Doncastle was a unique small city founded by bandits and outlaws.[7] It was located in Dernall Forest in the kingdom of Callidyrr on the island of Alaron within the Moonshae Isles.[1][2][3][4]
Description[]
The village's cottages, inns, and other structures were well concealed within the trees of a swampy, forested valley. Some buildings were underground and disguised in mounds, others sat within the treetops or around tree trunks, and some sat atop stilts above the mud.[7][8][9] Only the blacksmith's forge and a handful of cottages and huts near the ground were clearly visible to the casual visitor.[9] Inhabitants moved from tree to tree either by canoe or by scampering along an intricate web of vines and walkways above the ground. There were no bridges or paved streets on the ground.[7][9]
A grassy square in the middle of the town served as both a gathering area and a marketplace.[9]
Geography[]
A map of Callidyrr showing Doncastle in the Dernall Forest.
Doncastle was situated within the folds of the Dernall Forest in the county of Stagford.[1][2][3][4] The Swanmay River ran through the town, with a small feeder creek that was dammed to form a millpond.[9] The town lay just east of the Drowned Forest at the end of a trail that branched off from the High King's Road from the south.[1][2][3][4] The town's southern gates toward this trail were known as Druid's Gate (which also led to the lands of the druids of Alaron) and Forest Gate (which also led to secret caves). The town's northern gates included Lord's Gate (which led to the lands from which Doncastle's settlers had fled) and King's Gate (which led to a path towards Caer Callidyrr). Although called "gates", these were really just widened sections of trails designed to be defensible.[9]
Defenses[]
The bandits were skilled, disciplined, and fierce fighters. They would flee if discovered by soldiers of Callidyrr, but would lure their enemies into ambushes. Their goal in these fights was not to kill but to scare their attackers away.[7]
The defenders kept the woods immediately around the town clear to allow them to easily maneuver into position, which they cultivated tangled underbrush further out that could only be navigated by those who knew the right trails. At each of the four gates as well as at various points throughout the town, well-camouflaged defensive ditches had been established to fight back attackers. Barriers were also hoisted into the trees to be dropped onto paths to form instant walls.[9] Archers had clear vantages of the trails leading into the town.[10]
Four stables, one outside each of the four "gates", were concealed within dense walls of aspens.[9]
History[]
The town was founded by Hugh O'Roarke, who became an outlaw after rejecting High King Reginald Carrathal's claim as the rightful ruler of the Ffolk. The town was established sometime before the Year of the Highmantle, 1336 DR, around which time Elminster visited after agreeing to be captured after he was mistaken for an agent of the High King.[7][11] With the rise of the evil wizard Cyndre's influence over King Carrathal, O'Roarke's rightful lands were seized, forcing him and his followers to flee to Doncastle.[8][note 1]
Following the death of King Bryon Kendrick of Corwell by Razfallow in the Year of the Bloodbird, 1346 DR, his heir Tristan Kendrick set out for Caer Callidyrr to be named as the new king. His journeys took him inadvertently through Doncastle, where he made an ally of O'Roarke.[8][9] He would subsequently return to Doncastle while fleeing the machinations of Cyndre, who sent Razfallow and Kryphon to scout the town and prepare for the arrival of the High King's Scarlet Guard to kill Tristain. Kryphon charmed one of the town's guard captains; injured the town cleric, Vaughn Burne; and killed the town wizard, Annuwynn.[9][10] Soon the Battle of Doncastle began, which revealed O'Roarke to be a much less capable commander than hoped. Between the devastating spells of Cyndre and the butting of heads between Tristain and O'Roarke, the town's defenders were routed and Doncastle was put to the torch. The survivors fled and ultimately faced Cyndre and his army again at the Battle of the High Kings, where they scored a narrow victory.[10]
The town was evidently rebuilt during Tristain's reign as High King.[12][13] It had grown to the size of a small city as of the late 15th century DR,[4] when the Dernall Forest had become treacherous owing to the presence of unseelie fey from Nachtur.[14]
Notable Locations[]
Notable locations as of 1346 DR included:
- Inns and Lodgings
- The Black Oak, a well-appointed inn.[9]
- Bur Oak, the only inn in town that sat in the top of a tree.[9]
- Green Meadow, a sod-roofed inn.[9]
- Raging Boar, another inn.[9]
- Other
- A simple wooden chapel near the central green.[9]
- A manor home protected by a magical grove of aspen.[9]
Inhabitants[]
As of the early-to-mid 14th century DR, Doncastle was home to Hugh O'Roarke and his loyal followers. This included a company of Ffolk outlaws and their servants, including at least one talented bard. They lived well off the land and with the riches they pilfered from agents of the High King. They were jolly hosts to those they regarded as friends, and were happy to provide horses and protection to such allies.[7]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The actual timeline of Doncastle's founding is unclear. The novel Black Wizards suggests that Hugh O'Roarke only became a bandit and fled to Doncastle following the rise of Cyndre, while the sourcebook Moonshae suggests that he voluntarily became an outlaw at Doncastle a decade prior to Cyndre's takeover.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ProFantasy Software Ltd. (1999). Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. TSR, Inc.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae (Map). Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., pp. 5–6. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ Map included in Douglas Niles (April 1988). Black Wizards. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-563-4.
- ↑ Map included in Douglas Niles (March 1992). Prophet of Moonshae. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-56076-319-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Douglas Niles (April 1988). Black Wizards. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 11. ISBN 0-88038-563-4.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ Brian R. James (December 2007). “Grand History of the Realms: The Moonshaes”. Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2009-06-01.
- ↑ Cover map of the Moonshae Isles. included in Ed Greenwood (1991). Halls of the High King. (TSR, Inc).
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1991). Halls of the High King. (TSR, Inc), p. 3.
- ↑ Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 4. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.