Umber

In which the party redirects a scholar’s research for their own ends (TSR)

The Known History of Castle Pescheour

And the gods raised a mighty castle, each imbuing it with a portion of divine essence. Beauteous and wondrous it was to behold, all of the whitest marble and blackest obsidian, its colors and design embodying the duality of thought and deed. Then the gods produced a treasure, a fabulous stone of a radiance and clarity never known before or since. The sheer beauty of the stone held even the gods spellbound, and it was with great reverence that they hid it within the castle walls.

Then were the gods well satisfied with what they had wrought, confident that only the most worthy heroes would find the castle and its great secret. But the God of Justice spoke, saying unto them, “Pride goeth before a fall. We must know that what we have done is what should be. Let each of us choose a champion to seek the castle, and let this be the very first test of heroes. Whoever finds the castle and gains the stone will become its king, and his family will rule in our name and guard the treasure from the unworthy ever after. To them shall fall the duty of testing those who seek to prove themselves.”

The gods saw the wisdom of his words and each chose a champion who best embodied their virtues. These mortal aspirants traveled across the lands, seeking the elusive treasure. The castle appeared on no map or chart, and some said that it appeared one day in this place, and the next day in that. The champions began to despair: theirs seemed an unreachable goal.

At this time did a man, named Pescheour, appear in the world. He rode a horse without saddle and bore no weapons; nor did he wear the symbol of any god. The champions all asked him whom he served, and Pescheour answered them thusly: “You have each tried to embody what is best in the gods whom you serve. I am what is best in mortals!”

With no other word unto them did Pescheour turn his horse and ride straightaway to the hidden castle. Its gate lay open before him, and the God of Justice crowned him its king that very day. Then did that first King Pescheour swear a mighty oath, that he and his descendants would ever protect the stone from all but the most worthy, lest a terrible curse befall them.

King Pescheour gathered unto him men and women who were pure of heart and made them his household. With such warriors and wizards at his command, the king would keep his oath, and fulfill his charge. For full three hundred years did he rule the castle, then crowned his eldest son king in his place. He left the castle shortly thereafter. There are those who do say that Pescheour ascended unto the realm of the gods; others, that he left all behind him to wander the world and that he died alone in a foreign land.

Perhaps once in a generation, worthy men or women shall find the castle. There shall the gods test them. They shall face such foes as shall make their blood ice with fear. They shall learn the castle’s secrets, and from its depths they shall retrieve the stone as proof of their bravery and courage. By this train and no other shall the worthy be revealed and receive such rewards as truly befit the chosen of the gods. Ever after shall these worthies walk in divine favor, and they shall know wealth and honor beyond all mortal ken.