History of Castle Kraal

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.