PROVING GROUNDS

Description

About one hundred years ago, Simon Bloodbane, a lesser baron from Sepharia, built a large exploring ship titled 'The Magencia'. A powerful wizard from that time, Alpheus Winterborn, used his magic to strengthen and fortify the wood so that it became like iron. He also wrapped the ship in nets of spells so that it would withstand any attacks from foreign invaders (that didn't stop them from trying, however). He sailed the four seas with this great ship, and stumbled across a large, forested island to the east of the continent of Sepharia. The island was rich in gold and gems, and Bloodbane Mining became a powerful and wealthy trading company. Using the profits, Simon built an impressive castle on the island.

The events that led up to the Baron's insanity are not documented. A few scattered reports exist of evil creatures rising from foul and dark places under the island, who had lain undisturbed until the Baron's mining company tunneled too deep, too far. They rose from the caverns and would have destroyed everyone on the island had it not been for the discovery of a strange and powerful artifact, the skull of Riga, buried underneath tons of rock. How he used this artifact is unknown, but it led to the transformation of the mine tunnels into a many passaged, twisty little maze, ever-changing from day to day. The evil creatures were caught and imprisoned within its walls, the powerful magic of the Skull trapping them within. It is believed the usage of this artifact was what caused Simon to lose his grip on reality.

The black tourmaline gemstones that were the number one export of the baron's now defunct mining company became scarcer and more valuable, especially since it was discovered that the tourmalines, in a magical process, could be used to control the phases of the moons - since the moons have been documented to control the flux of magic into the world of Alyria.

Lord Agrippa issued a decree that he would bestow special magical favors upon the person who would brave the horrors of the magically created dungeon of Simon Bloodbane. This was followed by similar decrees from the other Lords and Ladies of Alyria. Eventually, warriors and heroes began to refer to the dungeon as 'the Proving Grounds'.

Simon Bloodbane, while quite insane, still lives in his castle where he is watched and looked after by the servants who feel obligated to him (he was a kindly man, after all).