Castle Perilous

Castle Perilous was the most significant fortification in Vaasa and the one-time seat of power for the lich Zhengyi, the Witch-King of Vaasa, for his attacks on Damara.

Geography
Castle Perilous was located on a rocky crag in the tundra of north-central Vaasa.

Prior to the castle's destruction, the surrounding few miles were contaminated by Abyssal energy seeping out of the portal in the dungeon beneath the castle. The area was permanently dark and overcast, the weather was muggier than the surrounding tundra, and the land was devoid of any running or standing water whatsoever, although in the late–14 century a body of water had formed alongside the ruin called the Lake of Tears.

Description
It was a fortress of dark stone and bound in iron.

History
On a single night in the, the fortress called Castle Perilous was raised by the work of demons of the Abyss. With the aid of Orcus and his demons, Zhengyi gathered an army of giants, goblins, orcs, undead, and dire wolves to use in a conquest of Damara.

It collapsed into ruins when Gareth Dragonsbane and his party of adventurers defeated Zhengyi in the.

Thereafter, Castle Perilous was a crumbling ruin, filled with lurking monsters and frequented by adventurers looking for remnants of Zhengyi's magic. By 1372 DR, the heaps of rubble were often seen topped by chromatic dragons, but these dragons were often driven off or slain by either the adventures or the even-worse monsters of Castle Perilous. Giants, goblins, and bugbears also gathered around it.

In the, an earthquake struck the region and the castle shed its crumbling exterior to reveal seemingly new sleek black stone underneath, inscribed with runes that absorbed light. Some Warlock Knights of Vaasa worried Zhengyi's demons had rebuilt the castle overnight. Vaasa's ruling Ironfell Council was concerned by the events and sent investigators but no one could pierce the defensive runes on the castle's exterior. As of 1489 DR, this new development remained a mystery.