Two hundred and fifty years
ago, the Horned Hills were overrun with ogres, ores, goblins, and their vassals
the kobolds. These corrupt beasts, not content to remain in their own lands,
raided human, elven, and dwarven communities throughout Thunder Rift. For
years, ogres led their troops into battle, stealing whatever goods they were too
lazy to produce for themselves. In response to their constant attacks the
humans and dwarves proposed a plan to build a large castle in the Lower Great
Grasslands, near the Horned Hills.
For
years the ogres and their cohorts frustrated any building attempts by constant
attacks which destroyed all such endeavors. The humans and dwarves had almost given
up, when an elf suggested that they use the ogre’s own fear of water against
them. The Black Swamps, just north of the Lower Great Grasslands, held great
promise for a keep - if a method could be found to hold back the water. Two
months and three ogre attacks passed and then a smith named Kraal conceived a
plan. A portion of the Black Swamps was to be raised above the water table, and
the castle would be built upon the rise. The project was completed in two
years. Unfortunately, over 300 of the folk of Thunder Rift died in the process,
either in the attacks of the ogres, or in the claws and talons of the natural and
hungry creatures of the swamp. One of the folk who died during the construction
of the castle was the smith, Kraal. After its completion, the fortress was
christened Kraal Castle.
To
garrison the keep in a state of constant readiness, 100 fighting men, 25
priests and 10 wizards were recruited to man to fortress. Whenever a threat of
assault developed, these valiant warriors would ride out, on the dangerous journey
through the Black Swamps, to greet the raiding savages with whetted steel and
mystical compositions.
Originally
considered to be an unattractive assignment, Castle Kraal soon became the one
most sought. Great war heroes and
leaders emerged from its aging walls by the scores. The civilians sought the
Kraal heroes to marry, and to become teachers, leaders, mayors, and guards.
Their exploits became the rhymed tales in children's songs.
After
nearly a century of service to the people of Thunder Rift, a rumor of
degeneracy began to reach the ears of the folk there, and the honor of Castle
Kraal dipped severely. It was whispered
that the success of an ogre raid against a small populace in the Lower Great
Grasslands was due to a bribe given to the commandant of Kraal. No amount of
talking, even with the use of magical divinations, could convince the people
otherwise. The commandant was discharged and expelled to Kandor, in the south. Thereafter, every commandant of Castle Kraal
promised to clean up the evil deeds of the previous administration. And a once proud leadership position became a
circus act.
During
this period the effectiveness of Castle Kraal was severely impaired. Raiding
parties from the Horned Hills grew bolder with each foray and the morale of the
castle's warriors and spell casters plummeted. They were increasingly inept at
combating the marauding bands. Soon
morale became so low that a period of service at Castle Kraal was viewed as a
punishment. And often, it was.
After
seven years of bad conditions, dreadful morale, and an extraordinarily high
desertion rate, a bright, talented, and young, commandant took command. Things did
not change overnight, but feelings of quiet hope, subtle relief, and real
expectation came over the Castle. The commandant ordered a salary increase for
all personnel and gave each a substantial bonus for every year they had served
before her installment.
She
expanded the training available to all recruits and initiated free instruction
for careers and occupations outside the militia. This enabled the garrison's defenders
to prepare themselves for civilian work. All her planning and initiatives began
to bear fruit. Morale increased sharply, requests for transfers from Castle Kraal
decreased, and outside requests for transfers to the stronghold were on the
rise.
It
is unknown if the commandant's plans would have been successful in raising Castle
Kraal to a station of respect and admiration again - the castle and all its
inhabitants were destroyed shortly after her inauguration. Castle Kraal sank
into the Black Swamps, taking everyone with it. No one came to report its
destruction and a month later a scout was sent to investigate the silence.
Rumors
abound concerning the castle's demise. Some believe that the Ogres prayers to
Lamashtu were heard and she acted against the castle, others that the
inhabitants of the swamp itself, somehow caused its fall. Regardless of the
reason, the Ruins of Kraal, rotting in the Black Swamps, are universally
shunned by the inhabitants of Thunder Rift - for their fear is stronger than
their curiosity.
