Cragmaw Castle is a remnant of the Kingdom of Phalorm. It’s one of those bits of Forgotten Realms lore that’s mentioned in passing within the pages of Lost Mine of Phandelver, but otherwise has no significance in the adventure.

El Mop is a beginner adventurer for both Dungeon Master and player, so I understand the authors didn’t want to burden new DMs with a lore dump on top of running their games. But for a DM that really wants to get down with the source material, there’s some fun stuff outside the pages of the adventure to tie into the lore.

Phalorm’s time in history was largely unremarkable. Cragmaw Castle? More of an outpost at the border of the kingdom, rather than a seat of power. The names of Phalorm’s heroes and the records of their deeds are lost in the mists of time. There are few, if any stories to tell about this short-lived kingdom (523 DR – 615 DR).

The most remarkable thing about Phalorm is the circumstance of its sudden downfall. “The Fallen Kingdom,” as it is known to historians, met its end in an event that changed the map of the Sword Coast. What they don’t tell you in the adventure is that the creation of the Mere of Dead Men is directly tied to the downfall of Phalorm.

Phalorm added its military might to Uthtower, a neighboring kingdom, in their war with the Horde of the Wastes in 614 DR. Despite their alliance, the kingdoms suffered defeat after defeat, until at last they were forced to regroup east of the High Road at Iniarv’s Tower for one last stand against the goblin horde.

Hoping to rally the mage Iniarv to their cause in a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war, King Uth VII and Phalorm’s generals clamoured for an audience with Iniarv, the former Royal Mage of Uthtower. At the walls of mage’s tower, King Uth VII urged Iniarv to honor his alliance with Uthtower as the horde threatened to overrun his position.

Unknown to the King at the time: Iniarv had ascended into lichdom, and would not suffer the intrusions of the living on his lands.

There’s no official record of what was said during this appeal to Iniarv, but I envision this scene unfolding as something akin to Aragorn confronting the Dead Men of Dunharrow in Return of the King.

KING UTH VII FINDS THE DOOR TO INIARV’S TOWER BARRED AND SHUT AS A GOBLIN HORDE PURSUING HIS HOST CRESTS A HILL TO THE EAST, THEIR BLOOD THIRSTY SCREAMS ECHOING IN THE DISTANCE.

STANDING BENEATH A TOWER WINDOW, KING UTH VII CALLS UP TO INIARV, IMPLORING THE MAGE TO RECEIVE HIM IN THIS TIME OF MORTAL PERIL. AS THE COMBINED ARMIES OF PHALORM AND UTHTOWER FORM A SHIELD WALL AGAINST THE IMPENDING ASSAULT, A SILHOUETTE APPEARS AT THE TOWER WINDOW.

Iniarv
Who disturbs my slumber?

King Uth VII
One who will have your allegiance.

Iniarv
I do not suffer beggars at my door.

King Uth VII
You will suffer me, wizard! I am your King!

Iniarv
(Long pause) …What would you have of me, my liege.

THE UNDERCURRENT OF CONTEMPT IN INIARV’S USE OF THE HONORIFIC IS UNMISTAKEABLE, CAUSING THE GENERALS SURROUNDING KING UTH VII TO EXCHANGE NERVOUS GLANCES.

King Uth VII
I summon you to honor your oath and come to our aid in this hour of need.

Iniarv
(Long pause) …To sweep away this rabble that approaches, my liege.

THE SCREAMS OF THE HORDE ARE LOUDER NOW AS THEY CLOSE THE GAP. BEHIND KING UTH, THE ARCHERS ARE DEPLOYED WITH SHOUTS OF “READY… AIM… LOOSE!”

King Uth VII
(Glancing nervously over his shoulder, then back up at Iniarv’s silhouette)
…YES, DAMN YOU!

INIARV STEPS FORWARD TO THE WINDOW’S LEDGE. NO LONGER WREATHED IN SHADOW, THE WIZARD PULLS BACK HIS COWL, REVEALING HIMSELF TO THE KING. THE SIGHT OF INIARV IS MET WITH AUDIBLE GASPS FROM BELOW AS THE WIZARD REVEALS HIMSELF TO BE A LIVING CORPSE. THE GREEN FLAMES BURNING IN HIS HOLLOW EYE SOCKETS GLITTER WITH MALICE.

Iniarv
By your command, my liege.

INIARV CHANTS AN INVOCATION THAT AMPLIFIES THOUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LAND. THE GROUND TREMBLES. THE SKY DARKENS. THE ARMIES ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE GO SILENT, HALTING IN A MIX OF WONDER AND TERROR.

A HUSH FILLS THE WORLD AS INIARV UTTERS THE LAST SYLLABLE OF HIS INCANTATION. THE ONLY SOUND IS A DISTANT RUMBLE THAT STEADILY GROWS LOUDER UNTIL A WALL OF WATER IS VISIBLE TO THE WEST, GROWING TALLER WITH EVERY SECOND THAT GOES BY.

THE SCREAMS OF MAN AND GOBLIN ALIKE ERUPT IN TERROR A MOMENT BEFORE THE SEA RUSHES INTO THE LAND, WASHING THE ARMIES AWAY IN AN UNFATHOMABLE TORRENT OF WATER THAT COVERS THE LAND FOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

At least, that’s how I picture it in my head.

At some point, I intend to drop this sequence into my West Marches campaign, likely as either a cinematic before an excursion into the Mere of Dead Men. Or perhaps as a dream sequence for players interested in lore, where it makes sense.

It really is fun to play around with the Forgotten Realms lore that’s available, as imperfect as it may be at times. I highly recommend you do the same!

Let’s be mutuals over on Bluesky! If you’re interested, I’m @ticklecorn.bsky.social. I always follow back.

If you’d like to support my work, please consider checking out my supplements for Lost Mine of Phandelver and Dragon of Icespire Peak over on Dungeon Master’s Guild! All of my titles are Free/PWYW offerings.