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[D&D Essentials-IC Thread] The Haunted Keep
arcadian
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Registered User regular
You've each come to the town of Fallcrest for various reasons; to escape your past, face your future, begin a life of adventure, or to pursue fame, glory and riches. Your journey has led you to this town, and, at this moment, the best tavern in town, the Blue Moon Alehouse.
The place is mostly empty this warm autumn morning, except for a female human barkeep and two dwarf customers. You also note four other individuals, who like you, have the look of an adventurer.....
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"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
"Can I get some breakfast over here?" he asks.
You can always tell the mages. Who else is mad enough - or confident enough - to wander such a dangerous world without decent armor?
"Five individuals, clearly... let us says 'troubleshooters.' 'Adventurer' is a terrible word, my tongue stumbles on it. Blasted Common," he says. "In my experience such a group does not assemble in a bar unless there is trouble to be found nearby. What have the rest of you heard, then?"
The sound of the stone-headed greataxe casually tossed to the floor resounds. The muscular dwarf glares over the bar at the inn keep.
"Ale, whiskey, whatever. Just see that there is a lot of it and it shows up smartly."
One of the pair pulls out a battered pipe and lights it. With a chuckle he surveys the room, and elbows his companion. "Troubleshooters...sellswords..." the dwarf chuckles in a fatherly manner to no one in particular.
"No doubt you've come to find the missin' travelers?" The dwarf again elbows his table companion, who scowls at his words. "Or perhaps its tha treasure of the old Baron Rodemus you're after?"
The dwarf places the pipe between his lips still chuckling. "Troubleshooters".
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
He unrolled it on the table, examining it fondly. "Kobold Hall. Raven Roost. The Temple of Yellow Skulls! Names to conjure with, beckoning to a journey. Deep forests and sprawling downs, plains and rolling hills. It is a place with potential. Already my feet are itching to strike out, although conceivably that is due to too much time walking."
"Treasure?" he asks trying to sound uninterested.
"Travelers? Aye, the pilgrims..followers of Ioun. Went off into the Moon Hills about a week ago. Lookin' for some sacred relics and treasure they think was left in Rodemus Castle."
Putting the pipe back into his mouth, he continues,"And they ain't been seen since. One of their number's stayed behind; a sort of frail fella, he's over at the eastern gate of the town, worrying the guard to no end."
The dwarf picks up his mug. "I'm sure there'd be a reward for savin' such fools. The sergeant here," he says pointing to his comrade, "would be happy to take you to him- maybe it would shut the dang git up."
"Of course," he adds grinning, "you'd have to be some brave troubleshooters to go into such a cursed place like the Haunted Keep of the Family Rodemus."
"Master dwarf, before I trouble you for more details, you'll have to forgive me but I don't believe we've been introduced. I am Hegan, priest to Kord, by what name shall we call you by? That of your sergeant as well, if you please?" It would be a shame to only refer to each other by titles, should we be working together."
The Sergeant downs his mug." I can take you to the fellow by the east gate. Qual's his name- he's nothing but a bother, pestering everyone who'd listen about his missing fellows, and we've no one willing to head off on a errand for such a group of fools. But there was talk of a reward of some kind."
Murgeddin heads to the door. " And I don't like ghosts either. Don't know if the Haunted Keep truly has them, but I ain't too inclined to find out. Strange sounds and lights been coming from that place as of late, and that can't be good for a ruin that's been deserted all these years."
Hegan nods his thanks to the barkeep and leaves a coin on the table for her troubles as he moves toward the door.
"As much as I don't like the sounds of these ghosts you keep going on about this treasure sounds much more interesting. Lead on master dwarf."
As you pass through the awakening town, the dwarf regales you with some of the town's history, but you each can only catch snippets as the sergenat keeps up a brisk pace, and addresses you over his shoulder.
Your route takes you across the width of the town and up the bluffs that divide Fallcrest. All the time Murgeddin sets a steady, quick pace both in steps and words.
In good time you arrive at the busy town gate, where a few guards stiffen to attention at Murgeddin's approach.
Murgeddin bids you to wait. Crossing the dusty road, and dodging an ox cart, he approaches a figure seated upon the ground.
The figure, a tall gaunt young human looks up from the leather bound tome he was reading. The dwarf and human pass a few words , and then the gaunt figure rises, puts his book away into his shoulder bag and stares at each of you. Then as if gathering his long form, the figure approaches you.
The young man is dressed in a ink stained green robe. Possessing a shock of red hair with large mutton chop sideburns, the man observes you as he approaches through large owl like eyes over a long pointed nose.
"I am Conservator Qual." the figure intones in a nasally voice. "I understand from the sergeant you are inclined to take up my task; namely to locate my associates and hasten their safe return."
Qual clears his throat. "I am sure that all is well with my brothers, however,..."Qual pauses looking around..."however, there seems to be a sentiment in Fallcrest that the ruin my brothers were interested in visiting is well..ummm..haunted. So I am a bit concerned."
The young man clutches his shoulder bag and continues in a low, almost conspiratorial voice," Since the market for rescuers in Fallcrest seems a bit...lacking, I therefore am prepared to offer the sum of 1,000 gold pieces for the return of any or all of my associates. I am not prepared to negotiate further in regards to this princely sum."
Arriving in time to catch most of Qual's words she nods thoughtfully.
"Alive?" she asks matter of factly, taking a long pull while waiting for an answer.
Ignoring the halfling with an audible harumph Qual pulls a square copper pendent from under his robe. The pendent is square and made of copper, and bears the engraved image of a stylized eye on its surface.
"This", Qual explains to Eldeth and Berrian, " is the symbol of Ioun the Wise. All my brothers wear such a symbol. Although I am sure they are all well, in the unfortunate circumstance something has happened to one of my associates, return with the symbol of that brother- one's physical form is unimportant without ones intellect."
"Master Conservator, are there any other items we should concern ourselves with during our search for your companions?"
"If you would be kind enough to show me the location of this keep on my map -" Berrian produces his with a slightly unnecessary flourish - "I and my apparent companions can be on our way."
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
The young man looks about then continues," My master, Archivist Meinrad may disapprove, but considering the circumstance...." His voice trails off for a moment.
"My Brotherhood came to Fallcrest in search of the Rubystone of Baron Rodemus. The good Baron, was in his day, a follower of Ioun. He was a true warrior philosopher, a patron of letters and seeker of wisdom. The Baron perished during the Bloodspear War, and the Ruby was thought lost. It is a relic of our order, an Ioun stone that grants knowledge to those of the proper mindset and moral constitution, or so the lore goes."
Qual's face darkens."My brothers believed the Ruby to be hidden in the remains of the castle. Master Meinrad was single minded in his pursuit of the relic, and would not wait for the escort I was attempting to secure for them. We quarreled and I was censured and made to stay behind. Now, I fear for the safety of my master and six other brothers."
"If you can locate the Ruby I would be indebted..however take care. The Ruby should not be used by those whose minds have not been properly prepared. "
Qual falls silent as Murgeddin strides forth , arms crossed. "Ach," the dwarf says,"The old Baron was a good man and true, but his son and grandsons were bad seed. No one's seen any of that clan for ten years. They were an odd bunch, living in that ruin since the end of the war." The dwarf stops to spit on the ground.
"Most folk think the servants of the Rodemus killed off the family and they haunt the old keep now. But no one's been there for many a year. The ruin ain't far- head due south into the Moon Hills out the south gate..follow the old sunken road 2 leagues; its the only thing standing out there."
For Hagen:
OOC: I assume we are early enough in the day the trip will not put us there smack dab at night. Protip: investigate ghosts during the day.
"I wouldn't mind another bite of breakfast before we head out ...but it can wait." Merric says as he notices the Elf eying him
"I am eager to leave, so long as our good Merric's stomach can suffer the journey." Hagen says with a grin over his shoulder in the Halfling's direction.
"Other than perhaps a small snack, does anyone require further delay?"
Also, it is midmorning say about 10am, so the day is well ahead of all.
Quinn shakes his head at Hagen's question. "No, I am ready to depart at any time." He lays a hand on Qual's shoulder and smiles. "Fear not, Conservator. With your Goddess' good grace, we shall soon return with your brothers and the Rubystone both in hand."
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
"And our last... dwarf... seems well provisioned with liquor," he says impassively, "so I think we are ready to begin."
Seeing that everyone else seems eager to go fight some ghosts Merric readies his pack and says "Well I guess I could snack a little on the road."
And with that he produces an apple and takes a rather large bite. "Alright lefsss goa" he says chewing the apple.
In about three hours, you crest a hill and, a few hundred feet away, you spy what must be the Haunted Keep. Only two towers remain, connected by a gatehouse. The twenty foot high towertops look disheveled and crumbling, and the granite blocks of the ruin are pitted with age.
The Keep stands alone atop a wide, barren hill. All is silent as you study the scene, with neither the sound of wind or singing of birds to be heard.
Map:
Please note the line just above the label "gatehouse' was meant to represent an arch above the gatehouse opening and was left in the final map. So its not a wall. Scale is standard 5 feet to a sqaure.
"Well, it certainly looks the part." Hagen jests, rather grimly.
"I suppose we should knock and see if anyone still calls this ruin home."
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
Figures. Merric thinks Just walk right in, don't bother to look around
"Well I suppose I could check the place out a bit, if you guys don't mind" he says
Perception: 1d20+5 13
"A reasonable precaution," the magician concedes. "Do not take long, however, we will surely need your skills within."
Dungeoneering to try and pinpoint spots of interest: 23