Dragonspear Castle

Dragonspear Castle was a dwarven fortress built upon the High Moor during the 13 century DR. It had a long and storied history within Western Heartlands. It served as home to monstrous humanoids, became the battleground for two wars between Faerûnians and devils from the Nine Hells, and was even the stronghold for an angelic Shining Lady and her crusade

Geography
It was built across three low hills on the southwestern edge of the High Moor, east of Trollbark Forest and just north of where the Coast Way joined the Trade Way.

Within the Misty Forest was a small cave that connected to the subterranean waterway that passed under the castle.

Extensive tunnels were dug under the keep, connecting with an underground river, the abandoned city of Kanaglym, and hence the larger Underdark.
 * Underground:

The caves and tunnels beneath the castle housed colonies of giant, incandescent fungi, some of which released clouds of deadly mold. The water that passed through the underground river was ice–cold and moved at a lazy place. It was also home to a number of water elementals.

One route of the underground tunnels led to a buried labyrinth. At the very center of this twisting maze, enveloped in an arcane field, rested the powerful artifact weapon, the castle's namesake Dragonspear.

It became infamous for the inter-planar portal located in the dungeon beneath its keep. This portal was linked to Avernus in the Nine Hells and granted baatezu and other fiends an entrance to Toril.
 * Gates:

Structure
The outermost walls of the keep held the Great Gate and encircled the castle's outer ward.
 * Outer Walls:

The six sides of castle's walls were arranged in a shape of a coffin with a head that pointed westward. They stood 30 feet (9.1 meters) above the hill on which they were built. Four large turrets, 40 feet (12.2 meters) in height, were positioned at the easternmost and middle points of the hexagonal figure. The two barbican turrets, of similar height but smaller width, sat at the two western points flanking the inner gate.
 * Inner Walls:

Within the courtyard, in front of the main keep was a ruined shrine dedicated to Tempus, the Hold of Battle Lions. Although the building itself was destroyed, its altar held a holy relic that allowed the castle's portal-sealing wards to be replenished.
 * Courtyard:

Also outside the keep were several large iron cages that dated back to the hobgoblins that held the keep prior to the First Dragonspear War. Since they have been used by the soldiers of the Shining Crusade, and the group of vampires that dwelled within over a century later.

Perhaps the most notable feature feature of the castle's keep was the skeleton of a colossal red dragon that draped over battered rooftop. The structure itself was in great disrepair, with glaring holes and cracked stones.
 * Main Keep:

Interior
The ceiling of the keep was 30 feet (9.1 meters) above its stone tiled floor, at the highest point of its vaulted ceiling.
 * Ground Floor:

Standing in the keep's anteroom were four marble statues depicting human champions wielding swords and shields inlaid with the images of dragons.

The walls of the main hall were adorned with several tapestries, decorative shields, and six gargoyles. Its floor comprised stone tiles that were laid in a diagonal orientation. At the back of the hall was a smaller chamber containing stairs that led to the castle's basement.

The northern wing served as the castle's original barracks. Despite its disrepair it offered decent shelter, and was even used as a makeshift boarding house for Coalition forces decades after its original occupants.

While it was later destroyed, the southern wing once served as the castle's library and held a private study.

Like the keep above, the basement of Dragonspear Castle comprised a long, central area connecting several smaller chambers along its north and south–facing walls. In the center of the basement's stone floor was a large, circular mosaic depicting a lance-wielding rider mounted atop a dragon. Hidden beneath the mosaic was a secret compartment that held Daeros Dragonspear's personal suit of armor.
 * Basement:

The southern rooms of the basement contained a small storage area, the castle's larger and its kitchen. In the chamber beneath the keep's southern barbican turret was a pulley-operated elevator that led down to the underground warrens, that connected to a cave through which passed a portion of the Underground River.

History

 * Daeros Dragonspear emerged from Kanaglym, bearing a fortune in gems. He built Dragonspear Castle around the lair of his copper dragon companion Halatathlaer, above the dwarven kingdom.
 * Daeros Dragonspear emerged from Kanaglym, bearing a fortune in gems. He built Dragonspear Castle around the lair of his copper dragon companion Halatathlaer, above the dwarven kingdom.


 * Ithtaerus Casalia created the first portal to Avernus in Dragonspear Castle, bound Halatathlaer, tricked Daeros Dragonspear into entering the portal and effectively killing himself, and lured other dragons to the castle with vision of a free dragon hoard. Three hopeful dragons arrived and battled each other, slaying Halatathlaer and demolishing most of the fortress. The surviving dragon, Sharndrel, was incensed by the deception and slayed Ithtaerus. Halattathlaer's spirit remained connected to the castle, and later its ruins, for nearly a century.
 * Ithtaerus Casalia created the first portal to Avernus in Dragonspear Castle, bound Halatathlaer, tricked Daeros Dragonspear into entering the portal and effectively killing himself, and lured other dragons to the castle with vision of a free dragon hoard. Three hopeful dragons arrived and battled each other, slaying Halatathlaer and demolishing most of the fortress. The surviving dragon, Sharndrel, was incensed by the deception and slayed Ithtaerus. Halattathlaer's spirit remained connected to the castle, and later its ruins, for nearly a century.


 * The ruins were soon claimed by bandits and humanoids.


 * Hobgoblins seized Dragonspear Castle and raided the Trade Way and surrounding lands.
 * Hobgoblins seized Dragonspear Castle and raided the Trade Way and surrounding lands.


 * Armed expeditions from Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate finally swept through Dragonspear Castle. Unable to destroy the portal they established the Hold of Battle Lions, a fortified temple of Tempus.
 * Armed expeditions from Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate finally swept through Dragonspear Castle. Unable to destroy the portal they established the Hold of Battle Lions, a fortified temple of Tempus.


 * Devils took Dragonspear Castle, arriving through new portals.
 * Devils took Dragonspear Castle, arriving through new portals.


 * The First Dragonspear War began as a mist cloaked the ruins of Dragonspear Castle, said to have been resistant to even the dispelling efforts of Khelben "Backstaff" Arunsun. The forces of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate once more converged on Dragonspear Castle, setting fire to its structures and defeating the devils within.
 * The First Dragonspear War began as a mist cloaked the ruins of Dragonspear Castle, said to have been resistant to even the dispelling efforts of Khelben "Backstaff" Arunsun. The forces of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate once more converged on Dragonspear Castle, setting fire to its structures and defeating the devils within.


 * The Second Dragonspear War began as devils led by Baazka retook Dragonspear Castle and built an army of humanoids, plus a dominated dragon. This fiend-led army destroyed The Way Inn and attacked Daggerford before being defeated by a motley force led by adventurers. The castle was cleansed of any demonic forces and the wards and shrine protecting its underground portal were reinforced.
 * The Second Dragonspear War began as devils led by Baazka retook Dragonspear Castle and built an army of humanoids, plus a dominated dragon. This fiend-led army destroyed The Way Inn and attacked Daggerford before being defeated by a motley force led by adventurers. The castle was cleansed of any demonic forces and the wards and shrine protecting its underground portal were reinforced.


 * Before the :
 * The castle came under control of undead horrors that were led by the entity known as Born.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Hordes of Dragonspear
 * Waterdeep (adventure)
 * Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle


 * Novels
 * Spawn of Dragonspear
 * Waterdeep (novel)


 * Video games
 * Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear