crafting the Sword of the Dales. Anathar, along with Shraevyn, returned to Castle Daggerdale and presented the blade to Edvard Morn.

Edvard sent his envoy to Dagger Springs, a town which lay along the Dagger River in the foothills of the Desertsmouth Mountains, where House Melinth’s family manor was found. Morn’s message which the envoy delivered was clear. “Lord Drunel Melinth is commanded to appear before the Lords of the Assembled Houses of Daggerdale to answer for crimes committed by himself, his family, and his retainers.” When the envoy finished reading the summons, Drunel and his family transformed into werewolves and attacked the envoy and House Morn soldiers. Melinth left the envoy alive, but bit off each finger save one. Drunel then sent the envoy on his horse with a message of his own for the Lords of Daggerdale. It was late afternoon, two tendays later that the envoy returned to Castle Daggerdale.

As the sun began to set, the envoy reported to Edvard what had happened in Dagger Springs while his wife Tayralyn listened. The envoy relayed the message that Drunel gave him. Holding up his one remaining finger, the envoy said, “This finger represents the number of years that House Melinth will allow House Morn and its mewling allies to continue to exist.” Then before the eyes of Edvard and Tayralyn, the envoy transformed into a snarling wolf. Drawing the Sword of the Dales, Morn hesitantly slew his envoy.

Assembling soldiers from all the Houses of Daggerdale, Edvard Morn made preparations to destroy House Melinth. Edvard himself, along with Anathar, Aldregan, and Garkuum, spearheaded the forces that traveled to Dagger Springs. Every last resident of Dagger Springs was slain by the soldiers, except for Drunel’s heir, Olandire. Edvard had the heir of House Melinth swear an oath that he and his line would forever serve House Morn and protect the people of Daggerdale. Shraevyn and Anathar cast a powerful spell to enforce the oath that Olandire swore. Edvard sent Olandire to White Chalk Hallow under the care of Aldregan while Anathar and Garkuum set about hunting down the tribe of orcs infected with lycanthrope that destroyed House Iryth.

Over the next four centuries, the keep fell into the hands of many different owners who thought themselves fit lords over the local area. Most of these lordlings never amounted to much, accomplishing very little. They either died during attacks by monsters or perished under the blades of traitors within their house. The keep itself began to deteriorate more and more over the years as the inhabitants did very little to maintain the buildings.

In the Year of the Gulagoar (1316 DR), the Zhentarim began a covert operation to destabilize Daggerdale by backing orc and bandit bands. By this time Irythkeep was little more than a dilapidated barracks for the soldiers watching the southern approach to the Tesh Valley. One such orc band had among their ranks an Eye of Gruumsh who blew apart the keep to get at the defenders holed up within.

Finally in the Year of the Shadows (1358 DR), the Harpers Elminster, Sharantyr, Belkram, and Itharr tracked a band of Malaugrym to Irythkeep. The Malaugrym had conjured a powerful gate to the Plane of Shadows within the ruins. In an epic spell battle, the Malaugrym were slain buy the Harpers.

A Detail of Hadreth's Glen: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11314
A Detail of the Shattered Stone Orcs: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12873
A Detail of White Chalk Hollow: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13348
A Detail of Tachepp: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13336
A Detail of the Aer Ascaltia: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17559
Cougarum: http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13341
A Detail of Irythkeep http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18290

George Krashos
Master of Realmslore

Australia
6638 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2013 :  01:01:21  Show Profile Send George Krashos a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Bravo!

-- George Krashos

"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2013 :  03:17:51  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Definitely an intriguing campaign locale.

Good stuff, Cyril!

Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore

1842 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2013 :  04:02:49  Show Profile Send The Arcanamach a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Bravo Cyril! Bravo!

I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one.
Go to Top of Page

Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3285 Posts

Posted - 03 Sep 2013 :  12:08:28  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Bravo indeed!

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep
Go to Top of Page

Snow
Learned Scribe

USA
125 Posts

Posted - 05 Sep 2013 :  18:02:38  Show Profile Send Snow a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yay! More Daggerdale lore! My favorite F.R. locale. Genius work, Cyril. I hope you post more on this lovely Dale ... your lore is impeccably entertaining.
Go to Top of Page

Drustan Dwnhaedan
Learned Scribe

USA
324 Posts

Posted - 09 Sep 2013 :  07:14:59  Show Profile Send Drustan Dwnhaedan a Private Message  Reply with Quote
A very impressive and well written piece, Sir Cyril. Bravo!
Go to Top of Page

Fendrikor
Learned Scribe

Australia
189 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2014 :  06:31:18  Show Profile Send Fendrikor a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Cyril, you are Ogmah himself! :) I will definantly utilise your hard work to enrich the experiances of my players! you have my thanks as a DM :)

'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
Go to Top of Page

Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 31 Oct 2014 :  17:24:19  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Great Lore!

I will be incorporating this into my new map.

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

Go to Top of Page

Eilserus
Master of Realmslore

USA
1446 Posts

Posted - 01 Nov 2014 :  01:27:04  Show Profile Send Eilserus a Private Message  Reply with Quote
This is pretty awesome. That is alot of various Realmslore woven together there. Impressive. :)

Edited by - Eilserus on 01 Nov 2014 01:28:20
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000