Pandruna
Pandruna is a towering citadel perched atop the windswept cliffs of the Challan Peninsula in northern Teros Major. From its high position, the fortress commands an unparalleled view of the surrounding rugged coastline and the churning waves of the Sarran Sea. The citadel's silhouette, stark and angular against the horizon, has long served as a beacon of both fear and fascination for those who dare venture to this remote part of the island. Built from dark grey stone and shaped by both the hands of masons and the sorcery of its master, the walls of Pandruna seem to grow out of the very rock itself, blending seamlessly with the jagged cliffs on which they stand.
Constructed over centuries and expanded through magical means, Pandruna is a labyrinth of narrow corridors, soaring towers, and vast, shadowed halls. Its tallest spire rises high above the surrounding landscape, where it pierces the frequent mists that shroud the Challan Peninsula, giving the impression that the citadel itself stretches into the clouds. A wide stone bridge, weathered by time and storms, connects Pandruna to the mainland, its arching span providing the only reliable access to the citadel. Below, the cliffs plunge steeply to the cold, relentless sea, where jagged rocks and crashing waves make any approach by water perilous.
Pandruna’s master, the enigmatic Scaled Keeper, has ruled from the citadel for more than three centuries. Born Hassiron Tessall in the port town of Natarr in 1445, the ancient Drile sorcerer is a formidable presence, renowned for his mastery of the art of Shaping. Under his guidance, Pandruna has become more than a mere fortress: it is a place of arcane power, its very structure imbued with magical wards and enchantments that twist the natural world to the will of its master. The Scaled Keeper’s presence can be felt in every stone and shadowed corner, and those who pass through the citadel’s gates are struck by the uncanny sensation of being watched by unseen eyes.
For all its grim grandeur, Pandruna is a place of seclusion and solitude. The fortress is manned by only a handful of loyal retainers and attendants - mostly aged Drile who have served the Scaled Keeper for decades, if not centuries. They move silently through the halls, tending to their master’s needs and maintaining the citadel’s many secrets. The lower levels of Pandruna are largely abandoned, their chambers dark and echoing, filled with dust and the forgotten relics of past ages.
Though Pandruna's remote location and fearsome reputation have kept most intruders at bay, rumours persist of strange rituals and mysterious visitors making their way to the citadel. The Scaled Keeper’s motives are as obscure as ever, and his isolation in the northern reaches of Teros Major has only added to the mystique surrounding him. Some believe that he communes with forces beyond mortal understanding, shaping the very fabric of the world in his experiments. Others whisper of his involvement in ancient pacts or speculate that he guards a treasure trove of forbidden knowledge in the deepest vaults of the citadel.
The Scaled Keeper’s rare emissaries have been known to travel south to the city of Persothan, where they occasionally seek out rare herbs or arcane components not easily obtained in the isolated north. These transactions are conducted with a cold precision that reflects their master’s inscrutable nature, and they leave little doubt that the Scaled Keeper’s interest in the outside world is far from dormant.
Comments