The Palace of the High King, also known as Caer Callidyrr, was a wondrous structure located in the city of Caer Callidyrr on Alaron within the Moonshae Isles.[1] It was the tallest man-made structure in the Moonshaes.[2]
Structure[]
The splendorous castle was spread over three hilltops and was bigger in size than some towns. Its tall walls of alabaster and white granite were polished to shine and glimmer in the sunlight. The walls were topped with crenellated battlements and several drawbridges allowed access into the castle past guarded high gatehouses.[1][4][5] Its spires, decorated with streaming pennants, were seen from across the entirety of the city, projecting elongated needle-like shadows down on the town and often stood above the clouds, making them easily visible for ships approaching Whitefish Bay.[1][5][6][7] The stonework was so precise that the towers were able to rise to much narrower spires than seemed possible for such stones.[1]
Activities[]
This castle was the seat of power for the High Kings and Queens of House Kendrick.[8] The council of sorcerers who served the monarch lived within the castle.[9] It also served as the base of operations for the monarch's elite troops,[1] notably the Callidyrr dragoons.[10]
History[]
The palace had been built in ancient times by Cymrych Hugh, the first High King of the Moonshaes, and served as the seat of power for the Cymrych Dynasty of High Kings as well as their lesser successors, the Carrathal Dynasty of Callidyrr.[1][11] The castle had never fallen to any invader.[1]
By the mid–14th century DR, the castle provided a constant reminder of the peak to which Ffolk civilization had once ascended.[9] By this time, the white stone walls of the palace were becoming damaged and stained with soot, with some towers even being deemed too dangerous to enter.[1]
The palace was set ablaze in the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, when the red dragon Hoondarrh attacked the city.[11][12]
Inhabitants[]
The last High King (in name only) of the Carrathal Dynasty was Reginald Carrathal, who died in the Year of the Bloodbird, 1346 DR. He was succeeded by Tristan Kendrick, who became the first true High King of the Ffolk in centuries upon his coronation.[11]
High King Tristan was succeeded by his daughter, High Queen Alicia, in the Year of the Sword, 1365 DR,[11] who ruled until the Year of the Halls Unhaunted, 1407 DR.[10]
As of the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, the High King was Derid Kendrick, who remained on the throne through at least the Year of the Warrior Princess, 1489 DR.[13]
The castle was one of the rare places in the Moonshaes in which arcane spellcasters were often encountered.[14] A cabal of powerful sorcerers and wizards known as the Council of Sorcerers, who were ostensibly advisors to the High Kings and Queens, operated from the castle.[9][14] Members of the council maintained apprentices and other students, potentially numbering at least 50 spellcasters in total.[14]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 32–33. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (March 1992). Prophet of Moonshae. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 1-56076-319-1.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (April 1988). Black Wizards. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 13. ISBN 0-88038-563-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Douglas Niles (April 1988). Black Wizards. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 5. ISBN 0-88038-563-4.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (April 1988). Black Wizards. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 2. ISBN 0-88038-563-4.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (March 1992). Prophet of Moonshae. (TSR, Inc), chap. 4. ISBN 1-56076-319-1.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Matt James (November 2011). “Character Themes: Heroes of the Moonshaes”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #405 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 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.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Douglas Niles (November 1987). Moonshae. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-88038-494-8.