Caltor
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Brief Overview
Caltor is one of the chief adversaries of the Knights of Albright. He has primarily been seen in the vicinity of Grundlewood.
Past History
Ponder was able to glean bits and pieces of Caltor's past from some of the history books in Grundlewood's library. The information he gathered was:
- Caltor was one of the original architects of the city, over a thousand years ago. Specifically, he was the one who laid out the labyrinthine tunnel system below the city.
- Certain accounts mentioned rumors that Caltor had actually found the source of the magical energy spring that lies beneath Grundlewood.
- He was a member of the High Council of Mahwah, a well-respected organization of wizards. He was exiled from the Council for heretical research into overcoming the forces of death.
- Subsequently, he murdered the entire council in cold blood.
The rest of Caltor's past is shrouded in mystery.
Current Events
Ten years ago, Caltor unleashed an army of goblins upon the city, forcing the inhabitants of Grundlewood to evacuate through the tunnels and into the surrounding countryside. He accomplished this through the use of the Burnt Sienna stone, which as the power to control goblins (but not other goblinoids, such as hobgoblins or bugbears).
During the chaos, Caltor planted the stone beneath the city and commissioned the Knights of Albright to retrieve it. The group accomplished this task and returned the stone to him. In response, Caltor cackled madly and vanished in a puff of smoke. His reasons for these actions are unknown and possibly insane, but it should be noted that it was his actions that were the catalyst of the group's formation.
During the next ten years, Caltor's whereabouts and actions are unknown.
Recently, the newly reformed Knights of Albright encountered Caltor near a small halfling settlement in Albright. He had been using an necromantic magic hotspot to begin creating an army of zombies. The group thwarted his efforts and learned that he's apparently been working for Velsed, traveling across the land bringing goblin tribes under his control and visiting sites that have a close connection to magical forces.
The group then tracked him to Dredhaven, arriving too late to intercept him. It became apparent that Caltor had spoken to Gorbo on Velsed's behalf, apparently granting Gorbo an honor guard of Guild of the Foreignship knights. While escaping Dredhaven, they learned that Caltor and several necromancers were planning something in Grundlewood.
At some point, Caltor and his agents managed to overcome Karnak the Black Dragon and began preparing him for some sort of ritual. Part of this ritual involved destroying a majority of his hoard by dumping it into a vat of acid.
Caltor apparently knew that they were coming, even granting them the use of several undead horses to make their trip faster. As they were traveling, Caltor took the daughter of Lina Silverbook hostage, threatening her to tell the group that there were rumors of another stone beneath the city in order to draw them toward his trap. Lina's conscience urged her to eventually tell Quarion the truth. While he went to inform Argol of this information, Caltor managed to brutally disembowel and crucify Silverbrook, leaving a message in her blood to taunt them further.
At this time, a small zombie army began assaulting the city, both from the exterior walls and from the tunnels that lead down into the crypts. In the chaos, Caltor took Callie and Tori hostage and led them into the crypts. Cazio stayed behind to help organize the defenses while the rest of the group journeyed down to confront the mad wizard.
They soon found him and his agents, along with the hostages, who were hanging over the vat of acid. Caltor left his necromancers to defeat the group and disappeared. The group managed to defeat the necromancers, although with some degree of difficulty.
Caltor has some sort of interest in capturing at least some members of the party. Specifically, he ordered the necromancers to keep Argol, Sal, and Artium alive.
Personality
Caltor seems to be unstable, but generally competent. He has the capacity to be extremely calculating, often laying out complex plans and deceptions. At the same time, the ultimate endgame of these plans are often unfathomable.
In addition, Caltor has a definite sadistic streak. He enjoys causing pain and sowing discord. Sometimes these efforts seem to have a direction, but more often, they seem to be based entirely on his whims.
Abilities
- Caltor seems to be a powerful magic user.
- He posseses the Burnt Sienna stone, which grants him the ability to control goblins.
- He seems to be working for Velsed in some capacity, which probably grants him additional resources. He has been able to give the use of Velsed's Guild of the Foreignship guards to Gorbo. He has also hired hobgoblin mercenaries to apprehend the Knights of Albright.
