Franz Lohner's Chronicle - Taal's Horn Keep

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.

Well, we’ve been here a while now, so I guess it’s time I laid down a little bit about the history of our fair base of operations: Taal’s Horn Keep.

First thing you ought to know is that there were originally two Taal’s Horn Keeps – or rather two Taal’s Horns Keeps. You see, folk think this place is named for Taal’s hunting horn. But in the earlier depictions, Taal has two bloody great antlers. That’s where these two keeps got their names. One sitting on either shoulder of the pass. Turns out the baron who ordered their raising was a devout follower of the Hunter God, and wanted every advantage he could get over the greenskins flowing out of the mountains. And you have to admit, there’s some fine symbolism in an invading army having to chance the Horns of Taal before they can get on with the pillaging.

The only problem was, this here baron was also a bit lax when it came to keeping his fortifications maintained. Wasn’t great on spending money to build ‘em, neither. If you reckon this place looks bad now, it’s an improvement on what he stumped up for. Regardless, by the time the greenskins finally did come a-knocking at the door, neither keep was able to offer much in the way of resistance, although the garrisons surely tried.

There’s a persistent rumour that one of two castellans even retained a hedge wizard to aid in the defence … Only the scruffy old fool ended up calling on rather more of the Winds of Magic than he intended. Routed the greenskins and cursed the fortress at the same time. Nasty business, or so I understand. All tentacles, screams and inky black madness that even a northlander’d baulk at.

Both keeps were abandoned soon after that. Can’t blame anyone for that – the only thing that comes close to living in a cursed keep is having to stare at it across the valley. Step a bit closer to the present day, and one of them collapses from disrepair, its stones nicked to build that lovely bridge down in the valley. The trouble is, I can’t rightly tell which keep collapsed, and which one was left standing … not that the one left standing what you might call good nick. Records are as vague as a Tilean’s wedding vows, if you take my meaning? But I do have my suspicions. Olesya says the Winds of Magic blow strong around here, and that can’t be coincidence, can it?

Still, I’m sure the others’ll let me know if they start hearing voices, won’t they?