Caer Corwell was a castle that had long been the seat of the Kendrick kings of Corwell on the island of Gwynneth in the Moonshae Isles.[1][2] It overlooked the small city of Corwell, sometimes also known as "Caer Corwell" in honor of the castle.[3][4] The castle was in ruins as of the late 15th century DR.[5]
Location[]
A map showing the town and castle of Caer Corwell.
The keep was located on a rocky cliff several hundred feet high that overlooked the common fields of Corwell and the waters of the harbor.[6][7] This position made the keep visible from a great distance, and in particular, it could be seen from nearly a day's travel away along the Corwell Road.[8]
Structure[]
The castle was surrounded by a high wooden palisade which ended in a stone gatehouse.[9] The front gates of the castle were made of strong wood and an iron portcullis was lowered from the gatehouse, which had four stout watchtowers.[10] Rising above the wide courtyard, the central keep was protected by three parapeted towers.[7][11] Prior to the fall of the kingdom of Corwell, the banner of the Kendrick family (a silver bear on a black field) hung in splendor from the tallest point of the castle.[7]
As of the late 15th century DR, the castle was a crumbling shell of its former self,[5] and the roof had caved in.[12]
Interior[]
Within the keep, Caer Corwell had a huge hall with two great oak tables and a large fireplace in the corner.[13] Adjoining to this hall were the barracks, stables, and other outbuildings, all of which sat safely within the outer palisade.[11]
Defenses[]
While the wooden wall was a point of weakness, the position of the castle atop the steep, rocky hill balanced this by making it extremely dangerous for attackers to even approach the wall. The only way to reach the gate was to climb the winding road up the hill, which was completely exposed to defensive arrows and burning oil from the castle.[11][8]
The garrison was led by an exceptionally skilled fighter. Below him were 10 sergeants, each of whom commanded about twenty soldiers.[14]
History[]
The sturdy castle had a long history as a proven redoubt in times of conflict, and was famed at the time of the Darkwalker War for having never fallen to an invader.[11]
Corwell fell in the early 15th century DR when the fey of Sarifal expelled all humans from the island of Gwynneth.[15] The Kendricks who still resided at the castle were killed.[12]
As of the late 15th century DR, the ruins of the castle had come to be occupied by a mad gnome known as Phillwyp the Wary, alongside his boggart minions, who aspired to rule a kingdom of unseelie fey.[5] During this time, High King Derid Kendrick of Callidyrr aspired to reclaim his family's ancestral seat.[6]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), pp. 33–37. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ProFantasy Software Ltd. (1999). Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. TSR, Inc.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 148. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 7. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Douglas Niles (May 1987). Darkwalker on Moonshae. (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-88038-451-4.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (May 1987). Darkwalker on Moonshae. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-88038-451-4.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (May 1987). Darkwalker on Moonshae. (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-88038-451-4.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (May 1987). Darkwalker on Moonshae. (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-88038-451-4.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60.