A Historical Treatise of Dragonspear Castle

Content
"In 1255 DR, Daeros Dragonspear completed construction of the fortress that would soon bear his name: Dragonspear Castle. Daeros first broke ground on the High Moor to be near the lair of his dragon ally, Halatathlaer. Residents of the High Moor recall seeing Daeros taking regular flights on the great copper dragon's back.

(Annotation: I located architectural sketches of the castle. Appears Dragonspear built his castle directly above Halatathlaer’s lair. May explain reports of a ghostly draconic presence nearby—must warn crusaders not to interfere with it.)

Many coveted Dragonspear’s castle and the wealth of his dragon ally, and in 1290 DR the wizard Ithtaerus executed a complicated plan. By wielding his considerable magic and manipulating other dragons into attacking the castle, Ithtaerus brought about the deaths of both Dragonspear and Halatathlaer. He had little time to enjoy his victory, though, as one of his dragon allies slew him in a rage after discovering that Ithtaerus had made off with Halatathlaer’s hoard.

(Annotation: If the dragon’s spirit still lingers, perhaps Daeros’s spirit also remains trapped within the castle’s ruins. Divinations reveal a portal to the Fugue Plane stands somewhere nearby. This would be the perfect place to intercept souls. Then we can use them to fuel the ritual and bolster our ranks.)

Dragonspear Castle lay in ruins, but Ithtaerus’s attack had left a dreadful legacy. Beneath the castle, a portal to Avernus, the first layer of Hell, had opened up.

For a time, hobgoblins and bandits used the castle as a base from which to conduct raids across the High Moor. Unbeknownst to anyone, devils had found the portal’s other end in Avernus and were quietly infiltrating the castle. In 1354 DR, the devil launched a massive attack, seizing the castle. Forces from Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate eventually marched on the castle in the first Dragonspear War.

(Annotation: They could not destroy the portal, though. My research indicates it remains present, though dormant. Blood tainted by a god’s influence is required to activate its power. H requires us to secure the portal room the moment we take control of the castle.)

Devils returned to Faerûn in 1363 DR, when they retook the castle and raised an army. They marched all the way to Daggerford, destroying buildings and slaughtering innocents along their way. A group of adventurers, brought together by chance and necessity, destroyed the army and saw the portal sealed forever.

(Annotation: Forever? We shall see about that.)"