The Legend of Caddigan's Bones

The Legend of Caddigan’s Bones

A treatise by Harold Herklebee

August 7^th, Y.L. 364

 

Few written records were kept of the initial landing of the Lennoxian Line, or, The Invaders as they later became known to the indigenous population of Illandria.  At least, such records are considered restricted by the Imperial Edict of Y.L. 30, with only the highest ranking University staff having access (in theory, at least).  The famous inventor Kwalish ran afoul of University policies in the early 4^th Century Y.L. 312 for attempting to bypass the locks guarding these very secrets.  To this very day, possession of any historical record from times predating the invasion is an offense punishable by death should the evidence be discovered. 

Rumors and legends abound about the time preceding and immediately following the establishment of the Lewisian Dynasty, but few are more provocative then the Legend of Caddigan, the Dwarven Archmage who led a rebellion against the Empire in Y.L. 18.  Though he was unsuccessful in freeing Illandria from under the yoke imposed by the Lewisian rulers, he still remained, and in a sense remains, unconquered by the Imperials.

We know little of Caddigan’s history, for the written records of the dwarves were confiscated upon their defeat in Y.L. 20 (as was the standard practice for all peoples conquered by King Lennox).  What is known or has been pieced together is that Caddigan was a mage of great power and renown, a great oddity among dwarves, whose distrust of magic is legendary.  Caddigan was also a great business owner, and the mines he owned spanned the length and breadth of Sylvania at its peak, with underground highways that rival our current above ground system.  Further, Caddigan was King of the Dwarves, the last king in recorded history.  Lastly, Caddigan was good, providing for the weak and infirm and the helpless among his people, and was held responsible for a period of dwarven prosperity unprecedented among all the races of humanoids. 

The Empire remained unaware of the dwarven population at large for over a decade after they completed their conquest of the Elves.  They knew of Caddigan’s mines, to be sure, for trade with the humans was taken up seamlessly after their conquest of Sylvania.  They did not know how numerous were the dwarves, nor did they suspect the rival kingdom that lay directly beneath their feat.  Certain things caused suspicion by Emperor Lennox.  First, the dwarves were able to transport goods across the Empire operating and charging for less than any human or elven caravan could afford to charge.  (The Emperor Trees were gone by this point, relegating the elves to mundane travel for transportation of goods.)  Second, no matter what taxes were levied against the dwarves, they were able to pay them, without quibbling. 

In the summer of 14 Y.L., Emperor Lennox, having tamed the armies of trolls and werewolves and adding their numbers as vassal states to the Empire, could finally focus on what he called ‘the dwarf problem.’  In the fall of that year he sent ambassadors to Caddigan at his keep in the heart of the Guyver River delta to request a royal tour of Caddigan’s holdings.  The emissaries were sent away rebuffed.  Reportedly, the stubborn dwarf stated, “Let the humans rule the surface and leave matters below ground to the dwarves.”  This did not go over well with Emperor Lennox to say the least, who went to far as to send his Spymaster along with two Imperial battlemages and a contingent of soldiers to arrest Caddigan in his keep.  In the Emperor’s defense, he was then unware of the power Caddigan wielded, both as an archmage and a king.  The Spymaster was returned, along with the company of soldiers and the battlemages, in cages.  They had all been turned into mice.

A fantastic battle ensued, above and below the surface lands.  Caddigan bested the forces of the more numerous Imperials again and again, hurling a seemingly inexhaustible supply of spells at the opposing forces.  For 6 years Caddigan had the best of the fight, using guerilla tactics and an underground transport system that eluded detection attempts by even the best of the Emperor’s seers.  Time and time again Imperial outposts fell, and their casualties mounted in the thousands.

This string of Imperial defeats ended at the gates of the Imperial palace itself, when Emperor Lennox finally dispatched his own archmages, N’Gorak the Great and Yeltil the Elven Traitor.  Whole swaths of the Imperial capital were laid waste, but in the end, Caddigan fell in battle.  He survived and was spirited away to his keep by his followers, but his wounds were grievous and defied even magical healing.  The Emperor pursued Caddigan across the Guyver River and into the river delta where Caddigan was taken, giving the dwarven king’s followers no respite.

Surrounded, outnumbered, and near death himself, Caddigan saw his defeat was inevitable.  The Emperor’s minions would pursue him above or below, and he had lost his right hand in the struggle, severely hampering his ability to cast spells.  On the night of his death, he called for his staff and proceeded to the parapet atop his tower and he looked down on the forces drawn against him.  Then he spoke.  His voice boomed across the plains such that every ear could hear his words:  “Not till these bones are laid to rest shall the Empire set foot in this place!  I curse the Emperor and all his kith and kin who enter my land!  The land shall not bear fruit, not will it suffer you to tread upon it!  Those who try will be devoured, ripped limb from limb, ground to dust!  Witness my Soul Curse!”  With that, Caddigan’s staff exploded, and the lands for miles around were devastated.

Many of the troops survived the blast, thanks to the magicks of N’Gorak and Yeltil, the Elven Traitor.  However, Caddigan’s curse held true.  A burning rain fell on the surviving troops, and they fled the Delta, never to return.  The remaining forces loyal to Caddigan surrendered, and became subjugated like all the peoples of Illandria.

It is said that the many dangers of what has become known as the Land of the Blight are the direct result of Caddigan’s Curse.  Few travel through the swamp, and fewer still live there.  The western part of Caddigan’s Swamp is inhabited largely by mongrel races, Lizardfolk and Boggards.  The eastern part is a bog where the only plants that will grow are resistant to the acidic soil.  Rain that burns the skin is reputed to fall still when dark clouds gather over the fog covered plains.  Roaches roam the surface in swarms that devour everything they encounter.  Wild dogs dwell in small caves.  Small tribes of cannibalistic halflings prowl in search of sentient meat, venturing out on occasion into Imperial soil. 

It is said that the curse may only be ended by locating Caddigan’s bones and laying them finally to rest, a difficult quest considering the natural hazards of the bog and its denizens.  To make matters worse, there are rumors of a guardian of the bones, a wicked and perverse spirit naga that slays all who attempt to set matters aright.  (For those less learned than myself, a naga is a creature with the body of an enormous snake and the head of a humanoid woman.)  Some have tried, lured by the tales of Caddigan’s wealth and magical riches he stored in his now ruined keep.  Chief among the wonders Caddigan was said to possess was the Sands of Time, an hourglass that enabled the user to slow time for 12 seconds or less.  Caddigan also possessed a crown with reputed magical qualities, not the least of which rendered him immune to psychic intrusion of any kind.  None have returned to tell tales of what truly lies at the heart of Caddigan’s Swamp.