Illustration by Utaqi Art
Each month, I try and pass along the generosity you show me by employing other artists to create a variety of illustrations, portraits, magical items and other works of art that can be used in your games at home, whether they be homebrew or official modules.
This week, I wanted to highlight one of those pieces -- a Restored version of the icy castle high in the Sword Mountains. This is from a series of Restored Maps from various modules, where I select a location that is provided as an invaded, ruined or run-down setting and imagine what it would have been like originally, or if a band of adventurers cleared out the threat(s) and assumed control of the location.
Icespire Hold is a stone fortress perched on the icy northeast spur of Icespire Peak, built by the warlord Delsendra Amzarr to hold back the orcs of the Sword Mountains. For years it served as a military stronghold until a brutal winter cut off its supply lines, leaving Delsendra and her soldiers to starve. As desperation set in, a revolt broke out among her followers, which she suppressed before taking her own life. The abandoned fortress was later occupied by orcs, then partially ruined by an earthquake, and eventually claimed by the young white dragon Cryovain, who drove the orcs out and made the rooftop its lair.
In this version, a band of adventurers have reclaimed Icespire Hold and begun restoring it to a functional stronghold. The rubble has been cleared, doors rehung and key chambers made habitable once more. The gatehouse serves as a defensible entry point overlooking the narrow mountain trail. Though the fortress still bears the scars of its past, it now stands as a renewed bastion against the dangers of the Sword Mountains.
I kept the layout predominantly the same, though I did add a few rooms and shift a few internal walls around to create some additional bedroom and chambers that just seemed to flow better and offer more useful space.
I also dressed the rooms to be used no a 106 x 80 grid, because I believe it just affords movement around the castle a much better "feel", especially in VTT when using a lot of visuals and tokens. This avoids issues of 5'-wide hallways, bottlenecks and rooms that don't allow much freedom of movement, especially with furniture.
So, how I can use this location?
Back In Time - if you would like to set an adventure in the past, when Icespire Hold was still under the command of Delsendra Amzarr, this would make an excellent map to portray events or encounters supporting that narrative.
Homebrew - If you are running a homebrew, then the castle could certainly serve as a great location for many potential purposes -- the location of a great combat encounter, the home of a noble the party needs to visit, a bulwark against some invading force, etc...
Here's the Restored Icespire Hold Map - 1st & 2nd Floors (attachment at end of post):
I hope you enjoy the piece and seeing where some of your support goes!
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Best,
Jeff @ Morvold