The ancient castle known as Darkspire is a great citadel located in the Kingdom of Keridwen. The castle is built of blackened stone and obsidian perched high atop a solitary hillock several miles Northwest of the city of Highcrest. The citadel is composed of a heavily fortified donjon surrounded by numerous towers all enclosed by a thick curtain wall forty feet in height and fifteen feet thick. A wide parapet runs the length of the entire curtain wall but archers are never seen patrolling the fortification.
The entire citadel in fact has no men-at-arms but rather is defended by a powerful group of female spellcasters known as the Matriarchs of Darkspire. The stronghold is thought to be a vast storehouse of ancient magic and wisdom and only the Matriarchs and their guests are allowed within its hallowed walls. Many enemies have tried unsuccessfully to breach Castle Darkspire's defenses but they have always been driven back.
The exact number of women dwelling here is a closely guarded secret but it is estimated that anywhere from 40-70 spellcasters dwell within these walls. The most powerful of these takes the title of Grand Matriarch of Darkspire and governs the rest. The Matriarchs are very good but very mysterious. They are known to be devotees of Maya herself and a glorious chapel dedicated to the Queen of the Magi lies within the castle walls. Logically, it would seem that at least one of the Matriarch's has several clerical skill levels as well.
The Matriarch's are completely self-sufficient growing what little food they require and conjuring forth whatever other supplies they might need. On rare occasions, several of the Matriarchs will emerge from the castle in order to gather rare herbs and spell components. Often they are mounted on horseback and will be accompanied by phantom warriors. To tangle with these formidable women will surely invite disaster.
The castle itself is quite large and very comfortable but with seemingly minimal furnishings. Those who enter the castle always report an odd sensation that they are being watched. Visitors to Castle Darkspire have reported that its lower dungeons are filled with all sorts of traps and defenses and that the whole place is haunted. Mysterious sounds seem to echo down the corridors but the Matriarchs assure that the place is secure. In any case, the lower levels are said to contain a great number of full-length mirrors and that each mirror is said to be a magical gateway to another place in time and space. The mirrors are also scrying devices but only the Matriarchs are able to use the magical devices correctly.
Castle Darkspire is indeed a wondrous fortress. It is the repository of generations of knowledge as it is the final resting place of hundreds of former Queens of Keridwen. When one of the Warrior-Queens passes away, a state funeral is held in her honor in the royal capital along with a mock burial. In actuality, the royal remains are transported in secret and always at night to the ancient castle to be interred in the sacred crypts. The former queen's pool of knowledge is then added to her ancestors in a mystical ceremony off-limits to all outsiders. Not even current members of the Royal Family are allowed to attend.
Several ancient artifacts have also been associated with the castle including the legendary Warbull and the Silver Swan of Derwa, a former Matriarch of Darkspire during the 8th century.