Connects to: 03.13, 07.17, 09.06 and 40.20.01.
This small castle sits atop a hill covered in special flowers called dancer’s blooms. These small yellow flowers can be brewed into a tea that enhances the drinker’s dexterity and sense of rhythm. Although dancer’s blooms are sought by many in the Shrouded Lands, the lords and ladies of the castle guard them jealously. They award them only to exceptional dancers during their annual Maiden’s Day festival. Hopefuls must complete a series of grueling dances with tea-enhanced courtiers of the castle. Past winners include Dust Men and the infamous Giles Chosard as well as lords and ladies of Thring. If someone who is not a lord or lady of the Castle of Dances dares pick a dancer’s bloom, his or her limbs will begin flailing in a grotesque dance that lasts until he or she dies of exhaustion.
Kolfrosta of the Temple of the Dead God (03.13) has kidnapped young Baron Hawace’s sister Hleid. The priestess took great risks kidnapping the Thringish lady because Hleid is dragonblooded. She could be a potentially powerful sorceress and receptive to dark ways. It is true that Hleid has the traces of dragon’s blood that surface in her family every few generations, but her life of indolence has left her capable of little more than cantrips. Still, Kolfrosta believes that followers of Tiamat will venture across the lands to rally around a dragonblooded priestess.
Connections:
- Lady Maratan’s snickersnees have managed to smuggle dancer’s blooms from the castle.
Hooks:
- Why do dancer’s blooms grow only here?
- The Castle of Dances must have exceptional duelists. Who are some memorable ones?
- Who has won the dance contests? Who has lost them?
- What are the Shrouded Lands’ most fashionable dances?
- Who else is dragonblooded? How do humans become dragonblooded?
- Does the Temple of the Dead God ever clash with the Tiamatan Revival?
