Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Finder’s Archives.
In this column, we take some of the lands from Magic: The Gathering and turn them into something you can use for your fantasy games.
The stats given in each entry assumes that you’re using Pathfinder or 5e for your games, but they can easily be converted over into any fantasy system. This week we find refuge at Castle Ardenvale.
Castle Ardenvale
It is said that Castle Ardenvale has never fallen to an enemy. Part of this is due to the magical shield that the Circle can raise around the fortification. But it is mostly due to the bravery and heroism of the knights of Ardenvale, a highly trained Order of knights who ride griffons and hippogriffs in the defense of the kingdom around the castle. While honorable, their laws are harsh — in a land surrounded by evil and chaos, they have to be ever vigilant and even the slightest chink in the armor of righteousness could prove deadly.
Lay of the Land
Castle Ardenvale sits atop a gigantic hill from where it has a commanding view of the pastures and fields of the Ardenvale kingdom. Its walls are solid granite underneath, but the outer façade of all the walls have been covered with white limestone mined from the limestone mines within the hill that the castle sits on. The walls are maintained by the squires of the knightly order, where it is used as punishment for misbehavior. Any squire who breaks one of the commandments of the order is sentenced to a week’s worth of labor on the walls. This has proven effective on generations of squires, but the knights themselves know that the real labor is done by one of the court magicians who casts spells weekly that are designed to keep the walls secure and pristine — in this way, Castle Ardenvale has become a literal gleaming beacon of hope to the people who live nearby.
Ardenvale is ruled by High King Algenus Kenrith and his Queen, Linden Kenrith. Both of them are wise and knowledgeable, trained in the arts of war and diplomacy, though Algenus has a tendency to be rash and leave the big thoughts to his wife. She, however, is one of the few who can best the High King on the battlefield and is widely viewed as one of the smartest people on the continent.
Dangers
Castle Ardenvale is one of the safest places a traveler can go to. Law and order is part and parcel of life here, but it comes at the cost of eternal vigilance. Incursions of various monsters, especially harpies from the nearby mountains are relatively common, though the Knights usually drive them off before they can cause too much trouble for the locals.
However, if you come here bearing ill-intent, then you’re in for a world of hurt as the griffon knights act first and ask questions later to those who bring danger with them. They’re not unfair or unjust, but they have a tendency to judge by appearances. They always attempt to subdue their opponents (unless it’s a harpy or someone who has caused direct harm to the citizens of Ardenvale), and will then interrogate them (peacefully – and magically if necessary) afterward. In this manner, some creatures who appear evil (like the local mini-celebrity Orgash – a simple, but good-hearted hill giant) receive a harsh reception here but are later freed.
We hope you enjoy your stay at Castle Ardenvale. Remember, the knights might be able to teach you a thing or two about swordsmanship. But we hope to see you back next week for more locations. 😊
Kim Frandsen
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