Adventure Background

Castle Trismegistus
The castle called Trismegistus is said to have been built many thousand years ago by an archmage of incomparable power. Much of this archmage’s tale has been lost to time; even his name “Trismegistus” is disputed by scholars. Some believe it was a title, some an epithet, and only a few believe it to have been the name he was born with. The archmage’s fate is unknown, but his ancient power is beyond dispute: the three towers of his keep are untouched by the passage of years and the tunnels and chambers he delved beneath them are so extensive that even now few have explored their depths.

Although the Trismegistus vanished thousands of years ago, his castle has not simply been abandoned. Its strategic location has ensured that a stream of strong-men and emperors (and in recent lawless times, bandits) have occupied the location. Each of these groups has added its’ own special flavor to the tales of fabulous treasure buried on the site – everything from long-forgotten magical gewgaws to piles of gold and gems - drawing adventurers such as yourself.

Every month a few adventurers arrive at the nearby town of Clearwater hoping to make their fortune searching the castle. The great majority of these adventurers are never heard from again. Most who return are broken in body, mind, or both. Still, the occasional adventurer who returns with a bag of gold, an emerald the size of a grown man’s fist, or an odd bit of lost magic ensure that adventurers will continue to try their luck.

The Town of Clearwater
Named for the river which flows through the town to empty into the sea, Clearwater has an ancient history. From its origins as a guardpost built by one of the first kings to take Castle Trismegistus as his own – ensuring the safety of river traffic – Clearwater has waxed and waned throughout the years. Currently, it is a moderately important port where grain, lumber, ore and furs are shipped out to the greater world and exotic goods begin their long river journey to the interior. It’s said that on a clear day, from atop the Temple of Pelor, it is possible to see the tip of Castle Trismegistus’s highest tower.

Thanks to the stream of adventurers who travel to Castle Trismegistus and almost invariably do not return, the Castle has a dark reputation among the townsfolk of Clearwater. That said, the town is home to a small but thriving trade in adventuring gear, weapons, simple magics, and “authentic” maps and charms guaranteed to help those traveling to Castle Trismegistus.