Dolgar's Hold

Visit to Bumbleby (Ristenby Town Clerk)

Bumbleby has a faded and nearly illegible document on the legend of Dolgar’s hold (see 1 below) but he also gives some history and background to the town (see 2 below). He informs you that someone else (a bearded, middle?aged man who seemed to have some knowledge of things magical) recently wished to see his record on Dolgar's Hold, and stole earlier manuscripts and a tome on the old Trollish tongue. Bumbleby will pay 5GP for the return of each.

1. Bumbleby's Manuscript

xx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxx the fall of the Vedran Empire xx xxxx Mage?Priest named Dolgar xxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx north of the fortress of Deva. xx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxx xx both the 'Wolfkin' xxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxx x group of Night Trolls xxxx xxxxxxx xx xxxxxx. xxx slaves were kept xx x xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx, xxx the hold beneath xxx xxxx xx xxxxx Dolgar, his henchmen and the Night Trolls xxxxxxx. xxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx xx xxxxx xxx xxx xxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx.

The excessive cruelty of Dolgar xxxx xx xxx xxxxxxxxx xx Abginell, a famous hero of the Dark Years said to have been the son of an imperial Vedran noble, xxx xx xxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx xx Dolgar's Hold to put an end xx xxx xxxx xxxxx. xxxxx xx xxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx, xxxxxxx, xxxxxxx xxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx, xxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxx to fall back to a nearby hilltop xxxxxx xx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx the wizardry of Dolgar. xxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xx xxx, then at dawn Prestor stirred. xx xxxxxxx xxxxx xx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx xxxxx xx xxx xxxxxxxx the newly risen sun, striking fear into the Night xxxxxx, xxx xxxxx xx xxxx xxxx xx xxxx xxx xxxxxxx the xxxxxxx xxxx them, xxxxxxx summoned xxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx a xxxxxxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxx xx xxxxxx and xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx. The xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx at xxxx xxxx, however, xxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx a wand of Dolgar's was xxxxx xxxxxx.

Xxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxx xxxxxx xxx xxxx xx xxx xxx, xxx xxxx xxxxxx xx xxxxx in xxxxx xxxxxx, xxx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxx Dolgar's Hold xxxxxxx xxx xxxx, xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxx. xxxxxxx xxxxx nor wizardry could make the gates yield, xxx xx xxxxxx xxxxxx the very ground to move, sealing xxx xxxxxxx beneath the hill for ever.

Abginell released xxx xxxxxx, xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxx xx xxxxxxx the slave quarters and the Tower of the Wolfkin, xxxxx xxxxxxxx of xxxxx xxxxxxxxx. xxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xx xxxx xx xx Dolgold xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx

2. History and Background.

The druidic hamlet of Dolgold was left pretty much alone by both Rykar’s line and Daretta. During the reign of Risten, however, the nearby gold deposits were found by Rakri the dwarf and around the same time it was decided that it would be a good site strategically for a castle guarding the N approaches to the County. In return for half the gold mined for twenty years and a lesser amount thereafter, Rakri and his people were allowed to establish themseIves here in 1356, 25 years ago.

The gold paid for the building of the castle on the foundations of an older structure, and the village was greatly expanded to support both the castle and the mine, being reorganised on feudal lines. As the stone nearby was suitable for building, a quarry was established to provide material for the fortifications, and when they were completed this was leased to a burgess of Ristenby (much of which is also built with Dolgold Stone).

Tristram, the second lord of Dolgold, was more popular that his father had been, but was killed at the battle in the wilderness seven years ago, leaving his equally popular wife Dulcinea and young son in the castle. Baron Granek made Brinn the castellan, and although he was not popular at first, four years ago he slew two trolls which had wandered in from the wilderness, thus gaining the villagers' respect. He was married to Tristram's widow shortly afterwards. The trolls did considerable damage before they were slain, and the village looks upon them with hatred and loathing bordering on the maniacal.

Granek is not popular with the village, however, especially amongst the dwarves, as he failed to reduce their contributions of gold when this became due, and is seen as being responsible for the reduction of the Dolgold garrison, many of whom were recalled to fight in the war. Since then, the village has been occasionally troubled by wolves and other wild animals, but nothing really serious (since the trolls) occurred until three months ago..

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