[FR] Darkhold

[jester47]

I am looking for information on Darkhold.

I found a map of it in the FR Atlas Cdrom, but I am not impressed and this map does not work with the description in the OGB, 2E and FRCS. Its in a valley, and well, it seems a little too simple.

I am looking for somthing to repace that map that actually jives with the description, and is interesting...

Also, I am looking for ideas on how to present the fortress.

The description states that giants or elder elementals made darkhold, and so the sizes of the place are large. But from what I can gather a Lich has lived there, and the place might have some wirdness about it.

Where can I find more info, and what ideas do you guys have about this FR location.

Thanks.

Aaron.

 

[megamania]

wish I could help more. Sounds like you will need to get a hold of a 2e book library. I believe there is a novel about the place...that may give ideas for setting and overall mood also.

 

[MythandLore]

There was a box set in 2nd ed called "Castles A 3-Dimentional Game Accessory"
It had a whole supplement book about Darkhold if you can find it.

_________

BTW it was a very good set, huge, the size of the menzo box set, 3d cut outs to make a castle and full size maps for use with mini's.

 

[MythandLore]

I found a site that shows the old set.
The picture on the cover is of Darkhold.

http://www.flash.net/~brenfrow/ad/castles.htm
http://www.flash.net/~brenfrow/ad/castles.jpg

 

[Oaken25]

The Ruins of Zhentil Keep boxed set also has bits and pieces of info about Darkhold.

 

[jester47]

Well, I looked at the map and my immediate thought was, "Wow, this place looks really boreing."

I am thinking of using a larger (i.e. giant sized version of the fortress found in UK3 "The Guntlet." That would fit the description. a little better. I am looking through a "Realms Index" if you can call it that (mix of cannon and fan interpretations) and that is giving me some ideas.

According to this index the books Dungeons of Mystery and Castles (boxed set) (already mentioned, I was writing the last post as I learned.) are where the official details are set.

However, if that map comes from either of those places, well then I might not be interested and just go with layers of history covering occupation by Fire Giants, Dragons, Wildmen and a druid, and a Lich queen.

I want to present Darkhold as a place that the Zhents (and anyone else for that matter) hold but dont really understand.

Aaron.

 

[jester47]

Looking over the map in "The Gauntlet" It looks like it could hold a thousand troops easy. Each level is at least 20 feet high, and all the doors are 10ft wide. One room looses its entire purpose when you take the keep out ofcontext and I figure that its a good place to stash a route to the dungeons below.

It might work, I will have to do some more research.

I figure I can get a hold of the ESD for Castles and Dungeons of mystery and see what those are all about, eventually.

One thing I did notice, I like the description given in the OGB the best. There is no mention of the keep being made in the Giant size. They just say it is really big and all the stones are fused together.

Looking at all I can find on it, I would say I am going to have the keep built by elementals working for a Netherese wizard who used Giants to guard the keep. As time passed and the wizard became a lich he passedinto obscurity in his personal stronghold below the citadel. The Giants assumed thier old master dead or gone and carried on until they met thier end. Since then, various occupants have not discovered the deep and secret ways into the liches doom and as a result he has been mostly forgotten, except by those rare occasoins where he has been discovered by a druid and another spellcaster.

Thanks for all the help. I have come up with some stuff and I will post it in the plots and places to share with others soon.


Aaron.