Meanwhile, in 523, an ancient fortress that for some strange reason
stood abandoned, was discovered in a perfect natural harbor on the Eastern
Sea. By its location, surrounded on two sides by sheer cliff
faces, on a third by devastatingly dangerous surf, and on a fourth by incredible
amounts of natural defenses. Discovered by a group of bandits lead
by Keegan Byrne, he claimed it as his own and made it a base of operations
for his campaign of building his own empire.
These actions were not well received and resulted in the Duke of Rotaria,
Tomas Rotari, who dedicated himself to capturing the bandit and his men.
Unfortunately, and to Duke Rotari's dismay, each attempt at destroying
the bandit resulted in his ships being quickly sunk by the superior defenses of the fortress.
At his wits' end and desperate to dispatch the bandit, Duke Rotari was in process
of requesting aid from the King when he was approached by a strange and
mysterious man. The man identified himself as Mandrake Capulus, third
son of the Baron of Trellheim.
In parley with the Duke, Mandrake informed the Duke that, during his extensive studies
at the Academy of Arcane Arts in Hollym, he had come across a few researches that might
aid and prove a benefit to His Grace. Mandrake struck a bargain with the Duke: in return
for defeating Keegan Byrne, he requested title to the lands he liberated of the offending
bandit. Anxious to have the bandit removed and the opposition he posed destroyed, Duke
Rotari agreed and offered his army in assistance. In a quiet voice, Mandrake refused his
aid and walked north alone.
Three months later at a prearranged time, a sloop sent by the Duke approached the
fortress. There they discovered an empty city with Mandrake standing in the open front
gates. No trace of the bandits or their leader was ever found, and Mandrake spoke to no one
as to how he defeated a castle no army could take, alone. So was the Barony of Capulus
formed in 525.
The newly acquired city of Sercia was settled by Rotarians and
begain to prosper as a major port. In 528, Mandrake Capulus married Lady Xavieria Myrrdyn, the third daughter of a minor lord from a far-western
land. In the newly appointed Stoneholm Castle, Mandrake and his bride
made their home and the new baronial capital. Sadly their life together
was cut tragically short. Lady Myrrdyn died her final death in 531
giving birth to their only child, a daughter named Siobhan Capulus.
Siobhan reached maturity and married the fourth son of
a minor noble from Warwyck named Boddin Montesque. The following
year, Siobhan gave birth to a son, Timmon Montesque. Overjoyed at the birth
of his grandson, Mandrake named the young child heir to Capulus.
Unfortunately, Mandrake died of old age shortly thereafter.
A strange and mysterious man claiming to be Mandrake Capulus would surface in Ravenholt
in 590. This beings' claims have reportedly been substantiated, though the details behind his
reemergence are unclear.
