The Hold of Battle Lions, or Hold of the Battle Lions, was a shrine to Tempus built within in Dragonspear Castle.[3] It remained a bastion against the fiends of the Nine Hells for over 150 years, despite the repeated leveling of its structure.[5][6]
Location[]
The stone temple was located within the castle's inner ward, a short distance beyond the front doors of the main keep.[7][note 1]
Interior[]
- Altar of Tempus
Both in the years while it was intact and the century or so afterwards, the Hold of Battle Lions safeguarded the altar dedicated to Tempus. This stained marble altar was the focal point for rituals that revitalized and strengthened the wards sealing the portal that lay beneath Dragonspear Castle.[7]
Set within the marble was the source of its tremendous power,[7] remnants of the elven sword Illydrael, that considered a holy relic by the followers of Tempus. When one of these faithful, or an individual that successfully beseeched the god "reached inside" the alter, they felt it to have consistency of unbaked clay and could successfully remove the hilt and handle of the sword.[8]
Activities[]
The temple served as a bulwark to the fiends that could readily escape from the Nine Hells through the portal beneath Dragonspear Castle. The champions of the temple carried out their duty for nearly half a century, before being overwhelmed.[2]
Defenses[]
While it was intact and occupied, the temple was considered to be well-manned and fortified.[1][2]
History[]
The Hold of Battle Lions was built in the Year of Spilled Blood, 1315 DR, after the combined forces of Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep eradicated the malevolent forces that lived within the castle.[1][3]
In the Year of the Bow, 1354 DR, just after the First Dragonspear War, the castle was overrun by devils once more.[2][4] They were rebuffed and cleared out some seven years later, and the temple was rebuilt as a shrine by Tempus' priests.[5][9][10][note 2]
For many years the shrine was regularly assaulted by various beastly and malicious creatures, such as bugbears, orcs, drow, and fiends, but remained intact for some time.[5]
As of the 15th century DR, the castle came under the protection of a group of mercenaries. Some time before the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, the mercenaries were bested and the temple was once again destroyed, this by undead forces under the leadership of the creature known as Born.[6]
Some years later, Alwern Mulverax and Darrondar Gweth visited the ruined shrine in order to cast the necessary rituals that would strengthen the wards sealing Dragonspear's portal. Alwern betrayed his friend and left him to be dominated by the Szarlnaxi vampires that had taken nearby residence.[11]
Around that same time, the rakshasa Nadir sought out the temple to break the portal's seals. He believed this could be accomplished by defiling the altar with the blood of a devout follower of Tempus, namely Darrondar.[12]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Video Games
Notes[]
- ↑ Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast states the temple was located within the castle's cellars.
- ↑ The FRCS 3e states that priests of Tempus erected shrine "a decade ago" from 1372 DR. Presumably they are referring to a rebuilt Hold of Battle Lions, rather than its original construction some 50 years prior or some secondary shrine of Tempus.
- ↑ A large stone bearing the holy symbol of Tempus appears in the courtyard of Dragonspear Castle. This may or may not be the altar found within the Hold of Battle Lions.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 74. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 140. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 294. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 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. 36. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Christopher Perkins, et al. (August 2013). Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 978-0786965311.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (August 2013). Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 123. ISBN 978-0786965311.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Tito Leati, Matthew Sernett and Chris Sims (February 2014). Scourge of the Sword Coast. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (August 2013). Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 978-0786965311.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (August 2013). Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 129. ISBN 978-0786965311.