Castle Graelingard

"It is said that when King Strahd arrived at Castle Graelingard for an audience, he was so struck by its majesty that fell to his knees and cried to the heavens. "Thou shalt be outdone!", he exclaimed."
- The Chronicle of Graeling, Chapter 23
Castle Graelingard is a 600 year old fortification located on the border between Middenheim and Drakheim in the epicenter of traditional Holmgardian power. Built on a craggy promontory of the Thuringian highlands, the palace is formidable; never has it fallen, and many times has it been a safe haven for the Imperial dynasty. 
Though not exceedingly large, the castle occupies a nearly impossible location to assail. Built on nearly sheer cliffs two hundred feet high, it is accessible only by a narrow bridge, which itself is controlled by a tower built on a second rocky promontory. Over the centuries, a few additions have been made; a wizard's tower was built at the behest of Mathilde, and a hidden oubliette by Thoric. Due to its inaccessibility, maintenance and expansion are challenging; the castle exterior has a notable worn, almost decrepit appearance, its grandeur faded. The engineering that built the castle has been forgotten, the plans for its design lost with the fall ofTznchundel, the last great dwarven hold within the Empire. 
The inside of the castle is occupied by an intimate, manor-house like interior, meant for the Emperor and his family as a retreat away from the hustle of Holmgard and Drakenhelm.

Architecture

The castle is considered to be a masterpiece of early High Holmgardian architecture. Though the structure in and of itself is not especially remarkable, its inaccessible and dramatic location magnify its splendor. 
The three story central keep is built out of polished black granite, and simply adorned without buttresses, gargoyles, or other decorative motifs. With its steeply angled roof, it is reminiscent of an ancient longhouse. It sits on a massive, raised platform surrounded by formidable battlements. 
The central keep is flanked by two squat, one story outbuildings containing the kitchens and servants quarters, and which form a base for statues of two of the Valkyr, the children of Tyr. The third statue, that of Valka, previously occupied a central plinth in front of the keep, but was removed after the Valkine schism. 
Behind the central keep is the Tower of the Crow. Originally a library, it is currently the quarters of the Hand of Tyr. 
Unbeknownst to all except the Hand of Tyr, there is an oubliette beneath Tower of the Crow. One must remove a hammer from a small statue of Tyr and insert it into a specific keyhole within a stone brick in the floor to open it. 
In front of Castle Graelingard is the Outer Barbican, a small keep protecting the narrow stair leading up towards the bridge, the only way to access the castle.

Founding Date

125 HR