In the game I am running the characters are on a journey to Karak Azgeraz to steal dwarf gold. They are currently in the the Grey Mountains but due bandits stealing their stuff at night (sounds very warhammer dosen't it? ) they had to track the bandits to a silver mine near Castle Drachenfels. They got thier stuff back after killing some of the bandits (the bandit "king" got away). Though the mine exploded after the PCs found out that the mine was full of dwarf-made demolition charges. Fortunalty for the PCs they survived (barley) and were dug out of the rubble by a dwarf mining team. The dwarfs warned them to stay away from the ruins of Castle Drachenfels and now the PCs are thinking of making a pit stop thier on thier way to Karak Azgeraz.

So now I am wondering about how to run a game session in Castle Drachenfels. I have read the Genieve Drachenfels novel but beyond what I have read in there I don't know anything about the actual layout of the castle or the various creatures that might inhabit the ruins. I am aware there is an old adventure published for the first edition of WFRP but to get that I would have to go on ebay and pay a huge price just to know about the castle. So if anyone on the forums could tell me about the castle or any information that you might have gained from playing or running the old castle Drachenfels adventure that would help. If you know any general information about it that would help too.

Likely not super useful and for that I apologize - but I'm certain I remember a White Dwarf article that actually detailed the castle and some characters from the novel...it was...sadly long ago - I would say in the late 80's-90's.

Sadly I no longer have any of my old back issues - but I'll dig through what I do have and see if there is something that might be what your looking for.

I'm actually trying to get a hold of a copy of the 1st Ed book (I'm a huge fan of the original novel); if I can manage to do so, I'd be happy to post some info to help you out. I personally would enjoy subjecting my players to the horrors of Castle Drachenfels myself.

Didn't Karl Franz order its demolition after the accident in the Castle (Castle Drachenfels novel)? Is your campaing based on the current date (c.2521) or before. Because in now days there is probably very little left from actual castle...

On the other hand there could be tunnels still running underground in the mountains.

As for the monsters and creatures: It was one of the most dangerous places in the WORLD. With Drachenfels powerful magical abilities there probably were rifts there to anywhere.

• Could be connections/portals to the "Ways of the Old Ones".
• Connections to the Realms of Chaos...etc. These rifts (like connections to the Realms of Chaos) can still open time to time letting daemons pass to this realm. Especially dangerous time could be mysterious dates like Hexensnacht, when borders between Warhammer Realm and Chaos Realm weaken.
• Connections to the Warp and Chaos had altered the castle itself making parts of it living. This could be so with surroundings also.
• Drachenfels kept undead guardians, so undead presence (even powerful) can be there (they do live forever).
• During the years (if this happens later date) site may have drawn few powerful chaos-related monsters also (powerful, so they can actually survive in that hostile environment).
• And then you can easily have there some Champions of Chaos and their followers. It is perfect place for those stuff. Any Chaos Sorcerer probably feels the power there and gains little bonus to any spells/rituals in that location.

In short - This could easily be very high level adventure.

Thanks for the help. My campaign takes place in the year 2520 (its winter in my campaign). I could put in some chaos related monsters. I have thought of putting in zombies but I guess I could throw in demons too. Though the PCs were wounded very badly after the mine collapse so puttting powerful monsters might kill them quickly. I should stress how dangerous this place is before letting them go there.

I just had to check the book after the last post there. It's been so long. I just remember Karl Franz destroyed the castle, but it is very much possible he ordered that, but that didn't actually happen. Here is some quotes from the book:

"Many have wondered why the Castle has not been destroyed. At times, it has seemed that it was. But always the Castle has reappeared, a tumour that cannot be cut out of the landscape. The Emperor himself ordered its destruction, but even advisers inured to sycphancy were forced to advice him that this was an impossibility."

"Castle Drachenfels is not a palce which can be located and destroyed. There are many reasons for this. It is not always reported as being in exactly the same location, altough recent reports seem to suggest that it is not now capable of the movement which it once, extraordinary, may have demostrated..."

And so. People have tried to destroy the castle many times without success and also with magic. But castle is very well protected.

Castle overview (considering the type of castle you can easily use any similar layout. Castle is huge inside, with many rooms, corridors, stairways...etc.):

• Location: Very high in the mountain side. Difficult to reach.
• 24ft walls.
• Looks little like square. Its almost 250ft x 250ft.
• 6 huge, round towers (on each side and two in the middle) and one large gate-system. Towers: one 120ft, one 100ft and four 80ft. Each has their own weird stuff (like Tower of Fear). It could be that these have collapsed partly now...
• Inside you got Stables, well, fountain, Huge Mainbuilding, Dungeons.

Other aspects (again):

• Inside there are traps (both magical and real). And even in weirdest of places.
• Warp-passages and rifts where Castle is located change the insides making castle easily living maze.
• Castle affects magic. For Dark Magic it probably gives good bonuses, for College Magic little bonuses, but also the risk here using magic is very high! Failure means that something really went wrong. Actually the Castle itself may do something (like example cause Insanity).
• Light and Dark doesn't work normally, also time may be affected inside the castle.
• Fear and Insanity is everywhere. Horrifying sights, ghosts, warped places, other undead, and then the Daemons. Don't look to the portals or strange, moving windows (they might be scrying portals to somewhere else, with someone else staring back).
• Sleeping inside (or near) the castle is difficult. There will be nightmares.
• It is possible find lost treasures, even lost artifacts. But knowing the former master many powerful artifacts could be also very dangerous and connected to the Dark Gods.
• Inside there are rifts and warp-portals that connect to other places in the castle (and also other realms - like Realm of Chaos). These will also protect the Castle. With them there are also normal secret passages.
• This is good rule: Castle Drachenfels is a dangerous place, and adventurers exploring the Castle should never, ever feel safe.

The original Companion for first ed contains all the main personalities from the book but no map/reference to the castle.

The great enchanter himself is even listed there if you want to be just evil - he is a huge bad-a&^. Sadly I do not have an easy way to get that information in digital form but will try to work something out if you would like the NPC's

EineHund said:

I don't really need the 1st edition stats but it would nice if I had a 3rd edition conversion. I'm sure it won't be that hard to convert so you can convert it if you want (I kind of would like to see how powerful Drachenfels is). Thanks for your help!

lordsneek said:

Hah... There isn't rules and careers for WFRP3 conversion. Remember he is as old as time is, and master of basicly all the magic.

In WFRP1 he is fully trained Wizard in 4 different fields of magic + little lesser educated Illusionist. I dont start with WFRP2.

But you dont need mr Drachenfels. I think you could lead your group in the castle and give them little showdown how dangerous place the castle is. Also very spooky session. No need to destroy them, but still give little education... There could be minor undead and maybe some minor daemon. Perhaps some cultists (not too bad). At the end, if they just dont give up themselves, you could let them to be teleported by one of the rifts away (somewhere in the Reikland). This could be something to use to save them when facing something TRULY horrifying odds in the castle.

This way you can use the place maybe later. Kind of "Return to the Castle". And then they would much more experienced and could go much more further.

jackdays said:

The book did say alchmists destroyed it by blowing it up. I just finished the novel today.