Ironfang Keep

Ironfang Keep was an ancient keep in northern Faerûn.

Geography
The stronghold lay in the northernmost parts of the Earthspur Mountains at the cascades where the White River fell into the Moonsea.

History
The Keep was so old, that even the oldest elves remembered their grandparents talk about it. There were legends among dragons which indicated that Ironfang Keep already existed around -25000 DR It got its name due to massive iron deposits near the Keep. But no one dared to mine them, because most feared the presence of the Keep and its inhabitants.

In the past, nobles and barons sent adventurers to Ironfang Keep to investigate its secrets. Most of them returned as corpses stacked neatly on the doors of the patrons who sent them. In 1288 DR, the barons of Mulmaster sent an expedition to the Keep to break into it; this however resulted in an uprising of local gnolls. In 1338 DR, the last noble who sent a party to the keep died and ended further investigations.

Inhabitants
It was known that mysterious mages lived within Ironfang Keep. But it was unknown who they were and what objectives they had. They were so powerful that even the Red Wizards of Thay avoided disturbing them. If someone asked about the keep, the mighty wizards, Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun and Elminster, only shook their heads and said nothing. From time to time caravans stopped at the door of the Keep and brought cargo, but not one of the merchants saw any of the inhabitants.

Some surviving visitors to the Keep remarked that the mages seemed to practice their magic during the night, however it was hard to tell what kind of magic they used or to even try to dispel it. Some thought the inhabitants were a school of users of the Shadow Weave or shadow adepts, maybe even both.

Literature


Eisenzahnfeste