N o r g t r u m Crypt of Zaris

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The settlement of Norgtrum, founded twenty years after the fall of Dumugon, was built as a challenge to the Orchish Empire. Toomrur under the Ogre Lord Eneriyes were bitter over abandonment of Dumugon in the First Ogre War (1505 - 1511). During this conflict Norgtrum erected a series of forts and castles across Gudrall. The anchor of this line of fortifications was Norgtrum. Built atop Gudrall's highest hill, it grew to cover the entire hill and an equally large area inside it.

In 1802, Norgtrum became a holding of the Toomrur Hegemony.

Norgtrum was built by the Toomrur. It is not anything like what you would expect of ogres, like Dumugon, and others places they have built, it is a true fortress rivaling the great citadels of the Zeymah'kein.

- Drog, of Crimson Eye, from the war plans leading up to the Crimson Offensive - "The Norgtrum Citadel"

In the Battle of Gudrall (Crimson Offensive), the army of Crimson Eye sacked Norgtrum, slaughtering the inhabitants, giving no quarter to the defenders. After taking the city, the Crimson Eye explored the insides, finding a vast crypt. It was the burial crypt of the Toomrur of the Rakkirst tribe. These tombs were plundered, the skeletons raised as Crimson Eye cannon fodder. The desecration of this tomb did not go unnoticed. Is is said to have triggered a series of curses that continue to follow Crimson Eye to this day.

The Crimson Offensive (1804 - 1810) ended with this city and the surrounding hills under the flag of Crimson Eye.

In 1805, Zaris, a councilor of Crimson Eye, was murdered on a mission in the Abyss. Her body was brought back to this city's catacombs, laid to rest in a ruined ogre tomb; a final act of spite by Junkel, a councilor envious of Zaris's power. This desecration led to the haunting of ruined city. Ghostly disturbances, winds of bitter chill in the month of Brightstar, and missing people. They terrorized the guards and spooked the animals. The haunting spirit then began to manifest spells, in a week unleashing terror on the place. Those that could not escape, were killed, made receptacles for negative energy, becoming incorporeal undead, shadows, wraiths, and spectres.

Expeditions against what was becoming known among the troops as the Crypts of Zaris proved too costly. Norgtrum became a haunted ruin.

On 29 Saunas 1812, after seven years of haunting, Zaris left Norgtrum for the Toomrur Hegemony. Even with this ghost gone, Norgtrum remains a cursed and haunted place.