Monster Lairs – Death Knight – Cliffwright Manor

Slab

The city of Brightmoor was once a joyous place ruled over by the Cliffwright family. From Cliffwright Manor, King Harold Cliffwright saw to the peace and prosperity of the town’s people. King Harold himself was a happy man, consumed with his love for his beautiful wife, Queen Diane. The peace of Brightmoor was enforced by a small standing force of soldiers led by the paladin Sir Geoffry Galrick.

Known for his strength, fairness, bravery and honesty, Sir Geoffry was greatly respected among his people, as well as the Cliffwright family. It was due to this respect that he grew quite close to the family, particularly the lady of the house, Diane. As time went on, his feelings turned romantic, feelings that Queen Diane also seemed to share. The two kept their affair secret for years, but when Queen Diane became pregnant, Sir Geoffry could no longer keep his feelings secret.

On that fateful day, Sir Geoffry planned to renounce his paladinhood and publicly declare his love for Queen Diane to King Harold. He believed that King Harold would banish the pair from his kingdom, leaving them free to pursue their love for one another. When he stood before the throne and declared his love for Queen Diane, the Queen called him mad and said she never had any romantic feelings for him. The king, upset by the betrayal by his most trusted guardian, did in fact order Sir Geoffry’s exile as well as stripped him of his paladinhood.

Had things worked out as he had planned, Sir Geoffry would have been fine with accepting the punishment. But as he had just lost everything for nothing, a deep rage filled the now disgraced paladin. Before anyone could react, the Geoffry slew both the king and queen in their thrones and as the guard rose to stop him, he slew them each, one by one. A dark cloud swirled above the manor and Geoffry blacked out. When he awoke, he had been transformed into a death knight and the guard were transformed into his loyal undead minions.

The king and queen’s bodies remained in the thrones they were slaughtered. Though the king’s spirit moved on, the queen’s ghost remained, haunted both by the guilt of betraying both her husband and Geoffry, as well as the loss of her unborn child. Sir Geoffry at first thought that this might be a blessing as he could still be with the one he loved. However, he could not touch her noncorporeal body and her spirit seemed to have no memory of their time together. Her spirit was just a dagger in his heart.

Now Sir Geoffry calls himself the Dread King and rules over Brightmoor in undeath. His strength is such that few would challenge him and even if he were to be slain, his curse brings him right back to life until he can redeem himself for what he has done; a redemption he is too bitter to even seek.