Help System

NAME
proving grounds - information on this fearsome dungeon maze

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).

SEE ALSO
Tower Of Riga, Story, Multiclass, Class