Tenser's Castle

Greyhawk Location

Tenser's Castle
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General information
Type:	Castle
Size:	Large
Geopolitical
Region:	Domain of Greyhawk, Nyr Dyv
Government:	Magocracy
Geography
Elevation:	Sealevel
Depth:	Uknonw

Description

The Fortress of Unknown Depths is a long-standing wizard's tower belonging to Tenser. There are incredible magical wards and a variety of security measures, not even including the monsters of the lake and air which live near the castle and have learned adventurers are a regular and hearty source of dinner.

In the hazy summer air, the Fortress of Unknown Depths seems almost a mirage. Half a mile into the dark blue waters of the Nyr Dyv is a low black rock some 130 feet across, crowned with a pale-blue structure At the heart of the castle is a single tower capped with a vast faceted dome that glitters like a blue jewel. Birds wheel around the fortress. They might be ospreys, diving for fish in the lake.

A narrow causeway of black stone stretches from a pretty shore-side village to the castle. The water on either side shows occasional eddies and whirlpools, as if great water creatures neared the surface before sinking again. Sometimes a glistening back or tail heaves clear of the water. On occasion the lake chums with some underwater battle between these titans.

Compared to such wonders, the village of Magepoint and the hills to the south seem almost overwhelmingly ordinary. The village is charming, a cluster of houses, stables and huts set among gardens and pastures. From the village, the terrain climbs toward the Cairn Hills a couple of miles away, blue-green during the humid days. Manors and farms dot the rolling grasslands.

Evirons, Features, and Defenses

• Shore Pathway - A coastal pathway links Magepoint with Elmshire in the west and Goldplain in the Duchy of Urnst in the east. Another pathway—really little more than an earthen track—links Magepoint with Diamond Lake.
• Promontory Gatehouses - Two large, pale-blue stone, single-story buildings abut either side of the entry to the landbridge. It has a human-height parapet with arrow slits.
• Landbridge - A smooth-topped rocky causeway of dark gray-black stone which ends in a solid, unidentifiable, basalt-like, stone wall. Traversing it is made even more difficult by bloodhawks.
• Old Tunnel Entrance - A passageway large enough for wagons and troops which parallels the landbridge, ten feet below the surface walkway (within the stone spine of the landbridge).
• Shipwrecks - These make it very dificult to navigate to the main keep via boat, ship, or other water-bourne vessel. A massive leviathin of a fish called a "verme" infests the surrounding waters.
• Teleportation Limit - Due to magical wards within a quarter mile of the main keep, all spells and magic items using a teleportation effect malfunction, redirecting the magic to deliver the user to the castle's gaol (jail). This same area prevents all inside from being affected by scrying, mind reading, or mental influence as if affected by a *mind blank* spell.
• Underwater Watchglobes - Eleven *glassteel* globes scattered throughout the surrounding waters within 120 feet of the keep, through which Tenser can scry on anything below the wat'ers surface.
• Former Mist Dragon's Lair

The Main Grounds

• Gatehouse -
• Entry Hall -
• The Great Lift -
• Parade Grounds and Courtyard -
• Barracks and Heavy Infantry -
• Smith's Hall -
• Guest Tower -
• Chapel -
• Hall of the Knights -
• Garden -
• Great Keep - The great keep consists of a massive amount of rooms of every shape and size possible.

• Entry Hall

• Hall of Magic
• Chart Room
• Meeting Room
• Private Study
• Peerage & Genealogical Study
• Alchemical Study
• Alchemical Storeroom
• Hall of History
• Cloning Laboratory
• Library
• The Curio Hall
• Discussion Parlor
• Collections Storage
• Museum of Dwoemercraft
• The Gate Room
• The Cystal Dome

Sub-levels

• Lower Entry Hall
• Cistern Hall
• Food Storage and Cistern Pump Room
• The Starry Valve
• Great Keep's Basement
• The Unforgiving Vault
• Wine Cellar and Storage
• Gaol Hall (Jail Hall)
• Gaol (Jail)
• Great Cage
• Ancient Burial Chamber
• Lesser Catacombs of the Unknown Depths
• Greater Catacombs of the Unknown Depths
• The Endless Well
• Infantry Assembly Hall
• Infantry Preparation Room
• Cavalry Preparation Room
• Cavalry Supply and Hay Storage
• Stables and Feeding Area

Languages

Spellfire card #26 of 100. Runes and Ruins booster pack. (1996) Art by David Martin. Note that because lore specifies the bridge from Magepoint, only "flyers" and "Swimmers" can reach the castle.

See Also

See also: Magepoint

Gallery

• 
  The main grounds, Return of the Eight (1998), Art by Sam Wood.
• 
  Other levels of the castle, Return of the Eight (1998), Art by Sam Wood.

References

Citations

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image