Die Rakotzbrücke
or the Rakotz / Devil's bridge
Location
This old bridge is situated in the easternmost part of Germany and has fascinated me for a while: its own reflection on the water always make it seem to be a portal into a new world. Those that read this blog often might know: I love parallel universes...Legends of the bridge
The architect of the bridge started to work with a spirit on the bridge's construction, promising the spirit the soul of the first being to cross the bridge. However, when the bridge was finished, the architect hushed a dog to cross the bridge as the "first crosser", and the spirit holds a grudge.Another legends says that passing under the bridge in a boat on a day of half moon lets you travel to another world...
1983, tourists tried to do this and disappeared, never to be seen again...
It is forbidden to cross the bridge, nowadays (under the pretense of "dangerous construction")
Trolls
I wrote about bridges before in this series of posts, but since the one depicted was make out of roots, and I imagine (D&D) trolls to be on the heavy side of creatures, I did not mention trolls at that bridge.
It is a typical fantasy trope to have trolls guarding bridges (I think Tolkien started it). It's always an interesting kind of encounter, with a clear objective: coming to the other side more or less unharmed or not broke. Trolls guarding should be able and willing to communicate, which makes this kind of encounter more interesting.
They most of the time just collect tolls and eat those that won't pay.
Tax collectors
The legend of the bridge trolls is also a metaphor for the toll collection that happened on bridges in the European middle ages. Constructing a bridge was a costly business, and the lords that had invested in the creation of the bridge would appoint a tax collector to the bridge, the collected money would pay this person and a part would go back to the lord.The collector were also responsible for the upkeep of the bridge they were guarding.
A doorway, but where to?
This bridge and it's reflection on the water look so perfect it is natural that the human mind would see here a door to another world:
- Where we see a door to a fairy realm, our forefathers certainly saw something much more gloomy. Calling this one the Devil's bridge is almost certainly an indication that the people from the past thought it to be a doorway to the underworld, the world of the dead.
- In a Planescape-esque realm, that could also be a doorway to the plane of Order, or maybe Water.
- The duality of the bridge over the water and it's reflection "under the water" could also mean an access to a place of duality, like the house of a 2-faced god (like the Roman Janus).
- This could also be part of a series of portals used to bring ships from one place to another remote one...
- In Birthright, this would certainly be a door to the shadow world, opening when the half moons aligns with the bridge, releasing hordes of undeads & skeletons, but also letting halfling back into their lost territories, on the search of a lost love or treasure (actually anyone could cross, but halfling know their way on the other side)
Guardians
A portal is an extremely valuable asset and anyone controlling it can name a steep price for its usage.
| D 12 | Guardian |
|---|---|
| 1 | A saltwater merfolk tribe. They control both sides and have a side business selling salt. Only their outcasts are left to stay on the lake-side of the portal. |
| 2 | An old troll widower and his young and brash son. Their liege is on the other side. He also controls passage *over* the bridge |
| 3 | 4 Gargoyles, that only come to life when the portal is active. The locals fear them while they are in stone form nonetheless, fore their |
| 4 | The Tax collector pretends to be a cleric protecting the village from a flood of undeads and racketeering money to "keep the door closed", on top of crossing the bridge |
| 5 | A Giant frog (over 2 m high) rules over a big tribe of toadfolks, a humanoid frog mix, about as big as goblins, but extreme good and strong swimmers |
| 6 | A young Water-dragon that fell in love with a dragon turtle. They will only accept payment in the form of things that might help her grow as big as him. |
| 7 | A giant squid guards the other side. The only way to get through the portal is to get pulled by a gigantic tentacle from the other side |
| 8 | Water elementals thrive in the lake but do not allow any boat on the lake, unless a payment in salt-water pearls in paid beforehand, naturally... |
| 9 | Nobody guards the bridge. For a good reason: on the other side is the hideout of a ruthless pirate crew. They sometimes sell booty and fish at the nearest village |
| 10 | Supposedly, each time you cross the portal, an evil twin is created that crosses it in the other direction, bringing havoc in your life |
| 11 | The portal can only be crossed swimming. Men are transformed in dolphins and women in sirens |
| 12 | The portal only lets through wearer of tridents without metal armor. On the other side, a gladiator fight is organised, and the owner gets an audience with the goddess of the sea |
Unspeakable destinations
Beyond the portal, you could find dangerous places, like:
| D12 | Place |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carcosa |
| 2 | Pandemonium, capital of the demons |
| 3 | Mino's Labyrith |
| 4 | Hellish Swamp |
| 5 | Sewers of Sharn |
| 6 | Plateau of Leng |
| 7 | Morgana's lake on Avalon |
| 8 | A dragon-turtle roost |
| 9 | Oubliette - the dimensional city no one escapes |
| 10 | The Sea of Blood - stained by the blood of a dying titan |
| 11 | One arm of the Styx river |
| 12 | Near the mouth of Jörmungandr, the World Serpent |
Inspiration
This place really makes me dream, so I created an artwork featuring it. Here it is, just for your pleasure:
I really like this piece of art, hope you guys & gals, too !
Community
Don't refrain from sharing your thoughts in the comments, I normally validate the comments quickly.
For a longer conversation, you can join the discord of my publishing outlet (from outer space games):