The Ruined Keep of Alejandro
Salanan, famed adventurer in the earliest days of the Misty Vale, is now known
simply as Salanan’s Despair.
Once a proud stone square keep with guard house and stable,
all that remains of the structure is the ground floor of the structures, and
the ruined walls.
Salanan is said to have been a happy, gregarious and
adventurous person. He was the reason that the Empire opened the North Gate and
let people and adventurers north to explore past the Grim Mountains. He was an instrumental
figure in the establishment of Javelin Hill, and in its governance by the
Council.
When he saw the beautiful rise on the confluence of the
Green and Placid Rivers, he knew he had build his refuge there. It was calling
to him. Just a few days easy ride from Javelin Hill, it was still remote enough
to feel adventurous. He named it Salanan’s Retreat.
Soon artisans, and builders were constructing his stronghold.
Once completed , he had about 100 servants, stable hands, farmers, blacksmiths
and attendants at Salanan’s Retreat. He was a goodly lord, and was much loved
for his protection and generosity.
And then something changed. Salanan became more reserved. He
neglected his tenants and his staff. After a while, most simply left him to his
spiraling madness and neglect. At its peak, he hired miners, foremen, and
laborers to construct a ring of standing stones across the Green River from the
Keep. The stones were mined from the then active Wharton Mine, which was an Onyx
Mine in the Knobby Hills. During construction, several of the remaining tenants
and staff went missing, and that ensured the final ones packed up and left
Salanan’s Retreat.
Once the ring of stones was complete, people rarely
interacted with Salanan. His decent into madness seemed complete. Travelers,
shepherds and adventurers talked of seeming the Mad Salanan dancing and raving,
howling and wailing in despair at night in the ring of standing stones. Salanan’s
Retreat had become Salanan’s Despair.
And then Salanan was gone. His keep raised to the ground and
in rubble. The standing stones blasted or gone.
Now known as the Ruins of Salanan’s Despair, it sits silent
and lonely, at the swampy confluence of the Placid and Green Rivers, a tragic reminder of the weakness of all men.
-
Chronicle of the Misty Vale – Chronicler Exodion
-The Great Library
Comments
Post a Comment