Castle Katrach
History
This sturdy keep was built in the middle of the ninth century AR, it was constructed by Katrach Wierno, a powerful knight who had been granted the surrounding land as a gift for his service. Though he was given naught but a small village, with his wealth from years of warfare, and with it the customary ransoming, he soon began construction of a mighty keep. He built it at the edge of a cliff, where it could overlook his village, which with time would come to grow into a proper town, taking the name of "Wysepka" after the name of Katrach's daughter who was beloved throughout the settlement for her kindness.
During the Fall of Kings, the Wierno family chose to remain at their keep, sending only a representative to the chaotic proceedings. Left without a king or kingdom to swear allegiance to, the Wiernos began to rule their lands as independent lords. Known for their stubborn yet content nature, the family focused on maintaining their hold on power and protecting the surrounding lands, a rarity among Rynkowskian nobility.
Over the centuries, they defended their domain against rival lords, goblin invaders, and ambitious adventurers. Their reign continued until 1287 AR, just 19 years ago, when catastrophe struck.
In 1264 AR, a significant goblin incursion from the Granica Highlands was repelled, but many goblins were left behind. Plotting revenge, they secretly tunnelled into Castle Katrach, destabilizing the cliff on which it stood. Their efforts succeeded, and more than half the castle was destroyed, leaving only the inner keep standing—now isolated on a lone pillar of rock.
With this catastrophe, many members of the Wierno family perished, and soon the ones left came to face a much greater and dangerous foe. The Sorceror Malakesh.
In 1296 AR he tricked his way into the castle by poisioning the current head of the house Wierno, lady Patrycja, and then providing a temporary cure for her. For four years he schemed and plotted disguised a loyal servant of house Wierno, even serving as the tutor to the lady's younger brother, Mhjartiv, teaching him much in the ways of the arcane.
Finally, after four years of this, he threw of his disguise and made his move. Malakesh had the caslte stormed by a group of mercenaries who had become known for their brutal and ruthless tactics. He managed to take the castle, and in the aftermath nearly all house Wierno loyalists in the keep were dead. He tried to convince the younger brother to join him, and become his heir apparent, but this offer was refused. Instead, the young man managed to flee the keep by disguising himself with magic.
Malakesh would visit the town of Wysepka afterwards, and there he held a public hanging of the captives he had taken during the attack, and he warned the former Wierno subjects that they would know him as the Sorceror, and their lord, and that his word would be law. Lest they meet the same fate as their masters. Since then he has ruled in a cruel manor, seldom leaving his castle and leaving most work to the cruel leader of the mercenaries, Thurh, a berserker from northern Zlatzem.
The people of the area are not fond of their new ruler, but most live in fear of his powers and his men, so they choose to comply. But there are many who dream of the return of house Wierno, and some loyalists activly work against the Sorceror, hoping to one day overthrow him.
Founding Date
863AR
Type
Keep
Parent Location
Owner
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Contested By
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